A step-by-step guide from Lacey Solicitors Belfast to bringing a claim for compensation after a car accident for those in NI.
Car accidents are neither rare nor easy to deal with. Every year in Northern Ireland the PSNI reports around 5,000 collisions, with casualties in 2023 alone reaching 7,985 people. These extraordinary numbers reflect an ongoing problem with road safety – a problem which could impact you if you have a road traffic accident (RTA).
RTAs leave you in physical and emotional pain. Understanding the steps you can take to make a car accident claim for compensation can help you recover some of the losses you experienced due to your accident. Whether you were a passenger in a collision in Newry, rear ended in Lisburn, or injured as a pedestrian in Armagh, let Lacey Solicitors firm guide you through the challenges of claiming compensation after your accident.
What is a Car Accident Claim?
If you become injured in a car accident and it was not your fault, then you could claim compensation against the at-fault party. Speeding, lack of care, dangerous driving, and driving while under the influence of alcohol are all common causes of car accidents. No matter the cause, though, car accidents are costly both in terms of health and recovery.
How to Make a Claim for Compensation After a Car Accident in NI?
There are simple steps to making a claim for compensation after your accident. Follow the advice outlined below for the best chance at receiving the maximum possible compensation for your injuries.
At the Time of the Accident
Immediately after the accident has happened, follow these steps:
- Make yourself safe
- Get medical attention
- Speak to the police and report the accident
- Gather witness details and driver contact details
- Take photos
This will give you the best evidence to support your claim from the get go.
Following the Accident
After your accident has occurred, make sure that you get in touch with the best car accident solicitors near you. Lacey Solicitors Belfast are known and respected as car accident experts and will be able to guide you safely through the legal quagmire of motor accident compensation claims.
Once you have chosen the Best Injury Solicitor in NI, proceed with the following:
- Act quickly – you have three years to make your claim but do not delay.
- Assist your solicitor by providing a full statement along with any images to allow them to determine who was at fault and gather evidence.
- Carefully document your injuries and recovery time so that you can relay them to the medical examiner arranged by your solicitor.
- Provide your solicitor with any ‘special damages‘ or out of pocket expenses such as loss of earnings, hire car costs, medical expenses so that they can add them to your claim.
- Approve the medical report with your solicitor as soon as you receive it so that there are no delays.
Your Solicitor and The Settlement Process
Your solicitor will seek to negotiate a settlement from the insurance company on your behalf.
All you must do is trust them to perform. If your claim needs to go to court then your car accident solicitor in NI will help you with the process. At Lacey Solicitors, our own experience is that less than 10% of car accident claims dealt with by our solicitors ever see the the inside of a courtroom.
The very vast amount of our claims are settled outside of the courtroom which speaks to the reputation and negotation skills of our solicitors.
Trusted Car Accident Solicitors in Northern Ireland
Lacey Solicitors are a trusted law firm operating across Northern Ireland. Contact us today using our online portal to discuss the details of your car accident so that we may begin working on your compensation claim together.
