Time Limit for Compensation Claims

When it comes to compensation claims in the UK there is a standard limit of three years. This three years begins from the date of the accident or from the date you knew you were suffering, this is called the date of knowledge and can be much later than the accident date.

An example of what is meant by date of knowledge is occupational lung disease as the symptoms won’t appear for several years after the initial exposure. So your three year limit will begin from the date you knew you were suffering due to occupational lung disease.

When it comes to fatal compensation claims that are being claimed on behalf of the deceased your three year limitation begins from the date of death or from the date that death was found to be linked to an accident.

If a person passes away when they are part way through dealing with a compensation claim then the deceased’s family are entitled to continue the claim and the three year limitation starts again.

There are also special rules surrounding children and patients under the Mental Health Act. If a person suffered as a child they are allowed to start a compensation claim when they are 18. Their three year limitation starts from their 18th birthday. Patients under the Mental Health Act are entitled to put a claim in for compensation on the date that they are discharged; this is when their three year limitation begins.

If there are no special circumstances surrounding your compensation claim and you fail to make a claim within three years you may be jeopardising your chance of making a compensation claim.

If you would like more information about putting in a compensation claim and the rules surrounding doing so then get in touch with Accident Consultant today. Here at Accident Consultant we are personal injury experts and have already helped numerous people claim the compensation that they deserve after an accident that wasn’t there fault.

If you have been involved in an accident that was caused through no fault of your own and are unsure as to whether you have a compensation claim then call Accident Consultant today on 08081 68 69 70 and speak to one of our advisors today.