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Personal Injury Claims

We specialise in helping victims of personal injury claim the maximum accident compensation they deserve

What is a Personal Injury Claim?

A claim for personal injury is a legal request to the party responsible, to compensate you financially for your accident and any expenses you have incurred as the result of being harmed. Claims can be made by anyone who has been injured through the fault of another person – either through accident or negligence – even if the victim was partially responsible themselves.

What Kind of Personal Injury Claims Can You Make?

Although many victims are aware they can make personal injury claims if they have been hurt in an accident that was not their fault, the accident claims UK process can appear so confusing that even the thought of contacting a solicitor can put people off. However, this can potentially leave people financially vulnerable as they heal physically and emotionally.

The Compensation Experts work with some of the nation’s leading personal injury solicitors who will support and guide you to the fullest extent that is possible. The variety of personal injury claims is enormous and can include:

Accidents at Work

Your employers have a legal obligation to reduce the risk of you being injured or killed at work. This not only includes things like making sure equipment is safe to use, but also providing adequate training to educate you about the risks in your workplace, supplying you with relevant safety equipment, and assessing potential hazards at work.

Road Traffic Accidents

According to official government figures, around 1,800 people die on UK roads every year, with a further 21,500 people receiving serious injuries. You may be able to claim compensation if you have been hurt in an RTA that wasn’t your fault, whether you were a driver, passenger, cyclist, or pedestrian.

Sporting Injuries

While all sports carry an element of risk, there are occasions where participants are injured either due to another player’s reckless actions or the negligence of organisers who fail to provide a safe environment in which to play.

Criminal Injuries

If you have a criminal injury claim and have been hurt as a result of a violent crime within the last two years, The Compensation Experts are here to provide you with access to legal representation. Where you may have a criminal injury claim, you are not required to use the services of a claims management company to pursue the claim. It is possible for you to present the claim yourself directly, for free, to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA).

Accidents Abroad

Falling ill or being hurt in an accident abroad can be a nightmare. However, if you have suffered an accident on holiday, you may still be able to claim for personal injury under one of several laws designed to financially compensate people who have been hurt abroad.

Where you have been involved in an accident with a driver and intend to make a claim involving a vehicle accident abroad (EEA/Green Card System), you are not required to use the services of a claims management company to pursue the claim. It may be possible for you to present the claim yourself directly, for free, with the Motor Insurance Bureau.

Medical Negligence

BBC report showed that compensation paid out by the NHS for medical negligence claims has risen from 583 million in 2008 to 1.4 billion in 2016 in England alone. Medical negligence can relate to anything from misdiagnosis to prescription errors and hospital infections.

If you have been injured in an accident where you were not to blame, you may be able to claim for personal injury compensation.

How do Personal Injury Claims Work?

There are four main steps to a successful personal injury compensation claim.

  1. Initial consultation
  2. Research and proof
  3. Making the claim
  4. Negotiation and payment

The initial consultation begins when you contact The Compensation Experts. Our friendly advisors will talk to you about your injuries and what led to them, asking a series of questions to help build a picture of the sequence of events, to see whether there is the potential to make a claim.

Some accidents are genuinely nobody’s fault. However, where it is likely that another person’s error caused – or even contributed to – your injury, it is probable you have grounds to request accident compensation.

Before your personal injury lawyer can request accident compensation, they need to build a body of evidence to prove two things:

Showcasing the type and nature of your injury

Your personal injury lawyer will review your medical notes to ascertain the type of accident you’re experienced, the impact it has had on your life, and the prognosis for your recovery. We may seek the opinion of an independent medical advisor at this point, especially if your injuries are extensive and your recovery is ongoing.

Information you can provide which will help your claim includes:

  • Photos of the accident site showing the conditions at the time, such as poor lighting, potholes, or paths slippery in the rain.
  • Contact details of the other party and any witnesses who may have seen or heard your accident.
  • Evidence of lost income as the result of being unable to work due to your personal injury.
  • Bills showing reasonable medical costs like private physiotherapy.

