Archive for the 'Claims issues' Category

Published in Truckstop News January 2010.

In this month’s issue Steven Hinchliffe of the specialist Personal Injury Compensation firm Hinchliffes Solicitors considers “THE PITFALLS OF DEALING DIRECT WITH INSURERS IN A ROAD ACCIDENT CLAIM”

This article looks at the very beginning of road accident claims, how they are funded and the pitfalls to be aware of, particularly regarding insurance companies.  However, similar issues could apply to any type of accident compensation claim.

For many commercial entities involved in the personal injury claims business, an accident is purely a commodity to be bought and sold.  Despite the apparent lack of openness, almost all insurance companies will trade a claim for cash, potentially exploiting the injured party rather than protecting their interests.  Many insurers may soon be launching advertising campaigns to persuade the public to deal with them direct, but concealing their real motivation.

Like all injury compensation claims, a road accident claim can only be pursued by solicitors.  Adverts from claims companies on TV, on the Internet and in newspapers might suggest they will handle each case personally, but this is incorrect.  They actually sell the claim to solicitors on their appointed panel, often for a price of between £600 and £800.  The chosen solicitor will usually handle the matter on the basis that the injured person pays no legal costs, but some claims companies either charge a set amount or take a slice of the compensation once the case is successful, and which can amount to a substantial figure.  Before responding to this type of advertising, why not do some research and find a firm of specialist claims solicitors with a proven track record, and deal with them direct.

How do you select the right person to handle your accident compensation claim, particularly in respect of a work accident claim?  Personal Injury compensation claims solicitors, Hinchliffes Solicitors, give some advice.

Solicitor Steven Hinchliffe, the Principal and owner of the firm, says “Always find out if a solicitor will handle the claim and how much experience the proposed file handler has, particularly in dealing with more complicated cases such as accident at work claims.  Also consider how long the firm of solicitors or the claims company has existed, and question whether the proposed file handler is a true specialist in accident compensation claims.  Many companies and solicitors offering personal injury claims services have a mixed caseload of work in various areas of law, which can result in the client not achieving the best possible outcome.”  When making your choice, the length of time that a solicitor has been qualified is often less important than their level of expertise.

If you have accidents on holiday (either in the UK or abroad) and want to pursue personal injury claims, as long as the “holiday package” was booked through a tour operator in the UK and what you were doing at the time of the accident was part of that package, then you may be able to make an injury compensation claim against the tour operator for your injuries and any related financial losses.  In this situation the personal injury compensation claim would fall under the jurisdiction of the Courts of England and Wales and can therefore be handled by any UK solicitors experienced in personal injury claims

Under the Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 1992 a tour operator can be held responsible for all of the services provided as part of a package holiday.  This can include:-

Hinchliffes Solicitors, a leading firm of personal injury compensation claims solicitors, say that recent research shows the number of children and young people injured in road traffic accidents in the morning rush hour has reduced considerably.  Between January and June 2008 there were 344 road accidents involving children, but for the same period in 2009 this number dropped to 228.  Some commentators suggest the recession may be linked to the reduction in this type of accident, occurring at the time of the morning “school run”.

Solicitor Steven Hinchliffe, who is the Principal and owner of Hinchliffes Solicitors, said:  “Fuel prices and the other overhead costs involved in running a car have become a great burden on many families during the current economic downturn.  Many parents are now walking their children to school rather than travelling in the family car.  Fewer car journeys have resulted in a reduction in accidents, and which is a good thing.”

Hinchliffes Solicitors, a leading firm of personal injury claims solicitors, have issued a warning to people looking for personal injury compensation to be wary of companies who state they are specialists in this area.

They have found that the current trend is for almost everyone involved in personal injury claims to assert that they are specialists.  Companies want you to use their services and will do and say almost anything to attract your business.  One definition of the word ’specialist’ is someone “who is devoted to a particular occupation or branch of study or research”.  However, they may be devoted to a particular occupation, but that does not necessarily mean they are any good at it!

Hinchliffes Solicitors, one of the leading firms of personal injury compensation solicitors, help people every day to make personal injury claims.  The firm has recently confirmed that over £5,500,000 in compensation has now been recovered for clients who have used their services to make a successful injury compensation claim.

The Principal and owner of the firm, Solicitor Steven Hinchliffe, said: “This is a great achievement and shows that our committed team of specialist solicitors and skilled support staff can provide a high quality, personal service, putting clients’ interests and wellbeing first.  Whether the injured person has suffered a relatively minor injury (such as a whiplash injury in a road accident) or a devastating and catastrophic injury (such as a head injury or loss of a limb following a work accident), our specialist personal injury solicitors have the legal know-how to achieve the best possible level of compensation for the client.”

LEGAL WELCOME

Local personal injury specialists Hinchliffes Solicitors have become founder members of a nationwide alliance of solicitor firms, QualitySolicitors.com.

The group selected 100 of the top firms nationwide to form the founder membership, and has chosen Hinchliffes Solicitors as one of them.

Steven Hinchliffe of Hinchliffes Solicitors, based at Sandys Road, said he was very pleased the firm had been invited to join the group.  He said: “We are delighted that our high-quality client-focused service has been recognised by being accepted into this exclusive organisation.“

ENDS

PERSONAL INJURY CLAIM SOLICITORS:-

If you have suffered any form of accident or contracted an industrial disease contact personal injury specialists Hinchliffes Solicitors for immediate legal advice, to find out if you are entitled to make claims for injury compensation.  All cases are conducted on a No Win - No Fee basis, where the Client keeps 100% of the compensation recovered.

Call now on 0800 138 1348 to speak direct to a personal injury lawyer or go to our Start Your Claim Now  page to submit details of your personal injury claim online.

Published in Truckstop News July 2009.

In this month’s issue Steven Hinchliffe of the specialist Personal Injury firm Hinchliffes Solicitors will consider “ACCIDENTS ON HOLIDAY - HOME AND AWAY”.

If you were on holiday either in the UK or abroad and had an accident, as long as the “holiday package” was booked through a tour operator in the UK and what you were doing at the time of the accident was part of that package, then you may be able to claim compensation against the tour operator for your injuries and any related financial losses.

Specialist personal Injury claims solicitors, Hinchliffes Solicitors, have become founder members of an exclusive nationwide alliance of high quality solicitor firms, Quality Solicitors, whose recent successful national launch was widely reported in the press, on the web, on TV and radio.

Hinchliffes Solicitors joined the alliance as it is the UK’s first ever truly national legal brand promoting the use of real solicitor firms over “call-centre law”, soon to be provided by supermarkets and banks.   The alliance has initially selected 100 of the top solicitor firms nationwide to form the founder membership, and has chosen Hinchliffes Solicitors as recognised specialist claims solicitors providing accident claims advice to members of the public wishing to make personal injury claims.

Some basic elements need to exist for a successful accident compensation claim to be made.  The most common types of accident claims are a road accident claim or an accident at work claim.

To succeed in an accident compensation claim, the accident must have happened because someone was at fault and the victim suffered an injury.  The other party must have been aware that their actions (or lack of action) could cause injury, and which is commonly the situation when they are either another road user or an employer.