Claiming after an accident

People suffer injuries in accidents on a daily basis due to many different circumstances, such as a road traffic accident or accidents in the workplace. These accidents may have life-changing effects on victim’s lives and can impact them both physically and mentally.

Personal injury claims can be made through law firms in order to obtain the compensation needed to help victims through their difficult situation and can help with additional financial burdens, such as medical treatment or caring costs.

If you are interested in claiming after an accident, some guidance has been provided below on making a claim for personal injury compensation.

The process for making a personal injury claim can be a daunting experience for some as it can be confusing with lots of things to consider. At Beacon Law, we are determined to make this process as clear as possible and provide legal advice and guidance along the way.

If you have suffered an injury as a result of an accident that was not your fault, you may be entitled to make a personal injury case against the person or party responsible for the accident. Contact Beacon Law to find out if you are eligible to make a claim.

The Process of claiming after an accident

When you first contact us, you will speak with one of our experienced personal injury solicitors who will ask you for information to help them assess the prospects of succeeding in your claim. Examples of relevant information that you may be asked for include:

• The location, time and date of when and where the accident happened
• The circumstances that led up to the accident
• The nature of injuries sustained as well as the severity of them
• Details of any independent witnesses who may have seen your accident taking place
• Details of the negligent party (the defendant) and how they were involved in your accident
• Any further information that may be relevant to your case

If, after discussing these details with you, we are happy to proceed with your compensation claim, we will offer to progress your case. We deal with the vast majority of cases on a no win no fee basis. On a no win no fee agreement, you will not have to pay any legal fees if you lose your case, and you should be able to pursue your claim with a great degree of security. If your claim is successful, you will be responsible for the payment of our success fee and the insurance premium, which would be taken from your final award of compensation. This will be discussed with you before you agree to start your claim.

When we have accepted your case on a no win, no fee basis, we will send you some paperwork in the post for you to complete and return to us. Once we are in receipt of your signed documents, we shall proceed to contact the defendant of the case and notify them of your claim.

After this, we will keep you updated regularly on the progress of your case. The process may differ depending on whether the defendant accepts or denies liability for your case.

If we can prove that the defendant was to blame for your accident and injuries, we can proceed to the settlement of your case. You will likely be required to attend an independent medical expert to have your injuries assessed and documented before we can provide a valuation on your injuries.

There is a three year time limit for completing your claim; therefore, we would advise that you start your claim as soon as possible to avoid your case becoming statute barred.

How much will I receive from a compensation claim?

There is no exact amount of personal injury compensation that you will receive for your accident claim as each case is unique. The valuation for your compensation will be based on your level of pain, suffering and loss of amenity. Your compensation awards will be split into two sections: general damages and special damages.

General damages – General damages refer to the compensation that you will receive for your pain and suffering as well as loss of amenity. Loss of amenity refers to the impact that your accident or injury had on your day-to-day life.

The amount of general damages compensation you will receive depends entirely on the severity of your injuries, the impact of the injuries and the amount of time that it took for you to recover from your injuries.

Special damages – Special damages refer to the financial losses incurred as a direct result of your accident. Examples of special damages include:

•          Travel and transportation costs – These costs can be for travelling to and from medical appointments for any treatment associated with your injuries.

•          Medical costs – This can include any medical expenses such as consultation fees or medication, as well as any long term treatment needed, such as physiotherapy.

•          Loss of earnings – You will also be eligible to claim any earnings that you may have lost if you were forced to take long periods of time off work due to your injuries.

Some law firms may offer a compensation calculator to attempt to get a specific figure of compensation for you. However, the compensation calculated can be unreliable as each case and injury is unique.

How can Beacon law assist?

Beacon Law is a Manchester-based law firm that specialises in personal injury claims for claimants based all over England and Wales.

If you have sustained injuries following an accident or as a result of someone else’s negligence, then contact Beacon Law today by calling 0330 1332 857 or complete the contact form at the top of the page to request a callback, and we will put you in touch with an experienced personal injury solicitor.