Falkirk driver switches to Digby Brown and receives SIX times more

Andrew was only five minutes into his morning commute along Main Street in Falkirk when another driver smashed into his car. 

Dazed and hunched over his steering wheel, he tried to understand what had just happened. 

When the 41-year-old realised he had been in a car crash he checked on the other driver while a member of the public called the emergency services.

Recalling the incident, he said: “It just happened so quick. I didn’t even get a chance to try and put the brakes on.

“By the time the police and paramedics arrived I had gone into shock.

“I started feeling sore everywhere and I was taken to the hospital.

“I felt like my whole body had been punched by a giant fist.”

Andrew was treated at the scene by paramedics and from there he was taken to Forth Valley Royal Hospital in Larbert – he was taken for X-rays on his chest and treated for a suspected broken nose before he made his home. 

However, in the weeks that followed, Andrew was bedridden with pain in his knee, back and nose. 

He was signed off work for five weeks as his injuries meant he was unable to do his job. 

Friends and family stepped up to help him with everyday tasks like shopping.

In the immediate aftermath of the crash Andrew did all the right things – he spoke to the other driver, dealt with the police, sought medical attention and reported the accident to his insurance company.

After the insurer was aware, they appointed him a lawyer (commonly known as a panel solicitor) to help secure compensation for his injury. 

However, Andrew quickly learned the service from the insurer-appointed lawyer was not going to deliver the kind of outcome he deserved. 

He added: “The lawyers were all right to start with but as time went on it seemed like they were doing less and less and trying to get answers from them was really difficult. 

“I assumed when I’m paying for my insurer to pay for my lawyer they’d want the best outcome, but that didn’t seem to be the case.

“I’ve never dealt with solicitors before and to be honest I didn’t think they were very professional.

“I was really disappointed at the way they treated me. They were difficult and I had to keep chasing them.”

Digby Brown was professional

Feeling let down by the law firm his insurance company appointed Andrew decided to contact Digby Brown after hearing the firm’s radio adverts.

Gail McGinn from the firm’s Edinburgh office investigated the case and gathered everything needed to build a strong case against the other driver who caused the crash.

She collected Andrew’s medical records but also his payslips to accurately calculate the financial impact the crash had on Andrew, something the original law firm didn’t do.

Months after the accident Andrew was still struggling with pain in his nose which affected his breathing and sleep.

Gail arranged for an independent medical expert to examine his nose, who recommended surgery to fix a deviated septum which Andrew had to repair the damage to his nose. He also underwent 5 months of physical therapy as part of his recovery. 

Andrew said: “Gail was great, she kept me up to date with everything through emails and calls. 

“She seemed genuinely interested in me, the accident and what issues I was having. 

“I didn’t feel like she was trying to get my case to go away, she just wanted to know everything.

“I had to go for some more tests and see a psychiatrist but this made me feel much better because I felt like Digby Brown knew what they were doing and they were professional.”

I wish I had ignored my insurers 

When Andrew dealt with the insurer-appointed firm he was offered just £3,400. 

After coming to Digby Brown that amount was ring-fenced and protected meaning he would only need to pay a success for any compensation secured over that amount.

As Gail gathered the evidence needed to know what a fair sum looked like she was able to negotiate a better deal with insurers. 

They made three more offers over the course of three months - £15k, £17.5k and £21k – but all of these were rejected as Gail knew it still wasn’t quite fair.

Andrew’s case eventually settled with acceptance of the fourth offer of £23,750.

Andrew said: “I wish I had gone to Digby Brown in the first place it would have saved a lot of problems and it would have been a lot quicker. 

“My original lawyers didn’t even investigate any missing wages which I now know they should have done.

“But it’s not about the money, it’s the way you’re treated and that’s what Digby Brown did really well.

“They make you feel like a person and not just another case.”