Solicitors who work on a no win no fee basis

Some people are not convinced about putting in a claim for their accidental injuries. This may be because they do not realise how easy it is to do. You obviously have to have a good case for compensation, you can’t claim for any old injury. If you have sustained injuries because of a fault of someone else, then you are entitled to claim for compensation.

To start your compensation claim, you will need to seek out the advice of a fully trained professional. There are solicitors who deal specifically with claims for compensation and they will be happy to take on your case if they think it is strong enough to get a successful outcome.

Solicitors who deal specifically with accident injury claims know when you have a genuine case or not. You will need to have evidence to back up your claim for compensation. Your solicitor will be able to advise you about whether or not they think your case will be successful. Obviously there are no guarantees, but they will usually not take on a case unless they think there is a good chance of winning. This is because they work on a no win no fee basis.

Getting the most of your no win no fee solicitor

When it comes to hiring yourself a solicitor for your compensation claim, you want to make sure you have made the right choice. There are solicitors out there who do not know how to deal with cases, which involve accidents and injuries. You want to look for a solicitor who has experience in dealing with cases such as yours.

Most solicitors who handle accident or injury cases will have had experience in handling complicated cases and be aware of the procedures that you will have to go through. These solicitors often work on a no win no fee basis. This means that you won’t have to pay them unless you win your case for compensation. Not only does this give you the reassurance that you will receive a good service, as they will work tirelessly to ensure you win your case. But you will also be safe in the knowledge that they wouldn’t have taken on your case if they didn’t think there was a good chance of reaching a compensation settlement.

In some cases, the solicitor will claim for their fees from the other side, whereas others will take their fees out of your compensation settlement money.

Seeking reassurance from your no win no fee solicitor

Hiring yourself a solicitor on the a no win no basis fee not only means you don’t have to worry about settling your bill should you not win, it also means you can sit back and relax whilst your solicitor handles everything.

No win no fee means that unless you win your case for compensation, you won’t have to pay your solicitor a penny. Under some circumstances, your solicitor might even claim their fees from the other side whilst negotiating your settlement for your accident or injury.

The reassurance you will get from knowing that your solicitor is handling everything on your behalf is priceless. This is especially true if your accident or injury was particularly horrific and left you with permanent scars both physically and emotionally.

If you have suffered from an accident or injury, you will be entitled to compensation, regardless of how small or minor your accident or injury might have been. Having an informal discussion with your solicitor can help to make sure that you have a case for compensation. If they are working on a no win no fee basis they will tell you honestly whether you have a case or not.

How does no win no fee work?

A no win no fee arrangement between you and your solicitor is an agreement which states that your solicitor will only be paid for their services if you win your case. Whether you have been injured in a trip, slip or fall anywhere or been involved in an accident, you may be entitled to compensation.

No win no fee agreements are there to save yourself the pain and expense of going through a possible court case as a result of your accident with the worry that you might have to shell out a fortune once the case has been settled. Some solicitors, regardless of whether you have won or not, will demand that you pay them for their services.

No win no fee agreements are a very popular way of hiring a solicitor nowadays and have grown in popularity over the last ten years. Upon consultation with your solicitor, they will advise about whether you have a good case or not. A no win no fee solicitor will not agree to represent a case if they think it doesn’t have a chance of being successful when the case goes to court.

How to hire a solicitor on a no win no fee basis

Hiring yourself a personal injury solicitor can be a tricky business, especially as it isn’t usually something anyone else has been through before. One of the best things to do if you don’t know who to go with is to look into hiring a solicitor on a no win no fee basis.

Most personal injury solicitors work on a no win no fee basis. This means that they will not ask for any money from you for their work should you not win your case for the injuries you have sustained.

When you win your case against those responsible for your injuries, your solicitor will either seek to settle their outstanding fees with yourself, or they will claim their fees from the other side. This means that you get to keep 100% of your compensation.

Your solicitor should work hard to ensure that your case is successful when it comes to court. You will also be required to provide evidence that the injuries that you have sustained have affected your life in some way or another. The court will also take into consideration the emotional impact your accident may have had on you as well as the physical.

Finding a no win no fee solicitor

Finding a specialist that deals with accidents on a no win no fee basis is not difficult. Many solicitors offer this service to clients who have suffered an accident or injury at work or in public. They typically only offer the services of a no win no fee if there is a good chance that you case will win when it goes to court.

Normally, the fees that you would have had to pay your solicitor would be claimed from the other side. This way, you do not have to worry about settling your solicitor’s fees once the case has been closed. The compensation that you are awarded in court for your accident or injury is yours to keep.

Your solicitor will advise you about the best route to take when it comes to seek compensation for your accident or injury. They will be able to negotiate your settlement or compensation costs with the other side to ensure that you get what you are entitled to. They will be in the best position to tell you whether you have a case for compensation or not. It is not in their best interests to pursue a case, which will not be successful.

Best way to hire a solicitor

No win no fee is the best way to hire a solicitor. The security that a no win no fee gives you, it makes taking someone to court far less risky than ever before. Your solicitor in the first instance will give you a good idea about whether or not your case will stand up in court.

You might want the reassurance that you have a good solid case to present to your opposition. However, you need not worry as much in the instances of no win no fee. This is because if you do not win your court case, your solicitor will not ask you to pay for any of their fees.

In most instances of no win no fee, should you win, the fees are paid for by the other side as part of your compensation. You may however, be asked to pay your solicitors fees through your settlement money that you may have won. Depending on how much time your solicitor has spent on dealing with your case will affect how much your solicitor’s fees will cost. You can ask your solicitor to keep you updated as to how much time they have spent on your case so that you have a rough estimate of how much will be incurred.

The confidence to make a claim

You've been injured and it was not your fault, but do you have the confidence to make a claim?

Thankfully, most of us manage to get through life without needing the services of a Solicitor - other than in conveyancing or will writing matters - and find the entire legal industry to be slightly scary and very foreign to us.

Therefore, at the very time when our client's need such a service, they are often at their most vulnerable. You see, when someone has had a nasty accident or been violently assaulted, the last thing that they want to do is hear a load of complicated legal jargon thrown at them when they try to make a claim for compensation for the injuries sustained.

And that is just those people who are already confident enough to make their Personal Injury Claim.

Worries

Regardless of background, most people have the same common worries when they get involved in a No Win No Fee Personal Injury Compensation Claim. Those worries are easily calmed by our expert and friendly team and include the usual issues such as "What will my claim cost me?", "What happens if I lose my claim?" or "How do I deal with the complicated paperwork?"...

However, there are other worries that many people have regarding their claim. These go right from the starting element of wondering if they have a legal right to make a claim, remembering what exactly happened to them (normally for elderly clients) and feeling embarrassed about making a claim.

Many people, especially the elderly, often fail to exercise their right to make a claim because they are worried that people will judge them for it if they do. As stated in my last blog (see: http://www.direct2solicitorsltd.co.uk/blog/ ) this is silly. For a start, no person will ever know that you are making a claim - unless you tell them - other than you and your Solicitor and maybe your GP. The Data Protection Act provides a great level of protection regarding such issues and should leave you safe in the knowledge that your claim is your matter - and a private one at that!

