Getting injured because of somebody else’s negligence can be frustrating and distressing and the consequences can be far reaching. Aside from the physical pain there can be long lasting trauma, hospital visits and inability to attend work. These are some of the reasons for which people choose to make an accident claim after their injury. But the process of doing so is shrouded in secrecy and few people are fully aware of what to do.
The first obvious step before launching an accident claim is to ensure your injuries have been appropriately treated. This is important for your personal recovery but it will also help your accident claim later if you make a doctor aware of your injuries and how they happened.
When an accident happens at work, it will be recorded by the health and safety officer in the company’s accident book. You should also report the injury to your trade union, if appropriate, as they may be able to support you in your accident claim and recovery.
In the weeks after an accident there are many expenses so if you decide to make an accident claim, keep receipts for expenses such as taxis to hospital appointments, medication, care or early private treatment such as physiotherapy because you may be able to claim them back later.
Because evidence to support your claim could be lost or disappear, you should contact an accident claim solicitor as soon as you can once you’ve decided the step is right for you. This is particularly important in cases of slip and trip accidents caused by poorly maintained pavements because once the pavement is repaired your evidence is lost.
You might see adverts on television for accident claim management companies who offer to handle your claim on a no win no fee basis. Think carefully before contacting such a company because they are not actually lawyers, but rather auction details of claims they have ‘farmed’ to the highest bidding law firms. All of that means that your element of choice in who handles your claim is removed. There is the risk that you may be given a solicitor with only limited experience. If cost is an issue, remember that many law firms who you contact directly rather than through an accident claim management company will offer services on a no win no fee basis. Also, in the case of an accident at work, your trade union can often help with your legal fees.
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