Tilley hats might be the best in the world. They’ve been called “legendary” and “iconic”. Tilley hats float and, if lost or stolen, can be replaced for half their full purchase price. Should the hat wear out due to normal wear and tear, poor workmanship or faulty material, it will be repaired or replaced free of charge. Tilley hats are guaranteed for life. In 2013, a Guardian reader reported that, when the fabric of their hat split after 17 years, Tilley still honoured the lifetime guarantee and replaced it. They’re expensive hats but the various risk-reversal elements clearly help keep them desirable purchases. A guarantee can make a big difference to how likely we are to choose a product or service. In the context of personal injury compensation claims, not everyone wants to have their day in court. On the other hand, in another article on this website, we’ve considered the pros and cons for those who want a guarantee that their personal injury claim’s outcome will be Continue Reading
Why a personal injury claim does not guarantee you your day in court
Can you have your day in court, with a personal claim, if that's what you want? Donald Trump used the Rolling Stones’ recording of their 1969 song “You Can't Always Get What You Want" during his 2016 primary and presidential campaigns. Following the Republican National Convention in July 2016, which was widely televised, the Stones went public with their views on the use of the song composed by Keith Richards and Mick Jagger. They stated that they did not endorse Trump. They also requested that Trump should stop using their songs to support his message. Despite these requests, Trump continued his use of the song at rallies, even beyond the 2016 presidential elections. It seems that, even if you are the Rolling Stones, you can’t always get what you want. It is also the case that, if you are an injured person with a personal injury compensation claim, you can’t always get what you want – and we’re going to look at some aspects of that in this article. Most people ask if they Continue Reading
Uninsured and untraced drivers and personal injury claims
It's compulsory to have insurance to cover the risk that a third party will suffer loss because of your driving That’s the case whether the “injury” is to property or a person. As at 2016, however, figures published by Churchill Insurance suggested that, across the UK, there were estimated to be over a million uninsured motorists. In the worst urban hotspots (e.g. parts of London), you have as much as a one in eight chance that any motorist involved in an accident with you will be uninsured. What are important things to know if you are involved in an accident with an uninsured (or untraced) driver? The Government set up the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) in 1946. It is a limited company and it aims to help those who have suffered loss due to the actions of an uninsured or untraceable driver. The underlying principle is that no person should be left uncompensated because a driver who causes an accident is uninsured. Since the 1970s, the MIB has been an important means by Continue Reading
How soon can you choose your own solicitor under Before the Event insurance?
We’ve covered the topic of Before the Event insurance in other articles. Before the Event (BTE) Insurance is legal expenses insurance you can choose to take out. It means that if, for example, you are injured in an accident, the insurance covers the cost of legal advice on the prospects of claiming compensation. It’s an alternative to other funding methods such as no win-no fee and legal aid. One of the friction points of BTE Insurance is that you usually have to use the BTE insurer’s own panel solicitor for legal advice in the early stages. The justification most commonly given is that BTE insurers prefer to use their own panel solicitors for valid commercial and quality-control reasons. You can’t use, say, your own local, specialist solicitor for advice under the policy in the initial stages of advice. (You can still use them for advice, it just won’t be under the policy - which may not be a problem, in fact). The situation changes if it becomes necessary to raise a court Continue Reading