Thankfully, the majority of us do not often require the aid of road accident solicitors. But accidents do happen, so imagine this. You’re minding your own business driving along when another driver hits the back of your car. The accident wasn’t your fault. So, as the law states that you must, you both stop and swap contact and insurance details and you go on your way planning to contact your insurers later on in the day.

Then, imagine you’re at home and there’s a knock at your door before you even have time to telephone your insurers and it is a representative of the other driver’s insurers. He or she is offering to write you a cheque there and then to compensate your injuries and losses in the accident. So you think, this is super!
Nevertheless, road accident solicitors might suggest that you stop to consider whether this really is the good deal it sounds. It is more and more common for insurance companies to try to contact the claimant to try and settle their claim right away. When insurers do this it is usually very soon after the accident. There have even been examples of representatives of insurance companies arriving at the scene of the accident offering to resolve claims there and then.

Although all of this may sound like efficient and prompt service, road accident solicitors warn consumers about the practice. Consider why the insurance companies would be so keen to settle claims so quickly. Indeed, why would an honest insurance company want to compensate you for your injuries before you have even seen a medic or taken legal advice?

Many road accident solicitors and personal injury lawyer associations are warning that companies are actually trying to save themselves some money whilst claiming to provide efficient service. This is because when a claimant agrees to the settlement, the insurance company asks them to sign a form to state that the offer is accepted in full and final settlement of the claim. In other words, once that form is signed the claim is legal concluded and regardless of what happens there is no going back and claiming any further money, even with the help of road accident solicitors.

Consumers therefore run the risk of accepting a claim worth less than what they’re entitled to and what they may need. It is universally accepted that the full extent of injuries can take days or weeks to become apparent, so it would be unwise to rush into a decision. It is important to remember that amongst other things, compensation money is intended to pay for any ongoing treatment that may be required, so it is important to understand the injuries before accepting a settlement. Road accident solicitors therefore advise that consumers should seek legal and medical advice before agreeing to any settlement.

In order to try and protect consumers from being left out of pocket as a result of this practice, the  Association of British Insurers has put together a voluntary code of practice. It states that insurers attempting to settle claims early with the claimant must make sure that he or she is aware of their right to independent legal advice. It also suggests that making initial contact by letter or telephone rather than in person at a claimant’s address avoids intimidation.

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