Interpreting after a bike rider accident

Setting the scene

The situation concerned whether or not an insurance claim could be pursued by a potential claimant against a third party.

If pursued, it would either have had to go to court (or be settled outside court).

The matter related to a road accident which had occurred in the UK and involved an insured, UK-based, non-English-speaking rider (the potential claimant).

This person had unfortunately sustained injuries in the accident and the extent of these needed to be ascertained during a consultation with an English-only-speaking medical expert.

Languages involved

Turkish and English.

Challenges faced

• Interpreting after an accident.
• Understanding the spoken language of the rider.
• Transferring that spoken target language into competent, well-paced, spoken English for the customer.
• Analysis and record of physical or psychological injuries, therefore requiring a face-to-face meeting.
• Where to locate the meeting for the three people – rider, medical expert, interpreter.
• Sourcing an interpreter close to the meeting location.

The Solution

• The customer arranged a medical diagnosis to be carried out by a GP/clinician at a suitable medical centre near to where the rider lived.
• They contracted SEL Business Languages who have a national database of professionally qualified interpreters.
• SEL Business Languages (SELBL) then provided a Turkish-English interpreter local to the premises who attended the meeting and interpreted consecutively into and out of English.
• In this way the medical specialist was able to assess/discuss the injuries/symptoms and write them up in regular English.
• The subsequent report was then analysed by the customer to decide on whether to recommend or reject a claim.

At SEL Business Languages we have a vast network of professionally trained interpreters experienced in a wide range of subjects, including legal and medical. Get in touch to discuss your requirements.