Busting the myths around personal injury claims

If you have suffered physical or emotional damage through someone else’s negligence a personal injury claim may get you the compensation you deserve.

In the UK, legal claims for negligence go back many decades and are awarded following what are sometimes catastrophic errors.

Here we consider some of the history of the law and the personal claims injury process.

What exactly is a personal injury claim?

Personal injury claims refer to injuries related to a person’s body, mind or emotions rather than damage to property. These kinds of claims can be made following trips and slips, road traffic accidents, accidents at work or on holiday, or as a result of a criminal act.

Medical negligence, where an injury is a result of an act by a medical professional, is a category on its own. 

Humans have always experienced personal injuries, and the law regarding them has developed over many centuries. The Biblical phrase ‘an eye for an eye’ introduced the concept that justice should be done for an injury to a person. Back in 1932, the Paisley snail case set the foundation for today’s modern negligence law worldwide. It came about when May Donoghue drank a bottle of ginger beer in a cafe in Paisley, Scotland, and found a decomposed snail at the bottom. She fell ill, sued the manufacturer, and the extraordinary case made it all the way to the House of Lords. The House of Lords held that the manufacturer owed her a duty of care, and the decision fundamentally created a new type of liability in law. 

Revealing the long-term impact personal injuries can have

The Paisley snail case is certainly a pause for thought, and many other unusual or noteworthy personal injury claims have made the headlines over the years. However, the impact that personal injuries can have on a person’s life is something not to be taken lightly.

In some cases, people are left with lifelong complications or in need of round-the-clock care. Work accidents can spell the end of a career, while road traffic accidents may leave a lasting mark on your mental health.

Compensation in these cases should be considered as a way to help victims meet their new additional needs, not a reward.  As one of the most established law firms in Sheffield and doncaster, we fight to help our clients get the redress they deserve. 

How to make a personal injury claim

The personal injury claim process must be completed to strict time limits, so it is imperative to act swiftly. The most common time limit is for court proceedings to be issued within three years of the injury. While this sounds like a long time, the wheels of justice turn slowly. The first step is to seek advice from a personal injury solicitor specialising in these cases.

When it comes to road traffic accidents, personal injury claims can come from drivers, passengers, pedestrians, or cyclists. However, with recent changes to the Highway code compensation will differ depending on your place in the Highway code’s hierarchy; with those who may do the greatest harm having the greatest responsibility.

When it comes to accident claims in Sheffield or accident claims in Doncaster, we are the local experts. Representing personal injury victims is about understanding the emotional and physical impact such injuries can have.

Our team has a wealth of experience and are ready to assist you. Contact us today to speak to our personal injury solicitors.