Walker Jack Consultants

Types of Personal Injury – Car Accident Claims

If you’ve ever been involved in a traffic accident, you know that besides the damage to your car, you may end up injured yourself, end up missing work, or have other costs to deal with.  Car accident claims can be very complicated, involving yourself, the other party, insurance companies, employers, and even solicitors.  Personal injury claims resulting from an accident involve even more complexity, because you’re bringing doctors and other medical professionals into the mix.  Unless you happen to be an expert in accident or personal injury law, this type of situation can quickly escalate into something beyond your ability to handle.
 
A call to your local Citizens Advice Bureau (England and Wales) or Citizens Advice Scotland can often give you some basic information about what steps to take, such as documenting the basic facts of the accident, taking pictures, and information regarding solicitors and claims management companies.  Should you choose to retain a solicitor, the CAB can describe for you the various compensation schemes typically used, though they can’t tell you which solicitor to choose or which fee scheme is best. 
 
A no win no fee personal injury solicitor is sometimes chosen, as many people don’t have the cash saved to pay the solicitor’s fees prior to claim settlement.  Be aware that “no fee” doesn’t mean “no money”: other costs associated with your case will need to be paid, such as court filing fees, accident report fees, and travelling expenses.  Make sure that the fees, as well as who will pay them and when, are explicitly spelled out in any agreement you make with a solicitor.
 
The no win no fee scheme opens the legal doors to many who could not otherwise afford to retain a solicitor, but this type of agreement should only be entered after one completely understands how the solicitor will receive compensation.