You may be able to claim compensation if you’ve been involved in an accident that wasn’t your fault and suffered an injury as a result. Claiming personal injury compensation could help you to put your life back on track, by recognising how unfairly you’ve been treated and covering any expenses caused as a result.

If you think the negligence of another party caused your injury then contact the legal team at Beacon Law and we’ll explain whether we think you’re entitled to compensation. If you are, then we’ll work to claim that compensation, combining legal expertise with empathy and support to help you start to come to terms with your circumstances.

Claiming compensation for personal injuries

The personal injury you’ve been impacted by could consist of simple cuts and bruises or broken bones, all the way up to disabilities which leave you with some care requirements for the rest of your life. In all cases the principle behind a compensation claim is the same.

For a personal injury claim to be successful you need to prove that another party failed in the duty of care they had to you. They were negligent in some way and this caused you to have an accident which left you with injuries.

The injuries in question could be physical or psychological and the third party might be an employer, a local authority, medical professionals or a private business. We have a combination of more than 200 years of legal expertise in fighting personal injury compensation claims, and whatever the circumstances are, we’ll work to put the strongest possible case together.

How the law defines a “personal injury”

The legal definition of a personal injury is harm which was caused by the negligent action of another party. When we make a personal injury claim on your behalf, we set out to gather evidence which demonstrates the following:

• Another party owed you a duty of care
• This other party failed to meet the duty of care they owed
• This failure led to your personal injury, causing pain, distress and financial losses

No amount of compensation can properly make up for the physical and psychological impact of a personal injury that wasn’t your fault. It can be an admission that you’ve been badly let down, however, and it can ensure that you don’t suffer further through being left out of pocket.

We understand the difference this could make, and we’ll work by your side to get the compensation you deserve. Our empathetic support is intended to leave you free to concentrate on your recovery, while we handle the legal issues.

What types of personal injuries you can claim compensation for?

The wide-ranging definition of personal injury means that there are numerous types of accident or incident that could lead to a compensation claim. Among the types of personal injury claim we have successfully worked on for our clients are the following:

• An accident in the workplace
• A road traffic accident
• An accident in a public place such as a supermarket
• An accident which causes serious, life-changing injuries
• A personal injury or illness caused by medical negligence
• A personal injury caused by the negligence of a professional practitioner

How much compensation can I get for a personal injury?

The compensation you could win for a successful personal injury claim could range from a thousand pound to more than a quarter of a million. The exact amount awarded in any case will depend on the following factors:

• The type and severity of injury you’ve suffered
• The impact it has had on your life
• Whether you are expected to make any kind of recovery

How is personal injury compensation calculated?

The final compensation amount will be made up of amounts called general damages and special damages. These are calculated as follows:

General Damages

General damages are awarded on the basis of your injury, and are meant to reflect the pain and distress caused, and the way this personal injury has stopped you from living as fully as you used to, i.e. pursing pastimes, hobbies and general family life.

The Judicial College Guidelines suggested ranges of compensation for different personal injury claims.

These recommendations will be used when deciding how much general damages should be awarded.

Amounts recommended in the latest edition of the JCG include the following:

Minor permanent damage to vision in one or both eyes – £7,780 to £17,900
Serious jaw fracture – £15,320 to £26,010
Loss or damage to two front teeth – £3,710 to £6,510

Special Damages

The aim of special damages is to leave you in the financial position you would have been in if the personal injury had never happened. This will initially involve paying compensation for any earnings or pension provision you’ve lost because the personal injury stops you working as you previously did.

As well as lost earnings, special damages are intended to reimburse you for any money you’ve had to spend which is directly linked to the injury you suffered. These expenses might include the following:

• Any medical costs now and in the future
• Any care costs linked to your injuries now and in the future
• An amount to cover care provided free of charge by family or friends Any money you have to spend on specialised equipment due to your injuries, such as mobility aids
• Any money you have to spend adapting your living space or vehicle to make them accessible following your injuries
• Any travel expenses such as money spent travelling to and from medical appointments
• Any money you have to spend on therapy or counselling to cope with your injuries

We know that you’ll have other things on your mind following an accident, so we’ll explain exactly which expenses you need to make a record of, including keeping receipts where possible.

