Have you ever suffered a personal injury in the workplace, at home or in a public place? If so, did you claim compensation for any loss of earnings or medical expenses you incurred?
If not, you could well be part of the 32% of people in the UK who admit that they have put off making a personal injury claim, as they didn’t want to contribute to ‘compensation culture’. New research has revealed that the outdated notion that the UK has a ‘compensation culture’ is stopping genuine personal injury victims making claims through the fear of being stigmatized, leaving them out of pocket.
73% of people say that they ‘judge’ people who make personal injury claims, with 60% saying feel ‘resentful’ that their insurance premiums could go up as a result of personal injury claims.
The average financial bill of a personal injury, when not covered by insurance or compensation, is a shocking £1,178 per person.
Rachel Polley, personal injury expert from QualitySolicitors Chapman & Chubb says “In my job as a personal injury solicitor I want to help ordinary people with legitimate claims get back to the financial position they were in before their accident. They have suffered injury and losses through no fault of their own and should be compensated for this.'
‘Recently I had a father and son attend my office. They’d been involved in a road traffic accident where a vehicle went into the rear of them. They both suffered from whiplash but worried about wasting my time, claiming for a personal injury and being seen as “claimants”. It was only after I assured them that they had a legitimate claim and that the other party's insurance company would deal with the claims that they decided to proceed further.
QualitySolicitors have issued 5 top tips for people unsure as to how to proceed in making a personal injury claim.
- Make your claim straight away. People often wait until they can no longer work before they begin the claims process, leading to financial problems down the line when the costs can really start piling up. Putting in a claim early means the details will be fresh in your mind and you are more likely to have all the relevant documentation to hand.
- Seek medical advice immediately. Whether your injury is physical, such as whiplash, or psychological, such as stress, it is important to be seen by a medical professional straight away. This is to aid your recovery and rehabilitation but also to record your injury independently, which may be useful for your claim.
- Ask about an interim payment. The process of settling a claim can sometimes take a while but don’t panic, because you can still apply for what is called an ‘interim payment’. This essentially means you will be given a lump sum early on in the proceedings, to help you with any immediate costs, for example, covering your mortgage if you are unable to work.
- Record your expenses. Whether it’s a medical bill, home improvements to help you manage your injury or even costs to cover things like transport, keep a log with all receipts. These will all help with making your claim.
- Don’t just accept the first offer you get from the insurer. Many people are offered a pre-medical assessment by the insurers dealing with the claim. A lump sum can be very appealing to accept straight away, however be very wary of doing so until your solicitor has reviewed your case in detail.
QualitySolicitors is the new and exciting way to access legal services. The aim of every QualitySolicitors firm is simply to provide clients with exceptional customer service, every time. Their vision is to revolutionise the way law firms operate by putting clients at the heart of everything they do. The QualitySolicitors brand is a group of modern, progressive law firms spread across the UK, each one chosen because they deliver great customer service. If you have been injured or would like more information, visit QualitySolicitors or call us on 01773 540 480.
