Personal injury claims advice solicitors

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1 Personal injury claims advice solicitors If you've suffered an accident or a personal injury that wasn't your fault, you could be entitled to make a compensation claim. Millbank solicitors personal injury compensation team have dedicated and experienced personal injury lawyers who can help you evaluate your compensation claim. We aim to make the whole personal injury claim process as simple and easy to understand as possible. Common types of personal injury claims include: Accidents at work Accidents in public places Actions against the police Motorcycle accidents Road accident claims Professional negligence claims Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority claims Slipping and Tripping compensation claims Contact our expert compensation lawyers to have your personal injury compensation claim evaluated. Personal Injury If you or a member of your family have been involved in an accident at work, on the road, in a public place, suffered a slip or trip on the highway or sadly, been the victim of a criminal injury (CICA) and feel that you may have a claim against someone, we can offer expert advice and consideration of your compensation claim. Our specialist personal injury solicitors are recognised for the results they get for their clients. They deal in all areas of personal injury and medical accidents from claiming compensation to making a complaint. Our expertise means that we are able to liaise with medical experts and ensure that all your needs are catered for. We will take all necessary steps to pursue any claim you may have efficiently to a speedy conclusion whilst achieving you a maximum award of compensation for your injuries sustained and your financial losses incurred. Contact us for more information about the Personal Injury services we provide, and see whether you could make a compensation claim. Personal injury claims advice solicitors : FAQ'S Am I entitled to make a compensation claim?

2 If you have sustained an injury due to the negligence of another, it is likely that you will be entitled to make a personal injury claim. When you contact us, we will assess very quickly whether or not you have a valid claim. Please speak to us today for advice in relation to your own circumstances. How long have I got to make a compensation claim? There are strict time limits which apply to personal injury claims. In the majority of cases, if you are 18 or over and have sustained an injury, then you have 3 years from the date of your accident in which to formally commence legal proceedings. However, time limits can vary and sometimes the time limit can be shorter than 3 years. We recommend that you seek legal advice as soon as possible in relation to your own circumstances. What if my injury happened over 3 years ago? If you have suffered a personal injury which happened more than three years ago, the probability of you being able to make a compensation claim will be significantly reduced. However, we recommend that you contact us in order that we can advise you about your own circumstances. Therefore, please do not delay in contacting us for further advice. Will I have to go to court? If you decide to instruct Millbank Solicitors to handle your Personal Injury case, we will make every effort to resolve your Personal Injury case as quickly as possible and to recover the maximum amount of compensation for you. As the details and complexities of each personal injury case vary, court attendance is sometimes inevitable. What can I claim for? In our legal system, the payment of injury compensation is intended to place the injured victim in a position as close to that as if your accident, injury or illness had never happened. We will seek to recover compensation for both your injury and all consequential losses including, for example, loss of earnings. How much compensation will I receive? Each personal injury case is assessed individually. However, there are guidelines in place to ensure that similar injuries are compensated in a consistent way. How is my compensation calculated? Your compensation is in two parts:

3 a. A lump sum for the injuries you suffered and the ways in which your life has been affected by those injuries b. Your losses and expenses caused by the accident E.g. Car repairs / writes off value Recovery and storage Loss of earnings Care provided because of your injuries Prescriptions and painkillers Travelling expenses It is important that you keep a note of all expenses as they arise, and retain all invoices and receipts safely. How much will it cost? This will depend on the type of your case. We will provide you with our best estimate of our likely fees before you instruct us and we will give you regular updates throughout your case. Quite often a case can be conducted on a no win no fee basis. Can a child claim? Yes. The only differences are: a. An adult (normally a parent) must act for the child. That adult is called the child's Litigation Friend. b. Any compensation settlement must be approved by a court. The approval process is quick and easy. This ensures that the court is happy that the settlement reached is a good one for the child. c. The compensation is normally invested on behalf of the child until his/her 18th birthday. Road Accidents The other driver was not insured You can still claim but your claim will be against the Motor Insurers Bureau. This is a body set up by the insurance industry to handle claims against uninsured drivers. The other driver cannot be identified

4 This normally happens in so-called hit and run accidents. You can still claim against the Motor Insurers Bureau (see "The Other Driver is Uninsured"), but, in this situation, you cannot recover your legal costs. I think I was partly to blame - can I claim? Yes. If you are indeed held partly to blame, your personal injury compensation may be reduced. For example if you were deemed to be one-third to blame, your compensation would be reduced by 33%. CICA Claims What is the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA)? CICA is a government funded scheme that provides compensation to victims of crime in the UK. Compensation can only be claimed if your injury is worth 1,000 or more. The victim of the crime will be required to establish that he/she has been a victim of a violent crime. If the CICA considers that the victim provoked or willingly participated in the crime, it can reduce or withhold compensation. What must I do before I submit my application to the CICA? You must personally report the incident to the police within 48 hours if possible. You must continue to co- operate with any police enquiries. If the crime is not reported to the police, the CICA may decline to award any compensation. Can I make the application to the CICA on my own or do I need to instruct solicitors? You do not need to obtain legal advice before you submit your claim to the CICA. If you decide to instruct solicitors, you will be responsible for their fees, the CICA does not pay for such costs. What is the time limit for making a claim to the CICA? Your application to the CICA must be lodged within 2 years of the date of the incident. What happens after I submit my claim?

5 The CICA will begin by gathering all necessary information including police reports and medical reports. Once the CICA has considered your application, it will write to you to inform you whether it accepts or rejects your application. If your claim is accepted, the CICA will determine how much compensation to award. The minimum award that can be made is 1,000 and the maximum is 500,000. Loss of earnings is recoverable after 28 weeks. If you application is rejected, you can ask the CICA to provide reasons for the rejection. You can also request that the CICA to review its decisions. A request for a review must be made within 90 days of the initial decision. If your application is rejected after review, you can appeal. The Appeal must be lodged within 90 days of the review decision.

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