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'Low-ball' insurance payments upset legal firms

No motorist, family or homeowner could afford to be without at least some form of basic insurance, but it seems that a growing number of policyholders from all over the UK are being short-changed by their insurers when they need to claim after an accident. The practice of insurers giving their customers 'low-ball' payments – the lowest possible payment they can legally make, is becoming more popular with insurance companies nationwide, especially at a time when the total number of claims is on the increase.

Anyone who finds that they money they’ve been paid by their insurer post-accident isn’t enough to even remotely cover their costs may look elsewhere for money by making a claim with legal firms such as First4lawyers, but that avenue could be at least partially blocked by the new LASPO (Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders) Bill, which comes into law at the beginning of 2013. Unsurprisingly, a number of legal firms are up in arms over the current situation, citing hypocrisy on the part of some insurers.

“We know that insurers aren’t too pleased about the number of claims going up, but by paying their customers as little as possible, they’re not doing themselves any favours. This is where we come in and fill the gaps left by insurers, but without us, people would be left counting the cost of their accidents even after receiving a pay-out”, said one personal injury lawyer.

Until something can be resolved, it looks like the only chance people have of getting the money needed to foot the bill of accidents is to go to sites like Medicalsolicitors.com for assistance in claiming, but only as a last resort.