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The range and severity of injuries caused by road
traffic accidents is enormous.
Some injuries can have a short term impact on day
to day life and then heal permanently.
Others can last for life.
Whiplash injuries, for example, can heal relatively
quickly.
Or if they’re still present after 2 years, are likely to
be permanent.
Some injuries take time to develop – and the
expenses involved can escalate.
Road traffic accidents sometimes affect victim’s
families, too.
It can be a very real struggle for family members to
provide the care and support needed.
Here is a brief guide to how Thompsons can help
you pursue a claim.
If you have suffered injuries in a road accident
that wasn’t your fault, or was only partly your fault,
you may be entitled to compensation.
Which can help with providing financial
security and with redressing the sense of injustice
involved.
Thompsons Solicitors have been advising
claimants for more than 85 years and always work
to maximise all settlements on behalf of their
clients.
And provide outstanding service while doing so.
We have thousands of clients more than
satisfied with the service and the settlement they
received.
Being Thompsons clients they got the full 100%
of the award achieved, and didn't pay a penny in
legal fees - we get paid by the other side.
And the vast majority of personal injury claims we handle are settled without ever going to court.
“Thompsons … kept me informed every step of the way. And the firm gave me good advice, as was shown in the result.”
“Three years ago I had an accident on a bus going
home from work.
The driver took a corner very fast and I was thrown
across the aisle to the other side of the bus and
wrapped around the bell bar.
There had been nothing by, or in front of, the raised
seat I had been in to hold on to.
I was in a lot of pain and had damaged my jaw,
teeth, neck, shoulder and legs, and was in shock.
Despite all that, the driver was unhelpful and
denied there was any process or system for reporting
the accident. Shortly afterwards, a bus company
inspector did the same - and they offered no help in
getting me to casualty.
I had to find my own way there.
Some months later I was still suffering recurring
pain and I remained upset about the unhelpful way I
was treated… I was also upset that the bus company
refused to put a safety bar on that seat to help other
passengers in the future.
Eventually, my union suggested that I claim for
personal injury and recommended Thompsons
Solicitors.
I have never made a personal injury claim before so
the process was new to me. Right from the start,
Thompsons was excellent and very professional…
and explained the whole process.
My solicitor kept in touch and kept me informed
every step of the way.
And she gave me good advice, as was shown in
the result – I was very happy to receive a settlement.
It will never make up for the effects of the injuries,
some of which I still have, but at least it made the bus
company face up to its responsibility.”
Sue Hagues
To make a successful claim for compensation it has to be proved that someone else was to blame for your accident and the injuries you are suffering from. Obviously, the stronger your evidence the stronger your claim. You should try to get the names, addresses and phone numbers of anyone who was involved in your accident or witnessed it. However, people involved in accidents are often in shock and unable to do this. But you should report your accident to your local police station within 24 hours. You should also seek medical attention and treatment either at a Hospital or from your local GP as soon as possible following your accident. Trauma can mask the pain of some injuries, such as whiplash – so make sure you are properly examined even if you feel ok. It may also be helpful if you have photographs of the location of the accident, or any photographs relevant to the accident or your injuries.
The circumstances of road traffic accidents are often similar. But the effect on the individual is unique and this makes every compensation claim different. Compensation is awarded for pain, suffering and the inability to do things now that you could do before the accident. For example the inability to work, to drive, to shop, to play sport, to care for yourself. You are also entitled to recover any losses or expenditure you pay out as a result of your injuries. These include loss of income and the need to pay others to do things you could previously do yourself, and travel costs to and from your doctors and hospitals, and prescription charges. Such consequences can last days, weeks or months. In some cases, people may never again be able to resume their previously normal activities. If Thompsons are pursuing your settlement we will claim compensation for all past and future losses. Put simply, our aim is to maximise your compensation.
