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Whether your current ailments are the result of an accident in which you were injured, or whether you are now suffering from an illness as the result of negligence, the law in the UK provides for the pursuit of compensation through several different channels depending on who is responsible.
If you were injured at work, your employer should have adequate insurance to cover, not only the compensation due for the pain and suffering, but also for lost wages. If you were injured in a violent criminal act you will make a request to the criminal injuries compensation authority which has been set up to compensate victims of crime in Scotland, England and Wales. A slip, trip or fall on a pavement or road will normally be the responsibility of the local council to both fix the defect and to compensate you for your injuries.
Of course the most common type of claiming is as the result of a car accident - whether your injuries are severe or whether you have suffered some whiplash for a relatively short period of time it is often advisable to speak to a solicitor to discuss whether it would be in your best interests to pursue the action yourself or with the help of legal representation. Solicitors should always give you decent advice as not only are the governed by The Law Society and the Solicitors Regulation Authority, but if the legal fees are deemed un-necessary by a court they will not get paid. This ensures that the advice you receive, whether in person or over the phone, is accurate and in your best interests.
Always check that any individual who gives you advice regarding your claim is qualified to do so. Many claims management firms will not pay for a solicitor to come out to your home and go over the paperwork, often these are untrained people and many have been known to give advice despite the fact they have no formal qualifications in either law or advocacy. The compensation bill that was introduced in 2007 has really done nothing to dissuade such practices so you are still left to fend for yourself in this regard. You may still get sales calls asking you if you've had an accident and would like to claim, you may be stopped in the street and offered a home visit by a claims manager. There is no real discernable benefit in using a claims management firm over a law firm directly other than they may be more likely to take on the less solid cases.
Be aware of everything you sign also and don't assume that no win, no fee means that there are no fees at all. For cases such as criminal injury claims or medical negligence the legal representative assisting you may require a percentage of any compensatory amount once the case is finished. Ensure that the firm you are using is offering you both no win no fee and a guaranteed 100% of your compensation.
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