PERSONAL INJURY & ACCIDENT COMPENSATION

FAQs

Personal Injury FAQs     We update this page fairly regularly but if you have question, please telephone us on freephone 0800 169 3683

What type of personal injury claim can I make?

If you have been injured, through no fault of your own, then you can make a personal injury claim for broken bones, whiplash, torn and damaged tendons, scarring, burns, back injury, fractures, eye damage, dental damage, etc

Can I claim for loss of earnings?

Yes, you can also claim for any losses that flow from the accident, for example, repair of your vehicle, expenses incurred when you were recovering, physiotherapy treatment, over the counter medicines, care, nursing and dental costs.

Do I have to pay any costs up front?

Absolutely not. Our personal injury solicitors will recover all their costs from the other side. You do not need to pay anything at any time. If the case is lost, then you still do not have to pay anything.

How long will my personal injury claim take?

Well, that’s a very good question. It is not possible to say how long any type of case will take to settle. As your personal injury claim progresses, your solicitor will be able to give you a better idea. Sometimes facts arise during the investigation that may delay the progress. Sometimes, all the information is gathered very quickly. Please remember that information often has to be gathered from the police, insurers, doctors and hospitals, so there are many agencies involved in the matter.

I was injured at work. Will my employer pay me compensation?

Provided that your employer was negligent, then yes. Every employer must, have employers’ liability insurance. It is a serious offence if they do not have this insurance. Even if another employee injured you by a negligent act, then your employer will be liable.

Someone crashed into my car. What should I do?

If you are injured, seek medical advice and then telephone us on 0800 169 3683. If you vehicle has been damaged and needs repairing, we can arrange this free of charge and loan you another vehicle while the repairs are undertaken. By telephoning us, you can avoid having to pay any excess on your policy.

I’ve been offered compensation in cash by the other driver. Should I take the money?

Absolutely not. There is always a reason why someone wants to pay in cash and not involve his insurers. They may not be insured, they may be banned from driving, the may not have an MOT certificate, they may be on the run from the police, the car may be stolen, they may deny they were at the scene when you go to collect the money. Under no circumstances enter into any agreement with the person who caused your accident. Please telephone us immediately for advice.

My insurance company say they would like to deal with my personal injury claim. Should I let them?

Hell no! What they really mean is that they would like to sell your claim to one of their solicitors. You should always appoint a solicitor who is independent of any insurance company. Your insurers cannot insist that you use one of their solicitors. Just say no thanks. All our solicitors are independent firms who specialise in claimant personal accident compensation work.

How does a solicitor know the value of my claim?

Personal injury solicitors are experts in their field. They have their finger on the pulse. They deal with accident claims each and every day. They consult data bases and examine the value of compensation that the courts have awarded for all types of injuries. You are safe in the knowledge that the value of your claim was not just made up. There is a science to it.

I want a female solicitor to represent me, can I do this?

Absolutely, just ask and we’ll get one of our lady personal injury solicitors to represent you. It’s not a problem.

My child has been injured, can I make a claim on his behalf?

Of course, provided the personal injury is due to negligence and you are either, father, mother or guardian. The adult will be the child’s representative. A child is any person under the age of 18 years.

Will I have to attend at the solcitor’s office?

No. We deal with the whole claim by telephone and post. There is no need for you to visit the solicitor, unless you want to. Our system is simple and easy to understand.

Will I have to attend at court?

There is always a very slim chance that the claim might end up in court. This is a slim chance only. Our solicitors always try and settle the claim without recourse to court proceedings.

What happens if the case does go to court and I lose?

You will still not pay anything whatsoever. Remember, you do not pay anything, win or lose.

How long do I have to make a claim?

Generally, you have to make your personal injury claim within three years of the accident. There are certain exceptions to this rule, when the time limit is extended. We can advise you by telephone, ring us on freephone 0800 169 3683.

I think I may have been partly to blame for the accident. Can I still claim?

Most probably yes. There are many cases where the injured person may have been liable in some way. The law deals with this by reducing the compensation. It is called contributory negligence. Your compensation will be reduced to reflect the negligence you showed to yourself.

I tripped in a pot hole of the pub car park as I was leaving and twisted my ankle. I’ve been told because I had a few pints, I could not claim

You should claim. The owners of the pub have the same duty of care to you whether you are as sober as a judge or drunk as a Lord. There may well be some deduction because you did not look where you placed your foot, but in principle, there is no reason why you should not claim personal injury compensation.

A street canvasser approached me and said he could deal with my claim. Should I let him?

Are you crazy? Ring us now on 0800 169 3683 and we’ll arrange for one of our solicitors to deal with your claim. Never, ever give any of your details to a street canvasser, they know nothing. Please read our STREET CANVASSERS PAGE.

How long will my claim take?

Well, we’ll try and make it a quick as possible. No solicitors anywhere in the UK can predict with any accuracy how long any claim will take. As the claim progresses, legal argument and medical reports may uncover problems. On the other hand, your claim might just fly through. It honestly is not possible to predict what will happen. Straight forward claims will obviously take shorter time than a complex multi-defendant case.

How quickly can you get my claim underway?

As quickly as you can pick up the telephone. Ring us right now for immediate advice and help. We’ll tell you what to do next. Dial freephone 0800 169 3683 and we’ll do the rest.