Take Advice From Road Accident Solicitors To Guarantee A Fair Deal

Thankfully, the majority of us do not often require the aid of road accident solicitors. But accidents do happen, so imagine this. You’re minding your own business driving along when another driver hits the back of your car. You weren’t to blame for the accident. So, as the law states that you must, you both stop and swap contact and insurance details and you go on your way planning to contact your insurers later on in the day.

Then, also imagine that at home, before you have even found the time to call your insurers, a representative from the other driver’s insurance company knocks on your door. He or she then offers to write you a cheque on the spot in compensation for your injuries and losses. This is great you think!

However, road accident solicitors might advise you to stop and reflect on whether this is such a great deal after all. The practice of insurance companies contacting the claimant offering to settle their claim right away is becoming increasingly common. When insurers do this it is usually very soon after the accident. There have even been examples of representatives of insurance companies arriving at the scene of the accident offering to resolve claims there and then.

Although all of this may sound like efficient and prompt service, road accident solicitors warn consumers about the practice. Consider why the insurance companies would be so keen to settle claims so quickly. Think about why an honest insurer would want to compensate a driver for their injuries before they had even seen a doctor or received legal advice.

Many road accident solicitors and personal injury lawyer associations are warning that companies are actually trying to save themselves some money whilst claiming to provide efficient service. This is because, should they agree to the proposed amount of compensation, the insurance company requires the claimant to sign a form stating that they accept the offer in full and final settlement of the claim. In other words, once that form is signed the claim is legal concluded and regardless of what happens there is no going back and claiming any further money, even with the help of road accident solicitors.

Consumers therefore run the risk of accepting a claim worth less than what they’re entitled to and what they may need. It is well known that the full extent of injuries may take several days or even weeks to be clear. Compensation is partly intended to pay for ongoing treatment of accident victims’ injuries, so a full understanding of the extent of the injuries is important before accepting payment. Road accident solicitors therefore advice that claimants take both legal and medical advice before accepting any offer of settlement.

The Association of British Insurers has created a voluntary code of practice to try to protect consumers from being left out of pocket by this practice. It dictates that insurers should make a claimant aware of their right to independent legal advice when offering to settle their claim. It also suggests that making initial contact by letter or telephone rather than in person at a claimant’s address avoids intimidation.

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