With so many law firms and claims companies out there to choose from, how do you know who is the best injury lawyer to represent you for your claim?
Here is a quick guide as to what we think you should look out for when selecting a law firm to fight for your claim for personal injury compensation. Naturally we’ve based it on the way we work which we believe is the best way!
You could always just give us a call on 0800 634 7575 and let us show you why we are a fantastic injury law firm to chose for your case. But if you wish to do some more reading first then here is what you need to look for:
High costs
The law changed last year and now lawyers are taking percentage deductions to cover fees that cannot be obtained from the opponent anymore. The amount of fees that can be recovered was also slashed to such an extent that there are upfront costs for claiming with some solicitors too.
Here are the key facts that are relevant for most types of cases:
25% – You can only be charged up to a maximum of 25% from your compensation to cover the Success Fee which can no longer be recovered form the other side. So if a law firm is taking more, such as 35% or 40%, then you are being hit with additional fees.
We think you shouldn’t accept anything over 25% for most types of cases such as road accidents, work accidents, and general public liability cases.
Insurance – Most law firms will ask you to pay for insurance which cannot be recovered either – this can cost anywhere between a few hundred pounds to thousands of pounds. Sometimes it is charged upfront, during, or at the end of the case as a fixed amount. Sometimes it’s covered by an additional percentage.
The truth is, you don’t need insurance. The actual risk of ever needing it is so slim that we here at The Injury Lawyers can cover you instead without charging you a premium. How good is that!?
No Win, No Fee – many no win, no fee agreements aren’t actually no win, no fee anymore. If you have to pay for something upfront then you are essentially at a loss if you don’t get it back.
A no win, no fee should literally do what it says on the tin – you don’t win, you don’t pay anything.
Law firms – go direct!
Stick with going to a law firm like us directly to avoid additional fees or percentages, which are common with claims management companies and accident advice services. The reason is that they are not actually lawyers – they are simply middlemen who will pass you to a law firm and then may charge you for the privilege of doing so. I’d be surprised if they were working for free, and since referral fees were banned last year, the solicitor can’t pay them…
Do you know how a claim works?
Most people don’t – so an insight in to the process and how a claim will be run is, we think, important knowledge for a prospective client. We can take you through the major steps of the case and advise you what should happen every step of the way.
We think law firms should explain this kind of thing to you, which is why we do it!
A fast and efficient service
We can get a claim set up and submitted to the other side right away. We can even do it on the very first day you speak with us in many cases, if you want us to do so.
We have online portals where you can access your case online and we can submit information from our portals directly to the portals that the defendants, insurers, and solicitors use as well.
If you don’t want all the hassle of lengthy paperwork and loads of forms to fill in and send back then it sounds like we can offer you a fantastic opportunity to avoid all of that.
We’re open up until 10pm on most weekday evenings and 9am to 5pm on most weekends – not many law firms can say that can they? And it’s our office you’ll speak to and not come outsourced call centre!