If you’ve suffered an accident then you may be able to make a compensation claim. Whether the accident was at home, at work or on the street, if it wasn’t your fault, you could be in line to receive accident compensation.
Should you claim?
It may feel a bit strange making a claim for an accident. If it was an accident at work then it could seem like you are taking advantage of your employers in some way, or it can make you feel like you’re trying to claim money that you don’t deserve. However, if the accident wasn’t your fault then you are well within your rights to claim.
Moreover, if the accident has caused you injury that has led to a loss of earning then you are entitled to any compensation that you are able to claim. The compensation you receive is not free money but money to help you get back to the position where you would be had you not suffered the injury.
Making a claim can also have the important benefit of improving health and safety standards. A local council should make sure that public areas are safe, and your employer has a responsibility to look after you at work and tell you of any relevant health and safety measures you should follow. Similarly, anyone performing work at your house should install fittings to the required safety standards.
Anyone who has not carried out these duties to the correct safety specifications should be held responsible. By making a claim against them, you could help to make them sit up and take notice of any bad practices that have been going on and improve their standards.
However, if you do make a claim, even if successful, then you should be prepared for the possibility of a long wait before you receive any money. This is particularly true with work related claims. Employers regularly dispute claims made against them by employees which can lead to lengthy legal proceedings.
Making the claim
The first thing that you need to know about making a claim is how long you have to do it. In general, you have three years from the date of the accident to make the claim, however, for someone who suffered the accident as a child or for someone being treated under the mental health act these time limitations are removed.
If you do decide to make a claim then you need to contact a personal injury specialist. Solicitors like these are experienced in helping people make claims. They will give you an accident claim form to fill in. An accident claim form will help them to better understand whether you have a claim or not.
You should fill out the form as instructed and try to be as thorough as possible. However, you should keep it brief and avoid being descriptive, just list exactly what happened as objectively as you can. You should also attach copies of any relevant documentation, such as police reports or doctors letters.
Once in receipt of you claim, personal injury specialists will be able to assess whether you have a case to make a claim. If, in the case they feel your claim would not be worth pursuing, you will not be charged.
In the event it is considered that you do have a claim, then your representatives will pursue it by arguing your case with the company that insure the people you are making the claim against.
Most injury compensation claims are settled out of court but you may be contacted by email or telephone by your solicitors.
When making a claim, it is important to remember that you are doing so because you have been injured because of someone else’s negligence. Why should you have to put up with that? The answer is; you shouldn’t.
