Walker Jack Consultants

What Can be Included in a Personal Injury Claim

When someone has suffered an injury at the hands of another, that person is usually entitled to some form of compensation. Determining how much and what can be claimed for as a result of the injury can be a difficult task. While some expenses are obvious, such as medical costs and replacing damaged items, other amounts that can be claimed are not so clear cut. By seeking the advice of an accident claims solicitor, not only can the right compensation be determined, but also the chance of winning can be increased.

When determining how much compensation can be claimed for, solicitors consider two factors. First, they will look at all the evidence provided by the case at hand, or the damages owed to the victim. Damages can be broken down into two groups – special and general damages. Special damages are the ones that are easy to tally and include loss of wages, medical expenses, any repairs that need doing (to a car for example) and the like. For these types of damages, it is important to keep all receipts and clear records or any expenditures or losses. General damages are much harder to determine as they are based on the pain and suffering of the victim.

Once a solicitor has an idea of what damages to claim, he or she will then look at past cases that are similar in nature. By looking at these cases, the solicitor can get a better idea of what has been awarded in the past. Using this number with the damages specific to the case, the solicitor can then form a claim on behalf of the victim.

While the victim can file personal injury claims, the help of a solicitor who specialises in this area can increase the likelihood that the claim will be won.