Personal injury claims solicitors

It is neither fair or right if you suffer an injury or illness through no fault of your own. It is not something you should ever accept without someone else being held to account. Thankfully, you have a legal right to claim compensation for any physical or psychological injuries when there is another individual or organisation at fault. This is otherwise known as a personal injury claim.

The definition of personal injury is quite a broad one. It can cover everything from brain injuries sustained in a road traffic accident to spinal injuries caused by an accident at work. But you can make a claim for an injury to any part of your body – no matter how severe it is. You could even claim for an illness either caused or made worse by someone else’s actions or inactions.

If you believe that you have a claim, it is essential that you seek the right support and guidance. Our personal injury claims solicitors have extensive experience that reflects the diverse range of injuries and illnesses that you can claim for. Our legal experts will help ensure you have the best possible case – one that clearly establishes who was at fault and why you deserve compensation.

A personal injury claim is a claim for compensation arising out of an accident caused by someone else’s negligence.  The claim is generally made against the insurer for the party at fault, or if they do not have any insurance, against the party direct (if they have financial means).

If you are the victim of a violent crime, you may be entitled to make a claim under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority.  If you are injured in a road traffic accident and the party at fault is not insured or cannot be traced, you may be entitled to make a claim under the Motor Insurers’ Bureau.

An accident can happen at any time, in any location and for whatever reason. Anyone who suffers an injury when someone else is at fault can turn to our personal injury claims solicitors for the support and guidance needed.

It happens all too often each year across the UK and, at Boyes Turner, our mission is to get you the compensation and support that you are entitled to. We handle thousands of claims made by people just like you – people who are injured and are now looking to rebuild their lives.  

In certain cases, you can also make a claim on behalf of someone else who is injured:

• A child under the age of 18
• A loved one who does not have the mental capacity to do so themselves
• A loved one who has sadly passed away

To find out if our personal injury solicitors can help you receive compensation after an accident,  call us on 0800 124 4845 or get in touch using our online form for your free initial consultation.

We appreciate that making a claim for compensation can feel like it is just one more thing to add to the list at a difficult time. But one thing our personal injury claims solicitors excel in is making the claims process as stress-free and straightforward as possible.

The process of making a personal injury claim generally follows the same steps – starting with a free initial consultation where we will discuss your injury and the options available to you.

When you decide to move forward with a claim, your personal injury solicitor starts by gathering the necessary information. This includes any evidence, witness statements or anything else that can help us build a strong case.

We will arrange for you to undergo any necessary independent medical examinations to help us better understand the full extent of your injury and the impact it is going to have on you and your family in the future.

Using the information gathered by your personal injury solicitor, a compensation amount will be calculated. At this point, we contact those at fault for your injuries or illness to negotiate with them to secure the maximum compensation possible.

How many personal injury claims go to court?

It is rare for a personal injury claim to go to court. In most cases, an out-of-court settlement is reached well in advance of this happening.

If the other side refuses to accept blame for your injuries or illness or to pay you the right amount of compensation for your injuries and losses, we will start court proceedings. Even if this happens, we continue to do everything we can to avoid a court hearing and the majority of cases will settle before they reach a trial date.

In the unlikely event your claim does go to court, all our personal injury solicitors have the skills and expertise to achieve a positive outcome – while continuing to support you for the duration.

Our work is guided by the belief that anyone should have an opportunity to claim compensation if injured through no fault of their own. As part of our initial consultation, we will let you know if our no win no fee personal injury solicitors can help.

No win no fee is known as a Conditional Fee Agreement. For you, it means the financial risk of making a claim is minimised because – if your claim is not successful – you do not have to pay.

Find out more about funding a claim with Boyes Turner. If you have any queries, call 0800 124 4845 or get in touch using our online form and our team will be happy to discuss your options.

There is no set rule to how long your claim will take and it usually depends on whether the other party admits fault fully or in part and the nature and severity of your injuries and losses. There are so many factors involved that we cannot tell you exactly how long it will take at the start of the process. But you can be sure that your personal injury solicitor will keep you informed of progress at every stage.

Some of the most serious personal injury claims can take longer to settle as these are often the most complex cases – particularly if it can take time to get the expert medical and non medical opinion needed.

Our personal injury solicitors will do all they can to make the process as short as possible whilst at the same time ensuring that you receive the maximum compensation.

In order to prove that someone else is to blame for your injuries or illness, there are four main points to consider for compensation to be paid:

Duty: Were you owed a legal duty of care by the other party at the time of the accident?

Breach: Did the other party breach that duty of care through their actions (or inactions)?

Causation: Is the other party’s actions (or inactions) responsible for your injuries/illness?

Damages: What is the amount of compensation you are entitled to recover because of your injuries and financial losses?

All claims are unique. Our personal injury solicitors know that injuries or illness can affect people in different ways. This is why the amount of compensation you could receive will differ from case to case. Each individual award is designed to reflect your specific circumstances and needs.

General damages

This is the amount that you could be awarded for the pain, suffering and loss of amenity (impact on day to day life) caused by your injuries. Medical evidence is required to prove what injuries you have suffered. The Judicial College sets out guidelines for the range of general damages that can be paid based on the part(s) of the body affected and the severity of the injury.

Special damages

This is the amount you could be awarded for any financial losses or expenses you incur as a result of your injuries both now and in the future. Your personal injury solicitor will factor in the other considerations that are unique to your claim. This can include:

• Lost earnings/pension from not being able to work

• Care needs
• Medical treatment for physical/psychological injuries
• Travel expenses
• Ongoing care/rehabilitation requirements
• Modifications to your home or your vehicle
• Aids and equipment

Do you have to pay tax on personal injury claims?

No. The law states that you will not have to pay tax on any compensation you receive for your personal injury claim.

Tax may be owed on any interest that is added to your compensation amount, but this will be deducted before it is paid to you – so you do not have to worry about this either.

What is an interim payment?

If you have incurred financial losses or you are experiencing financial hardship due to your accident and the injuries you have suffered, your personal injury solicitor can ask the other side to make an interim payment, where liability has been agreed or partially agreed.  This is a sum of money which forms part of your overall compensation and is paid in advance of settlement of your claim.

In most cases, a personal injury claim must be made within three years of the accident or the date when your injuries are diagnosed. There are exceptions to this, however, which are:

• Claims involving children can be made on their behalf at any point until their 18^th birthday, after which the three-year time limit applies for them to make a claim themselves.
• Claims on behalf of a loved one who suffers an injury that causes a loss of mental capacity can usually be made at any point in time.
• Claims involving accidents abroad.

We always recommend starting your claim as soon as possible to give our personal injury claims solicitors the best possible chance of building a strong case. We may even be able to help if your claim is now outside the three-year limit – call 0800 124 4845 or get in touch today to find out.

No matter type of accident you or a loved one are involved in, our personal injury solicitors have the specialist expertise and support you need to secure the best possible outcome.

Let us help look after your future needs – call us on 0800 124 4845 or get in touch for the initial discussion that can set you on the path to getting the personal injury compensation you deserve.