A Guide To Making a Personal Injury Claim

Making a claim for a personal injury caused either in a public space or in a workplace can be daunting but it doesn’t have to be. There are many things you may consider such as – is there a time limit on bringing a claim? Or what amount of compensation is the claim going to be worth? Our guide to making a personal injury claim should help you to make an informed decision when deciding whether to go ahead with a claim or not.

Was It My Fault?

Many of the people we speak to on a daily basis have concerns as to whether they are eligible to bring a claim or not. The first thing to consider is whether or not the accident could have been prevented and if so, who is responsible for making sure the incident didn’t occur in the first place. If you were injured due to someone else’s negligence or health and safety failings then you are dealing with pain, suffering and inconvenience rather than the person responsible.

Whether you were injured in a public, private or workspace there are insurance policies in place to protect the negligent party. When considering whether to bring a claim it is important to factor this into your decision to proceed or not. Many people worry that they will be claiming compensation directly from an employer, establishment or local authority however this is not the case and liability insurance is in place in nearly all circumstances for this very reason.

Personal Injury Claims At Work

There is a common misconception that personal injuries only happen in manual labour jobs such as construction or engineering however this is certainly not the case. Injuries can occur at any time and anywhere and it is important that you follow any health and safety training you may have had to minimise the risk.

Your employer has a duty of care for its employees and must take necessary steps to ensure that a working environment is safe and as risk-free as possible. Training must be provided when lifting heavy items is part of a job role in the form of manual handling training. Personal protective equipment (PPE) should be provided when working around hazardous equipment and substances and all machinery should be checked regularly for any faults.

If a personal injury does occur at work the best thing to do is make sure that the incident is recorded in an accident book and it is reported to the appropriate line manager or health and safety officer. If you are thinking about pursuing a personal injury claim it is also worth noting down if there were any witnesses as they may be willing to provide a statement to back up your claim. Where possible, try to take pictures of anything that could be related to the accident.

Personal Injury Claims In Public Space

Personal injury claims arising out of an accident that has happened in a public space are a little bit different from work-related incidents. Usually, the defendant in these cases are local authorities or councils but it is important not to be deterred from claiming because of this. The solicitors we work with are experts at legal claims against big establishments and have the teams to deal with your claim.

Evidence and images are key when pursuing a personal injury claim and like claims in the workplace public liability cases rely on witnesses and images showing what and where a particular hazard might be.

Time Limits On Personal Injury Claims

With all compensation claims, there are strict time limits dictated by the statute of limitations and personal injury law is no different. It generally states that the claimant has three years to bring a claim but it is not always clear cut. For example, if someone contracted an illness because of work-related conditions but was not made aware that the two were related until a later date, the limitation period would start from when they were made aware.

If you have any doubts or are unsure whether or not you are still within the time limit to bring a claim do not hesitate to get in touch with us. We also have a more detailed article on how to determine the time limit on your personal injury case here.

Can I Make a Compensation Claim On Behalf Of Someone Else?

In some circumstances, claims can be made on someone else’s behalf. This usually happens when the person injured is under the age of 18 in which case a parent or guardian would need to authorise and assist with any legal documentation. This person is known as a legal friend and can also act for anyone who may have become incapacitated or died as a result of their injuries.

Our Personal Injury Solicitors

We have access to some of the top personal injury solicitors in the country. They are highly skilled and trained to identify negligence in cases where many would consider there is none. One thing many people forget about claiming compensation for personal injuries is that one of the reasons you are receiving money is that you will undoubtedly experience loss of earnings depending on the severity of your injury. The solicitors we work with not only factor this into your claim but they also fight for the maximum compensation available for any pain and suffering you may have been through.

The team of solicitors also have access to medical experts who have in-depth knowledge of the law and the medical profession and will be able to assess your injuries from a legal viewpoint to help build you the strongest case possible.

The majority of the claims we deal with get settled before court proceedings take place so you do not need to worry about stressful days in court. The solicitors we work with will do everything they can to ensure that your claim does not reach a courtroom however please be aware that this can still happen and there is a slim chance you may be required to go to court at some stage.

How The Compensation Experts Can Help You

If you’ve been injured in an accident either at work or anywhere else, contact The Compensation Experts and ask about our No Win No Fee* service. We work with an experienced panel of personal injury law firms who will help build a successful claim to obtain the compensation you deserve. There is no need to worry if you’re unsure whether you have grounds for a claim as we will help determine that before you commit to anything in a free, no-obligation consultation with one of our friendly advisors. *conditions apply

Call The Compensation Experts today, or fill in our online form and let us know when you would like us to call you back.