Home / Defending Personal Injury Claims

Defending Personal Injury Claims

We are able to help clients who have had claims brought against them for personal injuries and may have issues with the validity or adequacy of their insurance.

Usually claims can be defended by a client’s public liability, employer liability or other relevant insurance and, whilst George Ide does not act directly for insurance companies, there may be circumstances in which insurers are unable or unwilling to help and this can arise in some of the following situations:

A client has no insurance cover
Where the client has an excess on their insurance policy and the value of the claim is likely to fall under the excess figure
Where a client has an indemnity limit and the value of the claim exceeds that limit
Where insurance has been denied due to, for example, a breach of the insurance contract such as late notification or other material breach
Particularly in construction site claims where a client has the wrong kind of insurance and there is a dispute as to the employment status of a contractor
Rare cases where an insurer has gone into liquidation

We have assisted clients who have had claims against them in the following circumstances:

Road traffic collisions, including claims against cyclists
Accidents on construction sites
Accidents in the workplace
Occupier Liability claims
Trips and slips on client property

We would be happy to talk to anyone who may have concerns about any claims made against them in any of these or similar circumstances.

George Ide LLP. We're on your side

Contact our personal injury team

To find out more about our expert personal injury team and for further information about all aspects of our comprehensive personal injury service, contact one of our specialists directly using the contact details below.

Paul Fretwell | Partner

Head of Personal Injury

01243 812405 paul.fretwell@georgeide.co.uk

Read Bio

Paul Lewis | Partner

01243 812408 paul.lewis@georgeide.co.uk

Read Bio

Rachel Strange - Personal Injury Specialist

Rachel Strange | Partner

Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence

01243 786 668 rachel.strange@georgeide.co.uk

Read Bio

Aneta King | Associate

Personal Injury

01243 812418 aneta.king@georgeide.co.uk

Read Bio

Ria Tallack | Paralegal

Personal Injury

01243 812447 ria.tallack@georgeide.co.uk

Read Bio

Catherine Gidda | Assistant to the Personal Injury Department

Personal Injury

01243 786 668 catherine.gidda@georgeide.co.uk

Read Bio

Client Testimonials

Paul Fretwell has been our solicitor now for 8.5 years and has been dealing with the case for AB (our son) who sustained a head injury in 2012 due to a car accident.

Over the years we have come to rely on Paul’s expert opinion and knowledge of brain injuries to help us understand A’s behaviours and needs.

Paul has been a massive support to us and our whole family since A sustained life changing injuries, as you can imagine, it has been an uphill battle for us and we had no idea or understanding of the challenges to come or how to even start to put in place all the support A needed and still needs today.

A now has his Support Worker, D that Paul put in place, which to be honest, has been a godsend to the family and A. A has a great relationship with D, and we will be eternally grateful. D helps A with day to day challenges that most people take for granted and A now feels D is a friend as well as his mentor and “life coach”. A also has an OT that visits his home to check he is doing ok and guide him in day to day tasks etc.

Paul has always been a phone call away at any time, he is very patient and understanding, his friendly approach to the whole family means we feel we can be very open and frank with him. Although all the legal “jargon” is very hard for us to understand, Paul is and has always been massive support, he explains in detail every word and meaning and why certain steps need to be taken to help A’s case.

We will always be eternally grateful to Paul and George Ide Solicitors.

Paul Fretwell

I just wanted to say thank you again for all your efforts on my behalf, your resilience has been outstanding! Thanks to you, and the funds you secured, the process with Dorset has started already, and my new limb should be in my possession on October 4th (within a fortnight!) with the Echelon VT foot. This foot has a greater ankle bend which should help with the hill walking. I am also in much greater comfort in travelling in more testing conditions (when weather is wet especially), with the recent replacement of the 4wd car. This car will be especially useful when we intend to holiday in France with our friends during the winter months. Obviously my thanks are also extended to Lizzy and Karen for their efforts also! With very best wishes and thanks for your ongoing support,

Rusty Brown

Paul Fretwell

I would just like to say that it has been an absolute pleasure working with you over the last few years and thank you so much for all your help and support. You have been fantastic. You have certainly been more helpful than I could have possibly hoped.

