At The Compensation Experts, we have a great deal of experience handling cases for various personal injury compensation amounts. For example, we help victims of road traffic accidents. As such, motor accidents can cause tremendous amounts of damage, both physically and financially. Yet we also need to combat false personal injury claims.
This is a far too common occurrence that affects legitimate claims every day. (more…)
A Glasgow firefighter has been awarded £1.5m in damages after an injury caused by faulty cutting equipment led to the amputation of his hand.
In 2014 Ian McDonald was taking part in a training exercise at Bishopbriggs fire station in East Dunbartonshire. The exercise involved simulating a rescue from a car accident. Mr McDonald was using hydraulic cutting equipment which malfunctioned and let out a jet of toxic hydraulic fluid at high pressure. The jet was so strong that it pierced his leather safety gloves and the liquid destroyed tissue in his hand.
Describing the incident, Mr McDonald said: “I had no idea what was going on – my hand felt like it was on fire and was swollen with a painful throbbing feeling… when blood tests revealed I was poisoned, we realised something happened with the cutting gear.”
Mr McDonald went through 4 years and 40 operations in a fight to save his hand. While medical specialists at Glasgow Royal Infirmary amputated the little finger with his ring finger being removed a year later.
“My dexterity remained pretty good, but the pain was agonising, and nothing would stop it. When I heard the full hand had to go, the idea of being pain-free made it easier to accept.”
Having tried numerous painkillers, botox and acupuncture, in June 2018 he was admitted to Queen Elizabeth University Hospital to have his right hand amputated at the wrist. The procedure took 18 days and six surgeries. Mr MacDonald now uses a prosthesis.
Solicitors conducted an investigation which found that there had been an inadequate system of maintenance and safety inspections.
An investigation into the incident by the solicitors revealed that, although the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service knew about the potential risks involved, there was an inadequate system of inspection and maintenance for equipment. In addition, protective coverings which would have prevented the injury were not in use.
Solicitor, David Nellaney, said: “The SFRS is undoubtedly a safety-conscious organisation that provides an invaluable service, but on this occasion, it failed in its duty of care to an employee.”
While Mr McDonald was offered legal representation, he chose his own lawyers to access a specialist prosthetic, instead of a “hook” which was being offered by the NHS.
Mr McDonald added: ” I’ve still a way to go, but after the support of my family, the doctors and colleagues I finally feel like the dark days are behind me.”
Mr McDonald has four children and is recovering at home with his wife Claire currently.
The deputy chief officer of SFRS, David McGown, said commented that it was, “extremely heartening to see that he continues to make a strong recovery”.
He also added: “Following a robust investigation into Mr McDonald’s injury, we undertook a review of equipment and related safety checks and have taken appropriate steps to minimise the risk of similar incidents happening in the future.”
If you have would like to discuss a similar accident or have been affected by this story, then it is in your best interest to get in contact with us at The Compensation Experts where we can discuss your legal issue and help you to make a claim.
There are a number of factors that will need to be taken into account when calculating your potential compensation amounts. In order to work out the value of your claim, these aspects will be factored into the final decision:
At their foundation, all personal injury claims are made with the intention of redressing your injury. The intention is to ensure that you are better equipped to get your life back to how it was before the injury happened. As a result of that guiding principle, all claim amounts will be set dependant on your level of pain and suffering.
The more seriously you have been injured and the longer that your recovery will take, the higher your compensation payout can be.
Courts will look at the facts of your claim. As well as the pain and suffering that you have suffered, they will also evaluate expenses that have occurred. This could mean medical expenses, travel costs of getting to and from hospitals, or any other expenses that have been made or expected. If your injury has cost you money, then special damages compensation is intended as a way to reimburse you. Special damages will always depend on your specific case.
General damages are intended to compensate you for any pain that you have experienced as a result of your injury. The seriousness of your injury will vary the compensation amounts that you might receive, although the Judicial College Guidelines do have some set criteria for compensation levels. This will mean a medical evaluation but can result in much higher compensation totals.
Due to the fact that all personal injury claims are different, it can be very difficult to make a general statement about average compensation amounts. A different injury will result in a different payout amount. The body part that has been injured will also be factored in, but some examples of average payouts include:
All types of personal injury claim compensation amounts are intended to get you back to a fully recovered state as quickly as possible. While the average claim can widely vary, the best way to get the settlement that you deserve is to speak to legal experts. They can advise you on what to expect. That will make your recovery much easier to deal with, no matter how serious your injury might be.
