Compensation Myths

There are many myths around how to make a compensation claim and how to go about it, and therefore so many people are afraid to even consider making a claim when they should as they are not only suffering from their injuries caused by the accident but also the loss of earnings and medical costs they are having to pay.

I will consider the myths in which put people off in making a compensation claim these are as follows:

Compensation Claims are Complex and Take a Long Time – if there is no issues with who is liable then the case will take around 8-12 months which isn’t a long time.  If the liability is disputed the case will take longer as well as serious injury cases.  At the start of the claim you will need to fill out quite a lot of paperwork but once that’s done your solicitor will take care of other things and try and make the claim successful with little hassle and delay.

You have to go to Court to Claim Compensation – most compensations claims are actually settled out of court and long before a court case is necessary.  Everyone knows it’s cheaper to settle out of court and it also saves time for everyone.  Only around 4% of compensation claims reach court for settlement.

Compensation Claims take Years to Settle – most compensation claims now take around 8 to 12 months and therefore under a year.  If there are problems within the case around liability then the case may take a couple of years.

The Law Protects Big Companies – in the UK the laws that are in place protect the public more than the companies.  The UK is one of the most compassionate and considerate in the world.  Maintenance of roads, vehicles and work environments are all closely watched under Health & Safety Regulations.

All of the Solicitors are Out to Get What They Want with Hidden Charges – solicitors easily get a bad name with bad press surrounding them from radio to papers to news channels.  But solicitors are one of the best professionals which are regulated in the UK.  There are always bad press saying that solicitors hide charges especially with the basis of No Win No Fee.  In 2000 the legislation of No Win No Fee came into play which solicitors will work on your case for free in England and Wales.

Making a Claim Against your Employer will get you Sacked – there are many accidents each year that happen at work but many don’t claim as they believe they will be sacked if they do.  An employer cannot sack you on the grounds that you are claiming against them; if they do you should claim for unfair dismissal.  The law protects workers who have been with the employer for over 12 months.

You Cannot Obtain Medical Treatment whilst Claiming Compensation – this is just silly, if you have injuries they need to be looked at and cared for so they heal up as quickly as possible.  The other party’s insurers may require to see you through your recovery process so they themselves can see the injuries you have.  The quicker you receive treatment the quicker you are likely to respond and recover from your injuries.

I hope this had put your mind at rest and made you think clearly about claiming compensation if you have suffered injuries mentally or physically from an accident that wasn’t your fault.  Whatever the injuries may be you have a legal and civil right to claim compensation.