FAQs
What does no win no fee actually mean?
It means that if you are not successful with your claim, you will not have to pay anything.
Will I have to pay a fee if I win my claim?
The other side's Insurance Company will pay your cheque for damages if you win your case. In addition to this, they will also pay all of your solicitor's costs.
This in essence means that you will not have to pay anything for your claim.
There are certain circumstances, where costs may be borne by you. However, your solicitor can explain this to you prior to starting your claim and this only occurs in limited situations.
How does Claim Today Solicitors get paid?
Claim Today Solicitors would get their costs paid for successful cases by the other side's insurance company. In the event that you are unsuccessful in your case, we would not get paid.
We would endeavour for you to be successful in your case, and get you as much compensation as possible.
Either way, we will not ask you for any money.
MAKING A CLAIM
How long do I have to make a claim?
If you are over 18 years of age and your accident happened in the United Kingdom, you would have 3 years from the date of your accident to make your claim.
If you are under 18th years of age, the three year limitation period would start from your 18th Birthday.
However, the sooner you start your claim, the better- Don't Delay, Claim Today.
Can I lose my job, if I have an accident at work and decide to make a claim against my employers?
No, it would be unlawful for your employers to take any disciplinary action against you for making a claim. Your employers would have Insurance policies in place to cover for accidents that their employees have whilst on their premises. Your employer's Insurance Company would therefore pay the compensation, if you were successful in your case, not your employer.
If any disciplinary action was taken, this would amount to Unfair Dismissal.
How do I know if I can make a claim?
If you have had a Road Traffic Accident, an accident at work or any other accident, (in the last 3 years) where you have suffered a physical or psychological injury and it was not your fault, you may be eligible to claim.
What if my accident happened abroad?
You still may be able to claim if your accident happened abroad, however, this would depend on a number of factors. For instance, if you went abroad through a package holiday and suffered an injury whilst abroad, then you may be eligible to claim.
What if I can't fill out the paperwork? And what if I haven't claimed before and don't understand the process?
Claim Today Solicitors are unique in that we can offer you a home visit, whereby we will visit you at your home address, fill out all the documentation for you and explain the entire claims process. We have competent multi lingual staff to assist you with your claim and if we obtain an admission of liability, we can arrange a Medical Expert to visit your locality.
How much compensation will I get for my injury?
This depends on a number of factors:
1. the severity of your injury
2. the amount of time it has/will take you to recover from your injury
The compensation you receive is split into parts:
1. general damages
2. special damages
General damages- these are the damages you receive for your personal injury alone. This includes any pain you have suffered as a result of your accident and any inability to perform any functions.
Special damages- these are the damages you receive for any out-of-pocket expenses that you have incurred as a result of the breach of contract, negligence or wrongful act by the defendant. These include loss of earnings, medical expenses, any care you have received by another individual.
General and special damages together aim to put you back into the position you were in before your accident.
This together forms the compensation you receive. Your solicitor would use a number of methods for calculating the amount of compensation that you get, for example we have guidelines specifically designed for personal injury cases which can help us to assess the value of the claim. In addition, we can make comparisons with previous cases with similar awards. These can be adjusted and your compensation calculated accordingly.
How long will my claim take?
Every case is different and it would depend on the extent of the injury. A claim where you have suffered a simple injury can be settled in a few months, whereas a claim where a severe injury has been suffered may take a little longer.
Nonetheless, we have a system in place whereby we will update you regularly as to the developments in your case and flexible opening hours for telephone enquiries to be made.
What if I don't want to go to court?
Most cases are settled without the need to have to go to court.
What will people think of me if I claim?
Making a claim is your legal right, if you have had an accident that wasn't your fault then you are legally entitled to make a claim. You are claiming because you have suffered an injustice and you should not be expected to suffer in silence. In addition, by claiming you could prevent another innocent person from injuring themselves in the future.
Do I have a case?
Accidents can and do happen. Often or not when they happen to us, we can usually put them down to our own carelessness or bad luck. There are though some occassions when the accident is clearly not our fault and we feel that we should be compensated financially for this. Compensation though, is not automatic. We first need to show that someone else was to blame and were at fault legally. The law states that we owe a duty of care to one another. If we cause injury and loss, to another, by acting carelessly, then we must compensate them in some way. It is for this reason that employers and car drivers are required to have insurance in place.
If you are injured and feel that you should be compensated, then English law states you need to demonstrate that whoever caused your injury owed a duty of care towards you. You also need to show that you were injured and that this was due to the carelessness of another. You are still able to claim even if the accident was partly your fault - this may however have an effect on how much you may receive in compensation. If for example you had an accident in a car, but were not wearing your seat belt then you could expect to have a reduction of 25% to your damages.
What can I claim compensation for?
Basically you can claim under three main headers.
1. General damages - this will represent your injury including any pain and suffering you have received - This will require evidence in the form of a medical report, compiled by an independent doctor. 2. Special damages - This is loss of earnings or any out-of-pocket expenses that you may have incurred as a result of your injury as caused by a person's (or organisations) act of negligence. 3. Future losses - These take into consideration losses that might be incurred in the future including loss of earnings and even loss of pension. It can also cover items such as future care or accommodation, treatment or drugs.
Do I really need a solicitor?
When making a claim you will be up against an insurance company that has a vast amount of experience in dealing with personal injury claims. This is what they are trained and specialised in doing. Laws governing compensation are complex and time consuming and insurance companies will try to do all they can (within the law) to reduce the amount of compensation they wish to pay to you. In order to combat this and to lead you through the legal jargon, it is highly recommended that you instruct somebody who knows this specialist area of the law to represent your interests. At Claim Today Solicitors we have expert solicitors that cover all these areas of law and are here to act upon your behalf, providing a fast and effective service.
Will I have to go to Court?
The majority of personal injury claims are settled before the need to attend Court. During the last few years there have been changes in law that aim to allow the general public to have easy access to information regarding personal injury claims, enabling them to focus on resolving disputes quickly and outside of Court.
What should I do after my accident?
As in any accident where you are not at fault, you need to Immediately need to gather whatever evidence you can to support your accident circumstances and why you feel it was not your fault. The kinds of evidence to recover are: witness names, photographs and if possible a copy of the accident book entry. In addition you need to start keeping a detailed record of events, expenses, medical treatment, basically any details of expenses you have to pay as a result of your injury. In doingthis you should keep receipts, as it will eventually provide evidence and support of your claim.
Is there a time limit on making a claim?
At Claim Today Solicitors we urge you to commence your claim as soon as possible - so that evidence can be reviewed and gathered while it is still fresh. WHATEVER YOU DO, DO NOT WAIT ANY LONGER THAN 3 YEARS, as you cannot make your claim after that - unless it involves children who have until their 21st birthday in order to claim.
I believe I have a case. What should I do next?
If you would like to make a claim for compensation, visit the contact us section and contact us on one of the many methods avaliable. Don't delay, commence your claim today.