The term ‘personal injury’ is a general one that is intended to cover instances of physical or mental injury or those that have become ill or diseased due to the negligence of someone else. As general as the term may be, it remains a legal term, and that means that it provides protection for those that suffer needlessly due to the negligence or ill intent of a third-party. Starting a claim for personal injury is a straightforward process, but you will require legal assistance. There are some set factors to be aware of when it comes to calculating compensation amounts for a personal injury claim. Professional guidance will ensure that you know just what amounts you can get, and assist you in obtaining a faster result.
All cases will need to be looked at individually. Personal injury cases are all different, and even cases that are very similar could have very different outcomes. The severity of the injury will be a vital part of ascertaining your claim amount.
Compensation will be dependant on the pain that the victim has gone through, how that pain has affected their life, any ongoing suffering, and the financial impact of their injury.
Normally, someone who has received only a minor injury will be compensated less than someone who has suffered a more serious one. Two main factors are taken into account when calculating compensation amounts in a personal injury case. These are:
General Damages: This is in place in order to reflect the pain and suffering caused by personal injury. It can be difficult to ascertain the pain levels that general damages will cover for. However, there are governing boards and independent bodies that have clear guidelines for every type of injury. The Judicial Study Board has set brackets for assessing and calculating compensation amounts for a wide range of specific injuries. Additionally, your solicitor may also hire medical experts in order to help make a clear decision on how much compensation should be claimed for.
Special Damages: These are intended to cover the injured person financially. They will be awarded if a case can be made that the personal injury led to a financial shortfall (such as missing out on salaried work hours, or the cost of home improvements required after an accident). If your personal injury has affected you financially, then special damages may be able to help recoup your monetary losses. Examples of costs that special damages can cover include (but are not limited to):
One of the most important things to remember about personal injury claims is that they have varying levels of complexity. For example, road traffic accidents will be categorised in different subsections to an accident at work.
Personal circumstances will play a large role in determining your total amount of compensation.
No matter your injury or financial circumstance, you will have a much better chance of making a successful claim, and getting the compensation total that you need, if you have legal help from professionals who have experience with personal injury claims.
With an office injury, the rights of the individual are definitely worth knowing and understanding. It’s a more common occurrence, too: nearly 30 million work days in the UK were lost due to injury in 2018-19.
Certainly offices are generally safer than areas in which you have to commit to manual labour tasks. But these days, offices still have common workplace injuries that you should be aware of. This guide will help those suffering injury in the office to know their rights. In addition, it will explain how you can prevent some of the most common workplace injuries.
Repetitive strain injuries include muscle, tendon sprains and vision hindrances. These often happen through the intensive use of certain body parts. For instance, you may get wrist pain if you are typing for extensive periods. Alternatively, you might also suffer eye strain from using the computer for lengthy amounts of time. To prevent these, you should adjust your workstation to your own needs. For instance, by adjusting the angle of your keyboard or turning down the brightness on your computer, if possible.
Sprains and fractures often happen in the workplace by falling, tripping, or slipping. Moreover, many of these sprains and fractures are reasonably avoidable. Especially with better health and safety precautions. To prevent these, you should ensure that your workplace has:
Not only this, but you should ensure that communal areas are left tidy. Moreover, signs are clearly left if a floor or surface is slippery or dangerous.
As a worker, you have the right to make an injury at work claim against your employer if they are at fault for causing your injury. You also have the right to get medical attention immediately for any injury that you contract in the workplace.
Additionally, you have the right to get compensation for your injury and have time off work in order to recover. However, you also have the right to return to your workplace without harassment when you recover from the injury. In terms of your legal rights, you also need legal representation to appeal any court decisions made in injury cases.
If you have sustained a workplace injury at the fault of your employer, you should seek a solicitor who can discuss your claims at work and help you to gather the appropriate evidence in order to gain compensation. You should also request your medical records so that you have proof of your symptoms and their causation.
In short, this will make your case stronger in court even if your injury heals quickly. Solicitors will be able to guide you through your work accident claim UK according to your individual situation and help you to begin a court case if necessary, and if your employer fails to accept the liability or the terms of your compensation claim.
Although making an injury at work claim is fairly common, by following this guide, you will ensure that you know your rights and that the process can cause as least stress for you as possible.
