Serious Injuries Compensation Claims

As well as causing short-term pain and suffering, serious injuries can have lasting and in some cases lifelong consequences. They can even lead to the tragic loss of a loved one, which is not only devastating to friends and family but can also leave both immediate and ongoing financial liabilities and concerns.

Following a serious injury, it may be that a person is unable to return to the same job. Depending on how severe their injuries are, they might not be able to work at all for the foreseeable future or potentially ever again. Ongoing care and assistance might also be required, as well as specialist equipment and lifestyle changes.

If you or someone you love has experienced a serious injury and you believe someone else was to blame, you may be able to seek personal injury compensation. Compare serious injury solicitors today to get the process underway.

Am I Eligible To Claim Compensation For Serious Injuries?

If you have suffered a serious injury due to an accident or incident that was no fault of your own, you may be able to make a claim for a compensation. There is no set definition as to what constitutes a serious injury for the purposes of a personal injury claim. However, a serious injury is generally defined as an injury that causes an individual to stay in hospital for a long period of time and it may also involve surgery.

Examples of these injuries can include:

• Amputation
• Brain damage
• Broken bones
• Fractures
• Damage to internal organs
• Disfigurement / scarring
• Loss of senses (for example, hearing or sight)
• Paralysis

Claiming for compensation will never make up for what you’ve been through but it can help to relieve some of the financial pressure that serious injuries bring. Costs that compensation can help to cover include:

• Care and support, even if from family or friends
• Loss of earnings, including future loss due to an inability to work
• Loss of amenity, e.g. playing sport in your spare time
• Adaptation of your home and/or vehicle
• travel to medical appointments

It is difficult to determine how long it may take to claim for compensation. For serious injuries, it could take longer to settle due to how long it could take to realise the impact on your day-to-day life. However, in cases that involve serious injury, you may be able to request interim payments if the defendant has admitted liability. These are payments that are made to you prior to your settlement being agreed to assist in paying for medical care and other related expenses. if you are awarded any interim payments, this will be deducted from your final compensation amount.

How To Make Serious Injury Compensation Claims

If you suffer a serious injury due to someone else’s negligence, there are a number of steps that you should take to seek compensation.

1. Report The Accident

Firstly you should report the accident to the party you believe to be responsible. Make sure you do this as soon as possible.

2. Take A Detailed Account Of The Events

It could significantly help your case if you take a detailed account of where and how the injury took place. This should include names and addresses of anyone who witnessed the accident. If appropriate, take photos of the place where the events occurred. Making detailed notes of what happened as quickly as possible after the accident will help to ensure that your memory doesn’t fade and you don’t forget crucial information.

3. Keep Evidence Of Medical And Travel Costs

If you incur expenses as a result of your injury, such as prescription costs and travel expenses to medical centres, make sure you keep your receipts. You should also get copies of your medical records.

4. Contact Expert Serious Injury Claim Lawyers

To maximise the chance of success in your claim, it’s useful to turn to expert legal help. A specialist personal injury lawyer will be able to make the strongest possible case. To help them, make sure you provide them with as much information and evidence related to your claim as you can.

Serious Injuries Fees And Compensation

When making a compensation claim, you don’t need to worry about losing money. Many solicitors will offer a no-win, no-fee agreement which means you only pay if your claim is successful. Known as a success fee, this is a set percentage of your compensation amount and is agreed with our solicitor beforehand. Legally, this can’t be more than 25% inclusive of VAT.

The amount of compensation you may be entitled to will depend on the specific details of your case. Personal injury compensation payments have two main components. These are special damages and general damages.

Special damages refer to the compensation you will receive for the physical and psychological pain and suffering you have experienced due to your injuries and the effect this has had on your quality of life. To estimate how much this element of your compensation payment could come to, your solicitor will need to consider the nature and extent of your injuries and compare your case to the Judicial College guidelines. These guidelines set out how much money can be awarded for certain kinds of injuries.

You can use our claim calculator to get an idea of the sums awarded for various bodily injuries. Please note that these amounts don’t take into account special damages, such as loss of earnings or the cost of care.

Time Limits On Making A Serious Injuries Claim

The time limit on making a personal injury claim is three years. It’s important therefore to make a claim as soon as possible so you can receive the financial support you need. If the victim is a minor, the time limit doesn’t apply until they turn 18, at which point the three year period starts.