While the personal injury market in the UK grew by an impressive 3.1% to £3.98 billion in 2019, it declined significantly by 1.5% the following year (largely as a result of Covid-19).
However, there remain ample instances in which it’s worth making a personal injury claim, whether you’ve been injured at work or in a public building while going about your daily business.
But what is a personal injury claim, and should you consider pursuing one in the current market? Let’s find out!
What is a Personal Injury Claim?
The personal injury market first began to boom at the turn of the century, when the concept of no-win, no-fee representation first entered the marketplace. This enabled claimants to seek out legal assistance without risk, only paying any fees in instances where their claim was successful.
But what do we mean by personal injury? In simple terms, this refers to any accident or subsequent injury that occurs in a public place, whether this is a workplace, government building, or a shopping centre.
Perhaps the best and most well-known example is the trip or fall at work, whether this is in an office or a warehouse. If this accident occurs due to the fault of a colleague or inadequate safety standards in the workplace, you’ll be able to pursue a claim and some compensation at the end of the process.
Of course, this will vary according to the nature and scope of the claim, as well as the injuries incurred and any lasting impact that they may have.
Seeking Out Legal Advice – The Importance of Being Prepared
Ultimately, the best way to determine the extent and viability of your claim is to liaise with a specialist personal injury solicitor as they have precise knowledge and understanding of the market.
Remember, you’ll have to demonstrate the liability of the person against whom you’re making a claim, before proving the causation of injuries or any time off work.
What’s more, a licensed solicitor will help you to work within the legal time-frame when making a claim, as you’ll have three years from the date of the injury (which should be recorded if it happens in a workplace) to process your claim.
There are some exceptions to this rule, of course, but you’ll need legal expertise to ensure that you can identify these and your eligibility.
The Last Word – How to Cover the Fees
Another benefit of liaising with personal injury lawyers is that they’ll negotiate compensation settlements on your behalf, helping you to optimise your financial circumstances going forward. If you happen to live in Florida, here are some of Florida’s best personal injury lawyers for your reference.
In terms of managing legal fees, much will depend on conditional fee agreements, or the role played by insurance.
If you have insurance, for example, you’ll have to check whether this makes a provision for settling legal fees and pursuing claims in the case of an accident or personal injury claim.
Otherwise, you may find it beneficial to employ no-win, no-fee lawyers to help process your claim. This way, you’ll only pay fees if you receive a lump sum of compensation, and you’ll usually be required to pay 25% of the total amount awarded.
