Accident Claim Advice

If you have been injured and suffered as a result of an accident, you should arrange a consultation and speak to a solicitor as soon as possible after your accident. Getting the right consultation after an accident is as important as having the correct treatment for your injuries. The wrong advice could have serious detrimental effects. There is a lot paperwork that needs to be filled in within the first few days of your accident. If you leave seeking advice for a longer period of time sorting this paperwork out could be a huge headache and a pains taking task. Obviously the sooner after the accident has occurred the fresher in your memory the details will be easier for you to relay to your solicitor.

Finding the best personal injury solicitor is a difficult task but a must. There are now personal injury solicitors everywhere using every advertisement trick in the book trying to get your business. Many of them using the “no win no fee” agreement as a way of tempting you. You need to find a well known company with experience in the type of claim you wish advising on. A good track record of a favorable amount of successful negotiations is a major benefit. You want to find a solicitor that you can trust and that has good communication skills.

Once you have found a reputable and reliable quality solicitor you need to ask the appropriate questions in your consultation. The first question you need answering is “Is the consultation free?” If the answer is no, then I would find another solicitor. Good legal firms will offer free advice and consultations. Once you have found a company that offer a free legal consultation you can then go about asking the relevant questions. Some of the questions you should be asking are below:

- If we loose the case am I responsible for the others parties' expenses?
- Are there any hidden charges?
- Will I be charged a legal fee if you do not recover money for me?
- Am I responsible for case expenses if you do not recover money for me?
- What are my alternatives to resolve my claim? Do you ever utilize mediation and arbitration?
- Have you dealt with any similar cases?-
- How long has your firm been established?
- Do you primarily practice in personal injury claims?
- If I have a question about my case, will I be able to speak with you directly?
- Is it okay if I speak with you occasionally when I have a question or to find out the how my case is progressing?
- Do you have professional liability insurance? (Professional liability insurance protects you, the accident victim, in case an error is made that damages your case.)
- How long will the claim take to deal with?

These are just some of the many questions you may have when consulting a solicitor over your compensation claim. You may have many more questions and you need to feel confident in asking them. A good consultation could mean the difference between winning the case and loosing.

Accident Consultant is an internet resource for accident compensation claims . We offer free advice and can put you in touch with the very best Accident Claim Lawyers in the UK.

Whiplash Compensation Claims In The UK

Claiming for whiplash injury compensation following a road accident in the UK

If you have been involved in a road accident and suffered injury, you may wish to consider making a personal injury claim against the responsible driver.

The most common form of injury following such an accident is that of “whiplash”. This is a potentially serious injury that needs to be treated and managed very carefully in order to ensure that a recovery is made. The injury affects mainly the cervical (neck), thoracic (mid back) spine and shoulders. It results from the sharp deceleration that occurs on impact.

Many people suffering with whiplash injuries do not exhibit symptoms immediately following the crash. Very often the symptoms can be delayed as adrenalin and the mental stress that is usually caused by the accident begins to settle. Some people suffer pain soon after the accident and require emergency medical treatment.

Here is a summary of what you should do following a whiplash related injury:

1. If you have any symptoms at all in the aftermath of an accident – you should immediately attend the local hospital for treatment.

2. You may prefer to visit your General Practitioner (GP) but in doing so please be aware that GP’s have limited experience and clinical knowledge of these injuries and they are not well equipped. Investigations such as X rays or MRI scans can only take place at a hospital. We therefore recommend a visit to the hospital in preference to a GP surgery.

3. If the symptoms do not abate within a few weeks (or sooner in severe cases) you need to request additional treatment from the GP in the form of physiotherapy or similar manipulative therapies.

4. In severe cases your GP will refer you to a consultant at the hospital (usually an orthopaedic doctor) to undergo an examination.

5. Whatever you do – make sure you seek some form of treatment because ignoring the injury or refusing medical intervention may not be in your best interests.

If the accident was not your fault then you can and should make a claim for injury compensation. You will be entitled to free “no win No fee” representation by an accident solicitor and all of your legal costs will be recovered in full. Very few cases ever reach court and so there is an excellent chance that a swift and amicable resolution to the claim can be arranged.

A good solicitor will ensure that you receive compensation for:

• Pain and suffering (average whiplash awards run at around £2500)

• Loss of earnings if you have been unable to work at any time during your recovery.

• Treatment costs for medication and / or therapy. Note that most insurers will now place injured parties on their own (free) treatment and therapy programs ensuring that you receive first rate therapy to assist your recovery.

• Vehicle related losses – vehicle damage, car hire, loss of use etc.

