Personal Injury Advice

[FHT]

Hi all, I normally hang out in the Disneyland Paris forum & have a read through this forum too most days (I suppose I'm the typical 'lurker' ) and I could really do with a bit of advice.

Anyone had any experience in making a personal injury claim with any of the 'no win no fee' companies?

I slipped on a puddle of water (no warning signs) in my local Tesco on Tuesday & landed heavily on my knee. I was seen by a first aider & filled in an accident report claiming brusing, throbbing pain & grazing to the knee. I've since been back to the store & there is still a puddle of water in the same place (in the baby aisle so there's no fridges or anything that can leak) albeit marked out with the relevant signage, which suggests that something is broken.

I want to make a claim as I'm still in pain now & have visited my local GP who has given me a course of Ibuprofen for the pain & swelling (and has advised a trip to A+E if the pain gets no better). Fortunately I've not had to take any time off work (one of the few benefits of a desk job), but there is constant pain of some sort (mainly throbbing and painful to walk, other times I get pins & needles in my foot).

Any advice would be greatly appreciated

 

[mobius]

I've had to make small claims, for injury in the past but what i tend to do is either do it myself through the small claims courts or just by writing a letter to the company telling them here is what i intend to do.
If you want advice it may be best to visit your local Citizens Advice Bureux.

Hope this helps

 

[Claire L]

Check your home insurance policy as it may cover you for legal expenses in claiming for PI. I know our new policy covers us Also contact the Health and Safety Executive - slips for your info.

Hope the pain soon starts to fade.

Claire

 

[kristieuk]

Sorry to hear about your fall - hope you are feeling better

Okay, I work for a firm of solicitors, so you can call me biased, but honestly, if it was me, I would use a solicitor for this. A lot of the 'accident claim' companies are not regulated, nor legally experienced or qualified. You need to look for any company regulated by the Law Society to ensure you are getting the high standard of work and regulation.

I can't see anyone has anything to lose by using a solicitor anyway - most will offer a 'no win no fee' service as they will only take your case if they feel there is a good chance of success (which you seem to have from what you have said). The other side then pay the solicitor at the end of the case - it isn't taken out of your compensation at all.

The only thing you might have to pay for are 'disbursements' such as a court issue fee if the case can't be agreed, and sometimes for a medical report - but if the other side admit liability by this time as they often do, they will pay for this. If you do pay any disbursements and succeed with your claim, you will be reimbursed in full by the other side.

You can claim yourself, but some claims get messy, some involve complicated costs issues and losses issues, and if you have someone fighting your corner, the other side will know they can't fob you off. And ultimately, it probably won't cost you a penny.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do

 

[TraceyL]

I'm glad i found thi sthread as I was going to ask something similar.

DH and I were hit by a bus the other week - whilst we were walking on the pavement! he only caught me a glancing blow on the arm (stiff & sore for a week) but hit DH square in th e back & knocked him flying.

At the time we were both Ok - but DH has since been in a lot of pain - he's been to the doc and has to go for physio. As the treatment is covered by DH's job we aren't financially out of pocket & we don't know whether it is worth claiming.

Tbh we want to make a fuss as it is a busy school route & the buses/lorries are always speeding and mounting the pavement at that point. maybe some publicity would force the police to enforce the weight restrictions around the school?

 

[Claire L]

I'm glad i found thi sthread as I was going to ask something similar.

DH and I were hit by a bus the other week - whilst we were walking on the pavement! he only caught me a glancing blow on the arm (stiff & sore for a week) but hit DH square in th e back & knocked him flying.

At the time we were both Ok - but DH has since been in a lot of pain - he's been to the doc and has to go for physio. As the treatment is covered by DH's job we aren't financially out of pocket & we don't know whether it is worth claiming.

Tbh we want to make a fuss as it is a busy school route & the buses/lorries are always speeding and mounting the pavement at that point. maybe some publicity would force the police to enforce the weight restrictions around the school?

Did you report this to the Police in the first case? As you should be able to claim against the bus company as it technically and Injury Road Traffic Crash..

Hope you are feeling better soon

Claire

 

[wilma-bride]

Well, Daniel walked into a shopping trolley in Sainsurys on Friday afternoon - it was an empty trolley just sitting in the middle of an aisle. He has got a black eye - do you think I'll be able to sue them for millions

 

[wicket2005]

I love America but this is one of bad habits they have passed to us - suing. Don't get me wrong legitimate claims are fine but you hear about so many people who make false claims, then everybodies' insurance gets bumped up one way or another.

I have not made a claim via no win no fee companies, I have made a claim through my car insurance for injuries when a driver hit my car full on. This was handled by an extremely competent solicitor.

The good thing is that you have been to the doctors and have had it checked out. Hopefully there will be no long term injury but only time will tell. I would go to A&E and get the injury checked out to ensure that you have not injured yourself internally other than the bruising, if the pain is still there.

If you decide to sue you will be examined by an independent doctor who will assess your injuries and report back to the company you use and Tesco. I would also take photos of the injury to pass to your company/solicitor.

To be honest I never believe the theory that you get something for free. No win no fee sounds good, but what if you win, how much fee do they take as say compared to a solicitor. Remember it is a business and as such it will be making money from you somehow. I would investigate carefully all options before committing myself to anything like that.