“I had never claimed for personal injury before and had no idea of what to do or how to go about it. You were very professional and I felt at ease talking to you about my injury. I am very happy with the final result. It was all done by letter or by phone - I never had to travel to your office and that suited me. You were very professional and pleasant to deal with and you went into all the details with me. My claim was just a small one, but you made me feel my claim was just as important as any other claims. Thank you very much - I would recommend your services to anyone.” SW, Aberdeen Continue Reading
Testimonial – Chalmers Alness
“It is good to know that there are still people out there to help and who care. What I liked about your service was your honesty, the constant updates and the ‘personal’ service. I would highly recommend Grigor & Young for their reliable service and the personal touch.” William Chalmers, Alness, Ross-shire Continue Reading
Testimonial – Walker Lossiemouth
“We were so traumatised by our accident that we were not quite sure how to proceed. After our first meeting with you, our feelings were that someone was going to help us. We liked the very sympathetic approach that was given to us and the professional and thorough detail that you went into. We felt we were consulted and kept advised throughout our claim. We found you very helpful to deal with and sympathetic. Everything was dealt with professionally, and our claim was settled satisfactorily and without us being distressed more than necessary, at what was a very upsetting time for us.” Mr. and Mrs. Walker, Lossiemouth, Moray Continue Reading
Testimonial – CM Shetland
“I was wary of making an insurance claim as I believed it was a very complicated process. Now that my claim is successfully completed, I don't think it's complicated any more. It was all pretty straightforward and I was given easy instructions if I needed to complete any paperwork etc. The three biggest benefits of your service to me were: great communication (fast and relevant) keeping me up to date; easy instructions (help if needed); and a great outcome. I would tell any other people considering using your services that you offer a great service that is easy to use and keeps you informed at all stages of the process. What I liked most about your service was the rapid communication and friendly staff.” CM, Shetland Continue Reading
Testimonial – CD Elgin
"Thank you for your help. I was unsure what to do about my claim and you made it all very easy and stress-free for me. You dealt with my claim very professionally and I was kept informed of what was happening at all stages. I would certainly encourage others to use your services for a personal injury claim." CD, Elgin, Moray Continue Reading
Insurers Not Getting In Touch After An RTA (Why That Might Be)
How long does it take for Insurers to get in touch after a road traffic accident? That’s a question we received recently in the following terms: “I was involved in an RTA two months ago. I have not heard from the insurance company yet. How long does it take for them to get in touch? The accident was not my fault.” A significant collision - with lots of post-accident worries It turns out this accident involved a rear end shunt at a junction. The vehicle was pushed right off the road by the impact. The injured driver who contacted us had been knocked unconscious as a result of the crash. He spent two nights in hospital, was off work for several weeks and lost wages. An incorrect assumption He had been driving his works van and thought that his employers’ motor insurers would take care of his claim for his injuries and his financial losses, including his loss of earnings. This was a classic situation where you, as the accident victim, have suffered injury through no Continue Reading
How To Get All The Crucial Details After A Road Traffic Accident
If you're involved in a RTA, there's crucial information you need to get We were on the main road south. We had not even made it out of Moray on our journey to Edinburgh. Accident A car approached from a minor road which formed a T-junction with our road, on our left. It should have given way to us but it didn’t; instead, it pulled out right in front of us and I could not stop in time. The front of our car hit the driver’s side of the other car, at the rear wheel arch. I had not been going fast and our speed at impact was probably less than 20 mph. Nevertheless, it was enough to cause the other car to spin right round, so it ended up facing into the junction it had come out of. What we did immediately after the accident I switched off the engine. I didn’t remember to switch on the hazard warning lights but my wife, in the passenger seat, did. I got out of the car and found the other driver was already out of his car. We established that both vehicles were Continue Reading
Occupiers’ Liability, Landlords and Tenants
