If you’ve suffered an accident, then you’re entitled to a number of legal and medical protections under UK law. Let’s take a look at how you might deal with the aftermath of the accident, and how to give yourself the best possible chance of getting the treatment you deserve.
Seek Immediate Medical Attention
Your priority in the immediate aftermath of the accident should be your own health and safety. Make sure that the area is safe, and that the cause of the accident has been dealt with. Then seek medical attention. This will not only ensure that your injuries are treated, but that they’re documented, too. Your medical records could serve as vital evidence, should you come to make a claim.
Document the Scene and Gather Evidence
You’ll need to collect evidence from the scene of the accident. You can do this by collecting details and testimony from witnesses, and by photographing the scene. It’s also a good idea to keep hold of any correspondance you get that’s related to the accident. If you should need to prove that the accident was caused by something or someone in particular, then this evidence may be critical.
Know Your Legal Rights After Suffering An Accident
If you’ve been in an accident and suffered as a result, then you have the right to claim compensation.
In some cases, a particular person or an organisation might be liable for your accident. In other cases, they might be negligent. The difference between the two rests on whether a duty of care was violated. If this is a workplace accident, and the work environment was not safe, then your employer might have been negligent.
In the case of negligence, it’s vital that you act within three years of your becoming aware of your injuries – or before your twenty-first birthday, (this being three years after you turn eighteen).
Many people are unaware of their eligibility to pursue personal injury claims following an accident, especially if the incident was due to someone else’s negligence. This ignorance can cause the time limit to expire, and compensation to be lost.
As part of changes to the personal injury claims process, there’s now an online portal for registering injuries and pursuing compensation. The best way forward, and the one that’s most reliable, is through the proper legal counsel.
Consider Professional Legal Advice
A good solicitor specialising in accidents claims can help you to manage your case. They’ll often extract compensation on your behalf, without your needing to attend court in person. Best yet, they’ll almost always operate on a no-win, no-fee basis – which will minimise the risk that you personally assume.