• Miscellaneous items and any general out of pocket expenses.

The most important factor is that you recover from your injuries. There have been significant advances in whiplash therapy options across the UK and recent medical theory encourages an injured person to remain active rather than confining themselves to bed.

Instructing a solicitor in the UK to assist with your whiplash compensation claim is now easier than ever. There are numerous firms operating online that will assist you free of charge.

About The Author

Martin Nolan is a legal marketer for UK compensation lawyers. No win no fee claims we put the claimant and your recovery first and proactively manage your
claim from start to finish.

Written by: Martin Nolan

Article Source: Whiplash Injury Claim

Whiplash Compensation Claims

What is whiplash?

Whiplash is a very common injury caused from a high speed impact or a forceful jerk . Most whiplash injuries are caused when a car rams into the back of your car, or rear-ends your car. The actual impact pushes your car forward and it takes a while for your body to catch up. When the car or impact suddenly stops, it throws your head and neck backwards and this is the classic cause of whiplash. A lot of people who are involved in rear end collisions experience whiplash or the symptoms of whiplash.

What are the symptoms of whiplash?

The symptoms of whiplash can be neck pain or stiffness, pain between the shoulder blades, pain in arms or legs feet and hands, headache, low back pain, nausea, ringing in ears, vertigo, numbness and tingling, dizziness or balance problems, difficulty swallowing and blurred vision. These symptoms generally appear within the first couple of days after the accident and generally pass after a few days and in some cases a few weeks.

How can a doctor diagnose a whiplash injury?

The diagnosis is generally made on the description of the accident. If you have been involved in a rear end collision and you are having whiplash symptoms then the doctor will diagnose whiplash. It is not totally understood how whiplash injuries occur and the type of injuries and paid suffered varies. Most whiplash injuries are to soft tissues, muscles and ligaments. Unfortunately you cannot see these whiplash injuries on an x-ray although there are special tests and scans that can show the damage.

What can a patient do about whiplash injury?

If you have had an accident and you have been diagnosed with whiplash your doctor should encourage you to exercise gently soon after the incident. Ice can be applied to the affected area also. It used to be the case that whiplash sufferers would be told to put their feet up and relax, but this would only prolong the injuries and not help in the slightest. Different people respond to different forms of treatment but generally pain relieving medication, gentle exercise, massage and ice are beneficial to lots of people.

How can you treat whiplash?

There is no single treatment for whiplash that is widely accepted among doctors. Some patients respond differently to various treatments. While applying ice may work for some patients it may not work for others. If the doctor suspects a fracture or dislocation the patient will be x-rayed. If you have no fracture or dislocation then the patient will probably be advised to carry on with normal activities and gentle exercise as soon as possible. Some painkillers may be prescribed. For more advice on exercise and recovery can you will need to see a physiotherapist or chiropractor. For most people the injury will pass after a short period and a full recovery will be expected. In some severe cases people can develop chronic conditions can result in severe pain and sometimes disability. These severe cases of whiplash should be investigated further by a specialist and might require surgery.

How much compensation money could I recieve for a whiplash claim?

For cases where the injured are severely disabled these claims may have a value of £86,500. On the lower end of the scale where claimants may only suffer a minor strain and only suffer for a few weeks the amount could be as little as £750. Visit our claim calculator page for a more detailed explanation on Whiplash Injuries.

Accident claims for the UK market contact Accident Consult for your no obligation consultation. They are experts in dealing with Whiplash Accident Claims.

Accident Claims Advice

Legal Claim UK is a network of specialist personal injury solicitors operating nationwide throughout the United Kingdom who offer free accident claims advice. Our lawyers are all members the Law Society panel of personal injury experts¹ and deal with cases using no win no fee. Compensation in full with absolutely no deductions² and win or lose there is no charge. Our no win no fee scheme is completely risk free and you will not be asked to pay anything at all as the case proceeds.

It is estimated that over 11 million accidents causing personal injury occur in Britain every year and over two million of those are caused by the negligence of another person. The law entitles those who have been the victim of an accident caused by someone else's negligence to claim compensation for personal injury and loss. The civil courts are an essential resource for people who have been injured and ensure that they have the power to claim damages for pain and suffering and to cover the costs of medical treatment, loss of earnings and other expenses incurred.

Our specialist personal injury solicitors begin by carrying out a thorough investigation of the case before agreeing to take it on. They will discuss the matter with you in detail and consider all of the circumstances of the accident . If they believe that the claim has a reasonable chance of success and is likely to succeed they will then outline a winning strategy and begin collecting evidence.

