Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if I can claim compensation?
When should I make my claim?
What are damages that I can make a claim for?
What is the difference between General and Special damages?
What steps should I take to ensure that I make a claim correctly?
How long will it take to receive compensation?
How much compensation will I receive?
What do I do if I cannot prove negligence on another party?
What does “no win no fee” mean?
Will I have to go to Court?
Does it matter it I did not go to hospital or see my GP?
I do not like paperwork!
How do I know if I can claim compensation?
If you have suffered a personal injury or any kind of financial loss, due to another party, then you are permitted to make a claim. In order to be able to claim compensation, the accident at hand must have been at the fault of someone else. You must be able to prove that your opponent was negligent and fully responsible.
When making a claim, you must also be able to confirm you have suffered some sort of damage due to the oversight of the opposing party. This can be verified by seeing a doctor and having a written report of the injuries you have sustained due to the disregard of the person at fault.
When should I make my claim?
The sooner you make your claim, the better it is. However, the general ruling is that you have until it reaches three years after your accident, to make your claim. If there is a serious injury or illness involved in the case, you have three years after you are aware of the injury.
What are damages that I can make a claim for?
When in an accident, you are entitled to make a claim for any damages that resulted from it. You should be compensated for any losses due to the accident. This may include any damage to your property, loss of earnings, medical expenses and compensation for pain or suffering.
What is the difference between General and Special damages?
Special damages are ones that you can classify and can be proven, such as medical expenses, car repair, and loss of earnings. Whereas General damages are harder to identify as they depend on one’s circumstances. For example, general damages would be the value that is placed on the suffering that the accident caused you.
What steps should I take to ensure that I make a claim correctly?
There are 5 main steps in order to make sure that you are making a claim the right way and efficiently. The first, and most important, is to make sure that you have proof of your injury, as your compensation depends on it. Next, you should always save all forms of evidence. Once all of the evidence is accounted for, it is important to calculate your losses and create a document explaining it all.
Always make this is all done in a timely fashion. And lastly, make sure you have the right representation and legal help, and that your best interests are at heart.
How long will it take to receive compensation?
If all runs smoothly and your injury is of a moderate or lesser nature, then with the solicitors we use your claim is likely to be concluded within six to eight months from when you contact us. We are very keen to ensure that Solicitors we instruct have modest case loads so that they can devote the appropriate amount of time and attention to dealing with your claim. If you want your claim to be dealt with quickly, you will have to do your bit as well by responding to our solicitors as soon as our solicitor needs you to answer any questions or give any instructions. Often the responsible parties insurers drag their feet but our Solicitors will apply the appropriate pressure if they try to delay processing your claim.
Once you win the claim, however, it usually takes a few months to receive the money you won.
How much compensation will I receive?
The compensation that you receive directly corresponds with the intensity and seriousness of your injury and suffering. Often enough, if the condition you are currently in looks as if it is going to continue for a long period of time or worsen, you tend to receive more compensation. However, each claim is different, depending on the accident and the outcome of your injury and suffering. It is based on individual circumstances. Take a look at our Compensation Calculator to see how much compensation you could be entitled to.
What do I do if I cannot prove negligence on another party?
If you cannot prove that there was negligence involved on the part of the other party involved, then unfortunately you cannot make a claim for the accident, as you must be able to prove negligence in order to receive any money.
What does “no win no fee” mean?
This means that as long as you tell us and your appointed Solicitor the full truth about the circumstances of your accident and the injury and losses you have suffered as a result, you will not be responsible for the other sides costs if you lose the case. If you win the case, technically you are responsible to your Solicitor for any costs and fees that they cannot get back from the other side but we guarantee that the Solicitors will not charge you anything if you win.
Will I have to go to Court?
Less than 2% of cases end up in Court because most cases are settled by negotiation between the parties. This means that you are most likely to receive your damages without having to go to Court as our solicitors will negotiate these with the Insurance company on your behalf.
Does it matter it I did not go to hospital or see my GP?
By going to your GP or to hospital following an accident the Doctors can ensure that any injuries you have suffered are correctly treated and recorded. This helps the Solicitor get the most damages and compensation for you. You can still claim for your injury if you have not sought medical attention although the compensation is likely to be less.
I do not like paperwork!
We understand that completing forms and documents is time consuming and inconvenient and both we and the Solicitors we refer claims to are mindful of this and will where possible try and communication with you in the most straightforward way possible. We will try and keep things simple and also there are some forms that need to be signed we shall keep these to a bear minimum.