July 30th, 2007
By: Phil James
It can happen to the most careful of us when we least expect it…
You could be in a supermarket, driving the car or simply walking the dog through the park, when suddenly you have an accident or suffer an injury through no fault of your own.
Whether it is a trip or fall over an uneven kerb or a road traffic accident it is important that you know what to do to help your chances of making a successful compensation claim.
Below we have put together our 5 tips for what you should do if you have an accident:
1) Seek medical assistance - If you are hurt make sure you have your injuries checked by an expert, if the injuries are serious get them attended to at the scene of the accident. Be aware that car accident injuries such as whiplash and other neck and back injuries may take several days to manifest themselves.
2) Take witness details - An independent witness to an accident will help verify your version of events, your Solicitor can contact them for a statement during the injury claim process, so it is important to obtain contact details for anyone who saw the accident happen.
3) Obtain photographs - Photographic evidence of an accident can provide a clear picture of the scene, injuries and who else was involved. With many mobile phones now having cameras we strongly recommend taking photographs to provide further evidence to support an injury compensation claim.
4) Keep a diary - Compensation claim settlement figures amounts are mostly based on the level of injury, suffering and the rehabilitation period required to fully recover. Keeping a diary on the road to recovery will provide evidence of how long it takes to get better and also how the accident has effected day to day living over this period.
5) Speak to a Personal Injury Lawyer - Adults who are injured in an accident have three years from when it happened to make a compensation claim. Don’t delay, speak to a specialist personal injury lawyer as soon as you feel up to it. They will give you free legal advice on your own individual situation and will normally take your case on a ‘no fee‘ basis.
Pinto Potts are specialist Personal Injury Lawyers who offer free, no obligation legal advice over the telephone. Please get in touch if you would like to talk to one of our personal injury claim experts.
