What is a claim for compensation?
A claim for compensation is a claim for a monetary sum from the party at fault, usually through their insurers, to financially compensate you for your suffering and losses they have caused.
A claim for compensation is meant to put you back in the position you would have been in had you not suffered the accident. The amount of compensation is meant to reflect the suffering you have endured as a result of the accident, as well as the effects the accident has had on various aspects of your life.
Do you have a claim for compensation?
The general rule is that if the accident was not your fault, you may have a valid claim for compensation. With many types of personal injury claims, (but not all), you only have 3 years from the date of the accident to bring your claim – after this point a claim may not be brought. This rule however differs where the claimant is a minor, or with different types of personal injury claim – therefore it is best to always gain the advice of a specialist personal injury lawyer before writing off your potential claim.
How do you begin a claim for compensation?
To begin a claim for compensation, all you need to do is contact a specialist personal injury lawyer – it’s that simple. However, you should take caution when choosing a lawyer, and research the firm thoroughly to see if they are right for you. For example, you may not realise that some law firms such as The Injury Lawyers will offer to arrange private medical treatment for you at no cost to yourself. If this is something which you are interested in, then you should check the services the firm offers before instructing them.
Do you have to pay any solicitor’s costs?
The short answer to this should be NO; however, this all depends on the law firm that you instruct, and what is contained in their no win no fee agreement. This is why agreements should be read thoroughly before instructing a firm. The situation should be that if you win your claim, the costs get recovered by the other side, and are restricted to whatever amount is recovered. If you lose your claim your solicitor should have insurance to cover any of their losses. You should not have to pay any costs to your lawyers at all.
If you have any further questions about claiming for compensation feel free to give us a call.