witnessed an accident now a law firm is hassling me..
witnessed an accident now a law firm is hassling me..
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Discussion

milesgiles

Original Poster:

5,270 posts

57 months

Wednesday 16th August 2023
quotequote all
not sure why

witnessed an idiot showing off swerve into another car, they both pulled over and I followed them to give the innocent motorist my details. Sent his insurer my statement, thought that was the end of the matter.

Now a solicitors wants a statement as well. Any ideas why? My first thought is it might be a personal injury claim? Police werent involved far as I know. Thoughts?

edit to be clear, the solicitors are acting for the innocent party

Edited by milesgiles on Wednesday 16th August 23:52

Cockaigne

2,797 posts

47 months

Wednesday 16th August 2023
quotequote all
just say you have given a statement and nothing has changed.

anonymous-user

82 months

Wednesday 16th August 2023
quotequote all
It sounds as if the insurers of driver who wasn’t the innocent party in your eyes are disputing liability. Whether that’s for personal injury or for damage to the innocent driver’s car, who knows?

Or perhaps the matter has been escalated to the police and the innocent driver is being threatened with a charge. Again, who knows?

Why not ask the solicitors why they’re contacting you before deciding what to do or not do?

milesgiles

Original Poster:

5,270 posts

57 months

Wednesday 16th August 2023
quotequote all
BlackWidow13 said:
It sounds as if the insurers of driver who wasn’t the innocent party in your eyes are disputing liability. Whether that’s for personal injury or for damage to the innocent driver’s car, who knows?

Or perhaps the matter has been escalated to the police and the innocent driver is being threatened with a charge. Again, who knows?

Why not ask the solicitors why they’re contacting you before deciding what to do or not do?
sorry to be clear they are acting for the innocent driver

anonymous-user

82 months

Wednesday 16th August 2023
quotequote all
Yeah, I got that.

Just ask them.

BertBert

21,186 posts

239 months

Thursday 17th August 2023
quotequote all
why wouldn't you want to help out more?

milesgiles

Original Poster:

5,270 posts

57 months

Thursday 17th August 2023
quotequote all
BertBert said:
why wouldn't you want to help out more?
why would I want to get involved with a potential ambulance chaser?

anonymous-user

82 months

Thursday 17th August 2023
quotequote all
milesgiles said:
why would I want to get involved with a potential ambulance chaser?
Because maybe the driver you identified as the innocent driver has suffered a genuine injury and deserves to be compensated for it. And they need a solicitor to get that compo, and solicitors don’t work for free.

Seriously, if you aren’t willing to help, why did you hand over your details at the time of the incident?

vikingaero

13,081 posts

197 months

Thursday 17th August 2023
quotequote all
Cockaigne said:
just say you have given a statement and nothing has changed.
This. It's insurance. Eveyone wants their own documentation and are too lazy to ask others, so they want it duplicated, because duplication.

peterperkins

3,431 posts

270 months

Thursday 17th August 2023
quotequote all
His insurer has your statement provided foc at the time so why can't his solicitor get it off them?
You did your bit in the initial incident/aftermath,.

If they can't/won't get the statement then you could charge for your time to produce another one.
They don't work for free and neither do I/we/you if we are so inclined.

Bill

58,347 posts

283 months

Thursday 17th August 2023
quotequote all
peterperkins said:
His insurer has your statement provided foc at the time so why can't his solicitor get it off them?
Have you dealt with an insurance firm??

I don't see why the OP would assume it's an injury claim. Chances are the 3rd party have involved a lawyer as well and is disputing fault. In which case if the OP wants to piss some ambulance chasers off (and cost them time/money) then he should help the innocent party out.

Pica-Pica

16,482 posts

112 months

Thursday 17th August 2023
quotequote all
milesgiles said:
BlackWidow13 said:
It sounds as if the insurers of driver who wasn’t the innocent party in your eyes are disputing liability. Whether that’s for personal injury or for damage to the innocent driver’s car, who knows?

Or perhaps the matter has been escalated to the police and the innocent driver is being threatened with a charge. Again, who knows?