The real questions you should ask of any Claims Company or Solicitor when making your claim

If you find yourself in the situation of needing to make a Personal Injury Compensation Claim, you will need to find a suitable Claims Management Company or Solicitor Practice to manage the process for you. This is one of the most important things to get right as you only get one shot at maximising the potential payout that your claim may represent. If you choose the wrong company, and they manage your claim inadequately, your compensation settlement could well be lower than it should. Therefore, we recommend that you choose a specialist company with expert background - such as Direct 2 Solicitors Ltd as we tick all the right boxes. However, if you need to, here are a few questions you should ask of any Claims Management Company:

1. Is the Claims Management Company approved by the Claims Regulation Monitoring & Compliance Unit (Ministry of Justice) and do you have Authorised status to operate within the Claims Industry re The Compensation Act 2006?
2. If so, what is the Claims Management Companies CRM Number? Any such number can be checked out at: www.claimsregulation.gov.uk/search.aspx
3. What background and experience does the Claims Management Company have?
4. How exactly does the Claims Management Company get paid? (any company worth allowing to manage your claim will happily divulge this information - indeed, we are obliged to do so - see Direct 2 Solicitors Ltd paperwork to prove this!.
5. How will the Claims Management Company deal with your claim? In your home, over the phone, by post etc etc...
6. Will the Claims Management Company remain active in your claim even when the Solicitor has taken over the litigation work? (Direct 2 Solicitors remain available to all of our client's right through the claim process - giving a continuous contact and support to all clients).
7. What time estimate have the Claims Management Company given? Beware of any companies promising speedy payouts or advising of possible payout amounts. Each claim is different and it is impossible to say exactly how long a claim takes to settle. Direct 2 Solicitors Ltd advise our client's that we don't really know the answer to this, but that a rough guide to this is anything from 6-9 months to 6 months - 2 years. Also, we have no idea what a likely payout will be as medical records must be viewed and a medical expert must write a report giving a prognosis on recovery times and possible dissabilities. Therefore, we NEVER give advice on this matter as it is an issue for your Solicitor.

Bear the above in mind when enquiring about making your claim!

Making your claim

To make your claim, come to us. Direct 2 Solicitors are approved for Regulated Claims Management Services by the Ministry of Justice (Authorisation CRM 3364), check the regulators web site www.claimsregulation.gov.uk and are also members of the Claims Standards Council. We offer genuine peace of mind, honesty and a friendly caring service.

If you are in need of a reliable and approved Claims Management Company to manage your accident compensation claim, look no further. Email us at webenquiries@direct2solicitorsltd.co.uk, call us on 0800 9177456, or get us to call you, using the big blue "Call me back" box at the top right of this page.

Personal Injury Claims - is there a stigma attached?

Why is there a stigma attached to making a Personal Injury Claim?

Unfortunately, some people are afraid to take up their legal right to make a claim for compensation, because they feel that they will be left with a stigma attached to them if they do. The peddlers of the 'compensation culture' myth have managed to generate an air of scepticism about the real right to make a claim. We often hear of a claims culture and phrases such as we "are becoming a litigious society just like the states" are often flaunted around. Whilst individuals are entitled to their opinions, unfortunately, such an opinion is based on falsehood and misunderstanding of the law.

Your legal right to seek compensation

In the matter of a Personal Injury Compensation claim, an individual has a legal right to pursue compensation for their injuries and losses subject to certain criteria. If their injuries were caused by the negligent acts of others - including employers, authorities or individuals - and the injuries are serious enough to warrant medical treatment and last for a certain amount of time, then a claim can be brought. The very point of someone receiving a compensation settlement is simple. The thinking behind it is to return the injured party to the financial state that they could have expected to be in if they were not caused an injury - this would include a sum for lost income, expenditure regarding medical treatment, care costs and expenditure on alterations to homes and cars relevant to the injuries and to also provide compensation for the pain, distress and discomfort caused to the individual by the injuries that they sustained. The level of compensation varies depending on the costs incurred, the level of pain and the length of time it took to recover - or not recover as the case may be.

Claims Culture

Those who consider someone making a claim to be a person 'on the blag' or getting something for nothing are clearly misguided. The printed press in particular are often full of sensational stories about how the compensation culture is ruining life - the phrase 'Health & Safety gone mad' is often bandied about - with no basis. The facts are simple. If an individual, authority, employer or organisation follows correct procedure, risk assesses situations and sites, provides training and in effect, does there bit, then they cannot be pursued for compensation. It is a pity that the enemy of the claimant has managed to make people feel bad about claiming compensation, especially when it is a legal right to do so.

Our message is simple. If you feel disadvantaged because of the injuries you sustained through no fault of your own - or the negligence of others then bring your claim without fear. Direct 2 Solicitors staff will not consider you to be 'on the blag' or getting something for nothing. We understand your situation and look forward to helping you.

Making your claim

To make your claim, come to us. Direct 2 Solicitors are approved for Regulated Claims Management Services by the Ministry of Justice (Authorisation CRM 3364), check the regulators web site www.claimsregulation.gov.uk and are also members of the Claims Standards Council. We offer genuine peace of mind, honesty and a friendly caring service.

If you are in need of a reliable and approved Claims Management Company to manage your accident compensation claim, look no further. Email us at webenquiries@direct2solicitorsltd.co.uk, call us on 0800 9177456, or get us to call you, using the big blue "Call me back" box at the top right of this page.

Fast, efficient and genuine No Win No Fee claims

Direct 2 Solicitors offers a Personal Injury Compensation service that is second to none - and you don't just have to take our word for it. Over the years, we have helped thousands of individual clients achieve Personal Injury Compensation Settlements in their favour. It is always pleasing to hear the good news of a claim settling in favour of one of our clients and it is a real pleasure when one of those successful clients writes to us to thank us for our efforts. Indeed, one such lady from Dorchester recently wrote to me to thank me for the cheque she had just received for the sum of £17,500! To her, this was a life changing sum of money.

Speedy Service

Direct 2 Solicitors claims service is quick, hassle free and decisions are made without delay. we don't bog clients down with ream after ream of paper and don't leave them to do the leg work. In the vast majority of cases, we can handle the claim over the phone and simply need a brief 15 minute telephone interview to get the basic information we need to present our expert Panel Solicitors with an industry leading file in order that they can launch the claim immediately and get things moving. After the brief telephone interview, we send out 3 simple items of paperwork for the signature and return of the client along with our FREEPOST reply-paid envelope. Upon receipt of the signed instructions, we complete our file and submit this to our Panel members on the same day. This means that those client's who reply to our paperwork immediately, can have their claim placed and up and running with a member of our Solicitor panel within 3 days of their contacting us. Individuals have 3 years in which to make their claim, but why delay when the sooner the claim is brought the better?

Service Levels

Our Panel members work in the same way as we do, utilising electronic technologies to ensure that claim files are viewed same day and decisions made immediately. Clients often comment very positively regarding the speed of service that they receive from both us, and the Panel Solicitor that takes their claim forward for litigation and hopeful settlement. We very much see our job as to support clients when they need it most and to ensure that every action we take is in their best interests and that we do not cause any delays or problems in the processing of their claims. We also ensure that any firm of Solicitors wishing to join our panel operate in the same way and adhere to the same strict principles.

