Hit by a coach - how to go about a claim

rcm75

Look at this list! <goo.gl/P1S2d>

How to go about choosing?

*Scarlett

I agree that you should check your home insurance policy to see if you have legal expenses cover. This would generally cover personal injury claims such as this - usually £50k for solicitors advice and fees.

If you don't have the legal expenses you might still have a free legal advice helpline with your home insurance.

Otherwise you could contact a local solicitor. Some offer a free initial consultation and you would get a better idea of how to proceed.

chanz4

has the coach driver admited liability?

rcm75

Actually, I only have a police report informing me that they've "followed up" on the case, and my friend told me that the police told her they caught the driver of the coach later on that same night (he didn't stop).

So, no, I don't have any direct contact with the driver.

What's the best course of action? I was thinking of getting in touch with the solicitors first, and then see what additional pieces of information they need me to provide.

R

chanz4

I would ask them, the driver is likely to deny, any hospital report?

rcm75

Do you mean
"I would ask them [the police or the solicitors yet to be engaged?], the driver is likely to deny. Any hospital report"

Yes there must be a fair amount of documentation relating to the accident, I have been given 20+ stitches to my nose, shoulder dislocated etc. I am being followed by the hospital for both conditions.
I have also been seen by my GP, but was just to increase painkillers, it's been mainly an hospital business otherwise.

R

sarahg1969

As you're looking at more than a standard whiplash, I'd be tempted to find a local firm that has a qualified solicitor who specialises in more serious claims. These claims factory firms tend to use junior fee earners, whose job it is to push through as many claims as possible in as short a time as possible. I'm not suggesting that they don't have more experienced staff on hand to deal with higher-value claims, but you would get a more personal service from a local firm with a PI specialist.

Sgt_Pepper_2

InsideInsurance wrote: »

You can search for cashback solicitors and find ones that will effectively pay you an element of their fees. The one caveat is these are typically the production line solicitors firms who are about volume rather than customer care and possibly more likely to settle for early offers than keep fighting because the "return on investment" is better for them to get the case closed and the file handler starting a new case than fighting over a couple of hundred pound etc.

Whatever you do you must inform your insurers for information only purposes

Why does a pedestrian have to inform their insurers for info only?

rcm75

As a pedestration - yes, that's what I thought.

sarahg1969 - I take your point on the local firm, but I find myself quite nervous walking into a place just because it's "local".

I thought there would be a way for me to evaluate the reputability of a firm online, either on this forum or somewhere else.
Especially considering that by being based in Lonon I have a very large market available.

Any names? I would warmly welcome them.

R

withabix

What was the coach doing on the pavement?

Has the driver been charged with any offence?