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Personal injury claims during COVID-19
Advice

Personal injury claims during COVID-19

Amanda Evans Amanda Evans
3 min read

As life seems to stop for many across the country, there are parts of life where business must continue as usual, or as close to usual as possible.

With regards to law and personal injury claims, you can be reassured that we at Winston Solicitors are set up to work from home. This means that ongoing claims can progress as they normally would do, albeit at a slower pace, due to restricted staff numbers.

Frequently asked personal injury questions in relation to COVID-19

In relation to my specific area of personal injury claims and the impact of COVID-19, these are the main issues and questions that have been raised by my clients:

  • Will my medical report, which is needed as evidence of my claim, go ahead?

In answer to this question, the rules surrounding the medical examinations have been relaxed greatly. This means that several experts are changing to video appointments. This is not appropriate in all situations, depending on the specific expert and the injuries sustained by the client. It means that some pre-booked appointments are still going ahead as planned via Skype or something similar. However, many reporting experts are now unavailable to examine claimants online. This is due to the need to prioritise NHS patients over private medico-legal income.

  • Will I receive my compensation if my claim was due to be settled?

There is no issue with payments being processed providing BACS transfers can be made instead of cheques. Most companies have this facility set up, although it may take longer for things to be processed.

  • Will the high level of client/solicitor contact continue?

Yes, working from home is set up in the same way as working from the office. Clients can continue to contact me via direct dial to my home phone or via email. The only difference is the personal contact of coming into the office for a face to face meeting. The way round this is by using Zoom, meaning that every aspect of office life can be replicated when working from home.

  • If a client has a case already going through the court process will it be affected?

The pandemic does pose various challenges for professional compliance with deadlines and directions. Correspondence with the courts can be made electronically and in some cases by phone. It is possible to request timetable variations and hearing adjournments in order to obtain procedural flexibility. This could be by changing to telephone/video hearings, as well as parties agreeing on extensions between themselves and the court, in order to obtain the medical evidence which may be delayed until lockdown is over.

  • Is rehab, such as physio, still available?

There will be an unavoidable slow-down in rehabilitation momentum, meaning that claim life cycles will be extended because of this. Physio treatment is not generally appropriate to do over video or phone, so recovery rates may be slower for certain people requiring rehab treatment. This will inevitably prolong their claims whilst waiting for the treatment to be undertaken.

To speak with a personal injury specialist, call Winston Solicitors on 0113 320 5000 or email ae@winstonsolicitors.co.uk

Client feedback

I recently collected on a no win no fee basis for a works accident case .Before I contacted Winston Solicitors I did my own research and decided to contact them with my issues. Amanda evens worked my case which took just over 3 years to conclude..I can not speak highly enough about her professionalism her empathy and friendly nature. Amanda arranged all my medical appointments with specialist consultants and helped me build my case against my employer's. Amanda kept me informed throughout this long drawn-out process and was always willing to advise and assist with any of my concerns. I would have no concerns about wholeheartedly recommending Winston Solicitors and Amanda to represent anyone who needed advice and help with a claim. And finally I would like to add Winston Solicitors are fortunate to have Amanda represent them . Regards martin
Martin
Winston Solictitors took on my case and were professional and thorough throughout. They provided regular updates without needing to be chased and achieved a good outcome. Would happily use them again.
Alistair
Hi my whole experience with Winston extremely have been extremely positive! Amanda Evans who has represented me was extremely professional and sympathetic to any of my concerns or questions!If i left any messages they were responded to very quickly and dealt with almost immediately . i cannot recommend Amanda Evans highly enough and congratulate Winston Solicitors on almost stress free litigation. thankyou KEVIN from Benfleet Essex
Kevin
* positive experience working with Amanda* made navigating my injury claim as smooth as possible* good communications/emails, always kept in the loop, with prompt helpful clarifications whenever requested* would recommend
Anonymous
Winston solicitors took over my case, as my solicitor retired. They have been excellent. I would recomment them to anyone who needs legal representation.
Anonymous
I had an accident which was not my fault and it resulted in a serious injury. I was considering putting in a claims but was not sure about next steps. I started looking at several solicitor websites conducting my own research. I came across Winston Solicitors so I called the office and was put through to a solictor who listened and we went through the incident while I answered their questions. I was not sure in the first instance if I had a case but after our discussion, the solicitors assured me there was a case and began gathering informaiton on my case. We worked together gathering all the necessary information they needed. Furthermore, following my accident it transpired I needed a second operation for the same injury and Winston Solicitors walked with me through the whole journey which took 2 years - finally we came to a successful conclusion. I found the solicitor working on my case very gentle, undertsanding, reassuring and patient with me, explainig everything so all 'next steps' were clear, making the whole process easy and comfortable. I am extremely happy with the conclusion and I would highly recommend this group of solicitors to family and friends.
Nancy
I have had outstanding service from Amanda who dealt with my claim. Amanda is brilliant and has been vey supportive throughout the process. She has been professional and kept me updated every step of the way. I have alwas been able to contact her when I have needed to. I would not hesitate to recommend her and team.
Angeline
Excellent advice and professional service received from Amanda Evans at Winston Solicitors. I needed help with a personal injury claim following a dog bite and was delighted with the successful outcome. Regular communications ensured I was always kept up to date with progress, together with management of expectations.
James
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