The evolution of smoke-free e-cigarettes (or vaping) as an alternative to tobacco is a relatively recent phenomenon. Therefore, many of their side-effects and long term risks are either unknown or still subject to research. Still, e-cigarette risks are many, complete with ingredients that we may never fully appreciate the true danger of. Even vaping products themselves present significant levels of danger and consideration.
Despite e-cigarette risks, most think vaping is an excellent alternative to avoid the health risks of smoking. However, the risks of vaping still remain. Moreover, the product itself can be dangerous in some circumstances, resulting in personal injury claims in the UK.
You may believe you’re avoiding tobacco’s health risks by switching to e-cigarettes. With long term implications, the jury is still out on whether that’s actually true. For all intents and purposes, research is struggling to keep up with the rise of vaping. However, e-cigarettes remain potentially harmful in the short term, with one of the significant dangers being popcorn lung.
Popcorn lung is the medical term for damage to the bronchioles. Bronchioles are essentially the smallest airways in your lungs and can be caused by vaping. Damage to these can cause scarring to your lung tissues and cause difficulties with your breathing, leaving you feeling breathless. Symptoms include a cough, wheezing, and exhaustion.
Studies suggest the ingredient diacetyl within e-cigarettes brings on such side effects. Furthermore, diacetyl has a strong link to serious lung disease in tobacco products.
However, e-cigarettes also contain several other harmful substances. Although they do not contain tobacco, e-cigarettes contain a much higher percentage of nicotine than in normal cigarettes.
Experts don’t tend to view nicotine as a cause of the diseases common with smoking. Furthermore, it’s less harmful than smoking for your health.
Yet vaping also releases other harmful toxins, which vary by the type and brand of e-cigarette that you invest in. Additionally, the vapour contains a small assortment of toxic chemicals found in cigarette smoke. Thankfully, the chemicals are at a lower concentration at a much lower rate than in cigarettes.
However, it is not just the effect that e-cigarettes have on the user that is dangerous. Just like with tobacco smoke, e-cigarette risks also extend to the products and the after-effects themselves. Some faulty e-cigarettes can cause electrical fires within homes, leading to injury or property damage.
Because you must use a USB cable to heat the liquid inside, exploding e-cigarettes present some frightening risks. These explosions can cause burns to the user’s face when they are smoking e-cigarettes. In essence, the risks are the result of the rechargeable battery overheating. Moreover, many devices do not have a cut-off point when they reach their maximum charge.
Quite often, traditional tobacco smoking cessation is the reason why vape pens turn up at every corner. This in itself might be the riskiest proposition of all. In short, the marketing of e-cigarettes presents an apparent short-term solution at the potential expense of long term health.
The Royal College of Physicians, Smoking & Health changed everything with a landmark report on smoking in 1962. Prior to this, few ever really considered tobacco’s harmful chemicals and the need to establish stop smoking services. Moreover, there was a major wall in getting the message of tobacco’s damage through to the public. In fact, in 1962, half of all adults (that’s 70% of men and 40% of women) smoked.
Nevertheless, the report’s PR effects (coupled with the 1965 Surgeon General report in the United States) were fast, lasting and widespread. Television commercials for tobacco products were banned by 1965. Health warnings began to appear on cigarette packs by 1971.
As electronic cigarettes entered the market around 2012, a mere 21% of Britons smoked tobacco. That figure surely includes those who want to quit smoking – a considerable audience, but certainly not the majority of adults like the old days.
Yet what it doesn’t include the emerging market of young people vaping companies are targeting. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention do not recommend vaping products for young adults and current non-smokers. Additional research may still reveal devastating conclusions about cancers and illnesses like heart disease.
For instance, the American College of Cardiology’s 2019 research shows the following.
Adults who report puffing e-cigarettes, or vaping, are significantly more likely to have
- A heart attack;
- Coronary artery disease, and;
- Depression.
…Compared with those who don’t use them or any tobacco products.
You can file a personal injury accident claim against the e-cigarette brand manufacturer if you suffer:
To do this, turn to a lawyer who can represent your case and provide advice as to your next step. We recommend specialist solicitors capable of handling the intricacies of personal injury claims.
Explosions can leave you with a severe burn that leaves significant and permanent facial scarring. As a result, you can claim compensation by suing these manufacturing companies. You can start the process by assigning a lawyer to investigate these personal injury claims on your behalf.
Here are two things to consider if you want to talk to a personal injury solicitor about e-cigarettes.
