At Claim Today Solicitors we urge you to commence your claim as soon as possible - so that evidence can be reviewed and gathered while it is still fresh. WHATEVER YOU DO, DO NOT WAIT ANY LONGER THAN 3 YEARS, as you cannot make your claim after that - unless it involves children who have until their 21st birthday in order to claim.
What should I do after my accident?
As in any accident where you are not at fault, you need to immediately need to gather whatever evidence you can to support your accident circumstances and why you feel it was not your fault. The kinds of evidence to recover are: witness names, photographs and if possible a copy of the accident book entry. In addition you need to start keeping a detailed record of events, expenses, medical treatment, basically any details of expenses you have to pay as a result of your injury. In doing this you should keep receipts, as it will eventually provide evidence and support of your claim.
What if my accident happened abroad?
You still may be able to claim if your accident happened abroad, however, this would depend on a number of factors. For instance, if you went abroad through a package holiday and suffered an injury whilst abroad, then you may be eligible to claim.
How long will my claim take?
Every case is different and it would depend on the extent of the injury. A claim where you have suffered a simple injury can be settled in a few months, whereas a claim where a severe injury has been suffered may take a little longer.
Nonetheless, we have a system in place whereby we will update you regularly as to the developments in your case and flexible opening hours for telephone enquiries to be made.
How much compensation will I get for my injury?
This depends on a number of factors:
1. the severity of your injury
2. the amount of time it has/will take you to recover from your injury
The compensation you receive is split into parts:
1. general damages
2. special damages
General damages- these are the damages you receive for your personal injury alone. This includes any pain you have suffered as a result of your accident and any inability to perform any functions.
Special damages- these are the damages you receive for any out-of-pocket expenses that you have incurred as a result of the breach of contract, negligence or wrongful act by the defendant. These include loss of earnings, medical expenses, any care you have received by another individual.
General and special damages together aim to put you back into the position you were in before your accident.
This together forms the compensation you receive. Your solicitor would use a number of methods for calculating the amount of compensation that you get, for example we have guidelines specifically designed for personal injury cases which can help us to assess the value of the claim. In addition, we can make comparisons with previous cases with similar awards. These can be adjusted and your compensation calculated accordingly.