Frequently asked questions

How much compensation will I get?

The value of your claim depends entirely on the effect the accident has on you personally.

When we look at how much compensation you should get we look at what kind of injuries you have had, how long it took for you to recover and whether there are any long term problems. The Court has set guidelines to determine the value of different kinds of injuries. We also calculate any financial losses you personally have had e.g. wage losses and medical expenses. These factors determine how much compensation you will get.

Do I keep all of my compensation?

Yes. We do not deduct any damages*.

Our aim is to ensure that you receive 100% of the compensation awarded to you.

* There are a few exceptions to this, Criminal Injuries cases and MIB Untraced (for untraced motorists) for example as we are unable to recover the costs of bringing your claim. However we would discuss alternative options with you at the outset. There will be no ‘surprises’.

 How long will my claim take?

This is always difficult to say. We understand that you want your case settled as soon as possible and will do all we can to ensure this happens.

Whether a claim settles normally depends firstly on whether the negligent party accepts that they are at fault. If they do not and we need to gather more evidence, this can make the settlement of your claim take longer.

The other main factor is how quickly you recover from your injuries. We do not want to settle the claim without knowing how you are going to be in the future.
Most claims take between 9 - 18 months. We update you regularly throughout the claim as to how long it is likely to take.

Will I have to go to Court?

This is unlikely. The vast majority of cases are settled before court proceedings are issued. However, if the Defendants will not pay what your claim is worth and we think we can win, occasionally we do have to take this step. At Court you would be with your Solicitor and a Barrister who will explain what will happen. But please do not worry about this at this stage as it is very unlikely and we will be here to guide and advise you if it does become necessary.

Do I have to pay you anything?

No, you should not have to. In most cases we will offer a 'No Win No Fee' arrangement if you do not have existing legal expenses cover. If you lose under a No Win No Fee agreement then you pay nothing at all providing you have co-operated appropriately. If you win we will claim all our legal costs from the Defendant (the losing party). Please also see "How to fund your claim" or telephone us for further information.

Will I win?

We hope so! We will regularly update you and your insurers on the prospects of your case. To bring a successful claim we simply need to prove that someone else was at fault and that the Defendant was responsible. We will advise you in detail about the prospects of success of your claim once we have had the opportunity of discussing the circumstances of your accident with you. 

Will a claim affect my insurance premiums?

Where the claim is 100% successful in your favour, the claim will only affect the insurance of the person or organisation that you are bringing the claim against. For example if you are a passenger and claiming against the driver of the car that caused your injuries there may be a change in their insurance premium the following year.

However, if your claim is settled on a split liability basis, i.e 50/50, then it is likely that both parties will suffer a loss of no claims bonus. If the policy has the benefit of a protected bonus, this will count as a claim against the policy conditions.