Being involved in a road traffic accident can be frustrating enough, what with all the paperwork, phone calls, emails, however should there be a personal injury, this creates even more inconvenience.

Understandably, many people will be put off making a claim for their personal injury in the belief it will take too long to settle. It is true, on occasions they can take time, however in the right hands and depending on the circumstances, it can be faster than you might think.

In this blog, we’ll take a look at what impacts the length of time of a personal injury claim and why calling on our expert team will make the process simple and easy as possible.

A personal injury claim’s determining factors

We appreciate that no two incidents are alike and our associate personal injury lawyers, will do their utmost to establish all the facts, quickly and efficiently.

What we will need to determine:

• The exact nature of the accident
• What injuries you received
• Any evidence our solicitor needs to make a case
• Who the claim is against
• If the other party accepts or denies liability

Gathering and processing all this information can take time, but our team will ensure you stay informed at every stage of the process.

The extent or seriousness of your injuries

This can be the biggest single factor in the length of time a personal injury claim takes to resolve and the amount of compensation that can be claimed.

First of all, you will be required to have a medical examination to determine the nature of your injuries, how serious they are and how debilitating.

It could be that the future impact of your injuries won’t be known for some time, so you may even be advised to wait before claiming.

Getting personal injury compensation right

This isn’t an attempt to deter you from claiming what’s rightfully yours, it’s to ensure you receive appropriate compensation, that will help deal with the after-effects of the accident.

In cases which are unusual or serious injuries have been sustained, our lawyers may require reports from specialists, which can slow down the claims process. Likewise, the other party could call for their own reports.  

We will keep you up to date with the latest communications between parties at every stage.

If the other party accepts responsibility

Otherwise known as ‘liability’, if the person responsible for the road traffic accident confirms they were at fault, then the claim can be processed fairly quickly.

In some cases, the other party may initially deny liability, unless presented with proof they were responsible. This can hold up or delay claims for a short time. 

If the other party denies liability

If the other party denies liability, then a claim can be delayed more significantly. This is because our lawyers must not only gather the evidence which proves they were at fault, such as:

• Witness statements
• Medical reports
• CCTV or expert opinions

They must also engage in longer negotiations with their opposite numbers, which can take time particularly if your case is a complex one.

The government’s claims portal

We’ve written previously about the online claims portal which covers whiplash injuries, and while it can appear useful for minor incidents, there are strict limits about when to claim.

However, if the other party does not accept liability for your injury, the claim is removed from the portal and you have to start all over again.

Coming to us and dealing with a friendly, professional human, is a safer bet!

Making a personal injury claim on someone else’s behalf

If you are a driver aged under 18, you can ask a parent, guardian or other responsible adult to make the claim on your behalf.

It’s called a litigation friend and they can also be used if someone is so badly injured they can not make the claim themselves.

An expert team at your disposal

In choosing us, you get access to our specialist personal injury lawyers who will support you at every step of the way, from express medical assessment, any legal proceeding if applicable, right through to full settlement of your claim. All done as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Plus, your dedicated claims handler will sympathetically talk you through the claims process, to make sure that you fully understand what you are entitled to, what you are not, and how the process works.

Call us today on 020 8556 6633, email contact@integritycm.co.uk or use this contact form and we’ll get back to you ASAP.