Leading the way

When you look at the clear and transparent system we operate for our No Win No Fee claims and combine that with our friendly and ethical approach, speedy service and great partner Solicitor Panel members, it is clear to see why Direct 2 Solicitors is a growing business - we are leading the way! Our reputation is all important to us and the only way to get a good one is to earn one. Choose us to manage your claim and we will not disappoint.

Making your claim

To make your claim, come to us. Direct 2 Solicitors are approved for Regulated Claims Management Services by the Ministry of Justice (Authorisation CRM 3364), check the regulators web site www.claimsregulation.gov.uk and are also members of the Claims Standards Council. We offer genuine peace of mind, honesty and a friendly caring service.

If you are in need of a reliable and approved Claims Management Company to manage your accident compensation claim, look no further. Email us at webenquiries@direct2solicitorsltd.co.uk, call us on 0800 9177456, or get us to call you, using the big blue "Call me back" box at the top right of this page.

Limitation - make your claim in time!

Claim Limitation

It is well known by the majority of citizens that English and Welsh law provides a period of 3 years in which an individual can bring a claim for Personal Injury Compensation before the courts. This time limit is called 'limitation'. The exceptions to this rule are for those who are under the age of 18 years at the time that they sustain their injuries, as they are given up and until a 21st Birthday in which to register their claims. However, some people don't seem to know about the limitation period!

Whilst the 3-year period is there, in usual circumstances, claims companies and Solicitors require a good 6 month period of the limitation to remain in order that full investigations can be completed and correspondence can be entered in to with the alleged liable party. Many people don't know about the need to allow sufficient time for a Solicitor or Claims Company to run their claim and often find that they have ruled themselves out of a claim by missing the 3-year deadline or contacting us with only a month or less to go. They usually find themselves statute barred and unable to claim.

There are other very rare exceptions to the 3-year rule that may enable an individual to overturn the limitation limit. This would normally apply to individuals who were so seriously injured that they could not manage their own affairs and no carer commenced a claim for them.

Beating the claim deadline

Direct 2 Solicitors never rule anything out and are happy to go the extra mile when we can to assist clients in making genuine claims. Indeed, only this week we have managed to move mountains to assist a client who contacted us with only 4 days of his 3-year period remaining. In normal circumstances, this would not provide sufficient time to enable us to help. However, the injuries sustained a very serious - the client could yet lose the leg that was injured. The gentleman in question was crushed by a car that had been pushed on to the footpath he was using after it had been hit with force by a Public Service Bus. The injures were such that the client was hospitalised and left in a bad way. The Police and other authorities investigated this incident and the Bus Driver was later prosecuted for his actions.

Expert specialist Personal Injury Solicitors

Fortunately for the people we serve such as the client mentioned earlier, Direct 2 Solicitors Ltd have links with an expert panel of Personal Injury Solicitors. Indeed, we have a blue-chip list of firms that are expert litigators and serve client's interests in the best possible manner.

With this in mind, having spoken with the client in question, we immediately contacted one of our specialist Solicitors to discuss this issue. The value of the claim for the client was high and all parties wanted to help. Followng the advice from our Solicitor, we decided to take the unusual step of registering the claim in the courts before contact was made with the 3rd party bus company. Clearly, we had to make speedy investigations beforehand to ensure that we knew the identity of the parties involved to ensure that we were not wasting our or the client's time. Once done, we paid the fee and decided that this claim was worth risking our time, money and effort upon.

Taking risks and helping clients

We are happy to take such risks and put our money on the line to help such clients. Sure, if we win this no-win, no-fee claim for our client, we will get our money back plus fees, but that is not the point. We are a business with a keen ethical stance that ensures that we push the boat out to help individuals who are not always in a position to help themselves.

Making your claim

To make your claim, come to us. Direct 2 Solicitors are approved for Regulated Claims Management Services by the Ministry of Justice (Authorisation CRM 3364), check the regulators web site www.claimsregulation.gov.uk and are also members of the Claims Standards Council. We offer genuine peace of mind, honesty and a friendly caring service.

If you are in need of a reliable and approved Claims Management Company to manage your accident compensation claim, look no further. Email us at webenquiries@direct2solicitorsltd.co.uk, call us on 0800 9177456, or get us to call you, using the big blue "Call me back" box at the top right of this page.

Finding a No Win No Fee Claims Management Company or Solicitor

I read with interest a recent legal claim for Personal Injury Compensation involving a Rugby Player who claimed that he was blinded in one eye through the negligent and violent actions of an opponent whilst playing for Moseley against Coventry RFC in September 2001. Clearly, this is no standard or normal Personal Injury Claim and I doubt very much that the claimant was able to find a No Win No Fee Claims Management Company or Solicitor very easily.

Why?

This claim was always going to be difficult to win as it rested on the good old fashioned 'he said she said' kind of argument! In most No Win No Fee Personal Injury Claims, a Solicitor or Claims Management Company will evaluate the likely chances of success any claim will have. It is all about risk assessment and if a claim has strong chances of success, it can be run on a No Win No Fee basis (Conditional Fee Agreement) with ease. Clearly, if a claim is weak or extremely risky - as this one was - then it is far from likely to be taken on by a Solicitor on a No Win No Fee basis.
In most claims, there are clear hazards that were foreseeable, obvious negligence and rules broken - like for example when someone suffers an injury in the workplace because an employer cut corners and failed to provide the correct equipment and training. In cases like that, it is easy to evaluate a claim and get things moving. In the instance of the Rugby Players claim, such an evaluation would be much harder and therefore very risky for a Solicitor to take on with no guarantee of payment of their fees.

The Claim

As a result of the difficulty of this claim, the claimant Rugby player was left with no option other than to represent himself and it seems he did a very good job of it! He gave evidence at the courts and was able to call on witnesses from his Rugby team who corroborated his version of events. The courts were told that one of the two defendants was initially charged by the Police with Assault, but that the charge was later dropped due to a lack of sufficient evidence. The Judge took evidence from the claimant, witnesses and both defendants before adjourning the case for a while.

The result

After the adjournment, the Judge awarded the claim in favour of the claimant, but ruled that one of the two defendants were not liable for the injuries that had been inflicted on the Claimant. The exact level of damages will be set at a further hearing later this year.

Making your claim

To make your claim, come to us. Direct 2 Solicitors are approved for Regulated Claims Management Services by the Ministry of Justice (Authorisation CRM 3364), check the regulators web site www.claimsregulation.gov.uk and are also members of the Claims Standards Council. We offer genuine peace of mind, honesty and a friendly caring service.

If you are in need of a reliable and approved Claims Management Company to manage your accident compensation claim, look no further. Email us at webenquiries@direct2solicitorsltd.co.uk, call us on 0800 9177456, or get us to call you, using the big blue "Call me back" box at the top right of this page.

Why Direct 2 Solicitors is the place to make your claim

The Personal Injury Compensation Claims Specialists

Clearly, Direct 2 Solicitors really is the place to bring your claim for Personal Injury Compensation, but why? Well, we have lots of things on our side. We offer a genuine transparent No-Win, No-Fee Personal Injury Claims service. We have no hidden charges and nothing lurking around the corner that will take our client's by surprise! Added to that, we have a very well trained team who know what there is to know about Personal Injury Compensation claims and how to get the right information to give our client's the very best chances of success with their claim. Our service is so easy to use too. We can complete nearly all claims over the phone, with a simple 15-20 minute claim application process. This takes the hassle away from the client and enables our team to compile a market leading claims investigation file which is ready for our expert Panel Solicitors to commence immediate litigation proceedings against the 3rd party responsible for the injuries and losses caused to our client.

