Have you Suffered an Injury?
A client guide on Personal Injury claims
Do you have a claim?
If you have suffered an injury, perhaps a motor accident, an accident at work or elsewhere, or if you have a work related disease, you may have a Personal Injury claim.
Generally to pursue a claim the injury must have occurred within the last three years. However, there are exceptions to this Rule i.e. for children or where the consequences of the accident were not immediately apparent.
Thomas Dunton Solicitors offer a free without obligation first interview to discuss the circumstances of your case and to advise you as to the possibility of pursuing a potential Personal Injury claim.
We aim to support you through the difficult time which can follow a personal injury.
Funding
If you wish to go ahead, we will discuss the different funding options with you. This can be a “No Win, No Fee” Agreement (Conditional Fee Agreement) with an associated Conditional Fee Insurance, on a private basis or utilising any legal expenses insurance you may already have on an insurance policy. Public Funding (Legal Aid) may be available. Please see our separate leaflet on Personal Injury Funding.
What Do I do Next?
- Obtain the details of the other party (the potential Defendant) including their address.
- Take photographs of the scene of the accident, particularly noting any important features, for example skid marks.
- Draw a sketch plan of the scene of the accident marking the accident spot and any direction of travel.
- For a tripping accident, measure the height of the trip and photograph it. Include another item to demonstrate the scale, i.e. a ruler.
- Obtain a copy of any Accident Report Book entry.
- If the Police attended the scene of the accident obtain a copy of the Police Report.
- If assaulted, ensure that you have immediately reported the matter to the Police, and obtain a Crime Reference Number.
- Immediately write down your own statement whilst it is still fresh in your mind.
- Write down the names and address of any witnesses.
Give us details of any injury sustained, the treatment received and your current condition. Provide details of your Doctor and GP Surgery and any Hospitals you attended. Photograph your injuries.
Gather together any motor, household and Legal Expenses Insurance policies you may have. If you were the passenger in a motor accident, where possible, ask the driver for a copy of his/her motor insurance policy. We will need to check the policies to see if you already have the benefit of any Legal Expenses Insurance cover when deciding on the best method of funding for your case.
Providing this information now will help us to progress your case as quickly as possible.
Further steps to take
- Ask any witnesses to write down their version of events straightaway whilst the incident is still fresh in their minds.
- Keep receipts for any expenditure resulting from the injury, including all prescriptions charges. Record details of any mileage and parking expenses for travel by vehicle to the Doctor, Hospital or elsewhere.
- Keep a note of any loss of earnings and any state benefits you have received because of the accident.
- Keep a note of people Caring for you, especially those who needed to take time off work to do so. Record the number of hours and days and if possible their pay rate.
- Keep a note of any activities or work which you are unable to do as a result of your injuries.
- Keep a note of your feelings and symptoms and how your injuries progress.
What Thomas Dunton can do for you
We have a team of specialist Personal Injury Lawyers who take pride in giving straightforward legal advice.
We will do our best to advise you and to ensure that everything proceeds as smoothly as possible. Do not at any time be afraid to ask questions. We will give you the clearest information possible about costs and keep you updated as your case progresses.
