Meeting a compensation solicitor, Bow Bowing: step by step

Engaging a solicitor means formally asking them to work on your claim. It usually starts with a short phone call to check the basics: when the accident happened, what the insurer has decided and whether any deadline is close. If the solicitor can help, a first meeting follows. After that, you receive written information about costs and, if you decide to go ahead, sign a costs agreement. Only then does work on your file properly begin.

If our claim check suggests your claim needs legal help, we'll connect you with an independent solicitor experienced in motor accident claims. You're under no obligation to engage them, and you can choose someone else. Either way, the steps on this page are much the same. You can also ask any solicitor whether they are an accredited specialist. It's one of several reasonable questions to raise before you engage anyone.

A common worry is that engaging a solicitor will upset the insurer. It generally shouldn't. Insurers deal with solicitors all the time, and in many claims correspondence simply starts going to the solicitor instead of to you. Decisions are still made under the scheme rules. What changes is that someone familiar with those rules reads each letter before you act on it.

You can usually still speak to your case manager about everyday things, such as treatment requests, payment dates or travel costs. For anything more formal, like a request for a statement, an assessment or a signature, check with your solicitor first. It also helps to tell them about any calls you've had with the insurer, so their file stays complete.

Expect the first meeting to feel more like a structured conversation than an interview. The solicitor needs enough of the story to judge whether they can help, and enough of the paperwork to spot any deadline that's close. They'll often take notes as you talk and ask to keep copies of your documents. It's also your chance to ask how they would approach the claim.

You generally don't have to decide anything at the first meeting. It's common to take the costs documents away, read them properly and come back with questions. If you'd like a family member or friend with you for support, that's usually fine; let the solicitor know beforehand. Some people write down the answers as they go, since a lot of information arrives at once.

• Confirms the accident date and which rules apply
• Checks whether any deadline is close
• Reads the insurer's letters and decisions
• Notes which records are missing

A video meeting covers the same ground as one across a desk. The solicitor can see your documents if you hold them up or share your screen, and you can see them as you talk. If video is hard for you, a phone call works too. Many people find it easier to concentrate in familiar surroundings, especially while they're still recovering.

If you'd prefer to meet in person, ask. Some solicitors can arrange it, although it may mean travelling. For most people, though, a phone or video meeting followed by documents sent electronically is simpler. Keep copies of everything you sign and send, in one folder or email thread, so you can find them again quickly.

A costs disclosure is the solicitor's written explanation of how they'll charge. In most cases it describes the basis of their fees, an estimate of what the matter may cost overall, and other expenses that may come up along the way, such as medical reports. Read it carefully even if it looks like standard wording. If an estimate or term doesn't make sense to you, ask before going further.

The costs agreement is the document you sign to confirm the arrangement. It sets out what you're agreeing to pay, and when. Read it before you sign it, take it away if you need to, and ask about any term you don't understand. In CTP claims, legal costs are also capped by regulation. If the agreement is described as no win, no fee, read what that generally means first.

Early on, a solicitor builds the file. That usually means requesting medical and hospital records, getting copies of what the insurer holds and has decided, and checking which deadlines apply to your claim. If a decision was made recently, they'll look at whether a review needs to be sought quickly. You'll usually be asked to sign a few authorities to make those requests possible.

By the end of the first few weeks, you should generally have a clearer idea of the plan. That might include which records are still to come, which decisions could be challenged, what medical evidence may be needed and when the next contact will be. If you haven't heard anything about next steps, it's reasonable to ask. A short email is usually enough.

• Signing authorities to release your records
• Requests to hospitals, your GP and treating practitioners
• A request to the insurer for copies of its file
• A written outline of the next steps