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OK – so you have had an accident through no fault of your own, and you believe you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries and any suffering you have had to endure. Who do you speak to for advice, and who do you instruct for your claim?

In all honesty, it’s entirely up to you! I of course will suggest that you speak to us as we are a firm of specialist personal injury lawyers. We are an actual law firm, so we do not pass details over to anyone else to have your claim – it’s us that advise you, and it’s us that represent you.

But aside from my attempts to sway you over to our service, here is a quick guide as to what you should look out for when it comes to getting the right advice and getting the right lawyer for your claim:
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What is Personal Protective Equipment?

Personal Protective Equipment, or PPE as it is more informally known, is equipment which can be used or worn to protect you from risks to your health and safety.  There is a wide range of PPE which is available depending on the job that you do, and the risks that are involved. PPE can range from safety boots, to safety goggles, to respirators.  PPE can be so important, as it does not just protect from those one-off accidents, but also those medical conditions which form over a period of time – known as industrial diseases. An example of an industrial disease is Vibration White Finger – the risk of getting this condition can be reduced through the use of PPE, such as anti-vibration gloves.  In severe cases of Vibration White Finger, a sufferer can lose all feeling in their fingers and through to their hands.

What are your employer’s duties?
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If you are reading this blog it is most likely because you have suffered a whiplash injury, and you want to know how much compensation you could be due.  This comes as no surprise to us at The Injury Lawyers because it is a question we get asked every day.  Unfortunately, there is no straightforward answer – but as experts in our field we can provide an estimate as to the value of your claim.

According to the Judicial Studies Board (JSB) Guidelines the following values for your whiplash injury apply:

Minor whiplash injuries = £875 to £5,150.00

Moderate whiplash injuries = £5,150 to £16,400

Severe whiplash injuries = £16,400 to £97.000

Here are a few further things to consider:
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Motorcycle accidents are unfortunately becoming more and more common. This is maybe due to the fact that motorcyclists are the more vulnerable road users in comparison to say cars users. Motorcycles do not have the same obvious in built protection such as that of welded metal and crumple zones which cars offer, and so once an accident occurs there are often more serious injuries involved. This is one of the reasons why for victims of motorcycle accidents choosing a specialist personal injury lawyer with a wealth of experience can make all the difference.

Being seriously injured means that your case is likely to be more complex and may last longer. In this instance it is especially advisable to avoid using referral agencies for your claim. Referral agencies simply sell on your claim onto a law firm giving them a drop in their profits to begin with, which can mean that you get a poorer service and possibly a claim that drags on longer than it needs to.

If you have been in an accident as described above, you may be looking for a law firm to instruct on your claim. I have therefore set out some of the benefits which you should look for in a firm below:
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If you have been injured in a road traffic accident through no fault of your own, it is likely that you will be entitled to compensation from the negligent third party’s insurance.  What’s more, you could receive this compensation in a matter of weeks or in just a couple of months.  This blog sets out to explain how to go about making a claim for compensation for an injury arising out of a road traffic accident, and to dispel fears that obtaining this compensation could take years.

Once you have consulted a medical expert about your injuries, the best thing you can do if you consider that you should receive compensation for your injuries is to get in touch with an expert and quality injury lawyer who specialises in dealing with road traffic accident claims.  Such lawyers are best placed to progress your claim as they have vast experience in the field and obtain thousands of pounds in compensation for innocent victims of road traffic accidents every day.

Things to consider when instructing your injury lawyer:

• Make sure they do not charge you a penny for your claim, win or lose
• Are they able to help you obtain free private medical treatment?
• How often will they keep you updated regarding your claim?  What are their service levels like?
• Do they pay referral fees? If so, they will probably offer a limited service in order to recoup this fee
• Are they experts in the field?

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Whiplash can be an extremely debilitating condition – it can be painful and leave you unable to go to work, socialise with friends, or do the hobbies which make you happy.  At The Injury Lawyers we hear about the effects of whiplash on a daily basis from our clients. We encourage our clients to tell us the full effects of their condition and to give us updates on how their recovery is progressing on a regular basis – as all these factors are considered when placing a value on a claim.

At The Injury Lawyers we see whiplash most commonly as a result of road traffic accidents. This is because the condition is caused by a sudden jolt to the head which causes the neck to move beyond its normal range of movement. This then causes the muscles and tendons in the area to be damaged and leaves the victim with some or all of the common symptoms below:

• Pain, tenderness and / or stiffness in the neck
• Pain radiating down the shoulders and / or into the back
• Pins and needles type sensations in the arms
• Severe, recurrent headaches
• Reduced or even no mobility in the neck and affected areas

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Compensation is meant to put you back in the position you would have been in had you not ever been involved in the accident.

This means that, not only are you entitled to claim back for your injuries, but also for any financial losses you have suffered as a result of those injuries.

In order to give you an idea of what losses you can claim for, I have listed some of the more common types of losses below:
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Being involved in a road traffic accident that was not your fault can be frustrating enough; but being involved in an accident where the negligent party fled the scene or did not have any insurance is a further point of anger.

At The Injury Lawyers, we are able to offer some light at the end of the tunnel to people who have been in an accident as described above. Many clients often believe that they are not able to claim if they do not know any of the negligent driver’s details due to them fleeing the scene or not having insurance; however, we are often happy to inform them that they can still make a successful claim.

Claims such as those described above can be put through The Motor Insurers Bureau, or MIB as they are more informally known. The MIB are funded by motor insurance companies – so ultimately, they are funded by our motor insurance premiums. The MIB have calculated the cost to us to be around £15-£30 per motor insurance policy.
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Third party capture is where a third party insurer settles a person’s claim for compensation against their policyholder directly with them.  In other words, it is where an insurance company representing the person who caused a victim’s injuries gets in touch with the injured party who has no legal representative and settles their claim for compensation.  In most instances of third party capture, the injured party, the claimant, will have been involved in a road traffic accident – however, it could also occur say where the claimant has been involved in an accident at work or some other accident.

Why is this a problem?

The worry is that the injured party will not receive a settlement that is properly representative of their injuries and need for treatment.  It is likely that the insurer will under-settle your claim for compensation and not help you out sufficiently should you require any treatment for your injuries.
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Motorcycle accidents are unfortunately a common occurrence nowadays; this may be due to the vulnerable nature of the vehicle, and the fact that it is more difficult to see on the road in comparison to a car or a van.

Again, due to the size, vulnerability, and speed of the vehicle, drivers are often left with serious injuries after an accident. If you have been involved in an accident that was not your fault, you may have a claim for personal injury. If you have suffered serious injuries then it can mean that your claim is more complex and make take longer to conclude – this is why getting a specialist personal injury lawyer on board with specific experience in serious injury claims can be hugely beneficial.

As complex cases can take longer to conclude, it means that it can take longer for the victim to receive their payout. For many claimants who may be out of work as a result of the accident, and thus not receiving an income, this can mean financial hardship and an inability to meet your current financial obligations. If you were to be in this position, a good lawyer should advise you to seek interim payments. These can be applied for once liability, or fault, has been admitted on your claim, and means that you receive portions of your compensation early before the case has concluded. Statistics show that it is mainly males between the ages of 30-39 that ride motorbikes. This is a portion of the population that are likely to be coming towards the peak of their careers and are supporting young families – this emphasises the importance of interim payments and how vital they can be to an injured victim.
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