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What is a referral fee?

This is a sum of money that a lawyer may pay an insurer in order to obtain the details of a person who has been involved in an accident, and could likely make a claim for compensation.  Once they have the victims’ details they may cold call them or bombard them with intrusive text messages informing them that they could make a claim for compensation and that this lawyer could represent them.  By paying the referral fee the lawyer has the first chance to convince the victim to instruct them to deal with their claim.  Paying a referral fee is therefore a way of obtaining business.

Have referral fees always been around and how much are they?

It is estimated that referral fees have been around for approximately 20 years.  Typically a referral fee will be in the region of £200 to £1,000 and the value ultimately turns on how much the claim is likely to be worth.  For example, if the injured party’s injuries are particularly severe and long lasting, their claim will be worth a lot more than someone who has suffered a 2 month minor whiplash claim.  As such, the referral fee for the more severe injury may be greater than the whiplash injury because it will ultimately net a lawyer more money in the long run through carrying out more work.
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Many people may think that claiming for compensation is complex, complicated, and full of hassle. Well, I am writing this blog to explain that it doesn’t have to be that way, and that claiming for personal injury is very procedural and systematic – so, whether you are perusing a claim against a global corporation or against an individual, the system is the same.

The system I am about to describe is that which most personal injury claims run through, except for road traffic accidents that took place after 30^th April 2010 and are below a value of £10,000. If your claim is the exception then feel free to have a look at some of our other helpful blogs which will explain that process.

The first stage of beginning a claim for compensation is your solicitor sending out a Letter of Claim. This is the first correspondence a Defendant will receive on the matter and it aims to set out all the accident circumstances, your injuries, and the reasons for their negligence.
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OK – so you have had an accident through no fault of your own, and you believe you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries and any suffering you have had to endure. Who do you speak to for advice, and who do you instruct for your claim?

In all honesty, it’s entirely up to you! I of course will suggest that you speak to us as we are a firm of specialist personal injury lawyers. We are an actual law firm, so we do not pass details over to anyone else to have your claim – it’s us that advise you, and it’s us that represent you.

But aside from my attempts to sway you over to our service, here is a quick guide as to what you should look out for when it comes to getting the right advice and getting the right lawyer for your claim:
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If you are reading this blog it is most likely because you have suffered a whiplash injury, and you want to know how much compensation you could be due.  This comes as no surprise to us at The Injury Lawyers because it is a question we get asked every day.  Unfortunately, there is no straightforward answer – but as experts in our field we can provide an estimate as to the value of your claim.

According to the Judicial Studies Board (JSB) Guidelines the following values for your whiplash injury apply:

Minor whiplash injuries = £875 to £5,150.00

Moderate whiplash injuries = £5,150 to £16,400

Severe whiplash injuries = £16,400 to £97.000

Here are a few further things to consider:
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Motorcycle accidents are unfortunately becoming more and more common. This is maybe due to the fact that motorcyclists are the more vulnerable road users in comparison to say cars users. Motorcycles do not have the same obvious in built protection such as that of welded metal and crumple zones which cars offer, and so once an accident occurs there are often more serious injuries involved. This is one of the reasons why for victims of motorcycle accidents choosing a specialist personal injury lawyer with a wealth of experience can make all the difference.

Being seriously injured means that your case is likely to be more complex and may last longer. In this instance it is especially advisable to avoid using referral agencies for your claim. Referral agencies simply sell on your claim onto a law firm giving them a drop in their profits to begin with, which can mean that you get a poorer service and possibly a claim that drags on longer than it needs to.

If you have been in an accident as described above, you may be looking for a law firm to instruct on your claim. I have therefore set out some of the benefits which you should look for in a firm below:
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Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS), or Vibration White Finger as it can also be known, is a condition which affects many peoples’ lives. The Health and Safety Executive report that the number of new cases of Vibration White Finger (VWF) assessed for Industrial Injuries Disability Benefit was 850 in 2008/09 alone.

HAVS affects those people whose work exposes them to vibrations on a prolonged basis. To give an idea of those sectors of industry which are hit worst by this condition, the HSE have undertaken a survey. In this survey they found that between 2007 and 2009 it was in industry involving extraction for energy and water supply that assessments for HAVS was by far the highest, with the construction industry coming in second, and the manufacturing industry in third.

It can be seen from this that it is mainly manual workers that are more likely to suffer from the condition. This is because it is the use of vibrating machinery such as chain saws or pneumatic drills which can cause the problem. The prolonged period of vibrations to the hands causes damage to blood vessels, nerves and joints which can cause the following symptoms:
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Well – me personally, I do. But what I’m talking about here is the common question accident victims ask me when they are looking for advice as to whether they are entitled to make a claim for compensation.

The best way to find out if you have a potentially winning claim is to speak with an expert at a specialist personal injury law firm. The guide below will hopefully help you out on your quest to find out if you are entitled to receive what could be thousands of pounds in compensation for any injuries you have sustained in an accident.

 Who’s at Fault?
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If you have been injured in a road traffic accident through no fault of your own, it is likely that you will be entitled to compensation from the negligent third party’s insurance.  What’s more, you could receive this compensation in a matter of weeks or in just a couple of months.  This blog sets out to explain how to go about making a claim for compensation for an injury arising out of a road traffic accident, and to dispel fears that obtaining this compensation could take years.

Once you have consulted a medical expert about your injuries, the best thing you can do if you consider that you should receive compensation for your injuries is to get in touch with an expert and quality injury lawyer who specialises in dealing with road traffic accident claims.  Such lawyers are best placed to progress your claim as they have vast experience in the field and obtain thousands of pounds in compensation for innocent victims of road traffic accidents every day.

Things to consider when instructing your injury lawyer:

• Make sure they do not charge you a penny for your claim, win or lose
• Are they able to help you obtain free private medical treatment?
• How often will they keep you updated regarding your claim?  What are their service levels like?
• Do they pay referral fees? If so, they will probably offer a limited service in order to recoup this fee
• Are they experts in the field?

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Motorcycle accidents are unfortunately a common occurrence nowadays; this may be due to the vulnerable nature of the vehicle, and the fact that it is more difficult to see on the road in comparison to a car or a van.

Again, due to the size, vulnerability, and speed of the vehicle, drivers are often left with serious injuries after an accident. If you have been involved in an accident that was not your fault, you may have a claim for personal injury. If you have suffered serious injuries then it can mean that your claim is more complex and make take longer to conclude – this is why getting a specialist personal injury lawyer on board with specific experience in serious injury claims can be hugely beneficial.

As complex cases can take longer to conclude, it means that it can take longer for the victim to receive their payout. For many claimants who may be out of work as a result of the accident, and thus not receiving an income, this can mean financial hardship and an inability to meet your current financial obligations. If you were to be in this position, a good lawyer should advise you to seek interim payments. These can be applied for once liability, or fault, has been admitted on your claim, and means that you receive portions of your compensation early before the case has concluded. Statistics show that it is mainly males between the ages of 30-39 that ride motorbikes. This is a portion of the population that are likely to be coming towards the peak of their careers and are supporting young families – this emphasises the importance of interim payments and how vital they can be to an injured victim.
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How is a whiplash claim valued?

Solicitors can use a variety of resources to value a claim for whiplash. Many of these I will list below:

1. Medical report: A medical report goes further than simply assessing your injuries – it can also contain the effects the injury has had on your work, social, and domestic life, as well as your hobbies. The medical report also gives a prognosis of when you are likely to recover from your injuries. This is key to helping your lawyer value your claim accurately.
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