Legal Question....Ed or others!

[ASM-Forever]

In the post today i received a letter from the insurers of the van driver. It indicates that they accept liability for the incident.

However in the letter it is also offering to "deal with me directly" to settle my personal injury claim. They indicate the process will be quicker, but is it worth even considering dealing with them directly as i have free legal cover as part of my insurance?

I guess it is to reduce overall costs that they would have to pay, but would they try and make a ridiculously low offer if i am not represented?

Cheers Mark

[Baph]

You have free legal cover.

If you do it personally, and not your legal team, it'll be you vs a legal team, and they will push the value down as much as possible.

Use the legal cover you have & tell them to go screw themselves, IMO.

I'm no legal beagle though ;)

[Ed]

Whether you have free legal cover OR NOT - FFS get advice on the amount of your claim from someone qualified to give it.

Do not sign anything without proper advice from a solicitor who specialises in personal injury claims, preferably arising from a RTA. The other driver's insurer will be responsible for the cost. I'm sure that they will want to settle at the lowest possible figure. It's well worth waiting and haggling to get more.

[sarah]

also worth considering that you don't yet know the full extent of your injuries and what probs they may cause you in the future.

[ASM-Forever]

I was pretty set on going the legal cover/solicitor route as tbh i dont really have a clue about the process or even what amount is justified. Still a long way to go bfore i am recovred so it not like i need the money for a bike yet!

Had my first big bill to pay today, nearly £200 to the recovery firm, so i am out of pocket for that. Fortunately i am a pesimist by nature, so have funds set aside for such an evntuality.

I should have the report from the garage about whether its a write off etc by 5PM so ill post in my other thread for anyone interested.