GENERAL DAMAGES

General damages refer to the compensation that is specifically awarded for your injuries. For example, if you suffer a wrist injury, you could be able to claim anywhere from £3,010 to £46,780 in general damages. The amount of general damages compensation you are awarded is determined by assessing the pain and suffering that your injuries have caused you. This is normally determined through an independent medical exam. If the potential compensation amount for your injuries is above £1,000 and your injuries were caused by someone else’s negligent behaviour, your claim is likely to be valid.

SPECIAL DAMAGES

Special damages compensation covers any financial losses that you might have suffered as a result of your accident and injuries. For example, if you have had to take time off work to recover from your injuries, special damages compensation could help to cover this loss of income. This type of compensation covers any additional costs associated with your injuries, such as a loss of earnings or the need for equipment to help you cope with your injuries.

STEPS TO TAKE AFTER A MINOR INJURY

If you have been injured in an accident, take these steps;

• If you’ve had to take time off work keep your recent payslips to highlight how much income you have lost. Payslips for three months prior to the accident should be enough to show the income you have lost.
• Collect photographic evidence of the scene to highlight the problem that caused your injury, such as a photo of the pavement where you tripped.
• If you were injured at work, or a staff member, if you were injured in a public place, about the incident and they should have prompted you to write about the incident in the accident log book. It is a legal requirement for all businesses to have an accident log book.
• Seek medical advice. This will keep a record of your injuries which can later be used to support your case. However, minor injuries can often be more serious than they first appear. By going to the doctors, you are not only strengthening your case but also protecting your health.

If you would like to find out whether you can make a claim for a minor injury, you should speak to us as soon as possible. With the exception of children, there is a three-year time limit on making a personal injury claim. This time limit begins from the date that the accident initially occurred. Before a child turns eighteen years old it is possible to make a claim on their behalf at any time. The law stipulates that after the age of eighteen they only have three years in which to make a claim. If your child sustained an injury as a minor (under the age of 18), the claim must be submitted within 3 years of their 18th birthday.