They have found that the current trend is for almost everyone involved in personal injury claims to assert that they are specialists. Companies want you to use their services and will do and say almost anything to attract your business. One definition of the word ‘specialist’ is someone “who is devoted to a particular occupation or branch of study or research”. However, they may be devoted to a particular occupation, but that does not necessarily mean they are any good at it!

The Internet is full of companies offering so called specialist personal injury claims services. Many of them are claims management companies who promise you the earth and then sell your case for £700 or more to the claims solicitors on their panel. It does not matter to them whether those claims solicitors are true specialists in this field, so long as they will pay a high price for the work.

When asked to comment, solicitor Steven Hinchliffe, the owner of Hinchliffes Solicitors, said: “It really is a minefield for people seeking advice on personal injury claims, for at every turn there is someone desperately trying to get hold of their claim. Injured people should be careful to choose a true specialist, who can achieve the correct level of personal injury compensation. All claims solicitors at my firm are senior members of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers, which supports injured people by fighting for their rights.”

Since all personal injury claims are actually handled by firms of solicitors, an injured person may want to consider contacting a specialist firm direct, rather than using a claims company which will add nothing to the claims process at all. Internet searches using phrases such as “personal injury claims solicitors” or “personal injury compensation solicitors” should provide ample choice. However, bear in mind that many claims management companies’ websites give the impression that you are dealing direct with solicitors when you are not, so be careful.

Phillip Roberts, an Associate Solicitor with Hinchliffes Solicitors says: “It can be a very worrying time for a client following an accident. We do our best to reassure them and fully explain the procedure throughout the whole claim, guiding them through both the practical and legal issues.”

The firm’s advice to injured people is that once they have found a website offering a personal injury claims service, they should take a look at the whole site. Is there information about how compensation for various injuries is valued or how the claim is dealt with? Are personal injury claims dealt with in a call centre style operation by unqualified staff, or personally handled by an experienced claims solicitor? Be sure that the website tells you everything you want to know, because if there is a lack of clear information, there may also be a lack of expertise in handling the claim. If you have a question before deciding whether to use their service, send an email or call them. Avoid being pressured to make a hurried decision and commit yourself before you have had time to reflect and consider what they can truly offer.

If you are in any doubt about how to make a claim for personal injury compensation, solicitors Steven Hinchliffe and Phillip Roberts can be contacted on the freephone number 0800 138 1348, or they will respond to an enquiry made via the firm’s website www.hinchliffes.co.uk

Authors Details:

Steven Hinchliffe writes about to be wary of companies who state they are specialists in personal injury compensation. Injured people should be careful to choose a true specialist, like Hinchliffe Solicitors who offer specialist personal injury claims services.