A number of factors affect the likelihood of the claims success:

Timescale: It is unlikely that a solicitor will be willing to deal with the case if the incident occurred more than three years ago. The limitation period for most personal injury claims is three years and if the case is not settled or proceedings have not been issued in a court of law prior to that time then the matter becomes statute barred. There are exceptions to this rule the most important one being that time does not begin to run until a person reaches the age of 18 years. There are other exceptions and accident claims advice should always be sought in regards to matters relating to limitation.

Injuries: The doctor who originally treated the injury will hold medical details, which are of paramount importance when making a claim. The solicitor will use this record as evidence of the type and cause of the injury and if necessary will obtain other specialist medical opinion as the case proceeds. It is therefore extremely important that medical advice is obtained as soon as possible after any accident either from a General Practitioner or from the local hospital Accident and Emergency department.

The Police: A specialist accident claims advice solicitor will liaise with any police officers who witnessed the accident or the occurrences shortly after the accident and will usually obtain a copy of the police accident report which will be made available as soon as any relevant criminal prosecutions are completed. A policeman may be called to give evidence in any civil court case for damages if necessary.

Witnesses: Sometimes there are witnesses and it helps if their statements are collected immediately. Witness statements greatly support the claimant’s case however these statements should never be obtained personally by the injured person. A solicitor or a private enquiry agent employed on the clients behalf will usually obtain signed statements which will verify the clients version of events.

Evidence: The more evidence and information gathered, the greater the success rate and clients are recommended to take detailed photographs of the location and any injuries. A daily diary charting the recovery from injury is also useful in assessing any compensation payable for pain and suffering. All receipts for expenses incurred should be retained.

If you have been injured in an accident within the last three years that wasn’t your fault you should contact us. You will receive a complete professional service from lawyers who specialise in claiming compensation for personal injury caused as a result of an accident.

Accident claims for the UK market contact Accident Consult for your no obligation consultation. They are experts in dealing with Accident Claims.

Motorcycle accident claims

Having an accident on a motorbike is a lot more traumatic than having on in your car. The injuries can also be a lot more severe. With a car you have the obvious protection of your seat belt, air bag and the frame of the car.

I had a motor cycle accident in my early twenties when I was travelling on the back of my boyfriend’s bike. A car pulled out and didn’t see us at all. We were both thrown from the motorbike about fifteen metres. Stupidly that day I had chosen to ware a short skirt. I immediately regretted that as I had severe tarmac abrasions all up my legs. My boyfriend was in full leather which saved his skin so his injuries were minimum. My boyfriend had reservations about me travelling on the back with my skirt and tights on. But every week he would give me a lift when I was wearing leather or jeans and nothing happened. So the one summer evening I took a chance and wore a skirt the worst happened.

The women who caused the accident admitted she did not see us and told the police the same. This was vital evidence for our compensation claim and made the case run quickly and smoothly. I had never heard of compensation claims at the time and it was only my boyfriend at the time who was an American that told me we could claim back for the injuries and the cost of new leathers and crash helmets. Once a crash helmet has been in a crash it must be renewed.

Within a week of the accident we went and saw a solicitor with all the details of the accident including the police report reference number and the details of the women who caused the accident. We used legal aid to fund the personal injury claim and within 4 months we received money for all of our expenses. These expenses included our money to replace our damaged leathers and clothes, money to replace our crash helmets, money to touch up the scratches and damage to the motorbike. We were also compensated for the pain and suffering we went through. All in all we were repaid for everything and more so it was well worth going through the legal system to claim for compensation.

Nowadays there is no legal aid available for personal injury cased. This has been replaced a Conditional Fee Agreement which is better known as ‘No Win No Fee’. With the ‘No Win No Fee’ agreement you can make a claim without having to make an upfront payment for the services of the lawyer. The legal costs are paid by the party responsible for the negligence or their insurance company. If in the event of the case being lost then there are some options available. Some lawyers have relationships with after the event insurers, which means that the legal company with provide an insurance policy. Most companies won’t charge a premium for this although it worth checking as some companies might expect you to pay the premium.
It is important to remember that with the ‘no win no fee’ agreements the lawyers are effectively working for nothing and just relying on their judgment that they will win the case, so in other words get paid for their work. They are not likely to take on a case they think they won’t win.

If you are wondering if you might be entitled to compensation ask yourself the following question. Have you have suffered an injury which wasn’t your fault in the last three years? If you answered yes then you will be entitled to compensation and it is your civil right to do so.

Accident claims for the UK market contact Accident Consult for your no obligation consultation. They are experts in dealing with Motorcycle Accident Claims.

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