A personal injury claims lawyer is here to help you claim compensation if you have recently been involved in some sort of accident that was not your fault. Even in the safest of environments, there is still potential for you to get hurt. Whether you go to a beauty salon, your work office or a public venue, if there are hazards around that could cause you an injury then you could be owed compensation from those who are responsible. This is where a personal injury claims lawyer can help you.
We understand that some claimants may want to undertake a personal injury claim on their own. However, with the current pandemic, backlogs within the UK court system, and the potential complexity of your case, it’s always useful to have a trained personal injury claims solicitor on your side. That way if things start to get a little difficult then a legal professional can represent you and help you get the best amount of compensation possible for your claim.
Speak to Gowing Law Solicitors today to figure out how you can get the compensation that you deserve.
Do I really need a personal injury claims lawyer to help me with a personal injury claim?
Honestly, yes, you can represent yourself if you have suffered from a personal injury. For instance, you may have been injured at work and got hurt whilst carrying a box up the stairs, and therefore may have only suffered from minor injuries. That’s why you may feel like the case is simple enough that you can represent yourself. On the flip side, you may also not feel like you are able to find an appropriate legal representation for your case. Whilst we would recommend that you do seek help from a lawyer when it comes to any case, here are some tips and tricks if you do intend to represent yourself when you go to court.
Remember, you can always come to Gowing Law Solicitors if you want to seek counsel from a legal specialist for free. We understand that it can be difficult to balance an injury and a court case at the same time. That’s why we would be more than happy to provide you with advice about:
- What type of claim you should pursue
- Whether or not your damages are worth claiming compensation
- If you hold any responsibility for your own injuries
- How much your compensation claim could be worth
- How long it will take to make a compensation claim
- Whether or not there could be any complications with your claim
Get in contact today with Gowing Law Solicitors and we can talk to you about the best options for you.
What sort of cases can a personal injury claims lawyer help me with?
If you have managed to get hurt due to someone else’s negligence, this could mean that you are owed compensation for your injuries. Gowing Law Solicitors can help you with any sort of accident that was not your fault. This could include:
- Accidents in a public place
- Work accidents
- Traffic accidents
- Beauty injuries
- Hairdressing injuries
- Medical negligence injuries
As you can see, personal injury solicitors cover a lot of different accident claims. Your injuries could be large or small, either way, if they happened because someone else breached their duty of care towards you, which means you could be eligible for compensation. Having an experienced personal injury lawyer can help you get compensation even in the most complicated of claims.
Communication with a Solicitor for a personal injury claim
One of the most important things that is going to drive your claim forward is communication with your solicitor. We understand that you may feel a little nervous when approaching your solicitor about your claim. But don’t worry. A good personal injury lawyer will make things simple for you and help you understand everything that you need to about your case. Their job is to make sure that you are not stressed. Instead, they will have your case entirely under control and will simply want to have a discussion with you about what is the best way forward with your case.
Your legal counsel with any sort of professional injury lawyer should consist of:
- Discussing your legal strategy
- What options are available for in your claim (i.e. a settlement agreement)
- The creation of a timeline for important events, court dates and “sit downs”
- Electronic communication for sending documentation.
Remote communication is more essential than ever due to Covid-19. The UK court system has a back log of cases due to being shut down. That’s why you will need a personal injury solicitor to help you with your case. Whilst you may be following government approved advice, a solicitor will be keeping up to date on the latest help about how to handle a case safely and efficiently. That’s why you should get in contact as soon as possible to get started on your own case.
Realistic Expectations
Naturally, many people walk into a solicitor’s office and assume that they are going to be told that their case could be worth a 7 figure pay-out. Well, if they have suffered from a life changing incident then it is very possible that they could get that amount. But honestly, if you have just suffered from minor injuries then you may not be getting as much as you expect.
