Serious Injury

If you require a translator, please speak with us directly so we can discuss the options available to you. We work with experienced and certified translators to facilitate discussions with our clients whose first language may not be English.

It can be frustrating when the third party don’t accept liability, but there could be several legitimate reasons for this. We are experienced in dealing with cases of this nature and we will thoroughly investigate the circumstances and gather evidence to support your case. The third party may advise pending further investigation or deny full liability and we will need to collate as much evidence as possible to support your claim. It is important you provide us with as much information as possible at the outset of your claim, such as potential witnesses, CCTV, or police reports.

No. Both Minster Law Scotland and your insurers will liaise with the third-party insurer directly so there’s no need for you to deal with them directly. If they do contact you after you have instructed us, please refer them to us so that your claim against them isn’t affected by anything you discuss with them in the call.

If you have any new/developed injuries we would recommend going to see your own GP, or treating consultant, for diagnosis. You should also inform us straight away and make a note of any new or developing symptoms, so that we can begin to assess the value of your claim and look at rehabilitation and/or an interim payment.

If the third party was threatening, attempted to hurt you, or refused to provide their details you should report the accident to the police. You should always report a hit and run accident.

There are no set timescales as to when your claim will settle. Much will depend on the third-party insurer’s approach to the claim, their liability decision, and the nature and extent of your injuries. However, we would usually expect the third party to send the money within six weeks of the case being settled. Once we have received and processed the money, we would expect this to appear in your bank (depending on whether you have asked for a cheque or BACS payment) in seven working days.

If you miss your appointment, please contact the agency directly in the first instance, and also notify us. You may have to pay for missed appointments (sometimes called a ‘DNA’, which stands for Did Not Attend). Please ensure to reschedule well in advance if you know you will not be able to attend an appointment to avoid these charges. We will send you a reminder before your appointment to avoid this scenario.

A medically qualified expert in the relevant discipline (e.g Orthopaedic; Neurosurgeon; Cardiothoracic Surgeon) will carry out an examination with a view to preparing a medical report which will be used as proof of the injuries which you sustained in this accident.

The report will include a description of your injuries, your past medical history, and how your symptoms have affected your day-to-day life, such as employment, hobbies and home life. It will also include the medical expert’s professional opinion as to how your injuries were caused, any future treatment needed, whether any other medical expert opinion is required, and your expected recovery period.

An untraced accident is where there was no possibility of identification or it transpired the vehicle was stolen or cloned, these are often hit and run accidents.

An uninsured accident is where information may be captured at the scene, but it becomes apparent that the other driver was uninsured.

You should carefully read through your report and note any factual inaccuracies. Serious Injury cases hinge on the medical evidence and, if inaccuracies are not dealt with at an early stage, it may have a significant negative impact on the claim. The third-party insurer will look for inconsistencies in the report once it has been disclosed to them and at that stage, it becomes difficult to change, or explain, the inaccuracies.

If you disagree with your report, we will contact you directly to discuss this in more detail so that we may consider whether the report requires an amendment.

If you are the victim of a hit and run there will be very little you can do at the scene of the accident in terms of gathering information. However, you must inform the police as soon as possible due to the likelihood of the car being stolen or uninsured.

An uninsured driver may be reluctant to give you any details and, even if the driver sticks around, there’s no guarantee you’ll be able to get any information from them.  What you can do in both circumstances is gather as much information as you can at the scene of the accident:

• Take images on your mobile phone
• Record a description of the driver
• Ask for contact details of any witnesses
• Take down the make, model, colour, and number plate details of the other car involved if possible
• Inform the police of the crash and let them know the driver is uninsured or untraced
• Inform your insurance company of the accident

You should have contact details for the person dealing with your claim in the latest email or letter we sent to you.

