Legal costs for the average claimant [...]]]> The  Association of British Insurers have announced that consumers in the UK are spending just under £2.5 million per day on legal fees related to personal injury claims. This would be equal to adding £99,960 every hour to insurance premiums. most times the costs far outweigh the compensation payouts.

Legal costs for the average claimant at one insurer in 2010 amounted to 140% of the awarded sums to victims. A work related injury settled out of court for £12,750 but the legal costs  racked up to £74,000. The  Association of British Insurers also found that a woman who fell into a castle moat had to pay £37,250 in legal fees to settle a claim for £15,000 for her injuries.

The ABI says that there has been a 5% increase in (NHS) legal costs but a massive 130% hike in claimant legal costs. For the 2010/11 financial year, the NHS paid out a staggering £257 million in legal fees to lawyers and solicitors after the claims.

The head of motor and liability insurance James Dalton announced that since the introductions in 2010 the fast track process for agreeing to a low end personal injury claim has led to quicker compensation payouts. That was the good news, the bad news is the fixed fees are still too high. The compensation process is with The compensation system in the UK is spoiled with disproportionate legal fees, usually out weighing the amount awarded.This results in more expensive insurance for the motorist and UK businesses and a heavy burden on the National Health Service.

He also said that the government needs to act on the reform of the compensation system. Combining a referral fee ban whereby selling peoples data will be illegal, and lowering fixed fees for the injury solicitors should bring down the cost of car insurance.

Reports published in November showed that false whiplash claims have rose to a rate of 1500 a day, adding £90 to insurance costs. This even though car accidents have dropped. Reforms are being considered to cut solicitors fixed fees from £1200 to around £500.They will also make claimants have medical examinations to ascertain which are fake and which are genuine. Outlawing whiplash claims for any collision under 10 MPH is also being considered.

Justine Greene, transport Secretary is due to make proposals by end of March and says we need to take vital action to end the UK being the whiplash capital of Europe.  A Ministry of Justice spokesmen said that there are too many companies encouraging people to make no win no fee claims. They have vowed already to reduce the current £1,200 fee that is earned by lawyers from small value personal injury claims. They are also working with defendants and claimants to determine how this can be done.

The spokesman added that the ministry is taking plans forward that will radically reform the system, and under these plans, costs will be reduced. Additionally, unnecessary claims will be discouraged, as the financial and legal risk of every case will be more evenly shared by everyone involved. People will still be able to pursue valid cases whether Motor Claim Compensation or Whiplash Injuries.

Cerys was less [...]]]> A six year old girl from Sutton Coldfield, West Midlandswas left paralysed and brain-damaged after a head-on collision has  received a £5million payout in what a judge described as the ‘saddest case’ he has ever come across.
Cerys Edwards, will also get an annual £450,000 payout for the rest of her life.

Cerys was less than a year old when her family’s car was in a head on smash in November 2006.

The impact caused brain and spinal injuries leaving Cerys paralysed unable to speak and requiring permanent round the clock help from a team of nurses.
Judge martin Mckenaa said ‘I’ve had the misfortune to deal with a number of cases with serious injuries but I think this is one of the saddest cases I’ve come across.’
Now after a long legal battle, Cerys’ family have finally been awarded the payout by Judge Martin McKenna at Birmingham County Court.
Speaking as he awarded Cerys a lump sum of £4,971,675 and annual payments Judge McKenna said: ‘I’ve had the misfortune to deal with a number of cases with serious injuries but I think this is one of the saddest cases I’ve come across.
‘While money can never compensate for Cerys’ injuries, at least they (her family) have the comfort that her financial future is secure.
‘So I will make the order and I wish the parents and Cerys all the best for the future.’
Speaking before the order was made Paul Bleasdale QC, Cerys’ injury lawyer,  said: ‘Cerys suffered catastrophic injuries in the accident. She suffered a traumatic brain injury and spinal cord damage. ’No amount of money can put right the damage done. But Cerys’ parents are pleased that their daughter’s future is secure.’

‘She was nearly two years in hospital and Cerys now lives in her own home adapted for her needs. ’She’s ventilated, fed by a tube, and wholly depends on a team of carers.  ’The settlement is split between a lump sum and annual payments to maintain the around-the-clock dedicated nursing team.’

Standing outside the court Mr Bleasdale added that this is one of the largest compensation payouts he had witnessed.
‘If it isn’t the biggest, it’s close to it,’ he added. ‘It’s definitely close, it’s at the very top end.’

The driver of the vehicle, Antonio Boparan, who was driving at 70mph in a 30 zone, went to prison for just six months of a 21-month sentence for dangerous driving. If Cerys had died he could have received as much as 14 years imprisonment.
Boparan, from Sutton Coldfield, was driving on the completely wrong side of the road in a Range Rover Sport when he careered head on into the Edwards’ family car.
The son of a millionaire was 19 years old at the time and had only been on the road for six months.
Speaking at Birmingham County Court today, Boparan’s representative, Margaret Bowron QC, apologised profusely for his actions.
‘
‘Sadly nothing we can do will put her right but we hope we can do right by her with this settlement.’
In a statement released after the Accident Compensation was awarded, the family’s solicitor Richard Langton, said: ‘No amount of money can put right the damage done. But Cerys’ parents are pleased that their daughter’s future is secure, which is the overriding fear of the parents of all severely disabled children.’
The parents, Gareth and Tracey campaigned endlessly to force a change in the law after the lenient sentence was handed down. They petitioned Westminster in 2009.

