Personal Injury Claim FAQs
How do I make a personal injury claim?
Just get in contact with us! Our experts will assess the details of your claim and advise you whether you have a case.
We don’t believe in encouraging false claims, so we’ll only advise you to start a claim if we believe you have grounds for doing so.
If you decide to start your claim with us, our advisors will talk you through the next part of the process.
An independent panel of solicitors, selected by First4Lawyers, will determine what your claim is likely to be worth if you are successful.
You’ll then enter into an agreement with your solicitor who will be acting on your behalf to make your claim.
They will then file a letter of claim to the person responsible for causing your accident (the defendant).
For more answers, take a look at our guide to making a claim.
Can I get compensation even if no one was convicted?
Yes, you can still claim compensation even if the person responsible for the criminal assault isn’t convicted or brought to justice.
You can do this through the government-backed Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA).
Can I make a public liability claim?
It depends on whether the accident occurred due to the actions or negligence of those responsible for the area where you had the accident.
Claims for accidents in public places are quite common, often as a result of poor highway maintenance, something for which local councils are directly responsible.
If you’ve been injured in an accident on public property, you may be able to claim compensation for your injuries.
To find out if you have a claim, just call one of our legal advisors who will assess your case and advise you of your next step.
You can also find more information on our slips, trips and falls claims page.
Can I claim against the council?
Yes, if your accident happened in a location for which the council are responsible.
Local councils are responsible for the maintenance of such things as:
- Roads
- Pavements and sidewalks
- Public parks
- Libraries
- Most schools and colleges, which aren’t privately run
- Town and city squares
- Community centres
- Council houses/flats
For all of the above, the council are directly responsible for ensuring that each are maintained to the highest possible standard, posing no health and safety risks whatsoever.
Despite that, some errors are made either through a lack of regular upkeep or poor maintenance.
One common example of how a local council could be deemed responsible for an accident is if someone sustained an injury after tripping over a cracked or poorly maintained pavement. In this case, the council is at fault for not keeping the pavement in good condition and causing a hazard to the public using it.
Our experts have dealt with numerous cases in which a person has been injured in a public place, which could have otherwise been avoided if it was properly maintained by the local authority.
If you’ve had an accident in a public place and are unsure if you’re eligible to claim compensation, have a chat to our experts who will assess the circumstances of your accident and offer advice on your next steps.
You can read more information on how we can help with slip, trip or fall claims.
Can I claim if my accident happened while I was abroad?
Yes, you can still claim if you had an accident while abroad. But it can be more complex due to varying laws in other countries.
Accidents abroad are very common and can happen to anyone. Some of the most common accidents can include things such as suffering food poisoning from the hotel restaurant, slipping on a wet floor in a hotel or tripping over on a poorly-maintained footpath.
Other scenarios you may be able to claim compensation for include: sport-related accidents from using damaged, faulty or poorly-maintained equipment, sustaining an injury during an arranged excursion and road traffic accidents (including accidents when travelling as a passenger in a car, coach or taxi).
Those who booked their trip with a travel agent or as part of a package holiday are more likely to be able to claim against the travel company once returning to the UK, as opposed to the services used abroad (such as a hotel or restaurant).
At First4Lawyers, we work with solicitors who are experienced in making claims for accidents that have happened abroad, for people who were either on holiday or travelling on a business trip. Contact us for a no-obligation chat.
