Solicitors ‘should be contacted directly over compensation claims’

Posted 08/01/2010

Consumers looking to make compensation claims for personal injuries should seek to take advice from solicitors directly, rather than using a middleman, according to the Law Society.

The body has issued the advice in response to predictions from several reports that the number of personal injury claims in the UK is due to rise in the coming weeks, due to the current icy weather conditions.

Robert Heslett, president of the Law Society, stated that being referred to a lawyer via a claims management company will offer “no benefit” to those seeking a payout and may lead to the case being delayed.

Instead, he advised people to speak to a professional as their “first port of call”, adding that solicitors are “very approachable”.

He added: “Consumers should always approach a solicitor directly when they want advice about a personal injury claim.”

This comes after AA Insurance last month cautioned drivers that they stand a higher chance of being involved in an accident in wintery weather conditions due to the threat posed by patches of black ice.