Interim Payment For A Personal Injury. How Long Does It Take?

[tim5571]

I put in a claim for in an injury at work in November 2012. The other side admitted liability in January and haven't been able to work since the accident.

I asked my solicitor if it was possible to arrange an interim payment as Im suffering financial hardship with not being able to work. She told me that we could and would base it around my loss of earnings so far. I sent all my payslips going back to July 2012 for her to work out all the figures etc.

How long does it normally take to receive the payment as I really am getting desperate now?

Thanks in advance everyone :)

[woofgang]

I would be asking the solicitor...I guess it depends on who will pay this interim payment.

[tim5571]

I guess it would be the other sides insurers.

[woofgang]

go ask your solicitor

[tim5571]

She basically says "How longs a piece of string" and feel like im pestering her half the time.

Just wondered if anyone else in this situation could give me a rough idea.

[woofgang]

wel, if she doesn't know I don't know who would....even other people who have been in your circs would be dealing with a different insurance company.

[SirOracle]

Tactically it is not in the best interests of an Insurer to make interim payments in this type of claim,the reasons being that by doing so it can have the effect of making the claimant less "desperate" to accept their final offer of settlement.

I am sure your solicitor is well aware of this,and I go with the "how long is a piece of string" answers given.

Sorry I cannot be of much help here.

[gina32]

when I had an accident and put n a claim my case was resolved and monies paid within 8 months so maybe you wont have to wait to long now. have you had doctors reports and so on yet?

[Nini74]

I disagree with SirOracle - Insurers tend to be happy to make interim payments so that it stops interest accruing on the damages payable at the end of the claim. Unfortunately, the how long is a piece of string question is correct - she can request an interim payment from the Insurers, but they can take weeks to decide whether they will make one, and if so, weeks longer to make the payment. If they do say no, then they'll need a good reason really as your Solicitor can make an application at Court for an interim payment and, being as your request is as a result of not being able to work, I don't think a court is likely to refuse your request. Unfortunately, it all takes time though! I'm sure if you phone your Solicitor and ask her when she made the request to the Insurers and ask whether she could maybe phone them to see if they'll agree it. We're used to being nagged by eager clients, but if you're having real financial hardship i'm sure she'll understand and sympathise x

[SirOracle]

I see that you disagree with my answer re.interim payments,and would like to expand my views a bit further.

The interest that an Insurer would have to add to the total amount of the claim is very likely to be a lot less than a settlement negotiated with a "destitute and desperate"Third Party.

Looking at it from the claimant's point of view,it is often beneficial to delay acceptance of an offer, to make sure the prognosis of the injuries is accurate.
Eg a broken limb may not heal properly and could result in a permanent limp or worse

What we have is a conflict of views on the best tactics to be used in trying to settle the claim,in the best interests of the Insurer.Sadly the Third Party's interests are pushed to the side.

[Scotsman39]

can I ask when you got your interim payment? I am in similar situation and waiting as well just now. My accident was Oct 2012 so roughly same time limits

[Anton77]

On Friday 13th July 2012 I suffered an electric shock at work from unisolated three phase cables,four month ago I ask my solicitor to put in a request for an interim payment and still I have not had any answer from the defendants my solicitor always tells me that she has a date in her diary to chase them but I still don't really know what's happening,,in fact the hole claim process has been a nightmare and with my solicitor changing four times within the company they all say different things and now I'm desperate and confused it's a nightmare ;(