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How Long After A Car Accident Can I Claim?

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How long after a car accident can I claim?

Before you start your claim, it is important to note that there is a three year time limit, starting from the date of the accident where the injury or illness was sustained, in which the claimant must begin their personal injury claim for compensation. If the compensation claim has not been started by the claimant within three years of the date of the accident, their claim will be time barred. In other words, the personal injury claim for compensation will be unsuccessful and court proceedings will not commence.

As a result of such a strict three year limitation period on personal injury cases, we advise that you seek legal advice from a solicitor as soon as possible following any road traffic accident in which an injury has been sustained. This will help to ensure that your compensation claim will not be time barred.

When does the three year limitation period begin?

In most personal injury cases, the three year time limit will begin from the date of when the road traffic accident occurred. In some road traffic accident cases, however, the cause of the injury or illness may not be instantly apparent. In such cases, the claimant will have three years from the date of knowledge to commence with their personal injury claim for compensation. In other words, the claimant will have three years from the date that they were made aware of the cause of their injury or illness.

In serious accidents, the claimant may be left incapacitated for an extended period of time, leaving them unable to commence with a personal injury claim for compensation. In situations such as these, the claimant will have three years from the date of recovery to start their compensation claim and commence court proceedings.

It is important to note that the limitation period for children to start a compensation claim is different to that of adults dealing with personal injury cases. A child that has suffered an injury in a car accident due to negligence will have the three year period; however, this time limit will begin on the date of their 18th birthday.

What should I do after being involved in a car accident?

After being involved in a car accident, it can be easy for drivers and passengers to forget what to do in the immediate moment of shock following a car accident. However, it is important to remain calm and take the following steps after a road traffic accident.

If you are able to do so, pull your car over safely; it is a legal requirement to stop at the scene of the accident. After this, it is important to check on the other drivers and passengers involved for any injuries that they may have sustained as a result of the car accident. If someone has been injured, call an ambulance and begin by reporting the incident to them. They will then dispatch the appropriate services to the scene of the accident to assist you.

After the car accident, it is also important to exchange the details of the relevant insurance company with anyone else that was involved in the crash. You must also exchange your name, address, phone number, contact details, and registration number with anyone else involved.

If possible, you should obtain the details of any witnesses to the car accident, as their witness statements will strengthen your claim for compensation. If you are having difficulty getting someone to give you the relevant details, or if the other person involved has left the scene of the accident without providing their details, call the police as they will be able to assist you.

Although it is very easy to apologise or admit fault in the emotional moment immediately after a crash, it is important to refrain from doing so; it is the role of the insurance company to determine who is at fault.

Lastly, if you have suffered an injury as a result of someone else’s negligent driving, contact a law firm as soon as possible after your car accident to receive expert legal advice regarding your personal injury claim for compensation. Specialist personal injury solicitors, who operate on a ‘no win no fee’ basis, will support you during every stage of your personal injury claim.

How Beacon Law can assist you

At Beacon Law, we have a team of personal injury solicitors who have years of experience dealing with personal injury claims involving road traffic accidents. Whilst pursuing a personal injury claim, Beacon Law can be your source of support and will endeavour to recover the amount of compensation that you deserve.

Our solicitors are authorised and regulated by the solicitors regulation authority. We have a registered office located in Manchester. For a free, no-obligation assessment of your claim, call one of our specialist injury lawyers today on 0330 1332 857 or complete our online enquiry form, and one of our experts will call you back.

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General Enquiries:

0161 428 1234

New Claims:

0330 1332 857

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0161 239 1072

Address

Beacon Law

1st Floor

Shirley House

12 Gatley Road

Cheadle

Cheshire

SK8 1PY

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