solicitors

[chroma]

Looks fairly suspect to me.

You should NEVER have a lawyer contacting you to tell you they want to fight for you and have Your best interests at heart


The way i read this whole ordeal is:
Guy loses his leg and gets understandably pissed off.
Gets out of surgery and rehab and decided understandably that he wants compensation.
Files with a lawyer to begin proceedings only to find that the old company has done a bunk.
His lawyers then go on the defensive, in a frenzy by the smell of money to be had. Desperately looking for someone to finger the blame at.
By getting you to admit liability they can then take YOU for a ride and get their money (dishing out whatever pittance is left on the bones to Mr Hoppity)

Placing myself in your shoes I would immediately CEASE AND DESIST from any contact and return all mail unopened back to the solicitors.
It wouldnt be my problem, i performed all duties required of me by law by giving my account of the accident at the time, taking part in all investigatory procedures and been safe in the knowledge that the guy will get his dues from the insurers who covered him at the time of the accident.

Whether he gets paid or not is none of my concern, there was a procedure in place at the time that has nothing whatsoever to do with me.

Sure it might sound harsh, but at the end of the day continuing correspondance with these looters will wind up costing you more than you bargained for and to add insult to injury the lawyers will walk with the bulk of the proceeds instead of the guy who could use them.
It doesnt matter what you do, the guy aint getting his leg back, so put him out of your mind, all thats going on here is that a bunch of robbing bastards are out for blood, operating under the guise of "everyones best interest." looking any place they can. DO NOT GIVE THEM AN EXCUSE.

In synopsis: It's not your problem any more.

[pantomime horse]

best advice..........I'd take it if I was you

[xant14]

fantastic reply chroma, and now I dunno what to do. I don't like to bury my head and wait for things to escalate, but I am wondering if this is the best method.


I have just looked at my house insurance, and I am covered for legal stuff, but I would maybe need to fork out ?250 excess.
Will give them a bell in the morning.

[Meat-Head]

just a dumb question(s): (just to add to the excitment)

If the injured bloke had shouted 'stop' would you have been able to stop/
hear him?

Did the machine have emergcency stops on it?

Was the machine on tracks or on tyres?

Could/did you see him (if you know what i mean)

When you realise what had happened did you think
'reverse have another go'

Just stupid questions that other forum members can see and add spin to it.

[barrowmanandrew]

fantastic reply chroma, and now I dunno what to do. I don't like to bury my head and wait for things to escalate, but I am wondering if this is the best method.


I have just looked at my house insurance, and I am covered for legal stuff, but I would maybe need to fork out ?250 excess.
Will give them a bell in the morning.

i wouldnt bother m8, there trying it on to see what they can get away with... tell them to ~~~~ off and pester the insurance company. ps do you know which insurance company your employer used, might be worth giving them a ring letting them know your getting hassle about this. they might take a dim view of your lady friend lawyer wanting to represent you.. when its them that'll get shafted for the compo......

[xant14]

just a dumb question(s): (just to add to the excitment)

If the injured bloke had shouted 'stop' would you have been able to stop/
hear him?
Hard to say, bearing in mind it was a cherry picker type machine, the the controls in the basket and the main unit being 6 to 14 metres away depending on how far it was extended. As it happens I did hear him, but not until too late. My concentration was on where my basket was as opposed to the unit below. It being around a dark midnight time with overhead wires having a danger of being snagged by the moving basket.
The machine only travels at about 5 mph max, even automatically slower when the booms are extended, which they were. Unless you are almost under the wheels, you have a long time to get out the way. And the revs rise automatically when the movements are made, so you 'know' something is happening, be it a raise, telescope, slew, or traverse movement

Did the machine have emergcency stops on it?
yep, but only on the side, not in front of the wheels


Was the machine on tracks or on tyres?
on rail wheels, the wheels power the rail wheel when put in rail mode


Could/did you see him (if you know what i mean)
I could if I was looking in that direction, I was looking in the opposite direction, where my basket was going.


When you realise what had happened did you think
'reverse have another go'

I did reverse over it, on his instructions, and going forward would have made the machine carry on up his leg

Just stupid questions that other forum members can see and add spin to it.

This is starting to get away from what I was asking really. I appreciate its handy to see the full picture, but the gorey details aren't something I wanna glorify.

[yorkslad]

xant dont know if you did find out but try this The Law Society - Find a solicitor

[xant14]

xant dont know if you did find out but try this The Law Society - Find a solicitor

Good one mate. I am deciding whether to call my house insurance legal side at the min. I initially thought it was a ?250 excess charge, but on closer scrutiny I think thats if I want my own solicitor of my chosing.
Or I might just send this letter drafted up from the CAB and wait.
Or, I might do what chroma says.

[gigboat]

How do I find out who solicitors work for?

A brief explanation, almost 2 years ago, there was an incident at work in which I ran over a guys foot with a machine I was driving.
I was employed by a company (now dissolved) who were I imagine fully insured.
I was competent and held the necessary ticket for the machine.

A couple of weeks ago I had a letter from some solicitor, asking me to get in touch, re - the other lad seeking compensation. I think I binned the letter.

