... be able to get your money if you are prepared to accept small instalments over a period of time. If the case is complicated it could take years to complete and may cost hundreds or thousands of pounds. Given these problems, it is not surprising that many people who believe they have a good claim decide not to take court action. This is particularly true in cases of personal injury. A study conducted by the Oxford Centre for socio-Legal studies, which was published in 1984, found that in a sample of 1,711 accident victims, only 14 per cent had consulted a solicitor, although another 8 per cent had obtained compensation without using lawyers. However, starting a court case does not mean that it will actually go to court. The vast majority of cases are settled out of court so that fewer than 5 per cent of all cases started in the civil ...

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