While you are on the road, you can never be sure everything will go as planned. Road accidents come when they are least expected. The effects of road accidents can also range from mild to disastrous. In the UK alone, car and road accidents claim many lives and affect thousands of people each year. What most people do not know is that they can make personal injury claims for car accidents. There have been many instances of road accidents that go unreported or unclaimed. Many simply let it pass without knowing of the possible claims that they could have made.
Personal injury can be classified under any kind of mental and physical injury caused by an accident. One of the common personal injuries usually sustained during road accidents is whiplash. Whiplash is the neck pain acquired following an injury. It usually damages the soft tissues of the neck including the ligaments, tendons and muscles. During a car accident, the neck is very prone to damage thus causing whiplash and other more serious medical conditions. Sustaining any kind of personal injury such as whiplash can really be painful. In most cases, such conditions also adversely affect one’s work, personal routine and lifestyle. In extreme cases, some even suffer from permanent disability.
When whiplash or other serious injury is sustained from road accidents, accident compensation claims can be made. The first thing to be done is to report it to local authorities. Reports and claims can be made stronger if details and supporting documents can be provided. If the road accident occurred in the past, the law allows the filing of car accident claims up to three years after the incident.
In filing a car accident claim, professional handling from a solicitor can be of great advantage. Personal injury claims solicitors can expertly present the claims and negotiate demands. In filing such personal injury or accident claim cases, information about the persons involved such as names, car registration, medical reports, medical and hospital bills, and even photographs, can help win the case and the demanded compensation. In looking for a personal injury solicitor, one must consider to look for those with in-depth experience in handling and winning such cases. These information and documents are needed to provide support for these claims. The reputation of the solicitor and his company also matter especially in making the negotiations.
In handling car accident claims, there are claims companies who operate using the “no win, no fee” service. This concept simply means that the claimant need not pay if the case is not won. This kind of deal between the solicitor and the claimant ensures protection and maximum advantage for the claimant.
A road accident injury claim can be compensated between 1000 to 25,000 pounds. The exact amount, however, depends on the extent of the injury, the duration of pain or disability, recovery period and the expenses incurred. The general effects of an injury to the claimant’s life are also considered.
Claiming for compensation in any personal injury case is seen as a civil right of all citizens. Car accident claims are fully recognized by law. Many solicitors are willing to handle such cases and assist claimants to get the rightful compensation for their injuries.
By: David Halbert
Posts Tagged ‘Disability’
Car Accidents – When To Sue, Who To Sue, Why Sue At All
December 11th, 2009
Don’t you just hate it when you see those tacky TV ads about accident lawyers? How about that obnoxious billboard you just passed on the highway showing a crashed car and someone being taken away by ambulance? Or what about those endless yellow page ads where they show a car driving off a cliff, and someone smiling in the foreground holding a nice big fat check with lots of numbers on it? It all makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside, doesn’t it?
Not. It makes me sick. Don’t get me wrong. Every lawyer in New York is permitted to advertise according to the Court rules (which were recently made stricter at the beginning of this year). However, there is something to be said for tasteful ads, and ads that are trying to sell you something.
When you’re in a car accident, the last thing you think about is finding a lawyer to sue the driver of the car that caused your accident. The first thing on your mind should be how to get better. You need to recuperate, regenerate and get your strength back. You need to worry about the important things in your life like putting food on your family’s table, and going back to work.
Well how can you go back to work if you’re still in the hospital after weeks of surgery and rehabilitation? Can you go on disability? Who will pay your medical bills? What if you don’t have medical insurance? How can you feed and clothe your family if you can’t work? These are all very important questions that often arise after a car accident.
In New York, your own car insurance will pay your medical bills- up to a maximum of $50,000. This is known as no-fault insurance. Once the details of the accident are resolved, to figure out who really caused the accident, the insurance companies settle up on their own regarding the medical expenses they had to pay.
But what about that often-heard phrase, “Pain & Suffering”? Aren’t you entitled to that as well? The answer is yes. However, in order to obtain compensation for your pain and suffering you will probably need to start a lawsuit against the owner(s) and driver(s) involved in your car accident.
How much time do you have to start a lawsuit for your injuries arising from a car accident?
In New York, you generally have only THREE (3) years from the date of the accident within which to start a lawsuit for your injuries. HOWEVER, YOU HAVE ONLY 30 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THE ACCIDENT TO FILE A CLAIM WITH YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY TO GET THEM TO PAY FOR YOUR MEDICAL EXPENSES!
A car accident is traumatic- no question about it. Your road to recovery is the most important part of events after the accident. Whether you have a valid and meritorious case hinges on many facts that only an attorney should be evaluating. Don’t rely on good-hearted friends and family to tell you their tales of woe when they were involved in an accident years ago. You need an experienced attorney who has handled cases like yours.
You need someone who has experience in Court and isn’t afraid to go to trial if the insurance company refuses to settle for an appropriate amount of compensation. You need a lawyer who can guide you through the minefield of litigation. Hopefully, with good legal counsel you’ll be able to make the right choices that will help you recover both emotionally and monetarily.
By: Gerry Oginski
Car Accident Lawyer
November 21st, 2009
It can be very frustrating to be involved in accident, considering the pain one endures. Some accidents may only pose mild injuries to the body, while some can actually be very fatal. Accidents occur on our roads everyday, but victims usually have to fight before they are given the needed attention. The controversies and difficulties surrounding issues of claim can indeed escalate your plight.
In view of this, you are required to engage the services of car accident lawyer to take up the challenge for you. Before we move into their real importance, it would be very imperative to emphasize the point that the fact that you got involved in an accident may not make you eligible for a claim.
One of the important things of car accident lawyer is to make the submission of detailed information to your insurance company. They would make sure vital all information are included. For instance, issues would bother on the place and time of the accident as well as the causes of the accident. Also they would include the degree of injury and any other damages that resulted as a result of the accident. Of course you don’t only risk your life but also the vehicle could also be serious destroyed.
Your car accident lawyer would also inquire about the amount you would be able to claim for the loss or injury caused. Don’t forget they are experts and would always try to fight for a more favorable compensation for you. They make sure the amount given you is reasonable. Aside the amounts of money they will provide for the car, your lawyer will also endeavor to seek what is due you for medical bills, lost wage and the like.
Again, they will make sure you are given compensation for the years ahead depending on the nature and extent of the injury. You will certainly need rehabilitation and long term care. This is due to the fact that certain accidents could end someone into perpetual disability and would have to survive the rest of his life on such compensation.
Up next, your lawyer will also seek for you the amount they plan to offer you for the pain and suffering you have endured as a result of the accident.
It should be important to indicate herein that the amount of information you are able to make available to your car accident lawyer will go a long way to make sure you get a satisfactory compensation.
By: Mert Ozge