As a result, anyone convicted of the new offence of causing serious injury by dangerous driving will face up to five years in prison instead of the current maximum of two for dangerous driving.
Cerys, who has been dependent on a ventilator and a team of nurses since 2006, received an interim payment of £800,000 from the Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Group in 2008.
The group has also paid towards her care costs since she moved into an adapted home at the end of 2010.
Before returning home Cerys endured dozens of operations, spent seven months in Birmingham Children’s Hospital, 16 months in a Surrey rehabilitation centre and two years in a temporary rented house

Mr Mo’s injuries included both shoulder blades fractured and some serious [...]]]> A motorcyclist has been paralysed  following a crash with a bus in Plymouth. Richard Mo was riding his Honda motorcycle opposite Plymouth City College when a number 36 bus allegedly drove into hs path knocking him from his motorbike and causing serious spinal injuries.

Mr Mo’s injuries included both shoulder blades fractured and some serious spinal injuries. He has been left wheelchair bound for the rest of his life and suffers from muscle pains and spasms.

Mr Mo is seeking Compensation of £500 000 for his injures from the buses insurance company the Plymouth herald reported. His legal team  submitted papers to the high court in London arguing that the bus driver John Tait failed to show caution in edging out slowly and

In papers just submitted to the High Court in London, his legal team are arguing that the driver of the bus – John Tait – failed to edge out slowly, instead crossing the road when it was unsafe to do so.

Any Motorbike Compensation awarded will cover the costs of Mr Mo’s new requirements. He currently is reportedly in need of suitable alternative accommodation.

A spokesperson for the bus company was unable to comment to the newspaper about the case because of the ongoing legal proceedings.

Mr Reid [...]]]> A pedestrian is seeking compensation after being hit by a vehicle and being taken to Royal Alexandra Hospital. Thirty three year old Allister Reid suffered serious injuries after being run over by a bus. Mr Reid suffered leg and arm injuries and a fractured skull leaving him hospitalised for more than a week.

Mr Reid is now reliant on family and friends to do the simplest of tasks in his everyday life. He is suing Key Bus and Coach limited for Motor Claim Compensation.

While a Key Coaches spokesperson declined the opportunity to comment on the incident, as it was now being handled by their insurance company, other reports have emerged that one of the passengers on the bus at the time of the incident, a fifty three year old woman, was rushed to hospital due to difficulty breathing and may have sustained a broken arm as well.

Their report has shown that drivers over [...]]]> The Association of British Insurers (ABI) will release a report tomorrow at a Road Safety Seminar that has led them to conclude that people over 70 need to be given regular cognitive tests and eye exams to ensure that they are still competent to keep their driver’s license.

Their report has shown that drivers over 70 are three times more likely to be involved in accidents that cause serious injury or death compared to drivers between the ages of 40-65. ABI says that elderly drivers have slightly more crashes per mile than middle-aged drivers, but when they are injured they take longer to recover. Elderly drivers have more side impact accidents at intersections and more accidents at roundabouts that ABI contend are caused by their poorer judgement.

The number of elderly having driver’s license has increased. In 1975, only 15% had licenses while in 2004 that number has increased to 47%. ABI predicts that by the year 2050, a quarter of all drivers on the road will be over 70.Stephen Haddrill, ABI’s Director General, told This Is Money web site that the problem of elderly drivers needs to be attended to. “The increasing numbers of older drivers will be one of the big motoring issues this century. The insurance industry is already responding positively. Today the average upper age limit for new older customers is 82, compared to 74 ten years ago.”

Currently, the DVLA requires elderly drivers to fill in a self-assessment form. DVLA admits that the system is highly abused with only 10% of the drivers with notifiable conditions admitting it on the form.

Improving the testing for elderly drivers will be good for everyone. Right now once a driver reaches the age of 70 their insurance premiums go up £100 no matter if they are a good driver or not. By having rigorous testing, ABI believes that the poor drivers would be weeded out so that the increase in annual premiums for the elderly could be scrapped.

ABI also recommends that local authorities do more to educate and promote the use of public transport among the elderly. Already people over the age of 60 are entitled to a free bus pass for local busses. From 2008, that service will be extended to include free passes for travel throughout Britain. Research has shown that the elderly who do use busses have stops very near their homes otherwise they give it a pass.

David Sinclair, policy manager at Help the Aged, told This Is Money web site, that, “Many older people rely on their cars, and we need to do all we can to ensure they can continue to drive safely and receive the support they need when it is time to stop driving. We will be working with the ABI to explore how this can be achieved”.