You will need to tell you solicitor the full story and allow them the time to do their research. That way they can form an objective opinion. If there are any holes in your story, or if you are lacking certain evidence then this will be picked up by your lawyer. They can let you know whether or not it is worth fighting for the case in general. Take a look at an example of a case below to compare your own situation
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As you can see, Carla only suffered from a few bruises from her fall. There is no evidence that she slipped due to the negligence of her workplace. That’s why she is being advised not to proceed with the claim. You can expect your solicitor to always be honest about your situation and give you the best advice possible.
Expect Questions
If your case eventually goes to court, you need to be prepared for some hard questions. In every case, your account of the accident is going to be different from the other party’s recount. That’s why you will need to expect some deep questions when you initially speak with a solicitor. They need to know everything that could be relevant for claim. That way, if there are any potential challenges then they will be able to handle them and prove that you are speaking the truth. Try to think up weaknesses in your story and give a proper reason about why they exist. That way your lawyer can help understand your position and can defend you even during questioning in court.
Patience and Waiting Times
After you have spoken to your solicitor about your case, honestly, you need to be patient. Many people just expect that their case will be prioritized and that they will instantly get compensation. You need to be realistic. There are people who have come to your solicitor before you and so their case may take priority as their court date may be coming up. Be patient and speak to your solicitor about a potential time-line for your case. This can help you keep up-to-date with what they are doing to help you.
How can I help my personal injury claims lawyer with my case?
Asides from being completely honest and open about your case, one of the best things you can do for your solicitor is to provide them with as much evidence as possible. There are certain damages you could claim for known as “general damages” and “special damages”. General damages are for your pain and suffering, including physical injuries and emotional trauma. Special damages are for your financial losses, including medical fees, travel costs and the loss of opportunity or damaged equipment.
Evidence for these damages may include:
- Photographic evidence
- Video evidence
- CCTV footage
- Police reports
- Witness Statements
- Medical reports
- Diary Entries
- Receipts
Whilst you should try and collect as much evidence as possible, remember that your health comes first. Make sure to get the emergency services involved if your wounds are severe. Even if they are only minor, you should get a doctor to look them over to make sure that they are not any worse than they appear.
Settlements and Negotiations
Most of the time, when you have some sort of personal injury case, you may have a simple discussion with the person responsible, their legal team and their insurer. This can help you come to a settlement agreement where you can approve a set amount to be paid for compensation. However, not all cases are this simple. Naturally, your lawyer will be there to help you with the negotiations. If the person responsible for your injuries refuses to accept blame then you may find that you and your solicitor will need to negotiate.
Collect your evidence and send it to the party responsible. This includes your medical records. If they still refuse to accept blame, even after a settlement agreement has been proposed, your case may need to go to court. If you do not want to go to court yourself, then your lawyer can go in your place to represent you.
How much money could I get from my compensation claim?
This depends on the extent of your injuries, as well as the types of damages that you have suffered from. Naturally, if you have experienced a life-changing injury then this is going to affect your pay-out. However, keep in mind that if you do hold partial responsibility for the accident, or the other party has managed to prove that you are liable for some of their own damages, you may need to pay out of your own insurance. Make sure to be honest about any responsibility you may have in regards to injuries and let your solicitor know as quickly as possible about them. That way they can prepare in advance if they need to defend you in court.
Gowing Law Solicitors would be happy to help you with your personal injury claim
No matter what type of personal injury claim you have, Gowing Law Solicitors would be more than happy to help you get the compensation that you deserve. We understand that it can be traumatic to go through any type of injury if you were not the one to blame. That’s why we want to help you understand how much compensation you could get from making a claim. Our solicitors can offer you free advice and consultations to get you started. If you are happy to move forward with your claim, we can work with you on a “no win-no fee” basis. That means you will always come out on top.
Contact our Manchester solicitors today by phoning 0800 041 8350, emailing info@gowinglaw.co.uk or by using our contact page to access our direct messenger. Check your claim and one of our trained specialists will be in contact as quickly as possible to help you.
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