Is a solicitor required for a PIAB claim?

Surely the whole point of the PIAB is to avoid having to use a solicitor, and reduce legal fees? Sure, the insurance company might make a lowball offer, but they can just ignore any offers and await the end of the PIAB process. A solicitor can then be employed if they're unhappy with the outcome.

I presume most people on here are solicitors though so maybe that's the reason for the above advice?

I would have said aswell from my experience that there is actually not much of an additional cost to engage a solicitor before PIAB or after PIAB

runawaybishop wrote: »

Isn't there a book of quantum for this reason?

book of quantum doesnt cover pain and suffering or psychological damage.

My disdain for the legal profession is well known. However, if I had a (genuine) claim, I would engage my own rather than dealing with the other party's legal team, knowing from experience what members of the profession are capable of

hullaballoo wrote: »

We ain't got nothing on your lot.

Apologies on behalf of 'our lot' for standing up to you

Toots wrote: »

Pretty much this. I sat down and had a look at the PIAB book of quantum thing and there's such a huge variation in the amounts listed there, and also their rather ambiguous descriptions of injuries, it would be really hard to even have a rough figure in mind of what to expect.


He didn't go through his own insurance. Without going in to too much details for privacy reasons, they were in a multi-car pile up on a motorway. He and a couple of others were stopped at lights on the slip road off the motorway and another car came along and went in to the back of them all at full speed. He was the front car, so he was hit from behind but didn't go into anyone else, so he claimed off the insurance of the driver who caused the crash.

Is it possible for him to get his own insurance company to provide a solicitor, even if he didn't claim on his own insurance?


This is something he's concerned about. Basically he's worried that if he engages a solicitor and the amount awarded ends up being very low, will the legal fees be greater than the sum awarded and he ends up even more out of pocket.

Most PI Solicitors take it on a no win no foal basis.

So there's no actual cost.

They will normally

- Get proper medicals done
- Contact all parties
- Draft PIAB Application
- Lodge it
- Lead negotiations with the insurance company and will get you a fair price and usually negotiate their fee with the insurance company also who will know what things costs in the legal world.

We are not allowed to advertise according the solicitors regulations or tout for business but any compent PI lawyer will take it on if its a meritorious case.

Having been in the position 10 yrs ago of making a claim through PIAB, I am glad I engaged a solicitor to make my case. Because their expertise was crucial and had I not had a solicitor batting for me I feel ~I would have been overwhelmed and most likely not got as much compensation as I did

Eggs For Dinner wrote: »

Until you concede that the legal profession is a significant contributor to the problem, every bit as much as insurers (something I have stated on numerous occasions), there is no point in debating this with you.

As for your "utter filth" comment, I take it you were directing that at the insurance industry rather than me personally as I would expect better from a moderator

Do you work in the legal profession ?

I'm in the same quandry. Multiplehosputal appointments, legitimate injury & no clear idea of how to proceed. Part if me tells me if im this confused and anxious now how messy will it getlater if I dont know what I'm at. The PICB site is loose and clear but has been praised by sll around for reducing costs to the claimant & making it easier. Yet a family member who had a (high court injury ) claim rejected 3 offers at the steps of the court & ended up doing (allegedly) well on their injury claim ( awarded by the judge for horrific life changing injuries). Their case took years and was a big emotional messfor them -I cant have seen them surviving without the support of theirlegal and medical team nor the negotiations on the steps to have been so adamant in repeated refusals without them being so legally sure of their ground. . BUT -they had to put a lot of cash payments upfront - independemt medical specialists, experts flown in from the uk as no hse doctor could commit to testifyin against their bosses and employer, train fares (first class ffs) for solicitors and legal team and their expenses pwyrol costs and lunches/hotels - not to mention administration snd paperwork charges- (legal document) stamps etc : and a lot of this was up front and then in staged (negotiated) payments as they went along. The injuries were life changing and horrific but the court case and pressure wasn't much better and they struggled hugely financially because of it -two thousand here, three thousand there - paying the mortgage with one salary out of action etc.

I really dont know what to do myself but know from expeeience that solicitors are a poisined chalice at least 50% of the time & even with everything right behind yiu , that you can win and be rewarded and then have to draw teeth toget the award paid or go back to court to make them pay -or shrug off your losses and get in with your life. I'm leaning on asking for financial advice re PIAB as it can only be a good investment but the usual nonsense of not being able to get a trusted recommendation or know who you are dealing with or what actual experience they have leaves the victim even more disempowered and victimised. Its hard to know & being at the mercy and whim of charletans and an industry bent on self protection is no solace.

As regarding trusting the car insurance company you are claiming off for payment advice or fairness -em -NO. Does your own insurance have a free (any type of legal advice service? My old var insurance had. My old health policy also had for work issues (bizzarely).

angel eyes 2012 wrote: »

Most of these processes are required to be completed by going through the Piab process anyway. Op, if I was genuinely injured and contemplated a PI claim, I would go it alone, despite what the legal profession would have you believe. It's no more complicated than processing an income tax return yourself. It's an administrative process that requires some effort - it's not like a high court commercial case the way some solicitors would maintain. If either party reject the assessment then your friend will require representation if they want to issue court proceedings. I'd suggest contacting piab and take it from there.

I have acted for insurers and against.

I can tell you from experience most insurance companies will not offer what the claim is worth at PIAB stage.

If you are unrepresented they will buy your claim off for a lot less than its worth.

That's the real nature of PIAB. It suits the insurance companies by keeping costs low.

Without a solicitor you think you got a great deal because you have no experience and dont appreciate the nuances

But that's only my 2 cent.

Work away yourself.

p15574 wrote: »

So as I've said above, basically just ensure you complete the PIAB process before thinking of contacting a solicitor, ignoring any contact from the insurance company. Going legal prior to this is part of the reason insurance policies are so expensive.

What? You dont get your costs for PIAB. Most solicitors write off the costs of PIAB.

If you screw it up at PIAB stage as often happens there is no cure. You cannot fix it after.

Get a solicitor BEFORE Piab to make sure it is done right not AFTER when it might be too late.

The reason insurance is so expensive is lack of competition goughing the Irish market.

There's a reason Quinn were so successful.