If the answer to both questions is “Yes”, you should instantly seek a personal injury solicitor after your medical treatment. If you have a particularly strong case, you can receive the personal injury compensation that you deserve. By claiming against the manufacturing company in question, you can recover something that no smoking product can ever truly replace.
Whiplash is an apparently minor injury sustained in the event of a car accident or collision that throws your spine, neck and head quickly forward and backwards. It’s a painful and inconvenient injury to suffer, and in many cases, it’s the fault of another party who’s collided with your vehicle from behind. If this is the case, it’s best that you’re made aware of your rights so that you can plan for compensation for what is a troubling and disruptive injury. This article looks at those rights, and how you can work towards a claim that’ll grant you compensation for your injury.
The first question you have to ask in the event of sustaining a whiplash injury is: is someone else to blame? That could be the person you collided with, or who collided with you. It could be the person who walked in front of your car, forcing you to perform an emergency stop. Or it could be the driver with their lights on full beam who dazzled you while you were driving.
Think through if there’s anyone who might be liable in the event of your whiplash injury. If you are yourself at fault, and you accept 100% responsibility, then you won’t have the right to make a claim. But in many cases, it’s difficult to assign 100% responsibility to one party in a multi-party injury scenario, so for those others involved, you may well be able to assign liability. So, ask yourself: how much can I claim for whiplash injury?
So, as you’ve established that there are other people or another person partially or fully liable for the injury you suffered in your vehicle, it’s time to talk through your rights. If you find you have whiplash (this often needs to be verified by a doctor), you have the right to claim compensation. Compensation not only for the damage to your vehicle, but for the pain of the whiplash, the hospital and pharmaceutical fees, and the effect the injury has had on your lifestyle.
The best way to go about seeking compensation is to approach an experienced specialist who’s worked on many hundreds of whiplash cases just like yours. Where you’ll only know your basic rights, they’ll know the ins and outs of the law, and what you’ll be able to whiplash injury claim for, and the percentage culpability you’ll be able to assign to those other parties involved in your accident. Don’t neglect your rights when you suffer whiplash: approach a compensation specialist to help you build a case.
Now that you have an injury law expert helping you to fight your case, there’s little you’ll have to do other than discuss the various outcomes of your claim. The expert will already be aware of the compensation you’re likely to win, and in some cases, the insurance companies you’re claiming against will grant a whiplash injury claim without fighting them first. In any case, you’ll be in open discussions with our legal team about the compensation we expect you are due – so you can relax and await the compensation that your rights affirm you are due. Remember: it’s a no win no fee whiplash claim. If you don’t win any money, you’ll not owe any, either.
Personal injuries are sometimes difficult to handle. They require you to take time off work, spend time and money at the hospital, and to occasionally undergo painful and traumatic surgeries or rehabilitation. It’s because they’re such unpleasant experiences that those who suffer injuries are often capable of claiming personal injury compensation if they follow a specific set of steps that this guide expands upon. For those reading this article who’ve sustained a personal injury, it should only take following the step by step guide below for you to assess your ability to make a claim, and to approach the specialists who’ll guide you through the claiming process.
Personal injuries vary wildly. Some constitute situations in which you are due compensation; others are unlikely to be granted any. It’s up to the individual to understand their rights when it comes to claiming compensation. What’s more, they need to see their injury as a case in which evidence will have to be produced and used for your claim. Start building the proof right away in the event of a personal injury.
Naturally, if you’re looking for compensation, you’re going to have to assign liability to a third party. In many cases of personal injury, this is fairly obvious: if you slip on a wet floor in a shopping mall, it’s the operators of the mall who are liable. If a product you purchase malfunctions and injures you, it’s the producer of the product you’ll be approaching for compensation. Establish who is responsible (if there is a liability) before you consider contacting compensation experts for assistance.
Compensation experts in the field of personal injury are at hand to help you in the above process. They ask you to describe your injury and how it came about and to produce evidence of the costs that it’s accrued for you since you suffered it. Once you’ve provided all the information and evidence that the specialist requires of you, your part in the process will be mostly complete; it’s over to our experts to fight your case in your personal injury accident claim.
Specialists will then work on your case, compiling the evidence provided to form a personal injury compensation claim. Their experience in many similar cases will mean they’re aware of the rulings on cases such as yours, which means they’ll be able to give you a predicted quote early on in your dealings. They’ll send this case through to the organisation you’re claiming against and will await their response.
