If you wish to claim compensation for a personal injury, you will need to get advice from a solicitor who specialises in these types of cases. This must be done as soon as possible, as there are strict time limits on taking legal action.
Most personal injury cases need to be brought to court within 3 years of you becoming aware of your illness or injury. So, with this in mind, here we outline a few helpful things to know in regard to personal injury law.
What is your timeframe?
There are different time limits within which you need to begin legal action in a personal injury claim. You must get legal advice urgently if you want the right to claim compensation. The most common claim in a personal injury case is negligence, this comes with a time limit of 3 years. This also means that court proceedings need to be issued within 3 years of your first being aware that you have experienced an injury. In some scenarios, a court may actually extend a time limit, however, this is dependent on the circumstances of the specific case in question.
Legal fees
Legal action for compensation for a personal injury can be costly. You may, however, be able to get help with legal fees from a conditional fee agreement or an insurance policy – lots of house contents policies, car insurance or travel insurance policies have legal expenses cover attached to them.
How long my case may take?
This will depend on:
● Your individual case
● How cooperative the other side is
● If your case goes to court
● If you come to an agreement out of court
In the case of a short-term injury, the case may be dealt with within weeks. If it is more serious, it could take between two and four years to legally settle. If you have become permanently injured or disabled as a result of your accident or illness, or if your case goes to trial, it could well take longer.