2 days ago I got a phone call from this solicitor. And she seemed to take a different stance, in that she said she wants to represent me, and is working for my insurance company and followed up with a letter for me to sign, to allow her to act for me.

I am suspicious though. I cant remember the full ins and outs of the first letter from a couple of weeks ago, but I and the missus read it as if she was representing the injured party.

How can I find out who she is actually representing? Has she got my best interests to hand?

Is there any legal eagle in here that know how these things work? and where I can get information. As I say, my old company is now dissolved, and I have no contacts with the senior management.

Im no Barrister, but have just won a case against a solicitor, I represented myself, for the last 3 years of a 10 year court battle. as you were employed your company should and would have had liability insurance, the person injured has 3 yearts to claim, id ask the so;icitor to ask the insurance company to contact you via letter, dont speak on the phone you will nave no prove of what is said and not said, see what the reply is and get back to me

[Meat-Head]

If the injured bloke had shouted 'stop' would you have been able to stop/
hear him?
Hard to say, bearing in mind it was a cherry picker type machine, the the controls in the basket and the main unit being 6 to 14 metres away depending on how far it was extended. As it happens I did hear him, but not until too late. My concentration was on where my basket was as opposed to the unit below. It being around a dark midnight time with overhead wires having a danger of being snagged by the moving basket.
The machine only travels at about 5 mph max, even automatically slower when the booms are extended, which they were. Unless you are almost under the wheels, you have a long time to get out the way. And the revs rise automatically when the movements are made, so you 'know' something is happening, be it a raise, telescope, slew, or traverse movement

SLEW, THAT'S A NICE WORD, SO BASICALLY THE GUY CAN'T SAY
HE DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE THERE.

SO IT WAS DARK IF NO LIGHTS FITTED, DESGIN FLAW?
DID INSSCRUTIONS SAY ABOUT 'DON'T USE IN DARK'?

SUGGEST BEING ABLE TO DRIVE WITH BOOM OUT A DESIGN FLAW
(IF FIXED TO A LORRY YOU CAN'T MOVE IT WITHOUT 2 PEOPLE)

SURLY OVERHEAD CABLES ARE MORE 'IMPORTANT' THAN A PEASANT
ON THE GROUND

Did the machine have emergcency stops on it?
yep, but only on the side, not in front of the wheels

OH THAT MAKES THE SITUATION MORE CLEAR
HE GOT IN THE WAY SO YOU RAN OVER HIM, FINE

Was the machine on tracks or on tyres?
on rail wheels, the wheels power the rail wheel when put in rail mode

SO THAT MEANS, HE HAD TO MOVE OUT YOUR WAY NOT YOU MOVE OUT OF HIS WAY

Could/did you see him (if you know what i mean)
I could if I was looking in that direction, I was looking in the opposite direction, where my basket was going.

AGAIN OVERHEAD WIRES, MACHINE FIXED ON A TRACK, NOT LIKE IT WAS A BRICK WALL YOU WAS GOING TO HIT

When you realise what had happened did you think
'reverse have another go'

I did reverse over it, on his instructions, and going forward would have made the machine carry on up his leg

AWSOME, COOL

Just stupid questions that other forum members can see and add spin to it.

Sorry for shouting, didn't think about using another color

Perhaps admin could make this into a vote poll,

"Sue Xant14" "draw" "Xant14 sues Hop-A-Long-Cassidy"
with
"Xant14's fault" "Hop-A-Long-Cassidy" fault

[xant14]

meathead, your quite mad mate
@Gigboat... that is simply the most brilliant suggestion I have heard.

[barrowmanandrew]

"did reverse over it, on his instructions, and going forward would have made the machine carry on up his leg"

what the ~~~~ is he moaning about then, you could have had his meat and two veg off! he should be gratefull for your super quick reactions and expert driving, he's not got a leg to stand on m8.

[Meat-Head]

Meat-Head, your quite mad mate

Think locgically.

This guy (fair enough) wants to sue somebody, what you don't want is to loose your house and/or have to pay ?20K in court costs.

If something happens and the bloke with the wig on, 'Sub-penises' or something you, there is no choice, you HAVE to go to court, t(unless you are currantly dead).

So it would be handy to have a list of these 'suggestions' ready in a folder by your front door.

These people are dummies, if you can get whilst in court simular words then do it.

Courts DO NOT use 'If & but' only facts.

Rather than saying

"If he had moved out the way, but he diddn't" nil poi

Something like

"As the vechile I was operating was fixed between two steel rails, it was not possable to avoid hitting the daft coont by steering to one side"

Oh just for reference it is VERY VERY difficult to 'rugby tackle' the guy with the wig on when he takes your driving license away

[xant14]

Well, I took gigboats advice, I never sent the CAB letter, yet. Just a simple 'could you ask my insurance company to contact me via letter'.
Now I await.

[barrowmanandrew]

Well, I took gigboats advice, I never sent the CAB letter, yet. Just a simple 'could you ask my insurance company to contact me via letter'.
Now I await.

wouldnt worry m8, keep us updated of progress... ps. tell the bitch you dont need a legal advisor, at last count you have 159,731 advisors...