When your case is in the hands of those you’re claiming against, they’ll weigh up whether they’re fit to fight a case or whether they’ll grant the full compensation you’re asking for. In some cases, they suggest a split-liability compromise, which you’ll be able to discuss with your representative in our team. In these circumstances, you may just wish to take what’s offered – or you may want to fight for 100% liability upon the person you’re claiming against.
These steps will help you go from the event of your personal injury to the achievement of your due compensation, with as little disruption to your life as possible.
We are all familiar when it comes to common accidents, from an injury at work to needing to make a whiplash injury claim. Perhaps you tripped and fell at work, strained your muscles from repeated actions, were hit when trying to reach a file box too high up. Crashes, cuts, toxic fumes, sound-related injuries, clumsiness, and even fights are common.
What about the uncommon accidents? Though rare, they can be devastating in their consequences. Knowing first-aid, how to respond, and more importantly, your rights afterwards can help you recover from these extreme incidents faster, so that you can successfully move on with your life.
Uncommon Accidents at Work
The top uncommon accidents at work include:
Fires are still relatively rare, though certainly not unheard of. From smoke inhalation to burns, a fire that breaks out in your workplace can pose serious dangers to your health and even your life. Then there are the psychological damages that can occur from being trapped, facing the very real reality of either choking to death on the smoke, or dying from being burned alive. If this happens to you, seeking out compensation is critical. Most fires are not flukes and instead caused by a fault.
When the chemicals or products you use, as per your employers’ instructions, cause serious disease, illness, or disability, they are at fault. They are especially at fault if they did so with the knowledge of the dangers their product possessed.
Another employer fault that is, thankfully, rare in the UK is a building collapse. This occurs when the building is not kept up to code or worse, unlawful and unsafe extensions are added. A building collapse can result in immediate tragedy, and even if you manage to make it out of the building unscathed, can cause severe psychological trauma.
Almost 75 farmers have died in the last few years not from dealing with a dangerous animal but instead dealing with a cow. We tend to forget docile creatures are inherently dangerous due to their size and strength. That is why, though animal attacks are uncommon at work, they do still happen, and sometimes even result in death.
Robberies are incredibly uncommon but do still happen. The worst part is that those who are conducting the robbery are very unlikely to be calm and organised. One wrong move or a loud noise could set off their nerves and you could be harmed in the proceeding. It is your employer’s responsibility to provide you with a safe working environment, which is why you will see banks, post offices, and similar institutions have glass guarding their employees against the customers.
If you have been injured at work, you will want to:
If you have been injured at work, then contact us today to see if you have a case. From making claims at work to personal injury claims, there is a solicitor for you. If you do, we will work for you until you have the compensation you need to move on from your injury and recover successfully.
Animal attacks can occur anywhere, at any time. From dogs to even animals as docile looking as cows. These attacks can result in terrible physical injuries, psychological damage, and even death. Claiming compensation after such an attack is a smart move, as it will allow you the financial buffer necessary to pay for private rehabilitation and therapy. It will also be able to cover any income loss and be able to cover the cost of any aids you will need in the future.
You should never feel bad about claiming compensation, especially for a personal injury accident claim. You were the victim, but with animals, you need to ensure that there is a basis of negligence.
There are two main kinds of animal attacks you can suffer from. If you are in the wild, you might be attacked by an animal if you intrude on its territory or get in-between it and its offspring. In cities and human-owned and managed wildlife safaris, it is up to the owners to provide a safe environment for their guests.
You won’t be able to make a compensation claim if you are in, say, a national park and are attacked by an animal. The area is not supervised, and you accept the risks of using the area when you enter. They are wildlife reserves in most cases, with some of Britain’s national parks even categorised as a UN nature reserve. Instead, the animal in question might be put down.
Domesticated animals like household pets, livestock, and safari animals or zoo animals can all be put under one category. Namely, there are humans who own them and who have a legal responsibility to ensure these animals do not hurt other people. Zoos must keep their animals in specially created pens that protect their guests; safaris must also take measures to protect their guests, and so on. In this case, even if you were in Africa in a wild safari, if you were injured in an animal attack, the negligence could be placed on your tour guide or the tour company you were with.
You can make a compensation claim within three years of the attack. In some cases, this might be extended to three years after you were made aware of the issue, but extensions are rare for animal attacks.
It is important to note that in some cases you do not even have to prove that the owner or manager of the animal was negligent. Dangerous species that are not domesticated in the UK are under the Animal Act 1971, meaning their inherently dangerous nature makes the owner responsible for all injuries regardless.
