FAQ's
The following information answers frequently asked questions regarding personal injury law. This information will not address your specific needs because each injury case is different. Please contact accidenthelpuk.co.uk at 0208 631 5409 or complete the form on the left hand side for answers regarding the unique issues of your case.
What is Personal Injury?
"Personal Injury" is any physical or mental injury or death that is the result of another person's negligent or harmful act. Personal Injury law involves "civil courts" that award "money damages," as distinguished from "criminal courts" that determine jail or imprisonment. Personal injury is often referred to as "Bodily Injury," and can occur in a wide variety of circumstances, including vehicle collisions of all kinds, dangerous and defective products, concealed hazards on premises, medical or legal or other professional malpractice to name a few.
What should I do if I am injured?
The most important thing that you can do if you have been injured is to immediately seek appropriate medical attention.
As soon as reasonably possible, it is important to contact an attorney to ensure that you are not contacted by any representatives of insurance companies, to ensure that any critical evidence is preserved and important witnesses are identified.
What financial compensation can I recover in a personal injury claim?
Personal injury victims are entitled to recover money damages for losses and expenses they have suffered. Depending upon the particular circumstances of the case, damages may include recovery for any of the following:
- Medical bills
- Lost Wages
- Lost Profits
- Incidental Expenses
- Pain & Suffering
- Physical Disability
- Disfigurement
- Emotional Trauma
- Mental Disability
- Property Damage
How do I know if I need an attorney?
If you have been seriously injured, an experienced personal injury attorney should be consulted before you give any statements or sign any papers. In all cases important time deadlines apply. If a national or local government agency is at fault, a "tort notice" must be given to the agency within a certain number of days. "Statutes of limitation" are deadlines for filing a case in court. The deadline is not the same for all cases. If you violate such a deadline, your claim will become time-barred and worthless. accidenthelpuk.co.uk can advise you on the applicable time deadlines for your injury case.
If I have a personal injury case do I have to go to court?
The majority of personal injury cases are resolved through informal negotiations without a lawsuit being filed. Even when a lawsuit must be filed, most cases will still be resolved very successfully through continued negotiations, or through mediation or arbitration. Only a very small percentage of personal injury cases will go all the way to a jury trial. However, the lawyer must prepare every case as if it were going to trial because that is the only way to get the highest value for the case.
What can I do before contacting an attorney that will be of assistance?
The most helpful thing you can do in the time between the occurrence of an injury and the initial contact with an attorney is to maintain accurate and detailed records of any and all of the following that apply to you:
- Lost wages incurred
- Medical treatment received
- Medical expenses paid or due
- Medical and/or other symptoms related to your injury, such as chronic pain
- Property damage and repairs, such as damage to your automobile
- Any and all conversations you have with anyone involved in the negligent event or accident
- Any photographs of injuries received and property damage done, or of the scene of the accident
