Bakers Personal Injury Solicitors - 4,229% better than a liability insurer!
The following real case provides evidence of the underhand tactics that some defendant insurers will resort to in order to save themselves money….
RP of Bedfordshire was working for KB Pallets using a large automatic pallet -making machine. The machine malfunctioned when a pallet jammed. There were hanging/trailing wires next to the machine which caused RP to trip. He fell forward and his right hand became trapped in a chain and wheel drive mechanism resulting in very serious injury.
Mr P was only 20 years old at the time of the accident. He had his right dominant index, middle and ring fingers amputated down to the middle joint and a tendon injury to his right little finger. His injury resulted in a significantly reduced grip. Over and above his physical injuries he suffered psychological symptoms and was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. This was a very serious, life changing injury particularly for such a young man.
Quinn Direct was the insurer of KB Pallets. Quinn Direct approached RP directly with an offer to settle his claim for only £5,000 for his injuries plus just 10 weeks loss of earnings. Thank goodness RP rightly turned this offer down. Quinn Direct would have known that RP’s injuries were severe and that his claim for injuries was worth far far more than the measly £5,000 they offered.
Fortunately, RP was wise enough to seek independent legal advice; he contacted Bakers Personal Injury Solicitors. The insurers subsequently offered to settle the claim on a 50/50 basis. This is a common tactic employed by defendant insurers to attempt to buy off claims early and preserve their profits. On advice RP declined this offer and obtained independent medical evidence to support his claim.
The insurers subsequently made an offer to settle RP’s claim for £41,000 - a huge increase on the £5,000 they initially offered. Bakers Personal Injury Solicitors used their expertise in compensation claims to skillfully negotiate with the insurers until the claim eventually settled in February 2011 for a very satisfactory £211,426.69. This is a colossal 4,229% increase on the initial offer made to RP by the insurers.
The cost to RP? Nothing. Bakers Personal Injury Solicitors recovered the legal costs of running the case from the insurers - Quinn Direct.
RP did the right thing; he sought independent and impartial legal advice, and obtained £206,426 more than he was initially offered by Quinn Direct!
There is a clear moral here, insurers who often contact the victims of accidents directly, (a tactic known as ‘third Party capture or assistance’) are not doing so because they wish to help the accident victim or because they are on their side. Defendant insurers employ these tactics to save themselves money.
Is this morally correct? Think about it. The facts are the facts….
Remember to never deal directly with insurers on your own, always contact an independent specialist personal injury Solicitor.