Speed of service

Along with our industry leading panel of specialist Personal Injury Solicitors, we offer a speed of service which is second to none. Client's can request a call back via our website, reply to one of our Direct Mail Campaigns or other forms of marketing and we will contact them immediately. If there is a viable claim to be managed, we inform the client's of our transparent No-Win, No-Fee service and give them the full details of how we make our money. If they then choose to select Direct 2 Solicitors to manage their claim (which they nearly all do!) we commence the claim application call and get the paperwork completed. We then forward 3 simple items of paperwork to our client for their signature and return (so that they can formally instruct us and agree to our No-Win, No-Fee service). As soon as we have these important items back, the claim file is ready for consideration by our Panel Solicitors. The files are forwarded via email and our Solicitors make quick decisions. If they feel a claim is strong, they will call the clients and confirm the details given. If they then decide to take the claim, the claim is up and running - simple as that!

No Fuss, No Hassle

Direct 2 Solicitors clients can relax, safe in the knowledge that we are taking the strain out of the claim process for them. Even after our Panel Solicitor takes over the litigation work on the claim, we remain involved, available and there to assist our clients when they receive information that can be confusing. If needed, we visit people at home and ensure that the client's know and understand the situation surrounding their Personal Injury Compensation claim. We can never guarantee success with a claim, but we always guarantee our No WIn No Fee service - and are happy to do so in writing should it be requested.

Making your claim

To make your claim, come to us. Direct 2 Solicitors are approved for Regulated Claims Management Services by the Ministry of Justice (Authorisation CRM 3364), check the regulators web site www.claimsregulation.gov.uk and are also members of the Claims Standards Council. We offer genuine peace of mind, honesty and a friendly caring service.

If you are in need of a reliable and approved Claims Management Company to manage your accident compensation claim, look no further. Email us at webenquiries@direct2solicitorsltd.co.uk, call us on 0800 9177456, or get us to call you, using the big blue "Call me back" box at the top right of this page.

The Compensation Culture blame game... Again!

Councils in Compensation Claims moaning shocker!

Once again the Local Government lobby is putting pressure on the public to try and deter us from exercising our legal rights! In yet another shameful PR stunt, the Local Government Association (LGA) has issued a press release bemoaning the fact that they are paying out large sums in compensation. We are saddened, but not surprised to see that they blame the volume of claims squarely at the foot of us 'nasty' No Win No Fee Claims Management Companies and Solicitors. The latest story states that some £53m has been paid out in compensation settlements, and that a further £12m has been spent on legal fees and court costs. However, at the same time, the LGA has scored an own goal to it's own argument as the figures taken from an Asphalt Industry Alliance survey of Councils shows that only £52.3m has been spent on repairs to dangerous footpaths and roads. So at the same time as moaning about spending £60m + on genuine claims, the LGA have spent LESS ensuring that the roads and paths are safe which would then reduce the level of genuine claims that they would face! How these people end up in positions of authority is questionable at the very least!

Who is to blame?

The LGA, Insurers and some members of the establishment would like everyone to believe that the blame lies at the foot of people like me, companies like ours and the Solicitors that we work with. However, we know that only genuine claims will succeed. The onus on a claimant to prove that the councils have left a dangerous hazard that would be deemed sufficient to pass the legal liability requirements in situ for a period of time that would also pass the same test is very high. If one can prove the liability side of it, then the Council is in the wrong and they should then, in the eyes of the law, provide compensation to an injured party to cover their injuries and losses. It really is simple. LGA Spokesman David Sparks has been quoted in the media as saying "These figures show the extent to which our efforts are being hampered by the compensation culture that exists nowadays" he goes on to say "since no-win, no-fee was introduced, almost all councils have seen an increase in compensation claims". To be fair, he does go on to say that where there are genuine claims, the claimant should be compensated. To me, this seems to indicate that he is taking the view that there are more fraudulent claims than genuine and that No-Win, No-Fee Solicitors and Claims Management Companies are actively encouraging individuals to lodge fraudulent claims. There is no evidence to support such a view and I wonder why he is wording what he says, the way he is? It is simple, if you end up paying up to settle a claim, you are liable. Thus, if the councils are spending what we are told they are on settling claims, they can only blame themselves.

No Win No Fee

Since the inception of No-Win, No-Fee claims in the UK, there has been a rise and now a fall in the number of claims issued and filed. It goes without saying that the reason for the rise is that when it was first launched, it informed the UK public that they had a right to claim compensation for injuries if they were caused by negligence. Prior to the No Win No Fee system, many claims were not made because individuals didn't know that they could claim and could not afford to pay Solicitors fees should they fail. It seems that the LGA Spokesman is blaming me, my company, our solicitors and any claimants for exercising the legal rights entitled to all of us. So, if we have made people aware of their rights and helped them to claim compensation FOR WHICH THEY ARE LEGALLY AND GENUINELY ENTITLED, then I make no apology. Maybe, the LGA and Councils of the UK should concentrate on the very important work with which they are charged?

Making your claim

To make your claim, come to us. Direct 2 Solicitors are approved for Regulated Claims Management Services by the Ministry of Justice (Authorisation CRM 3364), check the regulators web site www.claimsregulation.gov.uk and are also members of the Claims Standards Council. We offer genuine peace of mind, honesty and a friendly caring service.

If you are in need of a reliable and approved Claims Management Company to manage your accident compensation claim, look no further. Email us at webenquiries@direct2solicitorsltd.co.uk, call us on 0800 9177456, or get us to call you, using the big blue "Call me back" box at the top right of this page.

Tragic Accident leads to death of child

More Personal Injury No Win No Fee Claims in the news

Three companies in Dorset are to face legal action over the death of a child according to today's news. In a very tragic incident, the 9 year old was crushed to death by an electric gate at his grandparents home in April 2006. Poole Borough Council are prosecuting 3 firms as a result of this incident. Two firms are to face legal action under the Health and Safety at Work act and the third under the Supply of Machinery (Safety) regulations. The cases are due to be heard before Wimborne Magistrates Court later this year. An inquest recorded a verdict of accidental death.

This is a very sad story indeed and our hearts go out to the family of the dead child. It highlights that vendors of tools, equipment and products need to take great care to ensure the safety of UK Citizens. The family will likely claim compensation, but no settlement will be sufficient to cover the terrible loss of their child.

Who you gonna call?

Direct 2 Solicitors are approved for Regulated Claims Management Services by the Ministry of Justice (Authorisation CRM 3364), check the regulators web site www.claimsregulation.gov.uk and are also members of the Claims Standards Council. We offer genuine peace of mind, honesty and a friendly caring service.

If you are in need of a reliable and approved Claims Management Company to manage your accident compensation claim, look no further. Email us at webenquiries@direct2solicitorsltd.co.uk, call us on 0800 9177456, or get us to call you, using the big blue "Call me back" box at the top right of this page.

