Injury lawyers

[Emu2005]

My sister has recently been involved in an accident with a bus and I intend to go after the bus company for some compensation. Without going into too much detail, I was planning on writing to the bus company, giving all the information on the incident, copy of medical and police reports etc etc in the hope they'll offer a decent compensation amount.

I am going to put in the letter that if they don't offer a decent amount I am going to take it to an injury solicitor, I am hoping they will offer a good amount rather than have the fear of paying compensation AND solicitors fees.

Just wondering if anyone else has done anything similar? Will threatening them with solicitors work?

Many thanks in advance

[Emu2005]

Yes it was reported to the police, I don't have copies of the report yet but will be getting them.

Also I am a she not a he :-)

[mrs_overall]

I wouldn't do anything until you have copies of the Police reports. You may be clear cut in your mind that the bus driver is at fault but you will need some form of corroborating evidence

[cassa333]

Not knowing the way these things work I would have assumed that you would write to the bus firm asking for their insurers details as you wish to make a claim from it? If nothing else for the loss of the bike. then take it from there???

[gouldc]

threatening us with solictors makes no difference whatsoever. In fact, if it ends up going to court because the solicitors kkeep refusing our offers, and then the judge rules that our initial offer was fair, you don't get anything extra, and can potentially get stung as we occasionally get to reduce the compo level to take into account the waste of time because people are too greedy and think we live in America.

You're also not dealing with the bus company, but their insurers - having dealt with commercial claims in the past, don't hold your breath for a quick settlement. They will want statements off the driver, any passengers on the bus, your sister.

If just one passenger states that your sister hit the bus and not the other way around, then all the solicitors in the world won't do her any good without any witnesses to support her version of events.

And we certainly don't fear solicitors costs (which by and large are under �3000 on a case like this), because we pass it all onto you - the policyholder - in increases in your premiums every year because people are greedy.

I got knocked off a motorbike a few years back - scraped my arms and legs quite badly, and ruined my clothing and helmet. Not my fault as I was stationary at the time. Insurers tried offering me money for my injuries as their policyholder told them what had happened - yes I was in a bit of pain, and could potentially have gotten around �2000, but instead, I was one of the few people who don't try and get something for nothing, and simply had the ike repaird, and had my damaged clothing and helmet replaced.

Parasites, the lot of you - I'd recomend you use a particularly dodgy firm of solicitors (like any of the firms us insurers keep on a black list because they pull stunts like this for greedy people), and watch how long it takes because the insurance company investigate for three years and your sister only gets the bare

[Emu2005]

Hi Cassa
So I should ask for their insurer's details rather than asking them for the compensation. Then do I send all the info to the insurer?

[Emu2005]

Hi gouldc,
I appreciate your comments and am not after copmpensation for the sake of it, her bike has been destroyed and it was very expensive, she is having a lot of time off work for this and her face is all messed up. I think we'd rather not use a dodgy solicitors, so am I able to just deal with their insurer's directly then and see if they offer a fair amount of compensation?

[cassa333]

Emu, as I said I don't know especialy as as a cyclist your sister doesn't have insurance as such.

It might be worth looking at her household insurance or if she has a car anyway that insurance to see if she has legal cover. If she has then they would be the best people to contact.

How long ago was the accident? I find it hard to believe that the bus company hasn't at least been in touch?

Mind you if you are just after the replacement of broken equipment and clothes and any unpaid time off work and lagitimate expences then keep all reciepts and invoices and estimates for replacements etc.

I would in the mean time write to them stating that I (your sister) was the cyclist injured in the accident and that I was assessing the damage caused etc. and that I need their insurance details and contact the insurers and see what they say?

As I said I'm not an expert and don't know the legal side but that is basicly what I would do.

When someone says they intend to sue a company for something it is more often than not that the insurance deal with it not the company themselves. That is why, a bus company at least, will have coach/bus insurance as well as public liability insurance.

If you write to them asking for compensation they won't give you any, they will just pass it onto their insurers so you might as well start at the top.