Personal Injury Compensation – What to Expect
Any time that you have been hurt in some kind of accident or at the hands of another, you are entitled to make a personal injury claim. Personal injury claims cover a broad area, from car accidents to slipping or tripping, being injured in the workplace or while playing sports and negligent medical or dental treatment. Because personal injury claims can vary so greatly, many people find it difficult to know what they can and can’t claim for.
If you are considering a personal injury suit, it is imperative that you visit with a solicitor or lawyer. They will review your case to determine if there is a claim that can be made. As part of the review, they will determine what potential compensation you could receive should you win your claim. The amount of compensation you could receive will usually be broken down into general and special damages.
General Damages – General damages are the more difficult of the two to determine. This type of compensation is established by placing a value on the pain and suffering you have undergone, as well as how your future could be affected. This means that there are no hard and fast figures that can be used. Instead, no win no fee solicitors and judges look at past cases that have similar circumstances to your own. Also, guidelines are issued to judges by the Judicial Studies Board that lists monetary values for different injuries.
Special Damages – Special damages are a lot easier to estimate, as these are the expenses and losses you have incurred since your injury. Special damages can include loss of earnings, medical expenses, insurance payments, cost of replacing damaged items and even a car hire if you are making a car accident claim. What is important for special damages is that you keep all receipts and a record of all payments and losses during the time of your injury.
