Commonly asked questions
1. What can I claim for?
- Pain and suffering as a result of the injury
- Loss of income
- Expenses
- Necessary services
- Repair costs
- Cost of replacement or written off value of your motorcycle
- Hire cost of replacement motorcycle and kit
- Towage and storage charges
In more serious injury cases you will be entitled to claim for the cost of alternative
housing, accommodation needs, travel and transportation costs, care costs and rehabilitation
requirements.
2. How long will the claims process take?
A claim will be intimated on your behalf at the earliest possible opportunity.
A third party insurer can take a number of weeks to note interest. Under the terms of the
Voluntary Pre Action Protocol, a third party insurance company has a period of 12 weeks in which to
concede liability. At Digby Brown we take a very proactive approach to the entire claims
process. If you have made a full recovery, we will be in a position to enter into negotiation
towards settlement at an early stage. If the offer in settlement is inadequate, we will raise
proceedings on your behalf in a Court of Law. In our experience, third party insurers
frequently undervalue a claim as a result of heavy reliance on a computer software programme known
as Colossus. That system is primarily designed to cut the cost of claims by reducing the
value of settlements for injured victims. By proceeding to litigation, the injured
motorcyclist will generally receive a higher offer.
3. I have a policy of legal expenses insurance.
What is the position in choosing an expert lawyer to represent me?
Many insurers will offer their policy holders “legal expense insurance” cover. This usually
comes at a cost built into the premium. If you are not involved in an accident, you have paid in
advance for something that has been of no direct benefit to you. But what if you are involved in a
non fault or part fault accident and you have legal expense insurance cover? In that event,
your insurance company will usually nominate one of their own “Panel Solicitors” to deal with your
claim. This will remove your choice of instructing an expert lawyer to represent your
interests. This is what happened to
Patrick Brogan and
Lee Hopkinson. Most
motorcyclists will take out a policy of legal expense insurance for fear of perceived hefty legal
bills in the event they are involved in an accident and wish to claim. At Digby Brown
we act on a “no win no fee” basis. We also have our own funding company
Compensate.
Compensate allows us to give you access to justice with no financial risk. You will also have
the comfort of knowing that you have instructed a firm of Solicitors with a wealth of experience in
personal injury litigation ranked band 1 in the Chambers Guide to the UK Legal Profession.
If you wish to make a motorcycle accident claim in Scotland, call
the Digby Brown Motorcycle Law Department on
0845 273 2323 or complete an
Enquiry Form .
