For immediate release 6th November 2000
JUSTICE FOR ALL, AS NEW ACCIDENT LINE LAUNCHES Heather Mills gives backing to new-look ‘No Risk, Access To Justice’ scheme designed to win maximum compensation for claimants Justice has become more accessible for ordinary citizens with the launch of the new Accident Line, the only personal injury referral service endorsed by the Law Society. The scheme is being launched to ensure that more people than ever can obtain access to justice at no financial risk to themselves. Accident Line‟s service is dedicated to winning maximum compensation for claimants and avoiding the under-settlement of claims that can occur when claims management companies represent accident victims. At the launch, celebrity campaigner Heather Mills, who suffered multiple injuries in a road accident seven years ago, gave her backing to the enhanced scheme: “I receive literally thousands of calls, letters and emails from distressed accident victims seeking my help, so I am very pleased to lend my support to Accident Line. People who have suffered injury have the reassurance that there is a scheme designed for them that is endorsed by the Law Society. Now we have to ensure that as many people as possible know that this service is there for them when they need it.” Potential claimants can call Accident Line on a freephone number – 0800 19 29 39. The new Accident Line service gives victims of accidents, where someone else was to blame, the chance to fight for – and win – maximum compensation. As Accident
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Line is structured entirely with the aim of obtaining justice for accident victims, claimants who use the service deal directly with experienced personal injury solicitors. These experts pursue their cases vigorously to obtain the award that their injury merits. Accident Line claimants will not have to go through claims management company middlemen who have an interest in reaching early settlements, which often do not adequately compensate the injury suffered. The Accident Line service offers: A freephone service that puts accident victims in touch with a leading firm of solicitors who are experienced in the field of personal injury law and Conditional Fee Agreements (CFAs). Free assessment of a claimant‟s case by a specialist solicitor. Representation by experienced lawyers, if the case is accepted. Case funding options that include CFAs backed by insurance. This is the „No-win, No-fee‟ option, that will be explained to the client by the solicitor. If the case is run under a CFA, the claimants will pay nothing if they lose – the insurance covers not only the opponent‟s and claimant‟s costs but also the premium itself. If claimants are successful in their CFA case, the law allows them to recover their solicitor‟s costs and the insurance premium from the loser, so long as these costs are not unreasonable. Abbey Legal Protection is launching the new Accident Line with the endorsement of the Law Society, to meet the demand for affordable justice that followed the ending of Legal Aid for most personal injury claims earlier this year. Accident Line‟s membership includes some of the leading personal injury specialists. - page 2/3 -
James Innes, Chairman of Abbey Legal Protection, said: “New Accident Line has been improved for the benefit of claimants. We are aware that people will often turn to us in moments of distress, so we aim to make the process of obtaining justice worry-free. We provide an excellent service, focused on putting the claimants directly in touch with legal specialists, and offering funding options that make pursuing a claim an affordable reality. Abbey Legal Protection and the Law Society have endeavoured to design a truly ethical service that meets the justifiable needs of people who, through no fault of their own, have suffered injury and deserve compensation.” - ends Further information from: Lydia Oakes/Terry Cartwright Chris Ward MD, Abbey Legal Protection Tel: 020 7881 3232 Tel: 020 7702 3636 lydiao@rppr.co.uk terryc@rppr.co.uk c.ward@abbeylegal.com
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