Proving negligence

Your personal injury solicitor will also need to demonstrate that the other party was at fault, and it was their error, rather than random chance, that caused you harm. The more detailed your solicitor is at this point, the stronger your accident compensation claim will be. Evidence may include anything from photographs of the crash scene, to witness statements, copies of a company’s maintenance schedule, or information from a business’ accident report book. This stage can take several months, but it is important to be thorough in obtaining the maximum possible payment.

Once they have collated the body of evidence necessary to prove your claim, your personal injury lawyer will contact the relevant party and ask them to acknowledge responsibility. They will ask for damages not only for your physical injury, but also to compensate for the money you have had to spend as the result of your injuries. For instance:

  • Lost earnings
  • Cancelled holidays
  • Private physiotherapy
  • Travel expenses for ongoing medical treatment

The other party has a set time to respond with an agreement or denial of liability. As with the research, this period can take some time to complete, depending on the stance they and their lawyers take, which is why your solicitor will ensure that your case is as strong as possible from the outset.

Your solicitor will negotiate accident compensation on your behalf and ask for an figure based on your injury and expenses. The other party may pay this straight away, or they may counter with a different offer. Your lawyer will keep you informed and provide you with legal advice, but they can’t accept any offer you are not satisfied with.

If the other party denies liability or feels you may have been in some way responsible, they may refuse to make any accident compensation payment. In this instance, your lawyer may recommend you challenge the claim in court where a judge can award damages.

How Long Does a Personal Injury Claim Take?

There is no definitive time in which a personal injury compensation claim must be settled. Most personal injury claims must be submitted either within three years of the date of injury, or of the date an injury was attributed to the accident – whichever is the most recent. As a general rule, the less severe the injury and the clearer the evidence, the shorter the claim time will be.

How Much Compensation Will Be Paid?

As with processing time, it is not possible to predict an exact amount of personal injury compensation. It can range from around £800 for a broken tooth to £100,000s for brain damage.

As well as factoring in the extent of your injury, the long-term implications it has for you, and any financial expenses you have incurred, the other party will also seek to prove if you were partially responsible. For example, if you were injured in a car accident (which was wholly the fault of the other driver) but your injuries were worsened by the fact that you were not wearing a seatbelt.

What is No Win No Fee?

All of the solicitors that work with The Compensation Experts offer our clients a Conditional Fee Agreement, which is often referred to as as “No Win No Fee”*. This arrangement takes away the financial risk of paying a personal injury lawyer before being guaranteed success; if you are not awarded compensation then, assuming the information you give is correct, and that you accept the legal advice your solicitor has provided, you will have no legal fees to pay.

Typically, customers pay 25% including VAT of the compensation amount that is recovered by our third-party law firms, although this is subject to your individual circumstances and the actual fee may be more or less than this. For example, you may be required to pay an additional fee for other costs such as after-the-event (ATE) insurance. Termination fees may apply.

Can I Make a Personal Injury Claim for Someone Else?

It is possible to claim compensation on behalf of another person if they are underage or incapable of making a claim for themselves. This usually happens when a parent claims in the name of an injured child, or an adult child claims on behalf of an elderly relative. A person can also claim on behalf of someone who is mentally incapacitated, either as the result of their injuries or due to a pre-existing condition. In all of these instances, the money is paid to, or held in trust for, the injured party. It is not paid to the claimant.

Personal injury lawyers working with The Compensation Experts can also claim compensation after accidental or wrongful death. These incidences are understandably delicate, at what can be an already traumatic time for the victim’s family. However, in our experience, claiming accident compensation can be a healing process as there is legal acknowledgement of responsibility by the other party.

What Else Do I Need to Know?

Personal injury law is a wide field so always look for a solicitor who specialises in your type of injury. At The Compensation Experts, we work with some of the UK’s leading personal injury lawyers and will match you with those whose skills and experience best suit your situation, to ensure you have every possible chance of obtaining maximum accident compensation.

How no win no fee accident compensation agreements work

You should never have to pay for your initial legal advice. The Compensation Experts provides initial free legal advice which comes with no strings attached, so you can talk to our friendly, professional advisors without any obligation.

