In collaboration with Compare Compensation Claims¦ Have you had an injury that wasn’t your fault within the last 3 years? Whether you were in a traffic collision, slipped, were a victim of medical negligence or something else, it can be a nasty shock and affect your like in many ways. It’s a good idea to look into making a personal injury claim for compensation for your physical suffering as well as any loss of finances, which is probably why you’re here!
How to choose a personal injury lawyer
You need to make sure you choose a lawyer who specialises in personal injury claims, to make sure you get the best possible outcome. Word of mouth is a good way to find a solicitor, but if nobody in your circle can recommend anyone then search engines and social media are your friend. Read people’s feedback to get a good idea of how they operate and try to find a good fit for you.
You will likely need to have a lot of discussions with your lawyer while the claim progresses (the length of this varies from case to case). Therefore, it is important that you find someone you find approachable and would feel comfortable speaking to about your injury and the claim’s progress. It is important that they can advise you throughout the process and that you can feel confident in asking questions.
I would also recommend making sure that the solicitor you choose won’t just accept a standard offer for your compensation, but will fight your corner so you get the amount that you deserve.
It’s also important to carefully read into a lawyer’s payment terms and be careful with the tempting offer of ‘no win, no fee’. It’s worth noting that according to Citizen’s Advice, you may be able to get financial help with a claim from an existing insurance policy.
Claiming for your personal injury
It’s quite straightforward to put in a claim for your personal injury:
- Report the accident to the person, company or organisation etc. you believe was responsible for your accident as soon as you can
- If there is an accident book, (e.g. if the accident took place at work), report in it with as many details as possible. If you can, take photographs of the area and your injury, if applicable. Take note of any witnesses’ names and addresses.
- Find a personal injury lawyer you would like to use
- Report your injury to them
Cover photo by Towfiqu Barbhuiya on Unsplash