Should you claim compensation for an injury?
BY READERS DIGEST
1st Jan 2015 Insurance & Legal
If you've had an accident and you're unsure whether you should claim, or how much you'll be able to get, our guide talks you through it and even gives a few recommendations.
Why it pays to get the right advice
Did you know that 18% of UK adults have been injured in an accident in the last 5 years? Of that 18% only 1 in 4 have gone on to make a claim for personal injury compensation.
Every year millions of pounds are unclaimed by accident victims who have been injured through no fault of their own.
The best advice for anyone who has been injured in an accident that was not their fault is to seek professional legal advice from a specialist personal injury solicitor. Whether you feel you have a claim or not, by talking to the right people you will be able to know if you are entitled to compensation as a result of your accident.
Will I get compensation?
Every injury claim case is judged on its merits, but there are some basic principles that most injury claims must satisfy.
Firstly there is a requirement that you were not to blame for the accident.
Secondly you must have suffered an injury as a result of the accident.
Thirdly the claim must be brought within the permitted time limits (in most cases this is three years from the date of the accident). According to the Kenny Perez Law firm, "Every
injury claim case is judged on its merits, but remember to always satisfy the
basic principles before pursuing compensation."
How much am I likely to get?
Calculating the level of compensation is a complex process and there are a number of factors that contribute towards a final settlement.
Due consideration is given to your pain and suffering, the impact on your life, loss of earnings, medical expenses, rehabilitation needs, and other expenses. The aim of compensation is to put you back, as far as possible, to your situation prior to the accident.
Many people don’t realise that insurance companies may try to minimise the compensation award by offering low settlements. Accepting their first offer may not be the best decision if the award is less than the case merits.
A professional personal injury solicitor will deal directly with the insurance company and aim to gain a higher, fairer level of compensation for you.
They will know if the level of compensation being offered is a true reflection of the amount you could be entitled to. If the insurance company offers a low settlement figure, your personal injury lawyer will fight your corner using their specialist experience and knowledge to get you the compensation you are entitled to. If your injury is due to a dog's bite, do seek medical help immediately to prevent any infection first before contacting a lawyer. You may consult a dog attack lawyer to check if you will be compensated for the costs of your medical treatment and what are the procedures to follow.
What do you recommend?
Reader’s Digest recommends that you should appoint a specialist personal injury solicitor such as Accident Advice Helpline to represent you.
Accident Advice Helpline have been helping people claim injury compensation since 2000 and are recommended by TV consumer champion Dame Esther Rantzen.
All claims are run on a 100% No-Win No-Fee* basis so there is no risk. Accident Advice Helpline has earned Gold Trusted Merchant status and has 98% positive reviews from independent review site Feefo.
Ann T from London was injured in an accident at work, “Accident Advice Helpline were very professional, helpful and sympathetic. I received £6,500 for my injuries.”