Importantly, while No Win No Fee* agreements mean you will not have to pay your lawyer’s legal costs if your claim is not successful, you may still have to pay your opponent’s. Legal insurance will protect you from this so talk to your solicitor about your options before making any decisions.

Understanding that each personal injury is unique

Every personal injury compensation claim is unique and, just because you may have heard about someone with a similar injury to yours receiving a certain amount of compensation, it doesn’t mean yours will automatically be the same. There are so many variables in each case, from the circumstances which led to your injury to the ongoing impact it has on your life and the commitment and experience of the lawyer you engage.

While there are statutory limits for making personal injury claims (usually three years, though it can vary), you should never feel rushed or pressured into making a decision. It is your life and your future, so it is important that you work with a legal firm who respects that, who makes sure you are kept informed of the progress of your claim, and who doesn’t bombard you with legal and medical jargon to the point that it seems as if you are speaking in different languages.

What Happens Now?

The first step in making a claim is contacting The Compensation Experts. Seeking legal advice at the earliest opportunity means you have more time to make the right choice for you and your family, rather than being limited in your opportunity to claim compensation because you have left it too late.

Call The Compensation Experts today on 01614138765 and talk to an experienced advisor. Alternatively, fill in our online contact form and we will reply at a time that suits you.

*conditions may apply

What is a personal injury claim?

Personal injury definition

A claim for personal injury is a legal request for financial compensation for an accident, covering any expenses you have incurred as the result of being harmed, either physically or emotionally.

Who can claim personal injury compensation?

To make a personal injury claim, you’re required to meet various straightforward criteria. These are:

  • You’ve been injured within the last three years. Simply having an accident won’t be enough to make a successful claim; you need to provide evidence that you were physically hurt.
  • The accident was a result of the negligence of another person (even if you are partly responsible). This can be accidental or deliberate.
  • Anyone claiming personal injury compensation must be 18 or older, and be considered to have the mental capacity to proceed.

If you’re unsure if you qualify for a personal injury compensation settlement, get in touch with our team to discuss your case.

What kind of personal injury claims can you make?

Although many victims are aware they can make personal injury claims if they have been hurt in an accident that was not their fault, the accident claims UK process can appear so confusing that even the thought of contacting a solicitor can put people off. However, this can potentially leave people financially vulnerable as they heal physically and emotionally.

The Compensation Experts work with some of the nation’s leading personal injury solicitors who will support and guide you to the fullest extent that is possible. The variety of personal injury claims is enormous and can include:

Accidents at work

Your employers have a legal obligation to reduce the risk of you being injured or killed at work. This not only includes things like making sure equipment is safe to use, but also providing adequate training to educate you about the risks in your workplace, supplying you with relevant safety equipment, and assessing potential hazards at work.

Slips, trips, and falls

Victims of slips, trips, and falls often delay in acting on seeking personal injury claim advice, but there’s no need to hesitate. We handle a huge number of enquiries, including:

Road traffic accidents (RTA)

According to official government figures, around 1,800 people die on UK roads every year, with a further 21,500 people receiving serious injuries. Injuries include whiplash, brain damage, and sometimes even fatality.

You may be able to claim compensation if you have been hurt in an RTA that wasn’t your fault, whether you were a driver, passenger on a bus, motorcyclist, cyclist, or pedestrian.

Sporting injuries

While all sports carry an element of risk, there are occasions where participants are injured either due to another player’s reckless actions or the negligence of organisers who fail to provide a safe environment in which to play.

Criminal injuries

If you have a criminal injury claim and have been hurt as a result of a violent crime within the last two years, The Compensation Experts are here to provide you with access to legal representation. Where you may have a criminal injury claim, you are not required to use the services of a claims management company to pursue the claim. It is possible for you to present the claim yourself directly, for free, to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA).

Accidents abroad

Falling ill or being hurt in an accident abroad can be a nightmare. However, if you have suffered an accident on holiday, you may still be able to claim for personal injury under one of several laws designed to financially compensate people who have been hurt abroad.

Medical negligence

BBC report showed that compensation paid out by the NHS for medical negligence claims has risen from 583 million in 2008 to 1.4 billion in 2016 in England alone. Medical negligence can relate to anything from misdiagnosis to prescription errors and hospital infections.