In the last three years premiums have fallen 45% according [...]]]> After years of escalating car insurance premiums, finally Irish drivers are seeing some relief. With insurance mandatory by law, it was a seller’s paradise but an increase in players in the market and the reigning in of fraudulent claims has helped to push premiums down.

In the last three years premiums have fallen 45% according to the Irish Insurance Federation (IIF). Young males, the most risky group of drivers are getting the best deal with a 56% drop in premiums. “A few years ago it would have been very hard for young men to even get coverage,” Dermot Cullen, a director at O’Reilly Dermot Cullen, told The Times.

In Ireland it is mandatory for drivers to have third party car insurance to pay out if they should hit another car or injure somebody when they are driving. For years Ireland had such high car insurance premiums that many motorists could not afford to drive. The insurance industry cried that they were barely breaking even because of the high frequency of claims, exorbitant legal fees, and the cost of uninsured drivers. In 2003,IIF launched their insurance fraud campaign that seems to have had an impact on the number of fraudulent claims brought forth. In 2004, the Civil Liability and Courts Act began to regulate the out of control personal injury claims. Both of these were significant in allowing the insurers to lower premiums. But these low premiums may be a temporary situation. Axa says, on Times Online, that car insurers are currently only breaking even and may make a loss by the end of the year. At the same time, road fatalities are on the increase in Ireland and that will also push premiums up.

There are things that drivers can do to keep their premiums down. First, don’t have accidents. Second, don’t speed or get in other scrapes with the law. Points on your license affect your premiums. For example, Hiberman offers a 17.5% discount when you renew your policy if your license has no penalty points. Young drivers should, as soon as possible, be included on their parents’ insurance policy as a driver. Building up a safety record will help to keep their premiums down when they need to get their own car insurance. When that time comes they should wait until just after their birthday, the older they are the cheaper their premiums. In most cases, it is better to buy from an authorised broker who will shop around and get you the best bargains. Another great way to knock at least 10% off of your premiums- move to the country. People living in cities or nearby towns from which they commute everyday pay higher car insurance premiums then the country folks.

It is also revealed that most car drivers fail to identify the motorbike and [...]]]> Sometimes a motor bike accident can be severe than any other accident. The road accidents have increased over the past few years. And it is estimated that 75% of the motorbike accidents happen due to collision with other cars and vehicles.

It is also revealed that most car drivers fail to identify the motorbike and this is the major cause of motor accidents. In some cases, the motorbike accidents also occur due to poor road surfaces. The motorists can make motor claims on local authorities in case of an accident that has occurred due to negligence from the public authority.

Most solicitors who deal with a motor claim also offer a replacement motorbike. This is because they do not want their clients to wait for their motorbike until it gets repaired or if the bike has to be scrapped or not. A motor accident compensation might vary anywhere between £1000 and £1 million. These claims are also supported by the No Win No Fee system. There are special benefits if the victims are not able to trace the vehicle driver especially in a Hit and Run case. The MIB or the Motor Insurance Bureau specifically funds the UK insurers or victims especially in this position.

It is also important to know how long will a claim compensation take. The length of the time depends on the injury you have faced such as sprains, bruising, serious injuries, spinal and head injury and broken bones. These solicitors who are handling your motor claim would also assist you in getting examined. They conduct a medical prognosis and assess your injuries. They would also be able to suggest if there are any long term affects. These solicitors can also determine the approximate amount of compensation with the help of the medical report.

You would be legally represented by the solicitors for your claims and you can be assured of getting an on-going support until you receive the compensation or settlement. They also negotiate with the defendants so that they take the less amount of time and make the maximum settlement offer. The minimum time taken to finish a claim is 6 months and the maximum is 2 years. This entirely depends on the case and the kind of injuries that the clients have faced. The settlement of a motor claim entirely depends on the individual circumstances. The duration of the time to settle an accident claim would vary depending upon the individual circumstances.

Here are few examples of injuries along with the time within which they can be settled. A minor injury that lasts up to 3 months can be settled in 6 months. An injury that lasts for 9 months can be settled in 12 months. A permanent or an ongoing injury can be settled anywhere between 12 months and 24 months. Whenever you are fighting for a motor claim, it is advisable that you do not rush to the settlement amount. Some people offer quick settlement, however, ensure that you receive the compensation that you deserve.

The motor claim law companies provide high standards of legal and personal services. They service all the claims for their clients who are not involved in any kind of accident or if the accident was not at fault of the clients. It is always better to know how this claim can be of any help. These solicitors also assist you in term of the insurance cover. They would help you identify the different between the comprehensive or third party theft or fire. A comprehensive policy is suggested to the clients so that the clients get the best out of the claims.

It is also advisable to have a comprehensive policy with your insurance company. The accident has to be reported to the insurance company. The expenses and costs are also borne by the law firm. They would also be able to arrange replacement vehicle in case the clients’ vehicles are repaired or damaged during the accident. If the vehicles go beyond the economical repair, then the value of the vehicle would be reclaimed. A motor claim requires lot of information with regards to the insurance company and its support. Each and every aspect of the claim is looked into carefully by the solicitors.

Motorbike Accident Claim