Leading Personal Injury Lawyers in London

How much will a claim cost me?

Under a ‘No win, No fee’ agreement, you will receive damages if you win your case. If you lose your case, your accident claim will not cost you any money in legal fees. Alternative funding options are also available to you depending on the circumstances of your case. We can explore these with you when you call.

Hodge Jones and Allen will arrange an insurance policy for you. The policy covers any liability to pay for disbursements and the costs of your opponents. The premium for the policy is self-insured which means you do not have to pay for the policy in advance.

Is there a time limit for making a claim?

With any personal injury claim, there are strict time limits that need to be adhered to. You have three years after the injury occurred, which is usually the date of the accident, to make your claim.

There are some exceptions to this rule for claims for medical accidents (known as medical negligence), where the injury or condition may not become apparent for years. In these circumstances, the period may begin on the date that you became aware.

What’s the difference between general and special damages?

Personal injury compensation is assessed by looking at two types of settlement.

• General damages – the actual injury element of the settlement.

• Special damages – the financial losses that flow from the injury

General damages

This covers for the physical and/or mental pain and suffering, disfigurement or impairment, and lowered quality of life (due to physical and mental limitations, such as no longer being able to undertake previous favourite sports or hobbies).

Special damages

These are for the financial losses that are a direct result of your injury. The most obvious of these are loss of earnings due to incapacity to work. This would include remuneration if the medical evidence indicates that you are unlikely to work in the future. A pension loss calculation may also be appropriate.

Additionally, the time a loved one spends looking after you in the immediate aftermath of the accident can be recovered. Treatment expenses, such as physiotherapy, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), prescription costs, unused gym membership, travel expenses to and from the hospital and damaged items of clothing also fall into this category.

This is not an exhaustive list as every case is different. We will discuss this with you and make sure that all financial losses that can be recovered are included. 

Generally, you have three years from the date of an accident through negligence to make a personal injury claim – so don’t delay – get in touch today.

Should I pursue a personal injury claim?

If you have suffered an injury as a result of another person’s negligence, you have a legal right to make a claim for compensation.

The amount of compensation you receive will reflect the seriousness of the injury. Compensation may be awarded for ongoing medical care, lost earnings and other expenses that can make a massive difference to your life at a difficult time.

What are disbursements?

They are costs that our solicitors will have to pay to third parties to help prepare for your case, such as hiring a medical expert or court fees.

What do I receive if I win my case?

• You will receive damages awarded plus fixed or assessed costs
• You will not recover the insurance premium, our success fee and some basic charges
• We aim to keep deductions to a minimum, these will include any unrecovered costs

What do I have to pay if my claim is unsuccessful?

• With a self-insured premium, you do not have to pay the cost of insurance
• All costs are waived (‘No win No fee’)
• Your disbursements will be paid by insurance

Under the rules of the court, your opponent’s costs are not payable by you unless:

• Proceedings have been struck out
• Your claim is found to be fundamentally dishonest
• Your claim includes a claim for the financial benefit of someone else.

NOTE: You will not have to pay any expenses as your case proceeds, Hodge Jones and Allen will pay them on your behalf.

Can I make claim if I was injured while abroad?

Yes, you can make a claim if you were negligently injured while abroad on holiday or for work. As your injury occurred outside England and Wales, the law of the country where you were injured may apply. Our specialist solicitors will be able to advise you directly when you call us.

What types of personal injury can I claim for?

If the accident was not your fault and someone else is negligent, we can make a claim against them directly, or against their insurance company.

You can claim compensation for different types of physical and mental injury, these include: 

• Accidents at work
• Road traffic injuries
• Medical negligence

How much compensation from a personal injury claim can I expect to receive?

The compensation awarded to you will be dependent on the type and seriousness of your injury, as well as the circumstances around the incident.

How compensation from personal injury cases is calculated depends on the individual case and includes loss of earnings and medical expenses.

How long will it take to settle my claim?

For less complex cases (where liability is not disputed) your case may be settled within six to nine months. The length of your case will depend on a number of factors. These include:

• The extent of the injuries faced
• The length of time you have been in hospital and/or at home and off work
• Care required
• Whether the other side denies responsibility

Our solicitors will be able to give you a better idea of timescales once you have told them more about your case. We promise to keep you updated throughout the process.

What is a no win no fee personal injury claim?

A No Win No Fee or Conditional Fee Agreement are needed in the vast majority of personal injury cases. This type of agreement means you will not be required to pay legal fees if your claim is unsuccessful.

What costs would my personal injury compensation cover?

The compensation you would receive is split into two areas:

1. General damages – pain and suffering caused by the accident. The level of damages are based on the severity of your injuries and the length of your recovery time.

2. Special damages – these cover financial losses that have occurred as a direct result of your accident. Current and predicted expenses as a result of your injury are recorded including any medication and treatment costs, travel costs and loss of income.

Will I need to have a medical examination?

Yes, we will need to see your medical records and you will need to undergo a medical examination. Don’t worry though all this will be arranged for you and will be conducted by a medical expert.

Our personal injury solicitors will always want to achieve the best possible outcome for you and they will spend time gaining all the relevant details from you regarding the incident and your injuries. They will wish to understand early on the injuries you have sustained, any complexities and how long it is likely to take for you to recover and whether there will be any lasting injuries or effects that you will need to deal with.

Give the team a call and they will discuss the procedure in more detail with you. We want to make sure all our clients completely understand the process and are clear on every step they will need to take.