When you or a member of your family has been seriously injured it can be a stressful and worrying time. Most people deciding whether or not to make a claim are not familiar with what the process will involve. This article sets out the steps to take to make such serious injury claim.
Such solicitor in his initial discussion with you whether in person or on the telephone will gather information from you about your accident and in most cases will be able to give you an indication during that discussion, whether you have a viable claim.
To recover compensation you will need to show it is more likely than not that:
• the accident that occurred was wholly or partially caused by the negligence of the other party;
• the accident caused the injury and losses sustained;
• the injury and losses sustained were reasonably foreseeable as a result of the other party’s negligence.
Your solicitor is there to make pursuing your claim as trouble and stress free as possible. Once he has taken full instructions from you and provided you with initial advice about your claim, he will write to you to confirm this information and confirm the next steps of the process.
Your solicitor will write an early notification letter to the insurers acting on behalf of the third party who’s negligence is considered to have resulted in your accident and injury (which the Court’s refer to as the Defendant). The aim is to alert the Defendant as soon as possible about the claim. This will enable the insurers to investigate the circumstances of your claim promptly and appoint a dedicated claims handler with whom your solicitor will have regular contact.
The Serious Injury Guide developed by Claimant and Defendant lawyers and insurers to assist with the handling of serious injury cases puts in place a process that meets the needs of the injured person (the Claimant). Lawyers and insurers dealing with serious injury claims in accordance with that guide have agreed to work together in a collaborative and less litigious way for the benefit of the Claimant. The aim is to put the Claimant at the centre of the claims process to ensure that their needs are met. Within the guide the Defendant gives a commitment to responding to your lawyer within 28 days of receiving the early notification letter. This will allow your solicitor and the insurers to discuss whether responsibility for the accident is accepted, whether any rehabilitation or immediate needs have been identified and to agree when they will speak again about your claim. Agreeing a timeframe for discussing next steps in your claim will ensure that your claim proceeds as quickly as possible.
Following a life changing injury, your daily routine can be more challenging. One of the main aims of the serious injury guide is to help you, the Claimant, access the treatment and care that you require early on, to help you get your life back on track as soon as possible. Specialist care and treatment may still be necessary after discharge from hospital. In order to find out what kind of specialist medical assistance you will require your solicitor may send you for an early medical assessment.
As soon as possible, but usually after liability has been admitted, a case manager with experience of your type of injury will be appointed. Your case manager in conjunction with your solicitor will access carers and any support workers that you need and will co-ordinate treatment, including therapies. They will also be responsible for co-ordinating any care and support that you require on a long-term basis. The cost of this help will be paid by the defendant’s insurance company.
An interim payment may be requested to cover the cost of any immediate assistance required. The money can be used to pay for private medical treatments, loss of earnings and to set up a care regime. Your solicitor will speak to you about how this can be arranged.
There are a number of different ways in which legal advice can be funded and your solicitor will advise on the most suitable option for you.
Most personal injury claims are funded by conditional fee agreements previously referred to as “no win no fee”. This is a written agreement whereby your lawyer’s legal fees only become payable in certain circumstances. In most cases an after the event insurance policy should be taken out to support a conditional fee agreement. A conditional fee agreement will not cover all costs - for example, it may not cover money paid to a medical expert or the other side's legal costs in the event that your claim is unsuccessful.
After the event insurance policies should usually be taken out around the time that the legal action begins. The premium can sometimes be deferred to the conclusion of the claim. Your solicitor will explain to you what exactly you will need to pay and when, as these circumstances will depend on the type of agreement entered into.
It is understandable that you will want to know how much compensation you can expect to recover. You solicitor will often try to give you a rough idea at the outset of your claim but claiming for a serious injury is not straightforward. Each case will be different as it will depend on the extent of your injuries and your individual needs. Compensation can be awarded for both your injury (general damages) and for past and future financial losses.
It often involves gathering detailed evidence about loss of earnings, the cost of care, any housing adaptations or aids you may require to make daily living easier. Until this evidence is obtained, your solicitor will be unable to provide you with a more accurate figure
It is not easy to say with any certainty how long your case will take to resolve. This depends on lots of factors including the severity of your injury, the amount of care and treatment you require and how quickly liability is admitted for the accident occurring. Sometimes it can take many years for the effects of serious injury to be fully investigated, particularly if treatment is on-going or the prospects of recovery are uncertain.
Your solicitor will update you at regular intervals and provide you with a timeframe as to what you can expect to happen next with your claim.
Most cases resolve without the need to go to trial. However, disputes do often arise between the parties involved in the process. For example there may be a dispute about the frequency of care that you require or, in a catastrophic case, life expectancy. One of the purposes of the serious injury guide is to ensure ongoing dialogue between the parties in the hope that most issues can be resolved by negotiation. Sometimes disputes cannot be resolved through discussion and other methods of resolving the dispute will be considered by the parties before you and your solicitor make a decision about whether or not your case should be pursued through the courts to allow a judge to resolve the issues in dispute.
For advice and assistance on any contentious probate matter please contact Robert Sharp our experienced serious injury claim solicitor on 01482 621800.
for an initial consultation or complete our enquiry form