medical assesment after a crash.

IM0

I presume it would be wise to get ones own medical assesment and subsequent pain and suffering ballpark figure, to enable a more balanced settlement negotiation when dealing with an an insurance company personally after being involved in an RTA?

How does one go about getting a medical of the same level that the insurance company provides/demands (or injuries board for that matter either) or even one a solicitor would provide, if one chose to deal with the settlement that way.

How does one get ones own legal medical assesment (complete with an approximation of the amount of money one should expect to get for their injuries), independant of the insurance company, a solicitor or injuries board?

who do they contact for this? and any idea of the cost of such a thing?

McCrack

You need a medico/legal report. Depending on the severity a G.P (not your own) or more usually a Consultant will prepare one. They cost about €300 which depending can be recoverable.

I can't stress this enough but do not deal with an insurance company without professional representation and that means engaging a solicitor to act for you. I can assure you they do not have your interests at heart and will be pressuring you to settle quickly.

Your legal costs can be taken care of by the other side once you go through PIAB and reject their Assessment and then go on and sue.

IM0

thanks for that. Ive just googled it and found out what it entails, it seems to leave out the part Im most interested in, an approximation of what amount of damages I should be seeking for the injuries contained in the report (to use as a basis for negotiating with the insurance co).

Is it possible to get such a thing without going through a solicitor or injuries board?

JD24

McCrack wrote: »

Your legal costs can be taken care of by the other side once you go through PIAB and reject their Assessment and then go on and sue.

True to an extent. If PIAB assesses your case and you reject it and the insurance company accept it, if later down the road a Judge gives you less than the PIAB Assessment then you may have an Order made against you to pay for your own legal costs and that of the insurance company. However if PIAB assesses your case and the insurance company reject the assessment, regardless if you accept or reject it, then your legal costs will be paid.

me@ucd wrote: »

thanks for that. Ive just googled it and found out what it entails, it seems to leave out the part Im most interested in, an approximation of what amount of damages I should be seeking for the injuries contained in the report (to use as a basis for negotiating with the insurance co).

Is it possible to get such a thing without going through a solicitor or injuries board?

There is a Book of Quantum available on the Injuries Board website. This will give you a general valuation of what your injuries are worth. Bear in mind however that this is somewhat out of date. Your best bet is to obtain your own medical report and instruct a Solicitor. If you dont want to go down this route, check out the Book of Quantum as a rough guide and also bear in mind that an insurance company will offer you less than what your injuries are worth

sh_o

I can understand you wanting to do this yourself, maybe as a way of trying to save on costs etc. But if legal representation was to cost you an additional (say) €1k and as a result you obtained an additional €2k onto your award would that not be worth it?

Sometimes a lay persons 'value' of a claim -v- a solicitors -v- a PI Barrister -v- a PI silk can be quite substantial. Also the injury itself is only one aspect of the claim, liability, contributory negligence, statutory defences etc....

Victor

me@ucd wrote: »

How does one get ones own legal medical assesment (complete with an approximation of the amount of money one should expect to get for their injuries), independant of the insurance company, a solicitor or injuries board?

Thats not a doctors job. Horses for courses.

A doctor can come up with the extent and likely effects of the injuries, but is ill suited to put a price on them, e.g. he doesn' know what earnings you lost (or will lose) because of the injury.