by David Halbert
While a car accident is in itself a horrible experience to go through, the process of filing a compensation claim and following it through can make it seem even worse. Here is some information that can help guide you through the process if ever you have to file a car accident compensation claim.
Car accident compensation claims are filed by the party that is not at fault in the accident. These cases are filed in court, with the help of a lawyer. This will help you get paid for all your accident-related expenses, such as medical and car repair expenses.
Whilst there are many barristers who deal in cases related to accidents and injuries, you can also find one by looking around on the internet. If the police and insurance company have said that the accident was not your fault, you can start calling barristers to assist you in getting compensated for your expenses.
These claims, if they are taken to court, are heard by a judge, but not a jury. Usually a majority of insurance companies settle these cases out of court by offering to give a one-time payment that compensates you completely, as they do not want the trouble of going to court. It is a smart idea to meet with your barrister about the sum you are being offered through court, just to confirm that the company is not underpaying you in order to save money.
Be knowledgeable about the statute of limitations before filing you claim. Many people wait till they are completely healed, and then start filing the case – which every so often results in their being ineligible to file a claim since the statute of limitations has already been passed. It is a smart idea to talk to your solicitor to make sure you are within your rights to file a claim, and if possible begin with the proceedings as soon as possible.
A large amount of barristers take cases on contingency. This means that if you end up losing, they will not ask for a fee, but if your side wins they need to be paid. This payment is ordinarily paid by the party being sued, in which case you can keep 100% of your claim. Make sure you hire a specialist lawyer who gets you the full payment, and takes their remuneration from the sued party, so that you don’t have to pay a part of your claim to the barristerr.
This entire process can take time, as it involves police and the insurance companies along with the medical experts who need to verify that your claim is accurate. This can take anywhere from two to four months, or even a longer period of time. Most cases that get settled in two months are straight forward, and all the paperwork is in order. Cases that are harder to process, or where one party is dragging out the proceedings, can take much longer.
So, ensure you begin proceedings as quickly as possible after the accident to be sure you get your money back in the shortest possible time. Hiring a good solicitor is another way of making sure you get your payment easily, and without any trouble.
written by David Halbert
\\ tags: Personal Injury Lawyers