Do I need a solicitor for a personal injury claim?

No, there is no legal obligation to use a solicitor or legal expert when making a personal injury claim, but it would be extremely risky to press ahead without specific legal advice. Claiming on your own would mean it’s far less likely that your claim is successful, or that you get all of the compensation you deserve.

If we think you have a strong claim for compensation we’ll talk you through the process one step at a time, underlining the support we provide and explaining our no win no fee approach. In simple terms, this means that you have nothing to pay up front, don’t need to worry about legal costs if you lose your claim, and will get to keep the majority of any compensation.

What is the personal injury claim process?

We understand how daunting the thought of taking legal action can be, particularly when you’re recovering from an injury caused by someone else.

Dealing with a claim will probably be the last thing on your mind, so the team at Beacon Law will take the time to guide you through the process one step at a time.

Hopefully, you accessed medical help as soon as the accident happened. As well as making a recovery more likely, this will create an official record of the accident and the extent and nature of your injuries.

After this, the personal injury claims process can be broken down as follows:

Report

You should inform the relevant body of the accident which caused your injuries. This could be your employer, a local authority, a medical facility or even the police in the case of a car accident.

Making a report of this kind will create an official record of your accident to start the timeline of your claim.

Legal Advice

If you think the negligent actions of another party caused your accident then get in touch with the team at Beacon Law. We’ll treat you as an individual – listening, explaining and starting the process of building your claim.

We like to work quickly, because we know that the sooner your claim is successful, the sooner you’ll have the compensation to help you get on with the rest of your life. The evidence we’ll bring together to support your claim could include the following:

A detailed statement from you explaining how the accident happened, how you’ve been injured and the impact it has had on your life

We’ll arrange an independent medical evaluation with a trusted expert of our choice. The results will help to build the fullest possible picture of your injuries and the chance of any recovery.

• The rest of your medical records, particularly regarding any treatment you’ve had for your injuries
• Evidence from anyone who witnessed the accident which caused your injuries
• Photographic evidence of the scene of your accident
• If possible, CCTV footage of the accident
• Any evidence which indicates the other party should have been aware of the risk of an accident happening
• Receipts covering any expenses linked to your injuries

Claim

We’ll get in touch with the allegedly negligent party, telling them that you intend to seek compensation for your injuries. Our experience is that many parties admit liability at this stage and start the process of negotiating compensation.

We always try to settle claims without having to go to court, using our expertise in dispute resolution to reach a fair settlement as quickly as possible.

Negotiate

If the other party admits liability we’ll start the process of negotiating a fair amount of compensation. Our expertise and experience means that we always know how much you’re entitled to, and never settle for anything less than the maximum amount of compensation due.

If the case involves injuries which make it more complex it could take longer to reach an agreement on the amount of compensation. If this happens we will apply for interim payments to cover costs you’re already dealing with, such as care costs or medical bills.

If interim payments are made, the amount will be deducted from any final compensation.

Court

In a small minority of cases the other party denies liability, or won’t offer enough compensation, and the claim has to go to court. If this happens you can be assured that our experts will work by your side to support you and make sure the court understands exactly what happened to you.

Do Beacon Law work on a ‘no win no fee’ basis for personal injury claims?

Yes, we work on a no win no fee basis when handling personal injury claims. This is sometimes called a conditional fee arrangement (CFA), and it means that we take out insurance on your behalf at the start of the claim.

This insurance covers the cost of things such as medical evaluations, Beacon Law’s legal fees and any costs if the claim is unsuccessful. No win no fee means that you can claim for personal injury compensation without paying up front or worrying about costs.

If your claim is successful we’ll take 25% to cover our costs, leaving you free to use the other 75% to start putting your life back on track.

Why should I choose Beacon Law for my personal injury claim?

You should choose Beacon Law for your personal injury claim because you’ll be treated like an individual, not a case number, and because of our track record of successful claims. We’ll provide expert legal advice in a friendly, jargon-free manner, providing one to one care and support as we take you through the process.