Occupiers' liability may apply where a defective drain cover causes an accident on premises In this post, we are looking at situations where you might have a claim for injury following an accident on premises owned or occupied by someone else. In Scotland, the Occupiers’ Liability (Scotland) Act 1960, requires occupiers of premises to take reasonable care for people who come onto their premises to see to it that they are not injured due to the state of the premises. While this is a statutory duty, because the obligation imposed is to take reasonable care, you still have to prove fault, as under the general law of negligence. Often this will mean it is necessary to gather evidence about how long the hazard in question had been in existence before the accident. The argument you have to counter is that, if the defect had not been there for very long before the accident, there was not sufficient time for the occupier to identify it and repair it before any accident happened and so Continue Reading
Pavement Tripping Accidents (Maximising Your Claim’s Chances)
This post covers pavement defects and hazards which can cause you, as a pedestrian, to trip and fall. A separate post deals with situations where your injuries result from slipping in conditions of ice and snow. The trip hazard (towards the bottom of the above photo, below the bracket sign after the word “chances”) on the footpath pictured above was close to the north side of the underpass at Alexandra Road (A96), Elgin, and to our offices at 1 North Street. Part of a local authority’s responsibilities If you are injured as the result of a tripping accident on a public pavement or footpath in Scotland, any claim is usually directed against the local authority. In Moray, the responsible authority is The Moray Council. In most cases, the defect in the surface will be the result of erosion over many months (by contrast, in the above case, it was due to the surface of the footpath not being properly smoothed off at the time it was laid). Where an unexpected edge which causes a Continue Reading
After the Event Insurance (Crucial for No Win–No Fee Personal Injury Claims)
After the Event Insurance is needed to protect you in case you lose your no win-no fee claim After the Event (ATE) insurance is where you take out an insurance policy after a legal problem or dispute has arisen in order to protect you against the risk of having to pay the other side’s legal costs if you lose. Why is this type of insurance important for “no win-no fee” personal injury claims? The difference between winning and losing your claim We have seen how your solicitor will get paid for their work for you on a no win–no fee arrangement if they are successful in getting personal injury compensation for you. It’s one thing to look at a winning scenario but it’s also important to be alive to the possibility that your claim might not succeed. What then? No win–no fee means you won’t have to pay anything to your solicitor for their work, if you lose. However, you could be at risk of having to pay other costs if things don’t work out in your favour. Under no win–no fee, failure Continue Reading
2 Ways Exaggeration of Injuries Can Damage Your Personal Injury Claim
Exaggerating your symptoms from injuries can damage your chances of claiming compensation Serious injuries can lead to permanent restrictions in things like your ability to work, to care for yourself and others close to you, or enjoy your hobbies. If that is what you claim following an accident, you need to realise it’s likely that all aspects of your life will end up under the microscope. Exaggeration of injuries can damage your personal injury claim. How will you be found out? Your life: nothing hidden You will be shadowed and put under video surveillance. Private investigators will stake out your home. You could be filmed in your garden, getting into and out of your car or doing the shopping. A prime time for observation is when you have to go and see any medical expert appointed by the insurers: they know exactly where you will be and at what times on that particular day. Surveillance cameras may be hand held, mounted in vehicles or in holdalls carried by Continue Reading
Seagull Attacks and Personal Injury Claims
Seagull attacks on humans are most likely in Scotland in the period May to July each year Injuries caused by dogs and other animals can give rise to successful personal injury claims. But what about an injury caused by a seagull? This is what a judge in the Court of Session had to consider in Cathie Kelly’s claim against the owners of the building – an old Victorian school - in Greenock, where she worked. Swooping seagull As she was going out of Ladyburn Business Centre (“LBC”) to get her lunch, an adult seagull dived at Mrs Kelly with outstretched wings. The bird did not injure her directly; instead, she hurt herself in her effort to get out of its way, as she stumbled and fell. She claimed that the building owners failed to take reasonable care for her safety. Her claim was based on occupiers’ liability and – because she was at work at the time – health and safety regulations. Seagulls protecting their young In Scotland, and certainly in Moray, you don’t even have to live at Continue Reading