How To Record The Effect Of Your Injuries On Your Finances And Your Health

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1 Claim Pack

2 Your Claim Making a claim for compensation for your injuries is simple with Actons. This Pack contains useful information to help guide you through your claim and a Claim Diary, on the following pages, to help you to record the effect of the injuries and your financial losses. We will discuss the circumstances of your injuries with you and will send a letter of claim to the party responsible for them. They will investigate the claim and if they do not admit that it was their fault we will liaise with you to prove that it was. Compensation for Injuries Your claim will be valued on your pain and suffering and the effect of your injuries on your lifestyle. You are also entitled to claim back any reasonable expenses incurred as a result of your accident. We will include these costs as part of your claim to ensure that you are put back into the same financial position you would have been in had the accident not happened. From time to time, it may be helpful to make a note of your symptoms and how they are affecting you in the Claim Diary. You should note down anything that you have difficulty with such as washing, dressing or pursuing hobbies. If others have had to help you with day to day tasks because your injuries prevent you from doing them, you should keep a record of those tasks and the amount of time spent helping you as you can claim for this. At the appropriate time we will arrange for you to be examined by an independent medical expert, who will produce a report setting out your injuries and when they expect you to recover. Financial Expenses If you have suffered any financial expenses as a result of your injuries, you can claim for those too. You can keep a record of these in your Claim Diary. Where possible, keep receipts and any damaged items,

3 so that they can be inspected if necessary. The following are some examples of the most common categories of expenses that may arise as a result of your injuries: Medical Treatment Prescription charges, the cost of over the counter medication and charges for medical treatment, for example, physiotherapy, can quickly mount up. You can claim for all of these. Keep receipts for any treatment expenses. Travel Expenses You can claim for your travel expenses in attending for medical treatment. If you travel by car, keep a note of the date of the journey, the mileage and any parking expenses. If you travel by public transport, keep your tickets or ask for a receipt for any fares. Loss of Earnings You may have had to take time off work as sick leave because of your injuries or to go to medical appointments. If you lose any pay because of this, you can claim for it. We will need to know the dates of your absence and will calculate your exact loss after contacting your employer (or going through your accounting records with you if you are self-employed). It may be that you are lucky enough to have an employer who pays you in full for the duration of your absence from work. But you may be contractually required to include a claim on their behalf for repayment of the sick pay you have received. We will find out if that is the case and include that claim for you. Damaged Property If items of property or clothing were damaged in your accident you should keep them so that they can be inspected if there is any dispute about the extent of damage, unless the items are of a perishable nature, for example food. You can claim for the value of the damaged items at the date of the accident. All of this information will be used by us to help you get the compensation you are entitled to. We will guide you throughout your claim. If you have any questions, or need any more information, please visit the Frequently Asked Questions section of our website or call us on

4 Recovery from Injuries Date Effect of injuries Eg October 2010 Ankle swollen and painful all week. Unable to bear weight. Need help getting dressed, unable to walk dog or do any housework.

5 Care and Assistance Provided by Others Date Tasks and carer Time spent E.g October 2010 Wife had to help with dressing and undressing, getting in and out of bath, cleaning the house, cooking and shopping. Approx. 1 hour per day

6 Time off Work and Loss of Earnings Dates Lost earnings E.g Oct 2010 Approx. 300 per week Property Damage Damaged item Approx. age of Original Do you still have the Cost of repairs item at time of price damaged item? (if repairable) accident E.g. Jeans cut off by paramedics 6 months 25 Yes Not repairable

7 Other Expenses Date Expenses Receipt kept? E.g. 15/10/2010 Taxi to attend physiotherapy appointment yes Please let us know if you require any more pages for your Claim Diary. Phone Website

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