Four steps to take after being injured in an accident
Step one: stop
- Check that you're safe from further harm.
- If possible, move to a safer place.
- Assess what happened - some accidents happen in a blink of an eye, take time to understand what caused your accident and injury.
Step two: seek help
- Medical - whether it's a minor injury, or something more serious, get your injuries assessed by a first aider, GP, or A&E. Your health is the top priority.
- Witnesses - if anyone saw your accident happen, get their contact details. They may be able to provide evidence to support you later on.
- National Accident Helpline - contact our friendly team for free, no-obligation legal advice. With over 30 years' experience in supporting people like you, we'll help you understand your options and whether you could claim.
Step three: gather evidence
Evidence helps build a clear picture of what happened - it can help when reporting the incident and makes it easier if you choose to claim compensation. Here are some suggestions:
- Take photos or videos of the scene of the accident and any visible injuries.
- Make a note of the date, time, and exact location.
- Save contact details of any witnesses.
- Record a video or write down your version of events, while it's fresh in your memory.
Step four: get free personal injury advice
Avoidable injuries can leave you with pain, stress, and financial concerns. You don't have to deal with it all alone.
Speak to our expert team for free, no-obligation advice about your situation. If we believe you may be eligible to claim, we can connect you with a specialist legal team to support you.
Our legal teams all work on a no win, no fee basis so you can trust they are determined to help you win your case and get the compensation you deserve.
What is a no win, no fee compensation claim?
No win, no fee means if you don't win your claim, you pay nothing to anyone - it's as simple as that.
While there can be some rare exceptions to our no win no fee agreement, you'll know before your claim starts if they apply to you. After all, you don't need any more surprises.
Your solicitor will ensure that appropriate legal protection insurance is in place; you must always stick to the terms of the insurance and follow their advice.
Benefits of claiming on a no win no fee basis include:
- Low risk - only pay if your claim succeeds. If your claim doesn't win and you stick to the agreement's terms, you won't pay a thing.
- No upfront costs - an insurance policy covers expenses like court fees and medical reports, and our panel firms will always detail fees as part of the agreement between you before taking on your case.
- Trusted experts - we only work with lawyers who explain all fees upfront, so you know what to expect from your claim.
- Clarity - our goal is to ensure that you clearly understand the claims process, and the likely compensation outcome, from the get-go.
If your accident was someone else's fault, you could have grounds for a claim.
Check the below list of claim types that we cover, and contact us to understand if you qualify for compensation:
- Road traffic accidents: you may be eligible for compensation if you were injured as a driver, passenger, cyclist, or pedestrian. This includes injuries sustained on public transport.
- Workplace accidents: your employer has a legal duty to provide a safe environment for you and your colleagues. If you suffered an injury while at work, you may be owed compensation.
- Accidents in public: if you've suffered a slip, trip or fall in a public place, you may be eligible to make a claim. Accidents in public can happen in a supermarket, on private property, or somewhere else outside of your home.
- Accidents at home: you may be eligible to claim for injuries that are the fault of your landlord, a hired contractor, or caused by carbon monoxide leaks.
- Medical/clinical negligence: this covers any wrong, accidental, or substandard care by medical professionals that causes a patient injury or makes an existing condition worse. This is usually by incorrect action or a failure to act.
Join the millions of people we've helped to access compensation
Knowing what to do after having an accident that wasn't your fault can feel daunting, but we're here to simplify the process.
FAQs
How do I know if I'm eligible to claim?
The best way to know if you're eligible to claim is by having a chat with one of our friendly advisors. They'll listen to the circumstances of your accident and injuries and assess whether you may have a case. If you do, they'll offer to pass you straight over to an expert solicitor to pursue your claim.
Essentially, if you have been injured and someone else is to blame, it's likely that someone is responsible and you may be owed compensation.
How do I know if someone else was at fault?
Where the responsibility lies can depend on where or how the injury occurred, for example:
- If someone's careless driving caused you harm, whether you were another driver, a passenger, or a pedestrian, the driver would likely be responsible.
- An avoidable trip, slip or fall at work will be the fault of your employer breaching their duty of care for you.
- If your injured in a building with public access, such as a library, car park, or swimming pool, then responsibility would lie with the building's owners.
- When injuries happen in a business, such as a shop or restaurant, then liability would be on the business owner.
- If on the street, for example, hurting yourself because of a damaged pavement, then the accountable party will be the one responsible for maintaining public infrastructure. This is usually the council or local authority.
We'll help you understand who was at fault in our initial consultation, so don't worry if you aren't sure.
