snapped finger

Hi Ted,

Sorry to hear about your accident.  As I have said many times here unfortunately no one except your own solicitors should be providing a valuation on your claim due to the fact that they have the full details in realtion to the injuries you have sustained and the losses you have incurred. 

The fact that the defendants have taken 80% of liability means that they hold you partly responsible for the accident.  What I would suggest is that you consider whether you feel that this is appropriate and indeed ensure that your soiicitors feel that this is the case. Contributory negligence is a way in which insurers often try and place the blame on the claimant in order to reduce their own liability.  More often than not this is not a true reflection of what went on and most solicitors will argue it.

By accepting 80/20 this means that the value of your claim will be reduced by 20% this includes not just the value of your injuries BUT all other losses too like lost earnings etc.  Make sure your solicitors justify to you why they feel this is acceptable.

In the meantime dont worry about the value of the claim this will be dealt with at the appropriate time.  If you do not agree with it and the solicitors do not justify their valuation to you then you are within your rights to request a barristers advice.

Hope this helps.