If you’ve been involved in a motorbike accident and your insurance company recommends a solicitor, you may feel that you have to use the firm they suggest. However, you can still seek independent legal advice and speak to a solicitor of your own choosing.
If you have legal expenses insurance, the position can be slightly different. Your policy may require you to use a solicitor from the insurer’s panel, with the freedom to choose your own solicitor once legal proceedings need to begin.
Understanding how panel solicitors work and what other options are available can help you make a more informed decision about your claim.
What Is an Insurance Panel Solicitor?
An insurance panel solicitor is a law firm that has an arrangement with an insurance company to handle legal claims on behalf of its customers. If you report a motorcycle accident to your insurer and have legal expenses cover, they may refer you to one of these firms to handle your claim.
Using a panel solicitor can be convenient, especially if the referral is part of your existing insurance cover. However, being referred to a particular firm does not mean that you cannot seek independent legal advice or consider whether another solicitor is better suited to your motorcycle accident claim.
Before deciding who will represent you, it helps to understand who will handle your claim, their experience with motorcycle accidents, and how the claim will be funded.
Can I Choose My Own Solicitor After a Motorcycle Accident?
Yes. You can seek independent legal advice and choose to instruct a solicitor yourself rather than simply accepting the firm recommended by your motorbike insurer.
However, there is an important distinction if you want to use legal expenses insurance to pay your legal costs. Your insurer may initially require a claim funded through the policy to be handled by one of its panel solicitors. Once legal proceedings need to be started, you should normally be allowed to choose your own solicitor. In exceptional circumstances, you may be able to choose sooner, such as if there is a conflict of interest.
This does not necessarily mean you have to use your legal expenses insurance to pursue your claim. Our solicitors can handle claims on a No Win No Fee basis, so you only pay our fees if you win. We can discuss the options available to you before you decide how you would like your claim to proceed.
Insurance Panel Solicitor vs Specialist Motorcycle Solicitor
There is nothing inherently wrong with using a solicitor recommended by your insurer. However, you may want to consider whether the firm and the person handling your case have the specialist experience you need.
Insurance Panel Solicitor
- Referred to you through your insurance company
- May be funded through your existing legal expenses insurance
- The firm is normally selected from your insurer’s approved panel
- Motorcycle accident experience will depend on the individual firm and solicitor handling your case
- Your insurer’s policy may determine how the claim is funded and when you can choose another solicitor
Specialist Motorcycle Solicitor
- A solicitor you choose to approach yourself
- Selected specifically for their experience with motorcycle accident claims
- Can advise on issues particular to motorcyclists, serious injuries and disputed liability
- May offer alternative funding arrangements, such as No Win No Fee
- Gives you the opportunity to choose the firm you want to represent you from the outset
Whichever route you consider, you should feel comfortable with the solicitor handling your case and understand their experience, how your claim will be managed and what funding arrangement will apply.
Why Motorcycle Accident Claims May Require Specialist Experience
Motorcycle accidents can result in serious injuries and claims that are more complex than they initially appear. Questions may arise over how the collision happened, who was responsible and whether the motorcyclist contributed to the accident. Having a solicitor who understands motorcycle accidents can be particularly valuable when liability is disputed.
The value of a claim can also extend beyond the initial injury. Depending on your circumstances, you may need to consider rehabilitation, ongoing treatment, loss of earnings, future care and support, and damage to your motorcycle, helmet, protective clothing, and other equipment.
Our solicitors specialise in representing motorcyclists and understand the issues that can arise following a serious bike accident. We can investigate what happened, assess the full effect the accident has had on you and pursue the compensation you may be entitled to.
What If My Insurer Has Already Appointed a Solicitor?
If your insurer has already referred your claim to a panel solicitor, you may still have options. You are not necessarily committed to remaining with the same firm for the duration of your claim, although how a transfer is handled can depend on the circumstances of your case and the funding arrangement currently in place.
If you are unhappy with how your claim is progressing, would prefer it handled by a motorcycle accident specialist, or simply want a second opinion, speak to our team before deciding.
We regularly speak to motorcyclists who have already started their claim elsewhere. Find out more about how the process works on our Transfer Your Claim page.
Talk to a Motorcycle Accident Solicitor About Your Options
If you would like to understand your options, our specialist motorcycle accident solicitors can discuss your claim and explain how we may be able to help.
Eligible claims can be handled on a No Win No Fee basis, so speak to our team for initial advice about your motorcycle accident claim and the funding options available to you.