Minster Law Scotland will contact the Motor Insurance Bureau (MIB) if you’ve been injured because of being struck by an uninsured or untraced driver. The MIB is a not-for-profit organisation set up by motor insurers to support drivers hit by uninsured or untraced drivers, or UK drivers who are involved in car accidents abroad. The MIB has an uninsured and untraced driver’s agreement which enables people involved in accidents under these circumstances to claim compensation against the liable party. The two agreements are slightly different:

• The Untraced Drivers’ Agreement enables people who have been injured as a result of being in an accident with an unidentified driver to claim compensation for their injuries.
• The Uninsured Drivers’ Agreement enables people who have been injured as a result of being in an accident with an uninsured driver to claim compensation for their injuries and uninsured losses.

A loss refers to something which you have been deprived of as a direct result of the accident. This can be a financial loss, such as loss of earnings.

• If you are employed, we will need wage slips usually covering 3 months prior to the date of accident, and covering the duration of your absence from work. We will also require a letter from your employer, and in certain circumstances we may require access to your personnel records. For example, if the accident happened in May 2019 and you returned to work in May 2020, we will probably need to request wage slips from March 2019 to May 2020, so that any loss of earnings is properly evidenced.
• If you are self-employed, we would need the last three years of profit and loss accounts/tax returns (or as many as the business has been active for) and evidence of lost jobs/work as a result of the accident. The key point to remember is that if you wish to claim for any lost income, you must evidence that loss properly. We can talk through this with you.

Yes. Please retain all receipts, a log of any financial losses, and photographs of damaged items, so we can consider these as part of your claim.. Please also store the original damaged items. A loss (interchangeably referred to as a consequential loss or losses) refers to something which you have been deprived of as a direct result of the accident. This can be a financial loss, such as loss of earnings, or damaged property, or the loss of an opportunity.

Yes. Where possible, it is important to take photographs of any injuries in the immediate aftermath, and as the healing process takes place. These may not be used in your claim but nevertheless, they are important to us in assessing your claim, and it is more likely than not that your medical expert will want to see these.

No two cases are the same, so it’s difficult to provide generic timescales. There are multiple factors which dictate the duration of a claim such as:

• third-party behaviour
• circumstances of the accident
• whether there were any witnesses of CCTV footage
• whether a criminal investigation is taking place at the same time
• the nature and extent of your injuries
• availability of counsel, medical experts, and Courts.

Whilst we always strive to progress claims as quickly as possible, we are obliged to act in your best interest which means we cannot act in haste, and we must consider the evidence that is before us. We will always seek to provide regular updates so that you understand the present position of your claim, and ultimately so that you have an approximate idea about when your claim may settle.

There is a 14-day cancellation period from the start of your claim and you can cancel your claim over the phone, by email or letter. You can still cancel your claim at any point following the 14 day period, but you may have incurred fees that you could be liable for. There are further considerations to take into account if you wish to discontinue your claim once court proceedings have been issued.

If your claim is taken to court and proceedings are issued but you wish to cancel your claim, you won’t be able to recover any settlement money and could end up being liable for both the defendant’s costs and our own. For this reason, you need to be sure you’re willing and able to see your claim through to the end before starting it. Please contact us to discuss your situation in further detail should you wish to discontinue your claim.

If you are clinically vulnerable to Covid-19 you can request a remote appointment from the medical agency. If you are attending a remote medical you will need a quiet, well-lit area and a laptop, tablet or mobile with a working camera and microphone.

This is of course not ideal in every circumstance, as, depending on the nature of your injury, the expert will probably need to see you in person at some stage. If you are awaiting a face-to-face appointment, then we will aim for a medical appointment to be in the closest town or city to you. Our focus is on identifying and instructing the most suitable expert though, and sometimes it may become necessary for you to travel further afield to receive the best medical assessment. Once the assessment has been arranged, full details will be provided to you and we will always discuss your personal circumstances with you before arranging an appointment.

Please have a photographic ID ready for your appointment (e.g. passport, driving license, or identity card) regardless of the type of appointment.

