Interesting Things To Know About Personal Injury Claims

Every day, all around the world, accidents and injuries happen. When you consider the rapid pace we live life at today, it doesn’t really come as much of a surprise. After all, we always seem to be stressed and busy, and this is often when accidents happen. Nevertheless, if you have been injured as part of an accident that was not your fault, you don’t have to simply accept what has happened to you. You can go ahead and make a personal injury claim, securing compensation for the wrongdoing. With that in mind, read on to discover some of the interesting things you should know about making a personal injury claim.

There is a time limit for making a claim – There is only one place to begin, and this is with the time limits placed on personal injuries claims. A lot of people do not realise that there is a time limit, and so they mistakenly believe that they have all of the time in the world to claim. They are then devastated to discover that they have missed the boat. The best thing to do to avoid disappointment is to claim as soon as you can. Not only will this ensure there are no hiccups along the way, but also you should find it a lot easier to claim by taking this approach. This is because gathering evidence will be much more straightforward and the details of the incident will still be fresh in your mind. So, what is the time limit on personal injury cases? This does depend on the nature of the incident you have been involved in, for example, if you have been injured abroad or you have been injured due to a criminal injury, you may have slightly less time. Nevertheless, in most cases, you will have three years from the date of the accident. If you cannot pinpoint the accident date because you have suffered an industrial disease or any other type of injury that takes a while for symptoms to show, you will have three years from the date of your diagnosis instead. For those injured under the age of 18-years-old, if your parents did not launch a claim for you at the time, you will then have the chance to do so from your 18th birthday onwards. Again, you will have three years to do this.

You can claim for any type of accident – You will be surprised by how obscure some of the accidents that people claim for are. Pokémon GO and personal injuries go more hand-in-hand than you probably realise. There have been many people that have hurt themselves while they have been busy chasing Pokémon! In reality, though, it does not matter how weird or unusual the incident you have been involved in is. So long as you can prove that someone else is to blame for the accident you have been injured in, then you will have grounds for a compensation case. Some of the weirdest compensation claims are as follows:

–        An artist was awarded compensation when a gale of wind knocked her over. We’re not sure how the wind can pay a claim, but it happened!

–        A gravedigger was awarded compensation after he slipped into a plot he had dug and hurt his knee.

–        One man from Wisconsin sued a television company for turning his children into ‘lazy channel surfers’ and making his wife fat.

–        A teacher received huge sums of compensation after she slipped on ketchup while walking to the staff room.

–        One man from New York sued the city because of severe injuries he experienced after sitting on a toilet seat, which then exploded.  

You can claim for any cost associated with what has happened – The third and final thing you should know about making a claim for a personal injury is that you will not only be able to claim for the injuries you have sustained, and consequently the pain and suffering you have experienced. You can also claim for literally any cost you have incurred because of the injuries you have suffered. You will need to keep receipts or any other documents that will prove these costs. However, so long as they are related, you can include them in your claim. Here are some examples:

–        Loss of enjoyment while being injured during a tour or on holiday

–        Loss of income suffered because you cannot work during your recovery

–        Medication and treatment costs

–        The cost of counselling to help you deal with the trauma of the incident

–        Childcare expenses if you have needed someone to look after your kids while you recover

–        The cost of hiring a carer

–        The cost of adapting your home

–        Parking expenses at the hospital

–        Travel costs and the expenses of adapting your vehicle because of your injuries

Hopefully, you now have a better understanding regarding personal injury claims. From the types of claims you can make to the time limits imposed on claims, it is vital to know as much as possible before you proceed with making your own claim. Plus, even if you have not been injured, it is always helpful to know what to do should such a scenario happen to you or someone you love. You won’t have to go searching for the details – you already have everything you need.