If you have been injured in an accident where you were not to blame, you may be able to claim for personal injury compensation.

How do personal injury claims work?

There are four main steps to a successful personal injury compensation claim.

  1. Initial conversation
  2. Research and proof
  3. Making the claim
  4. Negotiation and payment

The initial conversation begins when you contact The Compensation Experts. Our friendly agents will talk to you about your injuries and what led to them, asking a series of questions to help build a picture of the sequence of events, to see whether there is the potential to make a claim.

Some accidents are genuinely nobody’s fault. However, where it is likely that another person’s error caused – or even contributed to – your injury, it is probable you have grounds to request accident compensation.

Before your personal injury lawyer can request accident compensation, they need to build a body of evidence to prove two things:

Showcasing the type and nature of your injury

Your personal injury lawyer will review your medical notes to ascertain the type of accident you’re experienced, the impact it has had on your life, and the prognosis for your recovery. We may seek the opinion of an independent medical advisor at this point, especially if your injuries are extensive and your recovery is ongoing.

Information you can provide which will help your claim includes:

  • Photos of the accident site showing the conditions at the time, such as poor lighting, potholes, or paths slippery in the rain.
  • Contact details of the other party and any witnesses who may have seen or heard your accident.
  • Evidence of lost income as the result of being unable to work due to your personal injury.
  • Bills showing reasonable medical costs like private physiotherapy.

Proving negligence

Your personal injury solicitor will also need to demonstrate that the other party was at fault, and it was their error, rather than random chance, that caused you harm. The more detailed your solicitor is at this point, the stronger your accident compensation claim will be. Evidence may include anything from photographs of the crash scene, to witness statements, copies of a company’s maintenance schedule, or information from a business’ accident report book. This stage can take several months, but it is important to be thorough in obtaining the maximum possible payment.

Once they have collated the body of evidence necessary to prove your claim, your personal injury lawyer will contact the relevant party and ask them to acknowledge responsibility. They will ask for damages not only for your physical injury, but also to compensate for the money you have had to spend as the result of your injuries. For instance:

  • Lost earnings
  • Cancelled holidays
  • Private physiotherapy
  • Travel expenses for ongoing medical treatment

The other party has a set time to respond with an agreement or denial of liability. As with the research, this period can take some time to complete, depending on the stance they and their lawyers take, which is why your solicitor will ensure that your case is as strong as possible from the outset.

Your solicitor will negotiate accident compensation on your behalf and ask for an figure based on your injury and expenses. The other party may pay this straight away, or they may counter with a different offer. Your lawyer will keep you informed and provide you with legal advice, but they can’t accept any offer you are not satisfied with.

If the other party denies liability or feels you may have been in some way responsible, they may refuse to make any accident compensation payment. In this instance, your lawyer may recommend you challenge the claim in court where a judge can award damages.

How long does a personal injury claim take?

There is no definitive time in which a personal injury compensation claim must be settled. In the most part, the personal injury claim time limit is either within three years of the date of injury or of the date an injury was attributed to the accident – whichever is the most recent. As a general rule, the less severe the injury and the clearer the evidence, the shorter the claim time will be.

However, while there are statutory limits for making personal accident claims, you should never feel rushed or pressured into making a decision. It is your life and your future, so it is important that you work with a legal firm who respects that, who makes sure you are kept informed of the progress of your claim, and who doesn’t bombard you with legal and medical jargon to the point that it seems as if you are speaking in different languages.

How much can I claim in a personal accident claim?

As with processing time, it is not possible to predict an exact amount of personal injury compensation. It can range from around £800 for a broken tooth to £100,000s for brain damage.

As well as factoring in the extent of your injury, the long-term implications it has for you, and any financial expenses you have incurred, the other party will also seek to prove if you were partially responsible. For example, if you were injured in a car accident (which was wholly the fault of the other driver), but your injuries were worsened by the fact that you were not wearing a seatbelt.

What is No Win No Fee?