We know how upsetting it can be to suffer an injury because someone else was negligent. Our approach is to take on the stress of building your claim and gathering evidence, leaving you free to concentrate on recovering from your injuries and rebuilding your life.

We work on a no win no fee basis, so you get the benefit of more than 200 years of combined legal experience without having to pay a penny upfront or throughout the process, even if the claim proves to be unsuccessful.

The only money you’ll have to pay is taken from any compensation payment, and it will never be more than 25%. If you’ve been injured and it wasn’t your fault, then the team at Beacon Law will work by your side to get every last penny of the compensation you’re entitled to

Is there a time limit for making a personal injury claim?

Yes, there is a time limit of three years from the date of the accident which caused your injury. After this you can no longer make a claim.
Exceptions to this time limit include the following:

You were ‘mentally incapacitated’ for a period and therefore unable to claim during the three years
You were under 18 when the injury happened. In this case, you will have three years from your 18th birthday until your 21st.

How long does the personal injury claim process take?

In simple cases a personal injury claim could take just six months, or more than 18 months if the circumstances are more complicated. We’ll provide an estimated timeframe when we take your case on, updating it if the circumstances change.

If the claim goes to court it may take longer, but we avoid this wherever possible through our expertise in negotiation and dispute resolution techniques.

Do you seek interim payments in personal injury claims ?

Yes, if the other party has admitted liability but the amount of compensation may take some time to agree, we will apply for interim payments to cover on-going expenses. Any interim payments agreed will then be deducted from the final compensation payment.

Will I be required to undergo medical evaluations as part of the claim process?

Yes, personal injury claims involve an independent medical evaluation, carried out by a trusted expert. This will enable us to build the fullest possible picture of your injuries, the impact they have had and the chances of recovery.

Will I be required to attend and/or testify in court as part of my claim?

If your personal injury claim goes to court you will probably be required to attend and/or testify. If this happens the team at Beacon Law will be by your side throughout, to provide legal expertise and empathetic support.

Will it cost me anything to start my personal injury claim?

No, it won’t cost you anything to start your personal injury claim with Beacon Law, because we work on a no win no fee basis. This also means costs will be covered if your claim fails and you’ll keep the majority of the compensation if the claim is successful.

Can I make simultaneous claims for multiple injuries?

If the accident you experienced caused multiple injuries they will all be covered by the single claim. Each injury is assessed for severity and impact, with the most serious being paid in full and compensation added for any more minor injuries.

The way in which injuries interact and the cumulative impact they have will also be taken into account when your compensation is decided.

What needs to be legally proven to win my personal injury claim?

To win your personal injury claim you need to prove three basic facts:

• You were owed a duty of care by the other party
• The other party failed to meet that duty of care
• The injury you suffered was, to some degree, a result of that failure

Can I still claim if the accident was partly my fault?

Yes, you can still claim for personal injury compensation if the accident in question was partly your fault. As long as the other party behaved negligently in some way and this was a contributory factor to the accident, you could be entitled to compensation.

If it is felt that you were 20% responsible for the accident, for example, you can still win compensation, but the final amount received will be reduced by 20%.

Can I appeal if my personal injury claim is unsuccessful?

If your claim was unsuccessful after going to court then you may be able to appeal. You’ll be given permission to launch an appeal in the following circumstances:

• The judge in your case applied the law incorrectly
• The judge in your case ignored or misunderstood vital evidence

In some cases an appeal can be launched on the basis of new evidence. For this to happen, the evidence in question has to tick the following boxes:

• It couldn’t have originally been found through due diligence
• It is credible evidence
• It would have materially impacted the outcome of the original claim

Can I change solicitor or legal representation during my personal injury claim?

Yes, if you’re unhappy with your solicitor you can change them by instructing new representation. Your new solicitor will contact the original solicitor asking for your files.

These files will be sent over on the understanding that the original solicitor will be able to claim costs when the claim is completed. If the original solicitor was working on a no win no fee basis, then this is how any costs will be paid.