If you have been personally injured as a result of an accident and want to seek compensation, you might be wondering where to start. After an accident you will naturally be upset and will have other more pressing issues on your mind, so you won’t want to waste time wondering how to make a claim. We’ll try to make the process as seamless as possible to reach a speedy resolution, and we can advise you on your eligibility for legal aid. Just take a look at our guide to making a personal injury claim so that you know exactly what you need to do and what to expect along the way.
Make an appointment with us
The first step in the guide to making a compensation claim is to make an appointment with us. We don’t charge for initial consultations, so don’t worry about coming in for a chat. We’ll ask some questions and find out more about you and during the conversation we’ll go through how long your case is likely to take and what you can expect to receive at the outcome. We’ll also go through our fees too so that you have total transparency. We know that being in accident can be very distressing, so our friendly team are here to listen, and to help. If you decide not to go ahead with the claim, that’s entirely up to you – we’re just here to advise.
Have as many facts as possible ready before hand
You can help move things forward quickly with your compensation claim by having all the relevant information prepared when you arrive. This includes everything from dates and specific details about your accident, how the accident happened, where it occurred, whether or not you were alone or if there were witnesses, what injuries you have sustained as a result of the accident, what kind of treatment you are receiving and any doctor’s notes you have since the accident. If you also have photographic evidence, for example of vehicle position after a road traffic accident, or pictures of your injuries, these can also be helpful in building your case.
Let us file all necessary paperwork
After we have met, discussed your case and reviewed all the documentation you have provided, we can start to progress your case. We’ll send a letter of claim to the defendant (or, who you are holding responsible for your accident) outlining the specific elements of the claim. An acknowledgement of this letter is due within 21 days, and the defendant will have 3 months to investigate. This might feel like a long time, but rest assured we’ll do everything we can to move things forward towards a speedy resolution.
You might be required to have a medical examination
To provide evidence in relation to injuries sustained you might need to submit to a medical examination from an independent specialist. This won’t take long, and in might not be necessary in all cases – we’ll advise you if you need it or not. If it has been some time since your accident, it is always a good idea to share photographs you have which show your injuries, especially where they might have resulted in permanent scarring.
Response from the defendant
After receiving the letter, the defendant will either choose to accept or deny liability for your accident. If they accept, then we’ll move straight to working on your settlement to ensure you get the money owed to you as quickly as possible. In some cases however, the defendant doesn’t admit liability and the case may have to go to court. We have lots of experience in this area and can confidently defend you to get you what you are owed.
Receiving your compensation
The final stage of the process is receiving your compensation, which should also cover any losses you have incurred as a result of the accident – medical fees, loss of earnings due to time of work or even vehicle damage if your claim was as a result of a road traffic accident.
If you still have questions about making a personal injury claim, why not get in touch with us? Our offices in Lurgan and Lisburn are waiting to hear from you.