Sarah Finley

Paul Lewis

Following a traumatic motorcycle accident, I found myself in unfamiliar territory and in the need of a personal injury lawyer. From my first phone call to George Ides, I was in no doubt that they would be best team to handle my case, guiding me not only through the legal but also the rehabilitation process, I was always in good hands. Paul is a consummate professional, incredibly thoughtful and compassionate, but at the same time ensuring that I had the best advice and in a timely manner, a heart felt thank you, Paul.

Kate Buttriss

Paul Fretwell

I have received the final settlement cheque and I am happy with this. Thanks again for your services. You’ve been excellent in every way. I would recommend you to anyone. Thanks.

Fazal Mahmood Chishty

Paul Lewis

Dear Paul, Please accept this email as confirmation that I have received the cheque and final settlement from the accident. I wanted to thank you very much for all your help and advice throughout the case and want you to know that your efficiency and effort s have been very much appreciated. Kind regards,

Michael

Paul Lewis

We thought that we needed to write to you to express our deepest thanks for the way that you personally and all of the staff involved with you carried out the whole case from beginning to end.
The background people are often overlooked but we feel that we had the best team playing for us on all levels.

Paul Fretwell

On April 9th 2010 it was my turn to be involved in a traffic accident with an uninsured driver. Although my injury was only a minor back injury, I wanted to be able to claim some sort of compensation if only for some treatment of physiotherapy. George Ide LLP, appointed by my insurance company, have been absolutely superb in representing my claim for personal injury against the Motor Insurance Bureau. With the expertise of Paul Lewis, Head of Accident Management, he has managed to increase the original offer made by the MIB almost threefold. It has been a long process, as Paul advised from the outset, but has been worthwhile and rewarding. I do hope that I do not need to use Paul’s expertise ever again, but know that if I do I would be in the hands of a very capable and friendly team.

Ms H

Paul Lewis

How can I just say thank you, if I say it a hundred times it wouldn’t be enough. What you have achieved is unbelievable, I never imagined the compensation would amount to anything like that, if you recall, I once asked you if I might get another £27.000 making a grand total of £100.000, than I truly thought I could possibly get between £150.000 and £200.000 and I’d have been happy, so you can imagine how shocked and thrilled I was when the figure was doubled.

When I left your offices I was almost in tears, it didn’t feel right saying goodbye, I felt like I was saying goodbye to a friend, which I feel you’ve been. I don’t know how I’d have got through the last couple of years without your input, I didn’t even know I was entitled to compensation until you told me, which also means no rehab either. I can’t begin to imagine the mess I’d be in now.

I will be eternally grateful Paul for all you have done.

Best wishes

Sue

Paul Fretwell

I suffered a complex ankle injury in a road traffic accident in 2015, Paul Fretwell and the team at George Ide stepped in to manage my claim and helped me through a very challenging period in my life. The team’s experience with this type of injury, their considered approach and meticulous attention to detail enabled them to flag up any potential issues early on, and ensured there were no surprises along the way. Paul was able to see beyond the conventional claim headings, and took the time to understand the full impact of the injury, on my life and hobbies, and was keen to ensure they were all suitably reflected within the claim. Three years on, we went into a Joint Settlement Meeting with a robust and well prepared case, allowing us to secure a claim that significantly exceeded our expectations. I would not have a moment’s hesitation in recommending him to anyone in a similar situation.

Paul Fretwell

“In an age of ever larger firms of solicitors, George Ide LLP stands out as a beacon of truly personal service against the backdrop of warm and welcoming staff. Not only does Paul Fretwell possess real expertise in high value personal injury claims, he brings charm and real commitment to everything he does. No Claimant could be other than impressed by his willingness to go that extra yard in their cause. The legal industry would be a better place if there were more like both the firm and Paul Fretwell.”

Will Waldron QC

Paul Fretwell

I have worked with Paul for several years now on various challenging cases. Paul has a very honest and open approach with the people he represents, his communication skills and ability to share complex information at a level of understanding for his clients is second to none. Paul has a deep understanding of the challenges faced by somebody who has acquired a brain injury and it is this understanding that ensures clients anxiety levels and concerns are kept at the lowest level possible at all times. Paul is realistic with his expectations and has had a high level of success with regard to achieving the right level of settlement to ensure his clients get the support they need for the rest of their lives.

Karl Thompson. Managing Director, Thompson Holistic Care Services (THCS)

Paul Fretwell