The medical appointment is arranged so that the medical expert instructed on your behalf can assess the nature and extent of your injuries. The expert will interview you and carry out an assessment to prepare a medical report. This report will detail:

• the information discussed at the appointment.
• the expert’s view on your injuries, an expected recovery time.
• to what extent the injuries were caused wholly or partially by the accident.
• recommend any further medical support that may be beneficial.

It is important you tell the medical expert about all the injuries you sustained as a result of the accident, including injuries that you have recovered from, any new injuries or symptoms that you may have developed, and any pre-existing medical conditions/injuries or previous RTAs. Please have photographic ID ready for your appointment e.g. passport, driving license or identity card. This provides the majority of the information the expert needs to complete their report. The expert is not there to provide treatment or prescribe medication; If you require further treatment you should contact your own GP or treating consultant.

Please tell the medical expert at your independent medical assessment of any pre-existing conditions, illnesses or previous accidents, to avoid any delays to your claim. Please also ensure to inform the team dealing with your claim. Failure to disclose this information to us may not only cause unnecessary delays, but could also have a significant negative impact on you and your claim.

You will always be provided with a copy of your medical report. We would suggest keeping a copy for your own records, but if you don’t and later require a copy, we may be able to send you a further copy by email. It will be beneficial for you to keep a folder for your medical reports as we will need to discuss the evidence with you throughout your claim.

Attending your medical is a crucial step to progressing your claim, so any delays in attending will ultimately delay settlement of your claim. The specialist experts we instruct on your behalf sometimes have long waiting lists so it could be some time before they are able to reschedule an appointment. If you must reschedule, please discuss this with your solicitor first so that they can advise you further. Failure to attend without any advance cancellation notice will result in cancellation or a ‘DNA’ notice (Did Not Attend) fee from the medical expert, which you will be liable to pay.

Yes. All personal injury claims require you to see an independent medical professional. The expert creates a medical report which supports the valuation of your claim, provides you with an expected recovery time and if necessary will provide recommendations for further treatment.

BACS is the preferred method, as it is quicker and more secure than other traditional payment methods. However, if you would prefer payment by cheque then this may also be arranged. We are unable to provide same day transfer/CHAPS/faster payment and we do not provide cash payments. We will request your bank account details and we will keep these updated throughout your claim.

The Motor Insurance Bureau (MIB) is a government organisation set up to compensate victims of accidents caused by uninsured drivers or drivers that can’t be traced (untraced). They essentially step in the place of a commercial insurance company for the purpose of your claim.

If the accident was 100% your fault, we would no longer be able to represent you as set out in the Conditional Fee Agreement. Please contact us directly if you believe this may apply to you. However, if you are unsure who is at fault, then you must provide us with your version of events so that we are able to assess the merits of your claim and advise you accordingly.

We value the injury element of your claim based on the medical report(s). The medical report(s) identify the extent of your injuries and how long they are expected to last for. The amount of compensation you’re entitled to depends on many things, including the severity of your injury, how much it has negatively affected your life and the extent of any financial loss you experienced as a result of the accident. We will value any consequential losses according to the amount of that loss, and both elements will form the value band of your claim.

Yes, it’s what we’re here for. Legal proceedings can take time to complete, sometimes years, which is why one of the first things we may do is ask the other party’s insurers to release an interim payment. This is to cover the immediate financial losses and the cost of treatment and rehabilitation. We will want to know your financial position early on for this reason so that we can seek to secure an interim payment for you.

Usually, third party insurers are cooperative, but there may be instances where we must make an application to the court to attempt to obtain such a payment if an insurer is not willing to release an interim payment. An interim payment is not a given, and an insurer may be less willing to part with their money where liability is still under investigation, or if liability is in dispute. Your handler will discuss the prospect of seeking an interim payment with you on a case by case basis. It is important to note that any interim payments made throughout the life of your claim, will be deducted from the gross amount of compensation you receive at the end of the claim.

Limitation is the period of time after which you’re not allowed to make a claim against someone who caused an accident. In personal injury claims, the general rule is that the limitation period expires 3 years from the date of accident therefore, if you want to proceed with your claim you will need to do so within that time. Failure to do so may mean you are unable to claim. For children, and vulnerable clients lacking mental capacity, the 3-year limitation period runs from a child’s 16th birthday, or from the point that mental capacity is regained.

