FAQ's
Can I make a claim?
Anyone can make an accident compensation claim arising from an accident for injuries and other financial losses. You have to bring your Accident Injury Claim against a group or individual responsible and at fault for your accident even if they are only partly to blame. (Usually they will be insured and your claim will be against their insurance company). Under English law, you must claim within 3 years of the accident occurring, although there are exceptions to this general rule for children, people suffering a mental disability and those with certain illnesses.
What can I claim for?
You can accident compensation claim for the actual physical and/or psychological injury and financial losses arising from the accident. Personal injury compensation comes in two forms, known as general damages and special damages. General damages are compensation awarded for your injuries, for the pain and suffering and any disability or loss of amenity. Special damages are all actual financial losses and out of pocket expenses which can be calculated and which have been lost as a result of the accident. The most typical special damages are loss of earnings, however there are numerous other special damages that can be claimed for example medical expenses, travel costs associated with medical treatment, property damage including clothing that was damaged in the accident, vehicle storage charges or replacement vehicle costs, the cost of necessary nursing care, etc etc.
How much can I claim for?
As mentioned above, your claim will consist of special damages and general damages. Special damages are your out of pocket financial losses, e.g. loss of earnings, travel expenses, medical expenses, etc etc. General damages are decided by using previous similar injury cases (known as precedents) as a guideline. We, as solicitors, have a database of thousands of different cases where people have suffered different injuries and been awarded various amounts. These precedents are used to determine what a claimant will receive for general damages, for pain and suffering (see amounts guide).
What do I have to pay?
With Claims for You, NOTHING. As solicitors and not middlemen or a claims management company, we offer a unique "no win, no fee" and "win no fee" service. This means that if you do recover Accident compensation you will receive it in full, 100% without deduction. Our charges are paid by the Defendants' Insurers who pay your Accident compensation. They are obliged to do this by law and therefore we do not need to make any deduction on your compensation. If, for whatever reason, you do not recover compensation, we will not charge you anything.
How long will it take?
Most accident claims in England and Wales are now pursued against insurance companies under what is known as a Personal Injury "Pre-action Protocol". The protocol specifies time limits for progressing a claim with an insurance company and its introduction several years ago has speeded up the process of completing an accident claim. It has resulted in many claims being processed in months, as opposed to years. At Claims For You we pride ourselves on our speedy service as many of our former clients can attest to (see testimonials page).
What does No Win No Fee actually mean?
It's simple: If you don't succeed in your claim, you pay nothing. For more information read our no win no fee section.
What types of accident claims do you deal with?
We deal with many types of accident claims, including:
* Traffic Accidents (including replacement vehicle hire)
* Whiplash Injury Claims
* Work Accidents
* Slips, Trips and Falls
* Other types of accidents
How long will a personal injury claim take?
Our specialist compensation solicitors are well aware that it is in everyone's interest to process your claim without delay. Many lower value claims can be settled in a matter of months. Severe injury cases generally take longer. But every case is different. Your solicitor will tell you the average time for your type of case.
Can I claim 100% Compensation if my accident happened some time ago?
If you are over 18 and your accident happened in the UK you have three years in which to lodge your compensation claim in court. If you are under 18, the three year period starts from your 18th birthday (16th birthday in Scotland). But it is better not to delay seeking advice after an accident.
Will I have to fill out loads of paperwork?
No. Your solicitor should be able to do most of the necessary paperwork for you. You will have to check the details of your claim before it is put forward, but your solicitor can help you with this.
If my accident happened at work and I make a claim against them, can they dismiss me?
It is not legally justifiable for your employer to dismiss you for making an accident claim. It could amount to unfair dismissal. Also it's important to remember that your employer is required by law to take out insurance cover against staff accidents. This means that your employer's insurance company will pay your compensation, and not your employer.
How do I know if I am eligible to make a compensation claim?
You will be eligible if you have suffered an injury - physical or psychological - which was caused by someone who should have been taking reasonable care for your safety but failed to - for example your employer, a fellow workmate or another driver.
How much compensation will I get for certain injuries?
Compensation amounts vary a great deal because injuries affect people in different ways. Some recover quickly, others don't. Injuries are valued by making comparisons with awards in similar cases, and adjusting them as required. There is no fixed tariff because that could work unfairly. Our advisers and solicitors will be able to give you some guidelines as to what you might expect if you win your claim. But in the meantime, why not take our simple test using our easy to use Claims Calculator to find out how much you could potentially receive.