Why not ask the solicitors why they’re contacting you before deciding what to do or not do?
sorry to be clear they are acting for the innocent driver
I think that is clear. However, the other party’s insurer may be disputing, and innocent party’s insurance are rechecking. As said, just say you have made your statement, if that is your wish.

Hammersia

1,564 posts

43 months

Thursday 17th August 2023
quotequote all
peterperkins said:
If they can't/won't get the statement then you could charge for your time to produce another one.
They don't work for free and neither do I/we/you if we are so inclined.
Yup^^^

Tell them your rates for a phone conversation are £40 per half hour or part thereof, payment to your bank account up front. Job jobbed.

WestyCarl

4,046 posts

153 months

Thursday 17th August 2023
quotequote all
Hammersia said:
peterperkins said:
If they can't/won't get the statement then you could charge for your time to produce another one.
They don't work for free and neither do I/we/you if we are so inclined.
Yup^^^

Tell them your rates for a phone conversation are £40 per half hour or part thereof, payment to your bank account up front. Job jobbed.
Great idea, it's just free insurance company money after all, it's not like the insurance companies collect their money from our premiums at all is it. banghead

Alickadoo

3,439 posts

51 months

Thursday 17th August 2023
quotequote all
milesgiles said:
not sure why

witnessed an idiot showing off swerve into another car, they both pulled over and I followed them to give the innocent motorist my details. Sent his insurer my statement, thought that was the end of the matter.

Now a solicitors wants a statement as well. Any ideas why? My first thought is it might be a personal injury claim? Police werent involved far as I know. Thoughts?

edit to be clear, the solicitors are acting for the innocent party

Edited by milesgiles on Wednesday 16th August 23:52
You call that being hassled?

Huh.

Hammersia

1,564 posts

43 months

Thursday 17th August 2023
quotequote all
WestyCarl said:
Hammersia said:
peterperkins said:
If they can't/won't get the statement then you could charge for your time to produce another one.
They don't work for free and neither do I/we/you if we are so inclined.
Yup^^^

Tell them your rates for a phone conversation are £40 per half hour or part thereof, payment to your bank account up front. Job jobbed.
Great idea, it's just free insurance company money after all, it's not like the insurance companies collect their money from our premiums at all is it. banghead
The OP is being asked to do work.

Do you work for free then?

rlw

3,582 posts

265 months

Thursday 17th August 2023
quotequote all
milesgiles said:
why would I want to get involved with a potential ambulance chaser?
FFS.....

WestyCarl

4,046 posts

153 months

Thursday 17th August 2023
quotequote all
Hammersia said:
WestyCarl said:
Hammersia said:
peterperkins said:
If they can't/won't get the statement then you could charge for your time to produce another one.
They don't work for free and neither do I/we/you if we are so inclined.
Yup^^^

Tell them your rates for a phone conversation are £40 per half hour or part thereof, payment to your bank account up front. Job jobbed.
Great idea, it's just free insurance company money after all, it's not like the insurance companies collect their money from our premiums at all is it. banghead
The OP is being asked to do work.

Do you work for free then?
Work biglaugh Yes on the very odd occasion I need to have a quick phone call to help someone, yes I do "work" for free.

sospan

2,755 posts

250 months

Thursday 17th August 2023
quotequote all
Have you got a copy of the original statement?
If so then send a copy of that. That avoids any discrepancies due to time lag. The best thing to do for an incident is write down the details asap after it while your memory is clear. Do similar at a later date and your recollections can change. Maybe only minor changes but they could be crucial.
If you don’t have a copy then refer the solicitor to the insurer dealing with the innocent party ( your interpretation of innocent party).
At the time of the incident you made a point of committing yourself to one party by following and giving your details as a witness and statement.
Are you prepared to continue that line? From a morality point of view where do you stand?

milesgiles

Original Poster:

5,270 posts

57 months

Thursday 17th August 2023
quotequote all
Bill said:
Have you dealt with an insurance firm??

I don't see why the OP would assume it's an injury claim. Chances are the 3rd party have involved a lawyer as well and is disputing fault. In which case if the OP wants to piss some ambulance chasers off (and cost them time/money) then he should help the innocent party out.
ive already sent the statement to the innocent partys insurance company. The lawyer is acting for the innocent party.. so why cant they get my statement off the insurance company?

something not right here