We know that sometimes it can be confusing and you will receive unsolicited calls from other companies. You cannot have more than one legal representative so you will need to decide which firm to choose, although you should not feel pressured in your choice. If you have spoken or signed with another solicitor by accident, and would like us to continue acting for you, we will send you out a Form Of Authority which we will ask you to sign and send back. This means that you are signing to say Minster Law is acting on your behalf.

It’s great to hear you are feeling better! You can still proceed with a personal injury claim as you should be compensated for the time it has taken you to recover.  So please keep us updated on your recovery and how you felt.

If you have CCTV footage you should send this to us as soon as possible. If you do have CCTV, dashcam or other video footage of the accident please send this to us via email if possible. However, if the file is too large please let the team know and we can provide you a secure link to Microsoft Sharepoint where you can upload your footage. You should also ensure to keep a copy yourself.

If you believe a business near the accident may hold some CCTV footage, you should contact them or notify us asap, as within certain timescales this can be destroyed

We will aim update you at least once a month. You may request an update at any stage, however, given the complexity of our serious injury claims, it is unlikely that there will be any developments sooner than on a monthly basis.

We understand that a serious injury may prevent you from travelling to visit us and we’re happy to come and see you at home, in a hospital or wherever suits. Seeing you in your home environment helps us understand your needs so we’re likely to suggest a home visit if possible. It may not be appropriate to meet you in person, however we can discuss the options with you on a case by case basis. In circumstances that prevent a face-to-face meeting, we would ideally look to arrange a video conference with you.

If the third party was threatening, attempted to hurt you, or refused to provide their details you should report the accident to the police. You should always report a hit and run accident.

Losses can include costs relating to your vehicle being damaged, hire charges, medication and treatment, loss of earnings, damaged property or belongings, travel, care and assistance and loss of enjoyment. Frequent losses we see include:

• Prescriptions
• Gym memberships
• Vehicle excess
• Loss of earnings

Bike claimants who may have damaged leathers and helmets should photograph their items and keep them in a safe place.

If the accident wasn’t your fault, you’ll still be entitled to compensation. However, the amount you receive may be reduced if it’s found that wearing a seatbelt would have resulted in less severe injuries.

When we receive an offer, we carefully assess how reasonable the offer is, taking into account all of the evidence in support of your claim, and any evidence the third-party may have obtained to ‘weaken’ your claim. We will provide a detailed view on the offer, which will set out whether it is reasonable to accept, whether it puts you at risk, or if we should make a counter-offer. We may also seek to obtain advice from a barrister at this stage for a second opinion. Whilst we can advise you, ultimately the decision to accept or reject will be yours to make once you have considered our advice.

The money has to be paid to a bank account in your name. We have to pay the money to you directly to fulfil our regulatory obligations. If you don’t have a bank account, you will need to set one up. We will hold onto the funds until you have one set up and then we will transfer the money over.

Not necessarily. The police investigation will determine whether any criminal proceedings should take place. Whilst any decision by the police or the CPS can have a bearing on your civil claim, it is not definitive. We have a highly experienced team who will carry out thorough liability investigations to gather evidence which will determine who blame should rest with.

It is insurance to cover the value your car may lose over time. Most new cars lose value as soon as they leave the garage forecourt. A recent study reported that most cars lose between 50% and 60% of their value in the first three years of ownership.

If you are involved in an accident, many insurers will only pay out the current market value of your car. This can see you left with a shortfall between the compensation you receive for your damaged car and the price you originally paid. This will particularly affect anyone who has taken their car out on finance.

GAP insurance will pay the shortfall between the car’s value at the time you make your claim versus the amount you originally paid for your car.

The DWP has contacted you to determine if the third party insurers have to repay any money paid to yourself under welfare benefits. For many cases, this isn’t applicable but it’s important you fill it in to avoid any delays.