If you've been injured in some sort of accident or incident that was not your fault, you and the other parties involved are likely to be considering making injury claims – it's a reasonable step in softening the blow it has brought to your health, wellness, and finances.
When you make injury claims in the UK, you can also receive the kind of compensation that relieves a portion of the distress that your injury is placing on your life. If you are a member of a trade union, or have certain kinds of insurance (such as motor insurance), you could also have your legal fees covered when pursuing a claim. Otherwise, you could enter into a ‘no win no fee' agreement, also known as a ‘conditional fee agreement', where your solicitor only gets paid if you win your claim.
To make any injury claims, your solicitor will need to have access to:
- the date the accident occurred and its surrounding circumstances
- the contact information of witnesses, if any
- the medical record of your diagnosis and subsequent treatment
- trade union information, if applicable
- information about loss of earnings
- documents about insurance policies
These are the building blocks to support your case. Since every injury claim is different, it's best to speak to a solicitor directly to receive specific advice which could pertain to your case.
You may either call our free advice line, or fill our "call me back" form, in which case an experienced solicitor from our office will return your call. There is no pressure to proceed with a claim, but you will discuss your case with an experienced solicitor who can guide you through the process of making injury claims.
What happens after I choose a solicitor for my injury claims?
When a solicitor considers your case, different factors will be examined to determine the likelihood of you winning your case, as well as the amount of compensation you could seek for your sustained injuries. You would also get a letter informing you that they are taking on your case, and show you the accompanying costs. A qualified solicitor will work with you so that your legal costs are covered through insurance, or a ‘no win-no fee' agreement.
The role of solicitors in injury claims
As lawyers who specialise in tort law, solicitors are responsible for drafting legal documents, filing complaints, offering advice and arguing cases in court. A qualified solicitor will uphold and adhere to the proper ethics toward you and others involved in the case. After learning about your situation, they should be able to grasp the matter at hand, and recommend a course of action that fits with your circumstances.
How do I start my injury claims?
The process of making your claim starts when your solicitor sends a claim letter to the defendant's insurance policy provider, where he specifies the details of your injury along with the compensation you are seeking. At that point the defendant has three months to reply, stating whether or not to accept liability. An offer may also be made at this time, known as a Part 36 offer. What your solicitor will do when you receive an offer like this is see if it fits with what you are ready to accept for compensation. The vast majority of claims are settled out of court. If you are not willing to settle for the offer made to you or the defendant does not accept liability, your solicitor will advise you of your next course of action. At this point your claim is likely to be handled in court.
Once your injury claim is filed with the court, you will have a timetable for scheduled court appearances. Your solicitor will have already compiled the strongest possible case on your behalf and will prepare you for any testimony you will have to provide to a judge.
Time limitation to begin an injury claims in the UK
There is a time limit for making an injury claim in the UK. Claims must be either settled or entered into court within 3 years from the date on which the accident responsible for your injury took place or that you were diagnosed with an injury (known as the “date of knowledge”).
A medical examination may be crucial in determining the severity of your injury, and you will be required to present your medical records tracking the progress of any recovery.
When you make an injury claim in the UK, your medical records will also play a vital role in substantiating your claim for compensation, and this is why it is vital that you seek medical attention at the earliest possible opportunity following an injury in an accident for which you were not at fault.
Injury claims advice
Most people find that they need to take time off work to recover after a severe physical or emotional trauma. However, financial obligations weigh in, which often means they return to work too early – and thus, inadvertently aggravate the injury.
Making a personal injury claim in the UK can ensure that you have the time you need to fully recover, without having to worry about your finances. A claim can also help prevent the injury happening to anybody else. In fact, many people who make a personal injury claim see this as the primary reason to pursue injury claims.
It is important to seek legal advice in order to assess the value and potential success of your compensation claim and in order to make this as simple for you as possible after you have sustained an injury for which you were not wholly to blame, we have established a free injury claim advice service which you are invited to call to determine how much compensation you are eligible to receive, as well as how long your personal injury claims process may take.
In addition, we can help you find out whether you qualify for a ‘no win no fee' arrangement and answer all your questions and concerns about making injury claims.
When you call our free number or request a call back through the form, you will be speaking to a qualified solicitor who can take out the guesswork of making injury claims.
