Insurer pressure angers injury lawyers

Some insurance companies in Northern Ireland are deliberately settling accident claims before victims get a chance to contact a solicitor, the Law Society has said.

The group which represents lawyers in the UK said that this reduces how much compensation an injured person will receive.

Not enough compensation awarded

A spokesman for the Law Society said determining the full extent of injuries requires medical advice and takes more than a couple of weeks. The severity of injuries and the length of time a person is injured is used to determine the amount of compensation they will receive.

“Victims are being discouraged from taking medical advice” he said.

“They are actively discouraged from seeking legal advice about claiming compensation.”

In the practice, known as "third-party capture", the person who caused a car accident gives their insurance company details of who was involved.

The insurer then uses the details to contact other people injured in the crash, sometimes just hours afterwards, and offers to deal with all personal injury claims without involving lawyers.

Insurers say third-party claimants should be able to get compensation quickly without having to resort to lengthy and costly legal processes.