How to file a defence without a lawyer

[nadz123]

@Brit_Chick

I presume this is a matter proceeding through the small claims courts - it’s not clear whether you’re saying that your father is the defendant or subject to a part 20 claim against him.

Having said that, filing a defence is going to be the same regardless. You don’t need a solicitor, a defence statement is essentially a written statement detailing your ‘side of the story’. A few pointers would be:

• avoid handwriting the defence statement. Judges hate having to decipher messy writing.
• don’t use legal jargon that you don’t understand the meaning of. Avoid googling your defence statement.
• if it’s a motoring claim then include sketches, maps, photos, diagrams etc as well to get your message across clearly and concisely.
• file your defence statement in time.
• when you submit your defence statement, include two extra copies of the entire defence statement papers to the courts (as the courts will then forward these onto the claimants, and generally will not copy papers especially anything with colour photographs)

Hope that helps!

thanks, i have emails correspondance from the insurers solicitors, who also said he would charge us for emailing him!!! can i print all those emails out and hand it in, ? although it may have nothing to do with the actual case itself..

the insurer is saying that fraud is alleged, they say when my dad was interviewed by an independent party regarding the accident, he seemed unsure, hesistant, unable to answer proficiently, etc etc...so it was stuff like this, ( reason was really thats my dads manner, esp as hes not fluent in english, and isnt a confident person, he was answering this way, thinking before speaking because of the english), my dad was also asked where he gonig at the time of accident, now the interview took placed 2months after the accident, they allege my dad couldnt remember the name of friend he was going to see…?? so what?

ALso THEY SAY my dad was unable to show what type of car it was that hit him, he was unsureand because dad is a driving instructor he `should have been able to recall model and make.??? MY ANSER here is that hes a driving instructor he teaches people how to drive, he doesnt sell cars?

THE CLAimant says she was slowing down because old people were crossing the road, if the statement is true from her, then the insurer is saying that my dad should also have seen them too…

also apparently my dad didnt get her details even though he claims she was at fault. he did.

my dad was fully insureed with the insurers at the time, incl legal cover,they paid out for the car damage to my dads car. the car at the time was worht 3k more than what they paid out, why would my dad commit fraud to get money on a car that was worht more than what he got, why didnt he just sell it.?