Another claimant helped

Injured at work - another client helped

We have just completed a cracker of a work accident (employment liability) claim. The client came to us having sustained nasty ankle and knee injuries in a fall at his work place. He worked for a leading UK supermarket chain at their distribution depot. The client stated that the lighting was in a terrible state, with numerous bulbs out of action and those that were still working had been knocked around by reversing lorries and didn't light the correct areas. As a conscientious member of staff, he had the foresight to bring this to his employers attention so that they could repair the dodgy lighting and reduce the risk of an accident. Unfortunately, despite this complaint and numerous reminders, no repair work was carried out and sure enough, the client fell heavily whilst working due to the lack of light and sustained nasty injuries keeping him off work, in pain and heavily out of pocket for many months.

Checklist

When the client called us, we thought he had a strong claim. The liability certainly wasn't an issue, so we had to check two key factors. Firstly, we needed to know that the accident was recorded officially. Thankfully, the client was on the ball and had ensured that the correct details of the accident were entered in the employers official accident book. The client even has a copy of this entry. Secondly, we needed to confirm that the client has been treated by a professional qualified medic and that his medical records will confirm this. Again, all was well, as the client had been to A&E before being dealt with in out-patient clinics, seeing his GP and also had undergone a course of physiotherapy. We were only too happy to confirm that this kind of accident claim was exactly what the No Win No Fee system had been set up for and that we were the perfect company for him to place his claim with. Having explained our way of working and discussed the likely process that he would go through in order to get to a point when his claim was settled, the client confirmed that he was happy to go ahead and we completed our claim application file.

No Win No Fee Solicitor - the dream claim

This is the kind of claim that our specialist Personal Injury Panel Solicitors love. It ticks all the boxes. Liability is as solid as a rock, the accident is fully recorded and the client is a reliable and trustworthy individual. Solicitors love the work accident claims as the law is so clear on the responsibilities of employers and employees regarding health and safety in the workplace. In this instance, the employer has clearly failed in their duty of care towards their staff and our client. Our client reported the lighting issue as an accident waiting to happen and then reminded the employer many times. Unfortunately, because they failed to take action and failed to heed their employees warnings, they are now liable for the compensation of our clients losses and injuries.

Have you sustained injuries at work?

Direct 2 Solicitors Ltd have specialist knowledge of handling work accident claims. As a claims Management company, we handle the full spectrum of Personal Injury claims - all on a No Win No Fee basis. If you have had an accident at work, or in any other situation and you feel that someone else is at fault for the state that you are now in, please call us. Our expert knowledge may well be the route to getting you compensated so that your loss of wages gets covered and you are given the financial settlement that reduces the stress placed upon you and your family. We can never re-write history and prevent an accident that has already happened, but we can prevent them happening again. Call us today.

Who you gonna call?

Direct 2 Solicitors are approved for Regulated Claims Management Services by the Ministry of Justice (Authorisation CRM 3364), check the regulators web site www.claimsregulation.gov.uk and are also members of the Claims Standards Council. We offer genuine peace of mind, honesty and a friendly caring service.

If you need of a reliable and approved Claims Management Company to manage your accident compensation claim, look no further. Email us at webenquiries@direct2solicitorsltd.co.uk, call us on 0800 9177456, or get us to call you, using the big blue "Call me back" box at the top right of this page.

Slip & Trip Public Liability Personal Injury Compensation Claims

Slip & Trip claims - Who should foot the bill?

We have all heard the phrase "Where there's blame, there's a claim", but is that true? If it is true, who foots the bill for the compensation and what will it cost them?

The majority of 'Slip and trip' claims (correctly know as Public Liability claims) tend to be made against Local Authorities and Councils. The duty of care to maintain footpaths to a safe standard falls under the Highways Departments of the Councils of the UK. In basic terms, the law can hold the Council liable for injuries caused by a fall on a Public Footpath if a few basic criteria are met. These include, the height or depth of a hazard (hole or raised edge) on a footpath, the fact that it has been in situ for a certain length of time (at least 6 months and around 1 year) and that it has been reported to the Council or they have failed to carry out adequate inspection regimes.
These are fair criteria in anyone's book. we know that Council's have miles and miles of footpaths and road surfaces to check and maintain. They can't possibly be expected to repair any damaged or dangerous surface within hours, days or weeks of it becoming a problem. Therefore, to allow many months to carry out inspections and then action necessary repairs is very fair indeed. So, if the council's fail in their statutory duty to provide safe and well maintained footpaths, who foots the bill?

The Payers

Local Authorities are covered by Public Liability Insurance and it will often be the PL insurance company who foot the bill if their client is proven to have been negligent and at cause for an injury. However, we often hear stories in the media regarding the amount of council tax payers money that has to be kept aside to 'pay off compensation claims'. This story is often touted around the media as if to say it is terrible and a rip-off - almost as if it was designed to put people off from claiming. So, why would this story be presented in the way it is? Clearly, the councils are always under pressure to spend money in their regions. Everyone wants a piece of the pie and there is only so much pie to go around. In our view, Councils shouldn't be putting money aside to cover potential claims - if they are doing that, it indicates that THEY KNOW that they are likely to receive claims because they have not made an area claim proof! I don't understand this. Surely, it would be beneficial and far cheaper in the long run, for a Council to spend money ensuring that the pavements in their area are well maintained, employ a sufficient numbers of inspectors to inspect the pavements in their area and report back any faults that are liable to be 'claimable' and then spend the money on making their pavements and parks claim proof. Sure, you can never make anything 100% claim proof, but you can go alot further than some of the councils of our country have done. You see, they don't need to set £5 million big ones aside to settle claims. They need to continually invest in repairs, inspections and renewals of footpaths and the like on an annual basis. If this was done, the volume of genuine Public Liability 'slip and trip' claims would fall and thus, the insurance premiums and council costs would drop too. Simple isn't it?

Don't blame the injured party

To me it seems that the publishing of the story about how much money is set aside to compensate victims of personal injury accidents, is aimed at blaming them for the cost and to increase the belief in the myth of the Compensation Culture. Maybe the thinking behind it is 'if we can make people feel bad about taking tax payers money and that if they do, they are not really entitled to it, they won't claim'? I don't know, but it does seem odd.

If people are injured because a footpath has been left to rot or not been resurfaced and repaired, or tree root growth that has lifted paving slabs and created a minefield for the elderly and children has not been tended to within a reasonable time, why shouldn't someone claim compensation? I know that if I fell on a bad pavement and sustained a broken arm or ankle, I would want to claim. Why should I be unable to earn my wages because the council that I pay my council taxes to, have failed to repair a pavement?

Doing our part

Clearly, we the general public of UK Ltd, need to give our councils help. If we spot dangerous pavements with a hazardous appearance, we MUST inform our Highways Department. By doing this, we are ensuring that the Councils know about the hazards in their areas and can make them safe.

If they then fail to attend the area and make the relevant repairs, then they have no-one to blame other than themselves when their insurance premiums go up and claims are made against them.

Who you gonna call?

Direct 2 Solicitors are approved for Regulated Claims Management Services by the Ministry of Justice (Authorisation CRM 3364), check the regulators web site www.claimsregulation.gov.uk and are also members of the Claims Standards Council. We offer genuine peace of mind, honesty and a friendly caring service.

If you are in need of a reliable and approved Claims Management Company to manage your accident compensation claim, look no further. Email us at webenquiries@direct2solicitorsltd.co.uk, call us on 0800 9177456, or get us to call you, using the big blue "Call me back" box at the top right of this page.

