motorway accident compensation claim

Parks

i was in a motorway accident earlier in the week with a lorry from Bulgaria. He pulled out from the inside line and hit me whilst i was in the second lane. My insurance company have instructed a firm of solicitors to represent me. Would you advise that i use them or seek an independant solicitor that I will pay for myself but I am also in a union that has legal cover but I am not sure if they would just refer me to someone. I just don't know what to do for the best so any advice would be much appreciated especially as the driver at fault is from Bulgaria and will this make a differnce to any claim for injury?

smitchy73

Depending on what type of injuries would determine who to use. If you are in a union, i'd be more likely to use them, the union will generally refer you to the group who they use, I'm in the PCS Union and I think they use Thomson's who have practices around the country and one of the paralegals will look at the details and contact you.
You're insurance company only hook up solicitors to cover you and them more than likely but it's up to you who you use.
Also youre injuries will more than likely have to be evidenced with medical reports from the hospital and any follow ups from your GP(thats my experience anyway)

Parks

thanks for that. I am also in the PCS so think i will give them a call.

cyclonebri1

smitchy73 wrote: »

Depending on what type of injuries would determine who to use. If you are in a union, i'd be more likely to use them, the union will generally refer you to the group who they use, I'm in the PCS Union and I think they use Thomson's who have practices around the country and one of the paralegals will look at the details and contact you.
You're insurance company only hook up solicitors to cover you and them more than likely but it's up to you who you use.
Also youre injuries will more than likely have to be evidenced with medical reports from the hospital and any follow ups from your GP(thats my experience anyway)

Did anyone mention injuries?? No, then why try to escalate it to a personal injuries claim?

Sounds like the OP wants a quick and simple settlement for loses, in which case i would go with the policy co, unless you want to expand the claim? :(:(

Mankysteve

Parks wrote: »

will this make a differnce to any claim for injury?

I think that the bit where the injury claim was mentioned

KeithP

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

Did anyone mention injuries?? No...

Yes.

The OP did... as pointed out by Mankysteve.

Happychappy

I would leave it with your insurers, the clearly have an interest in getting it sorted.

Just because it is a Bulgarian vehicle doesn't mean it is doomsday, you will more than likely find they have a UK agent which will deal with their insurance the same as M&S does. Motorway collisions are pretty much an everyday thing with foreign LGV's due to the blind spot on the tractor unit caused by the left hand drive set up.

There are a few large Bulgarian haulage firms, who have a pretty good agent set up and it is in their interest to get it sorted, otherwise the company becomes of interest to VOSA etc, so dont panic ....... although the lorry in the attached clip was Bulgarian.

CLIP

cyclonebri1

KeithP wrote: »

Yes.

The OP did... as pointed out by Mankysteve.

Ok, but still sounds like an american claim to me,

KeithP

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

Ok, but still sounds like an american claim to me,

Agreed.

smitchy73

Yeah but if the OP has received an injury and has to take time off at work to attend physiotherapy etc you can't blame them for wanting to seek compensation.
My mum was in an accident with a drunk driver many moons ago and didn't get any compensation suffering severe whiplash, because back then that wasn't the thing to do, she now suffers greatly because of that injury received a way back then, bet she wishes she could've received a wee complimentary compensation.
I was originally going to ask the OP if they had received any injuries or was it just one of these compo claims we hear so much about, but thought that would be a bit rude and I would give the OP the benefit of the doubt.
Parks, hope you get something sorted soon, it won't really matter who you go with they'll both act on your best interest.

Parks

Hi, yes i have had to be off work as I have got injuries but i am counting my blessings as i consider myself lucky to get out alive as i was doing 70 on the motorway in my little corsa, hit by a massive lorry, spun around and live to tell the tale! thank you all for your advice