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Dealing With Insurers Directly Could Mean Less Compensation for Injury Victims

 

The Financial Services Authority (FSA) are to investigate recent claims that insurers could be pressurising injured accident victims to accept lower settlements, or waive their right to compensation altogether, according to the Observer newspaper.

‘Third Party Capture’

The Observer reports evidence of some insurance companies contacting accident victims directly following an accident, sometimes visiting them at home, in an attempt to settle any compensation claim before they can seek independent advice from a personal injury lawyer.

This process is known in the industry as ‘third party capture’ and in some cases it involves asking the injured party to sign a waiver that they will not pursue a personal injury claim.

Offers of Compensation

The Legal Line’s lawyers, Thompsons Solicitors, other law firms and trade unions have provided evidence of cases where injured parties were contacted by insurers offering compensation settlements disproportionate to the level of injury they sustained.

One example involved an offer of £4,000 in a case that eventually settled for £35,000 when the victim sought independent legal advice.

Some victims of accidents caused by the negligence of someone else may therefore not be receiving the damages they are entitled to

It is always important that anyone considering a compensation claim obtains guidance from an experienced lawyer who does not act on behalf of defendants or insurance companies, to ensure that the advice they receive is in their best interests.

Follow the link to read the Observer report in full.

Accident Claim Advice

If you are a member of your family has suffered a personal injury as the result of an accident, whether a road accident, accident at work or any other type of accident, The Legal Line may be able to help.

Contact us on 0800 0328511, or by completing a claim enquiry form online, for specialist accident claim advice on a confidential, cost free basis.