Getting injured because of somebody else’s negligence can be frustrating and distressing and the consequences can be far reaching. As well as the physical pain, distress and trauma can last longer, as can the treatment, ongoing care and absence from work. These are some of the reasons for which people choose to make an accident claim after their injury. Unfortunately, many people find the process of making such a claim confusing and aren’t entirely sure of what to do.
The first obvious step before launching an accident claim is to ensure your injuries have been appropriately treated. This is important for your personal recovery but it will also help your accident claim later if you make a doctor aware of your injuries and how they happened.
Should your injury happen at work then you must inform the company’s health and safety representative of what happened: it will then be recorded in the accident book. If you have one, inform your trade union of your injuries and they may be able to offer advice and guidance on your recovery and accident claim.
Many people find themselves incurring additional expenses in the period after an accident such as for taxis to hospital or doctor’s appointments and early physiotherapy treatment: keep receipts because in the event of an accident claim you may be able to reclaim them.
In some cases the evidence required to make an accident claim can disappear, jeopardising your claim, so it is important to contact your solicitor as soon as you decide to make a claim. For example, in cases of injury sustained tripping on defective pavements, your evidence is lost as soon as the problem is repaired.
You might see adverts on television for accident claim management companies who offer to handle your claim on a no win no fee basis. But please think carefully before accepting the offer because the personnel in such companies are not solicitors, rather the companies auction details of claims to high bidding law firms as though they were a mere commodity. This removes any say you had in who handles your case. Potentially you could be given a poor quality solicitor. If you are worried about legal fees it is worth remembering that there are many law firms who you could go to directly who will offer no win no fee services. Furthermore, if your injury happens at work, there is a possibility your trade union can help with costs.
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