Archive for the 'No Win No Fee' Category

Malvern solicitor Steven Hinchliffe outlines some of the issues that should be considered following a road accident, and which can easily be overlooked in the immediate aftermath.  This note offers guidance on the initial steps to be taken.

Steven Hinchliffe is the Principal of Hinchliffes Solicitors which firm specialises in personal injury compensation claims and handles accident at work, road accident and many other types of cases throughout England and Wales.  Even so, many clients of the firm are local to Malvern and the surrounding towns of Ledbury, Upton upon Severn, Tewkesbury, Pershore, Evesham, Droitwich, Redditch, Tenbury, Bromyard and the cities of Hereford and Worcester.

WHAT SHOULD I RECORD AFTER AN ACCIDENT?

Before you think of anything else, switch off your ignition and get away from any fuel spill.  Then take a note of relevant details and it is useful to keep a pen and paper with you, together with a copy of your insurance certificate, for this type of situation.

Published in CVDriver January 2011.

This is the first in a series of articles written by solicitor Steven Hinchliffe, who is the owner and Principal of the specialist Personal Injury firm HINCHLIFFES SOLICITORS.

In these articles he will consider various issues relating to the accidents commonly suffered by professional drivers and the sometimes devastating injuries they sustain.  The firm has many years of experience in handling accident claims on behalf of injured victims – not only recovering millions of pounds in compensation, but also securing medical and other rehabilitation treatment to aid their recovery and return to normal life. 

This first article deals with the basic elements that need to exist for a successful claim for personal injury compensation to be made following an accident.

Published in Truckstop News December 2010.

In this month’s issue Steven Hinchliffe of the specialist Personal Injury Compensation firm Hinchliffes Solicitors will consider “WHETHER CLAIMS CAN BE MADE AGAINST COMPANIES IN LIQUIDATION OR NO LONGER TRADING”

There are likely to be a considerable number of valid personal injury compensation claims that have not been pursued, simply because the person either injured in an accident at work or suffering from an Industrial Disease believes that the insolvency or liquidation of the company at fault will prevent them from making a claim.  This is not the case.

Although in some situations it may take a considerable amount of time to piece together the history of a company and trace the relevant insurance cover, in many instances the time required to bring the claim to a successful conclusion is little different from that taken when the defendant company is a solvent business.  The same applies no matter whether the potential defendant is a limited company, a PLC, a sole trader or a partnership that has ceased trading.  The important factor is whether the insurance company that provided the relevant cover to that business can be identified.  If there was a valid insurance policy in force at the time the accident occurred, or the Industrial Disease was suffered, then generally speaking a claim for compensation will be possible.

Published in Truckstop News July 2010.

In this month’s issue Steven Hinchliffe of the specialist Personal Injury Compensation firm Hinchliffes Solicitors will consider “THE IMPORTANCE OF STRONG MEDICAL EVIDENCE IN SUCCESSFUL PERSONAL INJURY CLAIMS”

What is the role of medical evidence in personal injury claims and why is it so important?  To make a successful claim for personal injury compensation, you need to prove three things.  Firstly, that someone else had a legal responsibility for your safety and welfare; secondly that they failed in their responsibilities towards you; and finally that you suffered an injury as a direct result.  No matter how serious your injuries are, you will only be able to recover accident compensation if the first and second criteria are satisfied.

Published in Truckstop News May 2010.

In this month’s issue Steven Hinchliffe of the specialist Personal Injury Compensation firm Hinchliffes Solicitors will consider “THE IMPACT OF THE NEW PROCESS FOR DEALING WITH ROAD ACCIDENT CLAIMS”

From 30 April 2010 there will be an entirely new process for dealing with road accident claims involving a personal injury.  This has been forced through by the Government, acting under pressure from insurance companies, and it will affect all cases where the overall value of the claim is less than £10,000.  In practice, this will include the overwhelming majority of road accident compensation claims.  However, what are the implications for you – can you be sure that your case will be properly conducted by your solicitor and that you will receive the full amount of compensation you are entitled to?

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.

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.

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.