What does a compensation solicitor do?

Adverts for compensation solicitors are many and varied, but few of them actually tell you what they do.


It’s important that you can get professional legal advice if you have been injured through no fault of your own. Using a compensation solicitor who doesn’t have a thorough knowledge of the relevant legislation, or who doesn’t have your best interests at heart can jeopardize your case and leave you in a worse position than you were when you started.

A good compensation solicitor will talk to you over the phone or in their office to discover exactly what happened when the accident took place; from the moment the accident occurred, through the help and advice you were given at the time, the medical attention you received and the long-term effects of the incident. They will also want to know about any warnings, training or information you were given, particularly if the accident was work-related.

Only after evaluating all the information you have given will your compensation solicitor decide whether or not you have a case for claiming financial redress. There may be cases where the circumstances do not warrant legal action, and a professional compensation solicitor will not raise your hopes by promising to get compensation where none is likely to be available.

If your case is taken on by a compensation solicitor, then there will be a process of fact-finding, where your solicitor should explain to you the process that the claim will follow, and be up-front about his or her fees for your case. They will then establish the exact timetable of events that led up to your accident and begin to formulate a legal case on your behalf.

In many cases, your claim may be settled by the insurance company direct. If the case is disputed and reaches court, you may be asked to appear as a witness to describe what has happened to you and the effects you believe the accident has had on your life. There may also be statements from your doctor and any other medical staff who attended you at the time, together with any medical experts that your solicitor has asked you to consult and any witnesses to the accident.

If you are thinking about making a claim, you should make sure that you are consulting a properly qualified compensation solicitor so that your case is handled professionally and efficiently.

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