If you have been the victim of an animal attack, then you will need to make a police statement. This, along with medical records and witness testimonies, will help you build a solid case against the owner. It is important to note that, though you can sue owners, that you might not always get compensation, as most people are not insured in this way. You will get the most compensation from organisations or businesses.
To help solidify your case and get the compensation you deserve for your injury at work claim, then you will want to hire a lawyer experienced in these sorts of cases.
Suffering a head injury is a traumatic experience that can take time and patience to recover from, and how long it takes will depend on the severity of the injury. Aside from the physical aspects of a head injury, you are also likely to have to contend with emotional difficulties too. A head injury that causes damage to the brain may also mean that you find day to day life different than before, and you may have problems with cognitive functioning. Suffering a head injury is a difficult thing to go through, but there are some things you can do to help you get your life back on track.
There are many different types of head injury, from cuts and lacerations, bruising, to severe injuries like skull and brain damage. Any injury to the head must be treated seriously, and be thoroughly checked. Sometimes you may be able to do this yourself, or you might need the help of a medical professional.
When you first suffer a head injury, there are some steps to follow to check that you are ok. If you are injured and remain conscious, you need to stop what you are doing and rest. Aside from pain, if you have symptoms such as dizziness, changes in vision, ringing in the ears or abnormal breathing, you may have a concussion and need emergency treatment. If you can, call an ambulance or ask someone to call for you.
Minor head injuries can be treated at home with rest and pain relievers, as well as applying ice to reduce any swelling and inflammation. However, you need to monitor your symptoms closely. Sometimes, symptoms of a head injury might not show for a few hours, or even a day or so later, so seek emergency advice if you are vomit, find yourself irritable, or have a headache that won’t subside after taking paracetamol.
Rest is crucial when recovering from a head injury and most minor head injuries should get better within a week or two. However, it may be a long process if your injury is more serious. An injury to the brain can cause physical and mental impairment that may require a variety of different treatments, from speech therapy to physiotherapy.
Having access to the best treatments might help increase your rate of recovery, yet can be a drain on your financial situation. If this is the case, you could consider searching for injury lawyers for you, to see if you are eligible for a no win no fee claim. A good solicitor will be able to advise you on the best course of action should you wish to pursue an injuries claim.
Any head injury is a cause for concern, and one that causes a concussion needs prompt medical attention. Don’t put off seeing a doctor even if your symptoms are mild. Full recovery from a head injury can take time, so be patient and don’t overexert yourself even though you feel fine. Get support from your family and friends, and ask for help if you need it.
So many of us take the ability to hop into our car and travel wherever we like as a given. That is until we lose that very freedom to do so. In short, knowing your rights in a car accident is important.
Effectively, it can be an extremely traumatic occurrence, especially if it wasn’t your fault. As a result of the collision, you may have suffered serious injury and damage to the vehicle. If so, it’s essential that you understand and protect your rights in a car accident. Particularly if the accident comes down to someone else’s carelessness.
The first step to getting a resolution to your case is:
Whether or not you’re at fault, you have every right to call emergency services and receive necessary treatment. Even if the other party:
Regardless, it’s still essential that you call the police or emergency services, as you may suffer from internal injuries. A police report is also an important form of evidence in dealing with insurance and making a claim. Therefore, don’t let the other party talk you out of it: think about the best interests of the other party.
If you were injured in the accident or your vehicle was damaged, you have the right to make a claim against the person or group of people responsible for the incident. Always be sure to take as many photographs as you can. Namely, pictures of the damage to both vehicles, as well as external injuries you may suffer from. If you think you’re suffering from a severe injury, it’s wise to make a medical injury claim. Also be sure to capture photos of road conditions, streets signs or anything other potential collision factors.
If you notice that there are any witnesses around, you need them on the record. Take note of their name and contact details, as it’s information you may need these for insurance or compensation purposes. You should always encourage any witnesses to recall their point of view of what they saw to the police. In turn, their testimony is a vital aspect in the police report and result in you getting what you deserve.
After the accident has occurred, you have the right to remain silent. You don’t have to contact the other party, their insurance company or solicitors. If the other party continuously and needlessly harasses you over the case, you need to alert the police.
Although you’re in shock after the accident, try to maintain calm. Above all, continually apologising to the other party is a No-No. Such a simple phrase can determine whether or not you will end up taking full responsibility for the accident. Therefore, even if you believe you’re in the wrong, wait until the release of the details before you settle on taking the blame.