When you are considering which approach to take when you are making a claim, you might consider going down the DIY route instead of hiring a solicitor. The main reason people do choose to handle their own cases is because they believe that this will save them money. However, the reality of DIY claim case handling means that it does not always work out as a cost-effective solution and it definitely is not the easiest.

Pitfalls of claiming without legal help

If you are thinking about handling your own case, here are some of the factors to consider:

• If you are claiming compensation for an accident, you need to have medical treatment and the right type of evidence to show that you received treatment for your injury.

• You need to collate as much evidence as possible, so if you have been in a RTA, for example, photos from the accident scene will help with your claim.

• Without legal expertise, you will have to spend a great deal of time researching the claim process and trying to understand the laws related to any claim. 

• Without experience in the legal sector, you might not have a good idea of the value of a claim and therefore could lose out financially by settling for a lower value, so be wary of settling too low.

• Insurance companies will often try to get you to take their first settlement offer, which will prevent you from being able to claim more money from them for any future repercussions such as injuries that develop later on.

Benefits of working with a solicitor

It is completely up to you if you do want to handle the case by yourself, but you could end up regretting your decision when you are trying to decipher legal jargon and you have pages and pages of paperwork to work through. 

Most solicitors will also offer to represent you on a no-win, no-fee basis, which means there is no way you will be left with a legal bill to pay if your case is unsuccessful. Having a legal expert on your side significantly increases your chances of winning the claim.  

Solicitors are experts in how the processes work and also what it takes for your claim to be successful. They also know exactly how much you should be due in compensation based on their past experience of handling similar cases. Without legal representation, your case will look unprofessional in court.

Before you make your decision whether to handle your case on your own, it is important to weigh up the pros and cons of doing so, including not being successful with the case, or losing out on a large amount of money by settling too soon.

Emerald Law can provide you with the legal support you require for any type of claim, with specialist teams for handling compensation claims, as well as Immigration, Housing Disrepair, Mis-sold Pensions, Data Breaches and any other area of law that you require assistance with.  

Arrange a call back to discuss your claim.