The Compensation Culture Question

The Compensation Culture Myth

Everyone has heard of the Compensation culture. Apparently, we are living in a litigious society and one regularly hears cries of 'we are becoming like America and claiming compensation for everything'. Well, we know that this is not the real case. As I have blogged before, a claim is only viable when an individual, company or organisation has caused injury and losses through negligent actions. Any claim is made against a 3rd party Insurance Policy that is already in existence, in just the same way as you make a claim for damage caused to a car in a crash from the guilty parties Insurance. So why does the myth of the Compensation Culture exist? Who peddles this myth and what are their aims? Read on for our opinion on this matter.

Myth Busters

To get to the bottom of the reason for the creation of the Compensation Culture myth, we need to look at who loses out financially when a client successfully wins their legal claim for Personal Injury Accident Claim Compensation. It goes without saying that the biggest loser when a claim is won, is the Insurance Industry. As always, Insurers take the fees for the policies that they supply and accept the risks of insuring their clients, yet when it comes to paying out compensation to the genuine victims of injuries caused by negligence, they are not so quick to settle up. Sure, they should never settle a claim without fully investigating the matter and ensuring that the claim is genuine and honest. But when a claim is proven, settle it they should, and they do, albeit sometimes begrudgingly.
So, the infamous Compensation Culture, why peddle it? There are a whole host of reasons for this and many vested interests. Unfortunately, many people with viable claims caused by genuine negligent actions often dont wish to pursue their rights and make a claim for Personal Injury Compensation. That is fine and their right to do so, but it is a pretty sad state of affairs when individual legal rights are overruled by myth and pressure from massive wealthy corporations. We have often been told by clients that the reason that they dont wish to claim is because they dont want to be part of the compensation culture and they dont want to be seen as getting something for nothing. Something for nothing? Why? Again, I point out the car damage scenario. If your car was damaged, you would think nothing of making a claim for the repair work or write off settlement fee from the guilty 3rd parties insurance policy. Making a claim for Personal Injury Compensation against an employers liability insurance policy or local authority public liability policy is no different.
In our view, the fact that people have been convinced that making a genuine claim is a dirty and cheeky thing to do suits everyone but the guilty party and their insurance partner.

Pressures on the Claims Industry

In 2006, the Labour Government passed the Compensation Act. We are in support of this. It introduced a regulatory authority to oversee our industry. Claims Management Companies must now be authorised to operate within the Personal Injury Claims sector. This is right and proper and to be supported. However, their is a very strong lobby placing great pressure on our industry and Government from the Association of British Insurers to introduce further aggressive changes which they hope will squeeze even more companies out of the industry and prevent more people claiming compensation. It boils down to the fact that the Insurance sector dont like it when a claim is settled, not only do they pay the compensation to a client, but they also have to pay the clients legal fees. What they want to do, is make it harder for Solicitors to be involved in claims and get the clients to claim directly to the insurers.

Why?

Well, it is promised by the Insurance Sector, that any such move would lead to quicker insurance settlements and lower fees for the insurance sector to manage. They also state that Claimant Solicitors would not slow the process down in order to ramp up their fees. Basically, they are claiming that Solicitors are the problem. The way we see it is (unsurprisingly!) from a completely different perspective. If clients claim directly to an insurer, they MAY get their claim settled more quickly, but they may just as easily have their claimed turn down when maybe it should not have been. Surely, an Independent Solicitor is the best person to manage a claim. They will know if a claim is viable and genuine, how much a suitable settlement would be and what processes to follow to ensure that any settlement is made in the clients best interests. Often, individual claimants who go directly to an insurer settle quickly, but have undergone NO medical assessment. A qualified Specialist Personal Injury Solicitor, such as the members of the Direct 2 Solicitors Personal Injury Solicitor Panel, will ensure that a medical expert reviews the clients injuries and likely recovery or otherwise and fight tooth and nail to ensure that a claim is settled in their clients best interests. Sure, they earn fees by representing clients. But their fees are earned legally and by ensuring that they have represented their client properly. The fees are never paid by the client as both we and our Solicitors operate a genuine No Win No Fee claims service. But what is wrong with that? Dont let yourself be fooled in to believing in the Compensation Culture myth. It may be good for some if you do, but it wont be good for you.

Who you gonna call?

Direct 2 Solicitors are approved for Regulated Claims Management Services by the Ministry of Justice (Authorisation CRM 3364), check the regulators web site www.claimsregulation.gov.uk and are also members of the Claims Standards Council. We offer genuine peace of mind, honesty and a friendly caring service.

If you are in need of a reliable and approved Claims Management Company to manage your accident compensation claim, look no further. Email us at webenquiries@direct2solicitorsltd.co.uk, call us on 0800 9177456, or get us to call you, using the big blue "Call me back" box at the top right of this page.

Accident Compensation Stories

Real Lives, Real Injuries, Real Problems

We have helped numerous victims of non fault accidents in their quest for Personal Injury Compensation. On a daily basis, we field calls and internet enquiries from potential clients who are struggling to cope in the aftermath of their accident and with the loss of income and independence their injuries have caused to them.

It is pleasing to know that during our daily slog at work, we have gone some way towards helping these people get back on their feet, both financially and physically. It goes without saying that nobody wants to get injured and nobody wants to be financially ruined because they cant work, especially after a terrible accident.

Thankfully, we live in a civilised society with a legal system that provides financially risk free legal assistance like our No Win No Fee accident compensation service; to help the unfortunate innocent accident victims pick up the pieces of their lives and get back to where they should be.

Work Accident, loss of income loss of happiness

Our client was at work at the joinery firm he had been with for around 6 weeks. As a skilled and qualified joiner, he was used to handling all sorts of machines, timbers and tools. His new employers had promised him everything. More money, better hours and the journey to his new work place was around ½ an hour less than his old one.
Unbeknown to our client, behind the image that they had put to him, they were corner cutters and scrimped on vital Health & Safety equipment, new tools, tool repairs and training. It turns out they the new employer preferred to take cash out of the business at the risk of employee injury.

When a new job came in, our client was only too pleased to be involved in the task. It seemed that overtime would be available and if the job were finished within the agreed time frame, a hefty bonus would be his for the taking. Who would turn that down?

The job was to make huge speaker boxes for stadium performance amps, the kind of thing that would be used by a huge rock band at Wembley Stadium. Our client knew how to use the routing machine, having used one for many years in his previous job. He knew the safety requirements of being trained, correct clothing, eye protection etc, so he started with the task in hand.

Cutting Corners

What he did not know was that his employer had loosened the safety guard to enable the large wooden amp frames to fit on the router. He had no idea that he was about to sustain a life changing injury through an act of negligence by his employer. Loosening the guard enabled the wood to fit the machine, but it also exposed him to a great risk of injury. The employer should have purchased or hired in a larger machine so that the job could be done safely.

Unfortunately, the loosened guard offered no protection to our client. As he was routing the 2nd item, the router jammed, pulled the wood hard and caused our clients hand to jam against the sharp blade.
His injuries were terrible. He basically routed the back of his dominant right hand clean off. Despite immediate medical attention and expert surgery within hours, the full use of his hand could not be saved. Now, as well as having a terrible disfigurement in a very visible place, he also has a 60% loss of use of the hand.

