Please help

k8te

Hi this is my first post, even though i log in at least twice a day. If this is the wrong place, please feel free to move it. I really need some help/advice, its a long story but i will try to keep it short, here it goes...

Last May, my partner and i with children went to visit my mum who lives in Spain, after 13 days, and a few drinks in the bar, on my partners way home he lost his footing, and rolled down an embankment, he landed in the road, as he was trying to get himself up, a car hit him at 60km, carried him on the car, then ran over him, and finally stopped 100m's away. My partner was on life support for 9 days, followed by a 2 week stay in the hospital in Murcia, on a neuro ward. He had multiple injurys, and it was touch and go, but i am glad to say over a year on. he is nearly back to his old self, but he can't work as a builder any more, suffers mood swings from the brain trauma, still under physio and the neuro consultant, as my GP thinks there may be long lasting brain damage. Anyway to get to the point, 2 months ago we find out that the girl driving the car has been found guilty of speeding, driving without due care and attention, and not wearing her driving glasses, we had found a solicitor to look at the case, but he wants £500, up front, which i know isnt alot, but for us now it is. We have police reports, and can get some witness statements, and we know her insurance company details, do you think we could write to the insurance ourselves, and say that we are looking for compensation, do you think it would work? Or does any one have any suggestions? We have hit a brick wall, as there is no such thing as no win no fee in Spain, and we cant afford the upfront fee's.

Sorry it's long and thankyou for reading, it could of been much longer!
Please any advice, ideas, letter templates,Anything please

K8te

pennyshahin_2

just read your message i'm sorry that i don't have any advise to offer , i just wanted to say that i read your message and wanted to offer my best to you and your partner there are lots of clever people on here and i'm sure it won't be long before you get a few pointers in the right direction , the one thing that did come into my head ,it's probably a useless piece of advice but have you tried citizens advice, take care and hope you get everything sorted out

mattymoo

Did you have travel insurance? Sometimes that includes legal costs cover.
You could also check your motor / household policy to see if you have legal expenses cover on them.

One thing to check though is geographical limits on the policy. Many may only kick in for accidents / legal disputes occuring in the UK. Best bet in the first instance would be the travel policy as it should be set up for Spain.

k8te

Hi, thankyou both for your reply, we didn't have travel insurance, i think as we were only going to my mum's and not on a proper package sort of holiday we just didnt think of it, also no car at the time so no insurance there. Many thanks, i think i tried the CAB, but to not much help, as it's completely different law in Spain, they advised to get a spanish lawyer.

Thanks again

K8te

mattymoo

Sorry, at a dead loss on this one. Despite the EC unified market the legal systems in each country vary widely.

Was the guilty person Spanish or a UK citizen driving abroad? If Spanish then you will also have language barrier to deal with in any correspondance.

My best suggestion would be to try and find a discussion board for ex-pats living in spain as I am certain the issue of legal advice in Spain will have arisen before and you should find some advice there.