Has your solicitor ceased trading? Are you dissatisfied with your current solicitor?
You can transfer your personal injury or clinical negligence case to Ison Harrison solicitors.
The personal injury market has taken a battering over recent years with legal reforms to fix costs and make pursuing claims almost impossible, so it comes as no surprise that on 2nd November 2021, two big claims firms, Pure Business Group and Pure Legal Limited went into administration.
Any solicitor who is appointed by a client to handle a personal injury or clinical negligence claim must act in their best interests and act professionally. Like any other business, solicitors have to work to the highest standards to keep the consumer satisfied, because it is becoming increasingly common for dissatisfied clients to look elsewhere and change solicitors, as they are entitled to do.
You can do this at any point in the claim if you feel that:
- You are not being kept up to date through a lack of communication
- Your solicitor is not following your instruction
- You are being dealt with by a different solicitor each time you contact the firm
- Your solicitor is not getting you treatment for your injuries
- Your solicitor is trying to settle the case too quickly and is not acting professionally
- You are receiving standard and generic letters and you are not satisfied with the advice being given
You should always attempt to resolve your differences with your solicitor and talk things through, but it is common to lose confidence in your solicitor and it is then difficult to come back from that. If you do choose to transfer your file to a new legal firm, then this is quite straightforward and shouldn’t cost you anything, but of course you should choose wisely.
Choosing a new solicitor
Personal injury and clinical negligence claims can be harrowing and stressful, but you should make sure you keep your frustrations in check, and not allow them to sway your judgement. Do not make rash decisions and instruct a new company without properly considering whether they have the relevant expertise to handle your claim. Does this new legal company use qualified solicitors or simply ‘claims handlers’? It is very easy to find yourself back in the same situation, so you must do some research and choose wisely if you have decided you must have your file transferred.
Fees involved in transferring your file
In the event that you have decided you must change your legal representation, your original solicitor is entitled to retain the file on your claim until any outstanding fees have been paid. In such cases your original solicitor will enter into discussions with your new solicitor and seek to recover costs from the claim when it eventually concludes. This is known as ‘exercising a lien’ and is very common in the legal profession.
Many legal cases are funded by a Legal Expenses Insurer, and under normal circumstances, they will have no problem with you changing solicitors. It is true that some people feel uncomfortable explaining to their original solicitor that they are wishing to stop using their services, but usually your new solicitor will make the required arrangements for you, via a letter and/or phone call. Your only requirement is to sign a consent form to allow the transfer of your file and instructions.
Switch to Ison Harrison Solicitors
We have been representing injured clients for over 30 years at Ison Harrison and continue to boast of a highly skilled and experienced team dealing with a wide range of personal injury litigation. Such actions include but are not limited to fatal accidents and inquests, sexual assault and abuse, accidents at work, abroad, slips, trips and road traffic accidents.
If the firm representing you has gone into administration, such as Pure Business Group and Pure Legal Limited, or you are unhappy with the service you are being provided we can arrange for your file to be transferred to us. The transfer will be quick, seamless and at no cost to you. We will then review your case and actively progress it to a satisfactory conclusion as soon as possible whilst providing regular updates.
We are one of the rare firms that do not pay CMCs for personal injury work. The work we receive is predominantly from client referrals.
For more information on transferring your personal injury file please contact Gareth Naylor, Head of Personal Injury – gareth.naylor@isonharrison.co.uk
For more information on transferring your clinical negligence file, please contact James Thompson, Head of Clinical Negligence – james.thompson@isonharrison.co.uk