Loss of income

The severity of this injury caused our client to have no option other than to leave his job. He could no longer operate the machinery required and was unable to perform the tasks that he had done for many years. As a middle aged man with a training and background in the Joinery trade, he had no easy option and was unable to command an income anywhere near that which he was used to.

Suddenly, paying the bills, servicing his mortgage and funding his family was almost impossible. He was entitled to some benefits, but not enough to pay the way.

Accident at work compensation claim

Fortunately, our client was made aware of his right to make a claim and along with his wife looked in to his options. Thankfully, he chose the right partner for his work accident compensation claim and came to Direct 2 Solicitors. We knew immediately after speaking with him that he had a very strong claim. Indeed, we went as close as we ever do to guaranteeing his claim would win. We never do guarantees of that sort though, but always guarantee that we offer a genuine No Win No Fee service.

His claim is now well towards settlement and our Panel Solicitor running the claim has informed us that the settlement will be substantial. The 3rd party insurance company has accepted liability and it is hoped that the settlement will be enough to wipe out our clients immediate financial worries. Our client has since been in contact with us and is very happy with the progress to date of his claim.

Remember your rights. You can claim if you are not at fault

If you, a friend, family member or colleague is injured through no fault of their own, they may well be able to claim accident compensation. The compensation settlement will not change the fact that they are injured and have suffered, but it will compensate them for the pain and distress of their injuries and financial losses.

Any claim is made against an Insurer, such as an Employers Liability, Motoring or Public Liability Insurance Policy. The insurers accept the risk and charge a premium to provide cover. If the worst happens, the policy is there to be used.

Who you gonna call?

Direct 2 Solicitors are approved for Regulated Claims Management Services by the Ministry of Justice (Authorisation CRM 3364), check the regulators web site www.claimsregulation.gov.uk and are also members of the Claims Standards Council. We offer genuine peace of mind, honesty and a friendly caring service.

If you are in need of a reliable and approved Claims Management Company to manage your accident compensation claim, look no further. Email us at webenquiries@direct2solicitorsltd.co.uk, call us on 0800 9177456, or get us to call you, using the big blue "Call me back" box at the top right of this page.

Regulated Claims Management Companies

Compensation Act 2006

As a direct result of the Compensation Act 2006, companies such as us now have to be approved to operate within the Personal Injury Claims Management Sector. The Act came in to force in April 2007 and we are the proud holders of a certificate of authorisation and follow strict guidelines that are set out by our regulatory body, the Ministry of Justice. Our Authorisation number is CRM3364.

The move to a fully Regulated Claims Management Industry is one we welcome and were actively involved in promoting. Indeed, members of our team assisted with Government working parties and pushed the debate towards having the regulatory system that we now operate within. We now feel that victims of accidents, who wish to launch No Win No Fee Accident Claims, can be sure of an open, ethical and honest partner when they choose a company to manage their accident claim.

Why have a regulated Claims Management Industry?

Prior to the Government creating a law, which legally requires any person or company operating within the Personal Injury Claims sector, there were no restrictions on who could get involved in this industry or how they could operate. Clearly, this was not acceptable and whilst the majority of companies operating did so in a proper manner, a hardcore few didn’t. This caused a whole series of problems for claimants wishing to lodge a claim. Individuals ended up out of pocket, people were harassed in to making a claim, Solicitors were provided with falsified versions of events and Insurers could not be certain that claims were genuine.

There was a genuine case of all Claims Management Companies being tarred with the same brush. Those in the majority who were genuinely acting in the clients best interests were indistinguishable from those that were dishonest and feathering their own nests.

Fortunately for us, the move to a fully regulated sector has banished the less scrupulous firms and practices. We no longer get tarred with the same brush as the firms who operated in a less than squeaky clean manner.

Famous cases of unethical Claims Management practices

The two most famous exposures of bad practice were the collapse and folding of Claims Direct and The Accident Group (more commonly known as TAG).

Claims Direct were the first big No Win No Fee Company to operate in the Personal Injury Sector in the UK. They initially did great things, before their demise lead to the Sun labelling them ‘Shames Direct’. The demise of Claims Direct hit the headlines when it emerged that the compulsory insurance premiums that they had forced their clients to sign up to were wiping out customer compensation settlements. Unsurprisingly, Claims Direct never recovered from the public relations disaster and later went under.

TAG caused a messy stir of their won when they admitted to sacking 2,400 employees by text message after the company ran out of money to write new business. The No Win, No Fee Company, was placed in the hands of administrators Price Waterhouse Coopers, who had a hard job fending off claims from employees who say TAG never bothered paying commissions and fees that had been earned. To make matters even worse, clients of TAG who succeed in winning their cases (estimated to be about 70 per cent of 100,000 customers) were informed that despite the demise of TAG, they might still receive money because the policies that they forced their clients to sign guaranteed a minimum payout of £500 if a claim was successful, but that winnings may be significantly reduced. Under the terms of TAG policies, personal injury victims were made to take out an insurance policy of between £800 and £900. The company believed that this sum would be recovered when a claim was won, as it would be argued that this was a legal fee. Unfortunately, this was not the case and this very belief caused numerous TAG employees to lodge fake claims. After all, the company got a massive commission on every policy taken out. This commission was paid regardless of the claim and regardless of the outcome. Why would a company worry about honest claims if they could make a nice sum of money for every client they signed up? It was rumoured that TAG customers would be liable to make up most of the shortfall, which would have to be paid to the policy insurers and to TAG bankers.

What does the regulatory status mean to clients?

The Regulatory Authority rules mean many things to clients. There have been some key rules that offer genuine choice, safety and transparency to all members and parties operating within the No Win No Fee industry. Firstly, no company or business is allowed to offer claims management services unless they are authorised to do so. Any businesses doing so without approval should be reported. To do so, either call us or visit the Ministry of Justice website and tell them.
The regulator has also outlawed various marketing methods used by the less scrupulous firms. Cold Calling is no longer allowed. Trawling around housing estates, knocking doors and harassing people are now banned. Further, companies can no longer aggressively advertise or harass people in Hospitals. Wording such as No Win No Fee must now be qualified and we are obliged to inform individuals and clients how we make our money, who pays us what, when and how.

We also offer a proper published Complaints procedure, although this has never been used against us!

Also, we are now obliged to have Professional Indemnity Insurance.

Who you gonna call?

Direct 2 Solicitors are approved for Regulated Claims Management Services by the Ministry of Justice (Authorisation CRM 3364) and are also members of the Claims Standards Council. We offer genuine peace of mind, honesty and a friendly caring service.

If you are in need of a reliable and approved Claims Management Company to manage your accident compensation claim, look no further. Email us at webenquiries@direct2solicitorsltd.co.uk, call us on 0800 9177456, or get us to call you, using the big blue "Call me back" box at the top right of this page.

A day in the life of a Personal Injury Claims Management Company

Lots of people talk about claiming compensation for their accident. Lots of people want to make a claim. But not many people know what happens in the day to day management of an accident claim. Cast your eye below to see what has been happening so far today at Direct 2 Solicitors Ltd.

Helping Clients

As always, we have been busy talking to our clients and Solicitors regarding claims. I have just spent 40 minutes on the phone taking details of a claim. A retired gentleman on Holiday with his Wife in Torquay sustained some really nasty injuries tripping on a very badly damaged footpath. They are extremely keen to lodge a claim for compensation. So what did I do?

