Car Accident

[tooj]

In April last year my wife was involved in a car accident and the other party accepted full blame and the car was repaired. We were asked by our representative if we wanted to claim for personal injury. My wife was having shoulder pain but she didn't want to make a fuss so she confirmed in writing that there would be no claim for personal injury.

Last week we were cold called every day by an Accident firm who said that the other persons insurers had 'set aside £1800 pounds' for the possibility we would claim for whiplashh injury. They want to get this amount for us and want my wife to see their doctor. We,re pensioners and the money woul be handy but we know nothing about these people. Could it be the sort of con we read abouit so often these days?

Advice would be welcome. Thank you.

[Maydup]

Personally I wouldn't bother but others will say you've nothing to lose.

Reasons not to bother are that you need to check this company out first, then you need to be prepared for the figure they quote being half that or even nothing, and in addition to them taking another 30% at least in fees. Lots of hassle for £500 or less. But just my opinion.

[bednobs]

i think they are just being speculative and have no knowledge of your situation at all. I was called the other day "in respect of my recent car accident" by a person claiming to represent a firm of solicitors. I haven't had a car accident Did these people actually know you had an accident or did you tell them during the phonecall?

[factor-fiction]

They may not even know about your accident. I get texts and calls telling me I'm entitled to a rather precise figure such as £3437 even though I have never had an accident.
You can always claim damages yourself.
You can go through this firm but depending on their terms you may need to take out an after the event insurance policy and give them some of your compensation. You may also have to wait 18 months before you get your money and may have to be prepared to go through medical examinations

[Maydup]

No win, no fee ads all over this screen now!

[snags]

''the other persons insurers had 'set aside £1800 pounds' for the possibility we would claim for whiplashh injury''

How does the accident firm know this?

[tooj]

Bednobs: Yes they knew I'd had an accident in April last year and they were persuasive enough to get more info out of me!

Snags: Good point, how did they know.

[SlackAlice]

The answers in 'and the car was repaired'. Most repair garages sell the details on to 'Accident Lawyers' and then you end up with the calls.

[sjones274]

Have you Google them to see if anyone else has heard of them? If it's a scam it'll usually come up straight away.

I know people who have used Winn Solicitors and rated them quite highly - and you don't have to pay ANY costs to them (something about claiming their cost from the other side), their ads are all about getting you 100% of your compensation and from what I've heard, it's true.

As you said, "the money would be handy but we know nothing about these people", I'd say it's worth looking into making a claim, but do it on your terms - use a company you've heard of & 'trust' not the first people who cold called you. Also if you use a no win no fee solicitors, you have nothing to lose.

I hope this helps!

[grffindoor2011]

This sounds like your insurance company have sold your details to a personal injury claim company. The government had said they were going to ban referral fees in personal injury claims (ie the injury claim company pay your insurers for your info).

'they were persuasive enough to get more info out of me' - They are all well known for that, hence the phoning you every day.

Don't give them any financial details. And have an open mind about how much you would get. Any documentation they send you read very very carefully. The no win no fee companies are one thing. Companies like the one that contacted you are another.