Accident, injury, slip and trip claims: key actions to take before claiming
There are many forms of accident that might not be your fault and could affect your health and ability to work. If you have suffered such an experience then you might be considering making a slip claim or other claim for compensation. In this unfortunate situation personal injury solicitors exist to help you negotiate the law and win fair and appropriate compensation.
A good firm of personal injury lawyers will give you step by step assistance, handling all of the legal issues on your behalf. But there are also actions that you can take straight after the accident and before instructing your personal injury solicitors to ensure that you have the best chance of success.
What kinds of accidents can personal injury solicitors help me claim for?
The very nature of accidents means that they are unpredictable – but in general any accident where you have suffered an injury through no fault of your own entitles you to investigate a personal injury claim. Typical areas include slip claims for a trip or fall in a public place, accidents at work, medical negligence claims or claims for an accident on the road.
It is essential to seek a firm of personal injury solicitors who specialise in the appropriate area of law. If you have been involved in a car crash then traffic accident lawyers can help. Medical negligencesolicitors are fully qualified to handle the complexities of such cases, whilst personal injury solicitors specialising in public liability can help you with a slip or trip claim where you have been injured.
What do personal injury lawyers recommend I do straight after an accident?
Experienced personal injury solicitors will be dedicated to assisting you by reviewing your case and seek any supporting evidence on your behalf – from witness statements to medical confirmation of your injury. However the more information you can gather directly after your accident, the more smoothly the process is likely to run.
Don’t forget that if you are seriously hurt the emergency services will be on the scene. So if you are taken to hospital, unconscious or too badly injured to gather evidence you can rest assured your personal injury solicitors will liaise with the Police on your behalf to gather the evidence they need from the scene.
However, assuming that you are capable of doing so, it’s important to try and gather as much information as you can as soon as the accident has happened. In the case of road accidents take the registration number, insurance details and personal details of the other driver. They have to give you this by law as any traffic accident lawyer will confirm. Then record everything you can remember about how the accident happened and the damage caused. In the case of slip, fall and trip claims it’s useful to gather the contact details of any witnesses and if possible take photographs of the obstruction that caused your fall.
If you have suffered an accident at work you should ensure that the accident is reported via your employer’s health and safety channels. Work accident lawyers and indeed all personal injury solicitors are here to help you claim – but we also want to help reduce accidents in the future. Ensuring that you report the accident through the correct channels can help to flag up the issue with your employer, giving them the chance to address future potential safety hazards. Most reputable personal injury lawyers will agree that can only be a good thing, so do make sure that you liaise openly with the person who was in charge of health and safety at the time.
How do I find the right personal injury solicitors for me?
It’s impossible to ignore the tidal wave of personal injury companies advertising and cold calling these days. However not all companies are ethical or motivated by your welfare, so do take care who you choose.
You should seek an accredited firm of personal injury solicitors with a proven specialism in your area – so depending on your circumstances look for firms that have car accident lawyers, work injury lawyers, or medical negligence solicitors on their books. It’s important to be pro-active here – don’t respond to cold approaches as they’re unlikely to be scrupulous.
Look carefully at your personal injury solicitors‘ fee structures as well. If they are asking you for upfront fees, wanting to take a slice of your compensation or looking for a credit agreement from you, walk away. Universa lawyers operate on a no fee, win or lose basis to ensure that no matter what the outcome of your case you don’t lose out on a penny at this vulnerable time.
Finally, don’t be afraid to ask for evidence of past successful cases and references from other clients. At Universa we pride ourselves on satisfied clients thanks to our diligent personal service and cast-iron customer promise. Contact us for professional advice and a no obligation assessment of your situation.
