QUESTIONS & ANswers
What can I claim for?
The amount of personal injury compensation awarded varies depending on the seriousness of the injury and the financial losses involved.
Compensation is awarded for pain, suffering and your inability to do things after your accident that you could do before. The award is made based upon medical evidence, normally specialist reports, of the injuries suffered. The amount of compensation takes account of how your injuries or disease affect you now and how they might affect you in the future.
Accident compensation is also paid to cover financial losses suffered as a result of the accident. The aim of this type of compensation is to put you back in a position, financially, as if the accident had never occurred. You should keep receipts and invoices for any expenses associated with your accident, e.g. for prescriptions and the cost of travelling to hospital.
Accident compensation will cover any loss of earnings since the accident and any future loss of earnings. In more serious cases personal injury compensation will extend to alterations to property or vehicles and on-going care costs, including those provided by the family
Who pays the costs?
If successful, your opponent will pay the costs of bringing your claim in addition to your compensation. The vast majority of our claims are pursued on a no-win, no-fee basis, so if your claim is unsuccessful then you will pay no costs to us in any event. If your opponent has incurred costs then these will be covered by an after the event insurance policy. If you already have legal expense insurance in place, then we will advise you on the use of that insurance so that you are placed in the best position to bring your claim.
What is “No-Win No Fee”?
The No Win No Fee system was put in place in 1995 to give people access to justice, replacing legal aid. The main aim of no win no fee is to ensure that claimants do not have to pay a fee if they lose their claim which lessens the risk involved when making a claim. However, we go one step further and ensure that you will always take home 100% of your compensation, because if you win, your solicitors fees will be recovered from the other side on top of any compensation awarded.
How long does it take?
This is very much dependant on the details of the case. There are two things that can slow down the progress of a personal injury claim:
1. Liability (attributing fault)
2. Quantum (the amount your solicitor thinks you should receive). If your opponent has already accepted that they are at fault for your injuries and they agree that the amount you are requesting is fair then the claim could be settled out of court within a matter of months. If your opponent does not accept that they are to blame, or if they think the amount of compensation you are claiming for is unwarranted then the case has to go to court which means waiting for a court date. Once blame is established then your opponent has the right to argue the amount of compensation you are due.
Can I recover treatment costs?
Yes, provided that they are accident related. Accident compensation is also paid to cover financial losses suffered as a result of the accident. The aim of this type of compensation is to put you back in a position, financially, as if the accident had never occurred. You should keep receipts and invoices for any expenses associated with your accident, e.g. for prescriptions and the cost of travelling to hospital.
Amounts recovered
(Have we got something for this already?)
What should I do now?
Simply telephone our freephone number 0800 652 6877. If you prefer you can fill in the claims form and we will contact you by return or email us at aic@levys.co.uk for swift, expert advice on your potential claim, at no cost and no obligation.
Do you deal with CICA cases?
Yes we do! Claims for personal injuries and losses arising from criminal injuries must be brought within 2 years of the event. As costs are not paid by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) we do ask our clients to sign a contingency fee arrangement for these cases. This means that we deduct 25% from any compensation you recover to cover our fees. This is the only exception to our ability to attempt to act on your behalf on a no-win no-fee basis.You are entitled to bring a CICA claim on your own, or with assistance from the Citizens Advice Bureau / Victim Support.