No two injury claims are the same. Along with that sentiment, there is no set timescale applicable to every individual injury case. When you make a serious injury claim with Sincere Law, we can offer reliable estimates specific to your injury, drawing on our years of experience and knowledgeable team.
Serious injury cases can take time to settle. The combination of calculating costs based on damages, determining liability and thinking about what assistance may be required in the future following the incident all need taking into account. What we are able to offer to help a claim conclude as quickly as possible is to offer you valuable tips on what you can do to reduce your claim time.
Your claim will use all facts put forward including the extent of damage both physically, mentally and financially. Serious injury cases can often be complicated so any simplification of the process is welcomed. Take a look at our 6 ways you can reduce the time of your claim:
1. Seek medical attention right away (before claiming)
When you have a serious accident, the most important procedure to follow even before a claim is considered is to ensure your wellbeing and safety. An injury that requires medical treatment should never be left to chance. Often when we get injuries we try to ‘soldier on’ through any pain until it’s too late. With serious injuries this could result in complications difficult to rectify if left untreated. Given the length of time recovery could take and money potentially lost by taking time away from work, it is never worth to put off seeing a specialist following injury. All treatment you receive will go in your medical record which we are able to cross reference when you make your claim.
2. Provide evidence
Following an accident and after receiving medical treatment you can begin to start thinking about the claim itself. If your injury was suffered as the result of an environmental factor that could have been avoided, it is good to get photographic evidence of the scene of the incident. It’s also beneficial to get photographic evidence of your injury and (if applicable) any damage to your property from the incident such as you car for example. Having irrefutable evidence helps dismiss liability disputes and further supports any doctor’s reports on your injury. However, don’t put yourself at risk trying to get evidence at the scene, always remember to seek medical attention first.
3. Claim early
There are legal limitations on how long you can wait before making a claim. Legally, 3 years from the injury is considered to be the adequate time span to begin a claim. That same 3 years applies to families of those injured in fatal accidents. In cases of industrial disease this becomes 3 years from when the victim would have realised they had contracted the disease. After the accepted 3 years has elapsed you would unfortunately not be able to claim compensation.
Claiming is not always something people do immediately as they may have worries about going to a Solicitor, but our advice would be to get in touch as soon as possible. With no win no fee being Sincere Law’s standard practice, there is no risk to starting a claim. Beginning a case shortly after an injury allows easier verification of your evidence such as injury itself, the scene of the accident and identification and communication with the third party.
4. State all facts truthfully
Sincere Law must stress the importance of telling the truth regarding any claim. To not disclose details that could affect the case can result in requiring to pay a fee for the case as it is in breach of the no win no fee agreement. Sincere Law have years of experience and a dedicated team who always work to get you the best result possible and we can only do so with a full and honest statement.
If you give as much detail as possible about your incident, we can verify the facts much easier. A full and frank description of the injury can prevent other parties from objecting as to how events unfolded. A clear factual statement can also halt disputes once proven; this works in conjunction with medical reports and photographic evidence as suggested earlier. Withholding information can also be just as detrimental as being untruthful.
5. Respond promptly
During the litigation process you will be assigned a dedicated case manager who can explain the entire day to day activity of your case; from contacting the third party to discussing damages and compilation of all paperwork. During your case you may be required to sign documents such as your own witness statement. We often send these out to you as soon as possible. To move your case forward it is vital that if we send you a document, you read and sign it before sending it back as soon as you can. If you ever feel you need an update on your claim’s progress or want advice on filling in any forms sent, we are available every day. Your case manager will never hesitate to let you know where the case is, what is currently happening and what your next steps will be.
If your claim has involved you replacing property such as a vehicle, losing property you can’t afford to replace or even taking time away from work that affects your earnings, it would be wise to keep a log of your costs in the form of receipts or a log of figures to inform us exactly what the injury has cost you.
Disputing costs becomes very difficult for any third party if you can provide a straightforward list of costs. It gives us a framework to build from when we negotiate any settlement. We understand not all losses are easily displayable financially but whatever is can go a long way towards speeding up a claim if a strong estimate is given from the outset.
What next?
If you take on board the suggestions, your claim will be resolved as smoothly as possible with a chance of fewer interruptions to proceedings. With good evidence and a solid statement, you will find often that there will be no disputes of liability or the extent of damages.
If you have (or a family member) been involved in a serious accident and wish to get some advice on how to make a claim and proceed with one, you can always call us for free, impartial advice on 0800 092 2896. Our offices are open 7 days a week from 8am – 9pm and we’d be happy to take your call. We also have a contact form via the website should you wish to enquire online.