All of the solicitors that work with The Compensation Experts offer our clients a Conditional Fee Agreement, which is often referred to as as “No Win No Fee”*. This arrangement takes away the financial risk of paying a personal injury lawyer before being guaranteed success; if you are not awarded compensation then, assuming the information you give is correct, and that you accept the legal advice your solicitor has provided, you will have no legal fees to pay.

Typically, customers pay 25% including VAT of the compensation amount that is recovered by our third-party law firms, although this is subject to your individual circumstances and the actual fee may be more or less than this. For example, you may be required to pay an additional fee for other costs such as after-the-event (ATE) insurance. Termination fees may apply.

How no win no fee accident compensation agreements work

You should never have to pay for your initial legal advice. The solicitors we work with at The Compensation Experts provide initial free legal advice which comes with no strings attached, so you can talk to our friendly, professional agents without any obligation.

Importantly, while No Win No Fee* agreements mean you will not have to pay your lawyer’s legal costs if your claim is not successful, you may still have to pay your opponent’s. Legal insurance will protect you from this so talk to your solicitor about your options before making any decisions.

Can I make a personal injury claim for someone else?

It is possible to claim compensation on behalf of another person if they are underage or incapable of making a claim for themselves. This usually happens when a parent claims in the name of an injured child, or an adult child claims on behalf of an elderly relative. A person can also claim on behalf of someone who is mentally incapacitated, either as the result of their injuries or due to a pre-existing condition. In all of these instances, the money is paid to, or held in trust for, the injured party. It is not paid to the claimant.

Personal injury lawyers working with The Compensation Experts can also claim compensation after accidental or wrongful death. These incidences are understandably delicate, at what can be an already traumatic time for the victim’s family. However, in our experience, claiming accident compensation can be a healing process as there is legal acknowledgement of responsibility by the other party.

What else do I need to know when making a personal injury claim

Personal injury law is a wide field so always look for a solicitor who specialises in your type of injury. At The Compensation Experts, we work with some of the UK’s leading personal injury lawyers and will match you with those whose skills and experience best suit your situation, to ensure you have every possible chance of obtaining maximum accident compensation.

Understanding that each personal injury is unique

Every personal injury compensation claim is unique and, just because you may have heard about someone with a similar injury to yours receiving a certain amount of compensation, it doesn’t mean yours will automatically be the same. There are so many variables in each case, from the circumstances which led to your injury to the ongoing impact it has on your life and the commitment and experience of the lawyer you engage.

What happens now?

Seeking legal advice at the earliest opportunity means you have more time to make the right choice for you and your family, rather than being limited in your opportunity to claim compensation because you have left it too late.

We’ve outlined our straightforward personal injury claims process that takes you from first contact to potentially winning compensation:

  1. Contact The Compensation Experts on 01614138765 or complete our online form, to talk to an agent. Alternatively, use our live chat function.
  2. Our agents will discuss the details of your personal injury claim with you, and determine whether you have grounds for a successful settlement. If you have a valid claim, they will put you in touch with a suitable solicitor.
  3. Your personal injury compensation solicitor will gather all the evidence, and notify the negligent party that you plan to open a claim. They will then negotiate on your behalf, to win you the compensation you deserve.

    Start by speaking to our expert team now and find out how much your claim could be worth...

    Am I eligible?

    If you have suffered personal injury in the last three years, due to someone else’s negligence, you may be eligible for accident compensation.

    There are exceptions to this, including industrial disease or if you were a child at the time of the accident. In each case, you may have a longer period to claim.

    Find out more

    How much could I claim?

    All personal injury claims are different, so the amount of accident compensation paid out often varies from case to case. Factors that contribute to the final personal injury compensation figure include the extent of your injuries, loss of earnings, and future losses.

    Our dedicated team of experts will give you an indication of how much you could potentially claim for personal injury.

    Find out more

    How does the process work?

    When making a claim for personal injury, it’s important to know what to expect from the process. That’s why we make the process as transparent and clear as possible.

    Your solicitor will gather all the evidence, before notifying the negligent party that you wish to begin accident compensation claim proceedings. With your solicitor negotiating on your behalf, you will be kept up to date every step of the way.

    Find out more