- Make your claim as soon as possible
The sooner you make your claim, the sooner you will get a result. Accident Advice Helpline always advises to make a claim as soon as you feel able to do so both physically and mentally, so you should consult your GP about the process and ask whether you’re able to proceed – remember, you can usually make a claim if you have had an accident in the past 3 years.
This does however conflict with the need to have certain documentation, as rushing to file an accident claim can lead to some vital documents being missed out. Your own health and well being comes first so take our advice above before proceeding with your accident claim.
- Get your documents ready
Before you make your first accident claim, you will need to have certain documentation readily available to provide you with a higher average chance of a positive result. Depending on the type of injury you have sustained and the circumstances of the accident, you may need:
- Police reports
- The location of the accident
- CCTV recordings if available
- The names and addresses of all those involved in the accident
- Eye-witness statements if at all possible
- Medical records, including one or two post-injury medical assessments
- Proof of loss of earnings and work time
- Receipts and expense records as a result of the injury
As discussed above in most cases you have 3 years to claim for an accident that was someone else’s fault. This should be more than enough time to collect all of the above documentation.
- Research the industry
It’s important to understand how the accident claims industry works before rushing in to process your first accident claim. Being informed about the process will empower you with the confidence and knowledge to press on for a positive outcome. For free and impartial advice, we recommend the Gov.uk website and the Citizens Advice website.
- Understand your injury
The total payout you receive is based on your injury and your loss of earnings. You can easily work out how much compensation you should realistically expect from a loss of earnings, but working out a realistic payout for your injury is more difficult. You can find out more about how much your injury should payout by giving the 24/7 Accident Advice Helpline a call on 0800 689 0500 or from your mobile on 0333 500 0993 .
- Have a realistic goal
It’s important to have a realistic time-based and financial-based goal with your claim. Claim times vary from case to case however you can expect yours to take upwards of six months. If you are filing a claim yourself without the aid of a law firm such as AAH, you might also find that the company you are claiming against offers you a figure that’s not fair. In this case, you should reject their offer and press on for more. Only settle when you are happy with the result.