As well as needing information about their accident from the clients so we can build a viable claim for them, we needed witness information. In this case, I was after a Hazard Witness. As it happened, the Gentleman who owned the Holiday accommodation where the client was staying has come forward to act as a Hazard Witness. It transpires that this Gentleman has complained to Torbay Council on more than 4 occasions over the last year about the dangerous and hazardous footpath outside his Holiday Flats. Yet no remedial action or repair has been carried out by Torbay Council. Indeed, they have not even inspected the area. Clearly this witness is far from happy with the Council. As a result of ignoring the complaints made to them, the Council could well be held liable for the injuries sustained by our client. Thus the supporting Hazard Witness Statement will assist greatly in our Solicitors obtaining a successful outcome for our client. So after speaking to the client, I called the Hazard Witness and discussed the pathway in question. He is more than happy to assist with the compensation claim and we now await his statement. This is a good news story. We have tracked the witness down and he is happy to cooperate. It is not always like this! But some of the investigating work we do in tracking down folk who can play a vital role in the success or failure of a claim can be fun (even if it can be hard work!).

Accident Claims. More than meets the eye

You see, there is more to making an accident compensation claim than many would believe, especially those that pedal the myth about the compensation culture. It is not enough to say you fell and were injured. We need evidence. Public Liability related claims need to be supported by photographs of hazardous pavements. Independent Witnesses need to be found who are willing to state that a defective and dangerous area of footpath has been in situ for a considerable period; it is dangerous and has been ignored by the Council responsible for the maintenance of the footpath. It is with such information and proof, that we can achieve success with a No Win No Fee claim.

Building a viable claim

Fielding calls (the phones are ringing around me this morning) from people wishing to find out if they have a viable compensation claim and sorting the wheat from the chaff is one part. But we also do many other things too. Such as liaising with Solicitors about the details of the enquiry when needed, making sure we have the full details about the accident, losses and injuries so we can commence our claim file, starting an accident claim application, speaking to witnesses, reviewing photographs, appointing regional claims managers to visit accident sites, submitting claims to our Solicitors, and much, much more beside!

What is our involvement in your accident claim?

Our job is to provide our Solicitors with all the information that they will need to enable them to successfully pursue our clients accident claims. We work tirelessly to do so and 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday is a busy time for the team here at Direct 2 Solicitors Ltd. We work hard to make sure that our clients are in the know, the evidence is gained, the witnesses are involved and the claim is watertight. At Direct 2 Solicitors Ltd, we manage your accident claim. Giving you the very best chance of success in your rightful pursuit of Personal Injury Compensation.

Who you gonna call?

If you are in need of a reliable and approved Claims Management Company to manage your accident compensation claim, look no further. Email us at webenquiries@direct2solicitorsltd.co.uk, call us on 0800 9177456, or get us to call you, using the big blue "Call me back" box at the top right of this page.

How to avoid a bad No Win No Fee Claim experience!

Scared of the dark? Wont walk under ladders? Dont cross on the stairs? A few odd superstitions and irrational fears that humanity has developed over time. So, you see some people avoiding the above, for no reason other than an old wives tale! Fair enough I guess? But it is amazing how many people don't avoid some of the real pitfalls in life and do things like enter in to a very important legal matter, such as making a Personal Injury Compensation Claim. They often do so without understanding what they are agreeing to and just how see through the company that they are instructing is.

Transparent Accident Claim Service

Direct 2 Solicitors, has a very transparent arrangement and we make a point of disclosing what we get paid when successful, what our Solicitors pay us and what if any fee you would pay if your claim was successful. Unfortunately, we have been approached by clients who have chosen badly when making their claim with a cowboy outfit that have deducted high sums from settlements that had not been explained clearly at the outset, or that they had not queried at the outset. Also, we have heard from clients who have been unable to make contact with the person running their claim. Numerous messages left, unanswered letters and a lack of support is the last thing you need when dealing with a complex and alien matter like a Personal Injury Claim. Direct 2 Solicitors are available Monday-Friday from 9am-5pm on 0800 9177456 with an answering service outside those hours. We guarantee to call you back the next working day if a message is left.

One shot for success

Remember, You only get one chance to make a claim for any accident, so it needs to be right. Often at such a late stage when things have gone wrong, we can do nothing to help these individuals other than point them in the direction of the Claims Regulation team at the MoJ. We have also had clients come to us late in the day when another Claims Management Company or Solicitor has all but ruined their chances of success. Most people know that you have 3 years to make a claim, but most dont know that any Claims Management Company or Solicitor will need at least 6 months of that period remaining in order to ensure that they can prepare a decent case and get it registered in the courts in time, should that be needed. In the past, some firms have wasted time by not acting on a claim or failing to place it promptly. We work hard to ensure that any claim is seen by the full extent of our panel in the quickest time frame. Indeed, we only allow a Panel Solicitor 5 days to view and consider a claim and accept or reject the chance to litigate on that matter. If they fail to say yay or nay in that time, we take it away and try it with another.

If you are in need of a reliable and approved Claims Management Company to manage your accident compensation claim, look no further. Email us at webenquiries@direct2solicitorsltd.co.uk, call us on 0800 9177456, or get us to call you, using the big blue "Call me back..." box at the top right of this page.

What Everybody Ought to Know About No Win No Fee

So, you want to make a claim for the injuries you sustained after your accident at work, but where do you go to do it? How do you make a claim? What do you look for? What do you need to make sure has happened (or not!), to give your work accident claim every chance of success? The world of Personal Injury (No Win No Fee) claims can appear to be a murky one, especially if you have not had the experience of making a claim in the past or you are not an insurance expert! If you are new to the world of making an accident compensation claim, the process that you will be asked to go through when making your work accident claim will be a new, and maybe frightening experience for you.

Well, we have this lovely new blog and we are going to use it to tell the world that there is a safe place to take your claim and a trusted partner to manage the process for you!

Why?

We have been in the fortunate position, or unfortunate (depending on what side you view it!) of helping numerous people with their claim for compensation. Many of them badly injured, away from work and struggling to cope financially.

Well, we are happy to be in that position and to take the stress of making a claim away from the injured client. When making a claim, it is obvious that evidence will be needed to enable a successful outcome. We know what questions to ask. Was the accident recorded in an accident book? Were there witnesses? Was there a lack of training or equipment that lead to the accident? Have you seen a doctor? What is the diagnosis?

Questions and answers!

Clearly, the right questions need to be asked and at Direct 2 Solicitors, we know what we need to ask. Do you know what you need to ask? Make sure that any claims company you approach can confirm that they are regulated and approved by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). Ask for their authorisation number and if you want, check it out on the MoJ website: www.claimsregulation.gov.uk to ensure any authorisation is still active. Ask about charges, who pays what to who? What are your liabilities? How long will the Claims Company take to decide if they can manage your claim? How many Solicitor firms do they work with? What experience do they and their Solicitors have? Can you always contact them? Basically don't be a fool and protect your interests.

If you are in need of a reliable and approved Claims Management Company to manage your accident compensation claim, look no further. Email us at: webenquiries@direct2solicitorsltd.co.uk, call us on 0800 9177456, or get us to call you, using the big blue "Call me back..." box at the top right of this page.