Do I have a claim?

There are now many situations in which people are entitled to make a claim for compensation. The majority of claims arise out of road accidents, accidents at work and pavement tripping accidents but there are many other types of accident situation which will give rise to claims. Essentially, if you have been injured within the last 3 years as a result of an accident or suffered any other loss and you are not wholly to blame then you may have a claim.

Who was at fault?

In order to make a successful claim for compensation, you will need to identify who was at fault. It may be that the other party was wholly or only partly to blame for the accident. Even if they are only partly to blame, you may still have a valid claim. You will need to demonstrate that someone else's actions or negligence caused your injuries.

How much can I claim?

You can claim compensation for pain and suffering and any temporary or permanent disability, lost earnings and for all out of pocket expenses including, for example, the cost of obtaining medical reports, travelling, car hire and medical items.

Accident Types

Lots of people have accidents - perhaps on the way to work, at work, while shopping or simply taking a walk. In many cases the accident may be the fault of someone else - another driver, your employer, a work colleague or the local council - and may have resulted in an injury or illness leading to pain, suffering or loss of earnings.

Road Accidents

This is probably the most common type of accident. If you are injured as a result of a driver's negligence, you might be entitled to compensation. In addition to motorists, pedestrians, bicyclists, and horse riders are particularly vulnerable. Passengers in vehicles might have a claim against the person driving them, or against the driver of another vehicle if he or she was to blame. Normally the driver causing the accident will be insured so your compensation will come from an insurance company.

Accidents or Illnesses at Work

If you work with equipment or machinery, your employer has a duty to train you and ensure that the equipment is safe and properly maintained. If you are injured during your work, you may have a claim, even though you thought the accident was your fault. You can also suffer illness as a result of inhaling toxic fumes or coming into contact with dangerous substances. If you are injured or made ill by your work you should certainly consider claiming. Normally your employer will be insured, so any compensation will come from an insurance company.

Pavement Accidents

Poorly maintained pavements, road works, dilapidated street signs or equipment, sometimes cause injuries to members of the public. Local Authorities have a duty to keep roads, pavements and public places in a safe condition. If you are injured as a result of their failure to do this, you may have a claim against the council. Normally councils are insured, so your compensation will come from an insurance company.

Accidents at Home, School or Shopping

Strangely enough your home is a dangerous place. Faulty electrical equipment, loft ladders, poor maintenance by councils or landlords can be responsible for injuries. The same goes for shops and schools. Slippery floors, torn carpets, glass doors, and dangerous displays have all been known to cause accidents. Normally the supplier of goods or the organisation responsible for the place where the accident happened will be insured, so any compensation will come from an insurance company.

Accidents During Sport, Leisure or on Holiday

Badly maintained sporting equipment can injury you, and polluted swimming pools can cause severe illness. You can get food poisoning in restaurants and receive injuries on fair grounds and at public events. Any claim you make must be subject to jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales, but, if you are injured while on a package holiday, the claim can sometimes be dealt with at home, even though the accident occurred abroad. It will certainly be worth your while ringing us to ask our opinion. Normally people responsible for the accident or illness will be insured, so any compensation will come from an insurance company.

Examples

Actual cases handled by us:

Mrs S, aged 43, injured her leg in a pavement tripping accident. She made a full recovery. She received £3,100 in damages.

Mrs J, aged 87, suffered a fractured ankle in a road accident. She received £13,000 in damages.

Mr W, aged 50, suffered a minor injury to his foot in a road accident. He received £2,256 in damages.

Mr A, aged 60, injured his wrist and shoulder in an accident at work and was forced to retire early. He received £31,000 in damages.

Mrs D, aged 53, injured her shoulder in a pavement tripping accident. As a result of the accident she suffered some permanent damage and received £17,000 in damages.

Mr D, aged 30, fractured his ankle in an accident at work. He lost earnings as a result of the accident and received £13,000 in damages.