If you want to take legal action to claim compensation for a personal injury, you will need to get advice from a solicitor specializing in these types of cases. This must be done as soon as possible as there are strict time limits on taking legal action.
Time limits
There are different time limits within which you must begin legal action in a personal injury claim. You should get legal advice urgently if you want to claim compensation.
The most common claim in a personal injury case is negligence and the time limit for this is 3 years. This means that court proceedings must be issued within 3 years of you first being aware that you have suffered an injury.
In some cases, a court may decide to extend a time limit, depending on the circumstances of the case.
Paying for legal action
Legal action for compensation for a personal injury can be expensive. You might be able to get help with legal costs from a conditional fee agreement or an insurance policy – many house contents policies, car insurance or travel insurance policies have legal expenses cover attached.
Conditional fee agreement
A conditional fee agreement means that your solicitor will receive no fees if you lose your case. You may, however, have to pay the legal fees and expenses of the other side. Your solicitor will normally ask you to take out insurance to cover this situation. If you win your case, your solicitor’s fees and expenses will normally be paid by the other side.