Are there time limits on making a compensation claim?
Most claims are required to either have been settled within three years, or for court proceedings to have been started. It's best to claim as soon as possible so your memory is fresh, and evidence is recent and easier to gather.
This three-year period is often referred to as the limitation period, which is the time by which you must either settle your claim or start court proceedings.
There are, however, a few exceptions:
- For claims involving things like occupational illness or medical negligence, the three-year limit applies from the date the symptoms were first noticed.
- When claiming on behalf of a child, you can make a claim for them at any time until their 18th birthday. After turning 18, they have until age 21 to either settle their claim or start court proceedings.
- If the injury victim lacks the mental capacity to claim themselves, there are no time limits for claiming. This could be as a direct result of the injury they've suffered or a pre-existing medical condition. However, if the Claimant regains mental capacity, even if only temporarily, then the three-year limit starts from then and doesn't stop again if they lose capacity.
What information will the legal team need from me?
Your legal team will need to know all of the details surrounding your injury, and it is likely that you will need to attend a medical assessment and supply any evidence you have, or can obtain, to support the case.
Evidence can include photographs and details of any witnesses. We realise that it can be difficult to gather this information, but having it before you start your claim could help to make the process simpler.
A Medical assessment is an independent medical opinion, and is an important part of the evidence that your legal team will rely on when building your claim. The appointment will be booked for you and, in most cases, will be with a medical professional local to you. It doesn't take long, usually no more than an hour. After the appointment, the medical professional will write a report giving their opinion and then send it to your solicitor. You'll be able to read the report, and your solicitor will ask you to check it for accuracy.
What expenses and losses can I claim compensation for?
While no amount of compensation can ever truly make up for an injury you've suffered, it can help to make sure you're not left out of pocket when someone else is to blame.
For example, you may have had to take time off work during your recovery with reduced pay, and this can put you and your family under financial pressure.
Compensation will consider:
- Loss of earnings - both in the immediate, and considering and future income impacted.
- Alterations to your home - making it more accessible post-injury.
- Transport and accommodation - getting yourself, and your loved ones, to and from medical appointments.
- Replacing or repairing possessions - items damaged when the injury happened.
- Medical treatments - including physiotherapy and prescriptions.
Expenses can quickly use up your regular pay or savings, leaving you under financial strain - we don't think this is fair.
General damages (also referred to as quantum) cover the pain, severity and suffering of the injury itself (both physical and psychological) but also 'special damages'. These are any personal financial losses you may have experienced as a result of the incident.
How much compensation am I likely to receive?
Until your solicitors have started negotiating on your behalf, they won't be able to give you an estimation of the compensation you could be entitled to.
Compensation amounts vary from case to case and depend on many factors. In your initial conversation with your legal team, they will explain to you how much they think you could be owed so that you can decide whether to proceed.
Your legal team will update you whenever there are updates to your case.
How long will my claim take to settle?
While many claims are settled within 12-24 months, ultimately, it depends on how complex your case is. The type, severity and circumstances of your injuries, plus the time it takes to gather all the necessary medical evidence can impact the time it takes to settle.
Your legal team will keep you updated throughout the process, so you know what to expect at every stage.
Can I discuss a claim on behalf of someone else?
Quite simply, yes. If you're thinking of making a claim on behalf of a friend or loved one, then it's likely we can help you. You can help someone start their claim, supporting them through their phone consultations, or act as a litigation friend.
A litigation friend can claim on behalf of a child, or someone who lacks the mental capacity to manage the process themselves.
Will I have to visit a solicitor's office?
It's unlikely you will have to visit your legal team's office or go to court as part of your claim process. We work with many expert solicitor firms across the country so that we can always match you with a firm that is experienced with your claim type.
Communication with your legal team will take place online or over the phone, which makes it easier for you to access the help you need, when you need it.
Why choose National Accident Helpline?
We've spent over 30 years building a proven, nationwide network of the best personal injury solicitors. We trust them to work in your best interests every time. Their objective is simple: to give you the advice and support you're looking for and help you make a successful injury compensation claim.
We regularly review the standards of our personal injury solicitors and can promise:
- Our advice is completely free and there's no-obligation to proceed.
- You'll be assigned an expert solicitor to manage your claim.
- That we, and all of our partner firms, are registered with the Solicitors Regulation Authority and The Law Society for England, Wales and Scotland.
If you decide to move ahead with your claim, it's very important to us that you receive the most effective legal service possible. As the UK's most trusted personal injury specialists - rated ‘Excellent' on Trustpilot - you can trust that you're in safe hands.