Seek legal advice promptly. There is a time limit on making a claim for injuries following an accident. You have 3 years in which to make a claim from the date of your accident. If you were under 18 at the time of the accident you have 3 years from the date of your 18th birthday in which to make a claim. If you have been injured by someone who was uninsured, or who left the scene of the accident without stopping and giving their details, there are still ways we can help you. The Motor Insurance Bureau (MIB) is an organisation that helps members of the public who have been affected by uninsured or untraced drivers. We can contact the MIB on your behalf but, again, such accidents need to be reported within time limits. You should contact us as soon as possible to ensure your claim is processed within the time limits.
You may be entitled to disablement
benefit and / or other State Benefits.
Thompsons can advise you on this as, of
course, can your local Department of Work and
Pensions office.
Any such claims are made separately to your
claim for compensation.
“Thompsons were absolutely terrific! They… kept me informed all the way through. I knew what was happening at all times.
“…I was driving… a driver suddenly pulled out … forcing me to swerve hard to the right to avoid him and we crashed into some railings with considerable impact. I briefly passed out. But I quickly regained consciousness The engine had caught fire, there was a lot of smoke…and I even had trouble getting free of my seat belt. I was taken to casualty…. Initially it was thought I had whiplash injuries – pain in my neck, ribs and all down one side. But with time the pain got worse, not better and I had a miserable and painful year . I couldn’t drive any more, which I missed. Eventually, after scans, it was decided I needed an operation on my right shoulder and that was done 3 years ago. As a result I have been able to drive again.. But considerable pain remained and still does to this day. My union representative suggested I make a personal injury claim and put me in touch with Thompsons, who are solicitors who act for my union in such claims. Thompsons were absolutely terrific! They explained exactly what would happen, all of which was completely new to me, and kept me informed all the way through. I knew what was happening at all times! My claim was handled by Thompsons’ Keely Goldup - she knew I did shift work and was always really helpful about that, too, moving meeting times around to fit my shifts. My claim should have come to court in March of this year – but it was settled before that. I was glad not to have to appear in court and very happy with the settlement.”
Tracy Russell
“My mother was... very, very happy with the settlement, too. She says she’s ‘Over the moon!’. And all the more so because she gets to keep 100% of it!”
Michael Perry, Son
Michael Perry helped his mother Elsie with her recent accident claim. She was standing on the pavement when a car mounted the pavement and reversed into her, ripping skin from the back of her leg and trapping her foot. Comments Michael “Thompsons service was really exceptional - they kept us in the picture and explained everything to do with my mother's claim every step of the way. They were also very considerate and courteous during what was a traumatic time for my mother, myself and the rest of the family. My mother was dreading the idea of having to go to court but the claim was settled without having to go to court. She was very, very happy with the settlement, too. She says she’s ‘Over the moon!’. And all the more so because she gets to keep 100% of it!”
“This amount was far more than I was expecting. I would like to pass on my grateful thanks to you and the team for their efforts in securing me such a good settlement. ”
Erika Lucas
Erika Lucas, above, suffered a whiplash injury in a car accident and pursued her claim for personal injury through Thompsons.
Thompsons is recognised by The Legal 500 as a leading personal injury law firm. We’ve earned a formidable reputation for fighting hard for our clients to ensure the maximum compensation in the minimum time. We secured one of the highest personal injury awards ever in the UK for a client injured in a road traffic accident - £3.4m. And in 2006 alone we took on 3,235 claims for road traffic accident injuries. We have files bulging with testimonials from clients more than satisfied with the service and settlements that they received, a few of whom have appeared in this leaflet. Not one of them had to pay us anything. And being Thompsons clients, they all got 100% of the award achieved. If they were members of a Union their claims were usually supported by their union’s legal scheme.
The Motor Insurance Bureau
01908 830 001
www.mib.org.uk
Department for Work and
Pensions benefit enquiry line:
Freephone 0800 88 22 00
Textphone 0800 24 33 55
www.dwp.gov.uk
ROSPA, The Royal Society for
the Prevention of Accidents
0121 248 2000
www.rospa.com
SCARD - Support and Care After
Road Death and Injury -
offers support to people affected by
road death and injury.
0845 123 5542
www.scard.org.uk