1. Contact a personal injury solicitor
If you want to bring a personal injury claim, you will need to contact a solicitor. You may never have needed a lawyer before and choosing a personal injury lawyer can seem confusing. The solicitor you choose should have experience in making personal injury claims, particularly in cases that are similar to yours. Many solicitors offer a free initial consultation, so you can find out whether your claim is likely to be successful, and they may even offer to work with you on a no win, no fee basis.
2. Calculating your claim and gathering evidence
Once you have instructed a solicitor, they will ask you about what happened to you in detail. They will also gather evidence to support your account of how things happened, and the injuries you have suffered. Evidence may include photographs, CCTV, witness statements, medical records and reports, and anything else that may support your claim.
Your lawyer will also set out the value of your claim. They will firstly assess how much you could be awarded for your pain and suffering, which is determined by the type and severity of your injuries. They will also set out how much you might expect to receive to compensate you for loss. For example, loss of wages, loss of future earnings, or out-of-pocket expenses.
3. Negotiating a claim
After your solicitor has set out your claim, they will send it to the party responsible for your accident or injury. They must then respond to the claim within a strict time frame. They may deny liability, or you may enter into a period of negotiation.
4. Settlement or court action
The majority of personal injury cases are settled outside of the courtroom. Lawyers on both sides strive to reach a suitable settlement to avoid lengthy court battles, media attention and excessive fees. If the parties cannot reach a settlement, or where the person you are bringing the claim against denies liability, you may need to go to court.
5. Payment of compensation or enforcement action
After you have negotiated a settlement, or obtained a court order, all that is left is for compensation to be paid. However, occasionally, the party liable for compensation may fail to pay in the specified time period. In these circumstances, your legal representative may need to take further action to ensure the debt is enforced and that you receive the compensation rightfully owed to you.
This article aims to supply general information, but it is not intended to constitute advice. Every effort is made to ensure that the law referred to is correct at the date of publication and to avoid any statement which may mislead. However, no duty of care is assumed to any person and no liability is accepted for any omission or inaccuracy. Always seek our specific advice.
