31 Jul, 2014/ by National Accident Helpline /Company Announcements, News
New Scottish solicitor panel set up with Personal Injury specialists Digby Brown and Thorntons
National Accident Helpline, the UK's most recommended claims company, has announced the creation of a new consolidated solicitor panel to enhance the support available to accident victims in Scotland.
The organisation is already one of the largest providers of advice and support to people injured in accidents in Scotland and helps thousands of people each year. Despite this, a recent independent study found that 52% of personal injury victims in Scotland* did not make a claim, evidencing the need for the panel's creation and greater access to justice for legitimate injury sufferers.
The organisation's new Scottish solicitor panel will allow for closer work with two leading and long established specialist personal injury firms, Digby Brown and Thorntons, which will help extend National Accident Helpline's ability to provide sector-leading assistance to Scottish claimants.
Digby Brown and Thorntons now form the Scottish arm of National Accident Helpline's industry-leading solicitor panel, which consists of almost 50 specialist UK personal injury firms.
Following the changes to the panel, National Accident Helpline's charter will now be adopted by member firms in Scotland and they will be regularly audited to ensure they continue to deliver best-in-class service. This move also affirms National Accident Helpline's ongoing commitment to its Scottish presence in the run up to, and after, the Independence referendum in September.
Russell Atkinson, Chief Executive Officer of National Accident Helpline, said:
"I'm delighted to be able to announce our new panel arrangements in support of our Scottish customers. The expertise afforded by Digby Brown and Thorntons will be invaluable in upholding the highest standards of service north of the border. We are dedicated to helping people across Scotland, and the wider UK, gain access to the justice they deserve."
Fraser Oliver, Chief Executive at Digby Brown, said:
"Digby Brown's commitment to all of our clients is to provide independent legal advice and access to justice. We are pleased to be appointed to the new National Accident Helpline panel in Scotland and look forward to using our experience, expertise and resources to help people across the country. With our six offices across Scotland, our specialist departments and solicitors provide a quality service to people anywhere in the country.”
Gordon McBean, partner in the Personal Injury team at Thorntons, said:
"We have a long-standing relationship with National Accident Helpline, having worked with them for more than 15 years. We are pleased to be appointed, along with Digby Brown, to its new Scottish Solicitor panel. The team at Thorntons has an incredible depth of knowledge and experience across our five offices, which ensures that people who require our assistance will get the very best legal help."
*Figures from The Real Cost of Personal Injury in Scotland, based on independent research commissioned by National Accident Helpline
Notes to editors:
About National Accident Helpline
National Accident Helpline is the leading marketing and legal services company for solicitors who specialise in Personal Injury law and represents almost 50 legal practices across the UK. If a consumer has had an accident which was someone else's fault then we will put them in touch with a member firm, so they can seek redress for the injury they have suffered.
Through our national solicitor network, we champion consumer rights for people who have had accidents, helping those with genuine claims to seek redress and gain access to justice to help aid their recovery.
National Accident Helpline is authorised by the Ministry of Justice in respect of regulated claims management activities and is a registered company, incorporated in the UK. For more information please visit the website: www.NationalAccidentHelpline.co.uk
National Accident Helpline is a subsidiary of NAHL Group plc.
About Digby Brown
Digby Brown Solicitors are Scotland's largest personal injury law practice with 19 partners and over 120 fee-earners based in six offices across Scotland - Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, Inverness, Kirkcaldy and Aberdeen. The firm's 15 departments have specialist solicitors covering all areas of personal injury work , clinical negligence and employment law cases, a business model the firm believe is unique in Scotland and which, along with awards-winning litigation work, consistently produces market-leading results for clients. Digby Brown were the only law firm to be shortlisted in the Customer Service and Focus Category of the 2013 Scottish Business Awards. Digby Brown have been ranked number 1 firm for personal injury in Scotland by both Chambers Guide to the Legal Profession for the last nine years and the Legal 500 guide for the last seven years.
About Thorntons
With 33 partners and more than 300 employees, Thorntons is one of Scotland's largest full service law firms. The Personal Injury team, headed up by partner Gordon McBean - an accredited specialist in Personal Injury Law -have been dealing with personal injury claims in Scotland for over fifteen years. The team of more than 25, including 12 solicitors, 2 trainee solicitors and 11 paralegals handle a varied case load of litigated and pre-litigation personal injury and clinical negligence claims across the whole of Scotland. The firm's ethos is centred around helping clients beyond simply securing their compensation. The firm's full service offering gives clients the benefit of expert advice on financial planning, family matters and Wills and Powers of Attorney giving them peace of mind and reassurance for the future, whatever that might bring.