Many people today are aware that they are entitled to claim compensation for injuries that occurred as a result of an accident. What they may not be aware of is that there is also a claim for financial losses that have been suffered as a result of their accident. These losses in some cases can be fairly substantial and form a large part of a client’s claim.
A good personal injury lawyer will advise you of your potential claimable losses from the outset of your case. This is to ensure that you keep all necessary documentation in support of your losses claim in a safe place – this documentation can vary from receipts, to wage slips. Once all your losses are compiled, they are gathered in a document known as a Schedule of Loss, or a Schedule of Special Damages. This document is then later disclosed to the other side in order to invite offers form settlement.
I have listed some of the main items of loss that we commonly claim for as part of the claims process:
- Loss of earnings – if you have been absent from work on no pay or reduced pay, then you may have a loss of earnings claim. With this claim it is important that you have your wage slips available for 13 weeks prior to the accident – if you have mislaid these, it is not too much of a problem as a good lawyer will contact your employer on your behalf. These wage slips are needed to calculate an average of your earnings to be claimed back. If you are self – employed, the average is usually calculated using 3 years profit and loss accounts.
- Treatment costs – many of our clients opt to have private treatment. This may be due to the fact that the NHS waiting lists are lengthy, and they are in too much pain to wait. However, a big worry with this is the costs – as we know, private medical treatment can be expensive. At The Injury Lawyers we are able to offer early medical intervention to our clients with treatment such as physiotherapy, osteopathic, and chiropractic treatment right from the start. This is at no cost to our clients – if our client wins their claim, the costs are recovered from the other side (in the Schedule of Loss); if our client loses, the costs are covered by insurance.
- Care and assistance – it is a little known fact that if, as a result of your accident, you required the assistance of a carer, that you may claim back the time of the carer at an hourly rate. This money is then payable to the carer directly.
- Travel costs – getting to and from frequent medical appointments can be costly. As long as the appointments are a result of your accident, this is an expense that you may be able to claim back for. We do however advise you to keep all receipts in a safe place.
- Prescription costs – if you pay for your prescriptions and these were a result of your accident, the costs may be claimed back.
The above list is not exhaustive – so if you have any queries about your losses, feel free to give us a call.
