What is the advantage of instructing a personal injury solicitor?
A specialist personal injury solicitor will have the experience and resources to help you resolve your claim as swiftly as possible, thereby keeping costs down. They will have the expertise to obtain the maximum amount of compensation for your injury, and they will be able to assist in gathering all the evidence you will need for your claim, such as medical reports.
If I have a personal injury solicitor, will I have to go to court?
The majority of lower-value personal injury claims do not get as far as the court-room, as many insurers are willing to settle before the matter goes further. You should listen to the expert advice of your solicitor concerning negotiation, as the other party may offer a reduced amount of compensation; and there is the possibility that your symptoms could worsen in future. If your injury is sufficiently serious, or there is an argument concerning liability, your solicitor will advise you about proceeding to court.
Will I have to pay my solicitor up front?
A personal injury claim can only succeed if the fault of the other party is established, and the process can be expensive. However, your solicitor may offer a no-win, no-fee agreement. This means that you would not have to pay legal fees up-front. In addition, you would not have to pay legal fees if you lost your claim. Alternatively, you will have to pay a success fee to your solicitor if you are awarded compensation. Therefore a no-win, no-fee agreement should be thoroughly discussed in advance.
How can I check their credentials?
If a ‘legal adviser’ is not a qualified solicitor, they cannot go to court on your behalf. You can enquire if your solicitor is a member of the Law Society accreditation scheme for personal injury law. This means that your solicitor is particularly qualified in this field; and that they undertake further training as changes in the law occur. There is also a professional association called APIL (Association of Personal Injury Lawyers).
How soon after my accident should I consult a personal injury solicitor?
There are strict time-limits in place for the pursuit of personal injury compensation; generally this is three years from the time of the accident or incident, or three years from the date you realised you were injured.
- Last Updated on 29/08/2011
