bike accident bit of advice please

[blackcabbie]

ok guys/gals.... long story short ..... 22 august knocked off my new 790 duke...... first bike accident in 40 years !!!!!...... other party has accepted liability..... gutted... bike badly damaged but will be repaired...... that side of the claim seems pretty straightforward in that third party's insurer will pay for repairs..


but i have a broken ankle ....... bennetts my bike insurance company have directed me to minster law ( no win no fee ) malarky who are handling the injury side of things..


although they are "no win no fee" .... they charge a success fee of up to 25%...... research shows all these firms charge similar fees, so i suppose one firm not much better than another in this respect.....


Question is..... do i really need to use one of these no win no fee firms......i have always been anti these companies in the past..... can i just not submit my expenses to third party's insurance company.... there must be a standard "broken ankle " payment plus loss of earnings that i can easily supply and prove


i'm gonna be on crutches 6 weeks minimum , no load bearing on my broken ankle.....major upheaval really, but i suppose it could have been much worse....


Any advice from anyone legally minded/ or been through similar appreciated


thanks


dave

[midden]

Haven't you got legal cover? 
No win no fee basically guarantees you'll not lose money in the deal  and I imagine they'll add their 25% in to the calculations so you end up with what is due.

[blackcabbie]

no i didn't pay the extra for legal cover.....the third party has accepted full liability.......but i have got legal cover incorporated into my home buildings/contents insurance

[mtread]

Agree with Midden. I've used 'No win no fee' twice, and it doesn't reduce your payout. They recover your 'legal fees' from the 3rd party. Although these types have a bad press, in a clear case like this they will make sure you are properly represented and compensated. Injuries can have long term effects. I've had a friend with a broken hip who didn't persue a claim and regrets it several years later.

[maddog04]

unsure if the no win, no fee guys are good or bad

I'll tell you this much though...........do not be in any hurry to settle. A "simple" broken ankle could and I say could, give you long term problems that you're not even aware of. Try and get some "independent" specialist consultant advice and get him/her to put something in writing to the effect of your injury and its long term prognosis. On top of that, the private physio you're going to need (the NHS one will only last a certain time and its a short time......experience of this with the wife's Stroke) will cost in the region of £70 per hour and it soon adds up if you need it long term. Think long and hard before excepting any deal.
You will also need new kit and that's expensive too, check that the other insurer is willing to pay for that. I'm not one for screwing the system as we all end up paying, but equally when it's not our fault then we have to make sure we're covered from every angle. Good luck mate and I hope you're on the mend soon rather than later

[F4celess]

I'm with Bennetts too plus your legal cover is through Minster Law who will actually handle a compensation claim. That will take into consideration your injuries, plus expenses, time off work, clothing damage etc. You could likely get a few K compensation considering a non fault incident.

[darrsi]

I could be mistaken, but i'm sure i read somewhere that these No Win No Fee people will only take cases they think you have a very high chance of winning, BUT, if you do lose although you don't pay them anything you could get stuck with court costs from the other side.

[agricola]

Im with maddog04. Get your own solicitor on the case. Minster are employed to settle the case as quickly and cheaply as possible, in the interests of the insurnace companies

[Skippernick]

Contact bike lawyer, they are always answering questions in MCN/FastBikes etc. No win Now fee are not lawyers!!

[Oldgit]

Get your own lawyer, and you will receive the proper compensation.