Compensation is a means by which some measure of justice can be obtained for a person who has been injured by the negligence of another. But when thinking about the concept of compensation, most people only think in terms of how much should be payable for the pain and suffering that the injury causes, as well as any potential loss of earnings that the injured party might suffer. In practice, there is more to compensation than this and it is important that other financial considerations are taken into account when thinking about making a claim.
A good personal claims solicitor will be able to estimate how much money may be awarded for a particular accident, purely because the English courts treat similar cases in a like manner. This means that in cases where the facts are similar, the decision and the award are likely to be similar. Such compensation payments can range from a few hundred pounds for a simple slip that causes a slight injury, to many millions payable to someone who has suffered a serious illness or injury. Though cases may be similar, the amount of compensation awarded always hinges on the facts and circumstances of the case in hand.
Hidden costs
The injured party may wish to claim for other expenses or losses and these amounts can vary from case to case. Loss of earnings, for example, may be greater for one person than for another, depending on their salaries. Another cost that is not always immediately thought of is private medical treatment, such as osteopathy or acupuncture, which may not be available on the NHS.
Other costs that may not be considered as relevant but that can be reimbursed or added to the compensation award include extra travel expenses. Someone who has been injured may find himself unable to drive for a while and may need to use taxis or public transport. If these costs are incurred as a direct result of the injury sustained, then they may be recovered form the culpable party. The claimant might even receive damages for somewhat extraneous expenses, such as childcare.
How to claim back expenditure
If you have been injured through no fault of your own, you should speak to a personal injury solicitor as soon as possible after the incident. Even if you do not think that you will get a great sum of money, at least in terms of compensation, you should be reimbursed for all reasonable costs incurred in dealing with the fallout of the accident. Compensation is not supposed to be a reward for being injured, but it can serve to ensure that the innocent victim is not left out of pocket, thereby truly adding insult to injury. Compensation is often the only adequate remedy provided by the law, which cannot undo the claimant’s injuries. It is important that all receipts of the expenditure are kept, as this will help in proving your claim to the court and will help ensure that you recover all reasonable expenses.
This guest post has been created by Hughes Carlisle solicitors, http://www.hughescarlisle.com, who help give an honest insight into the financial costs which are associated with law.
Image Credit:
Renjith Krishnan – Free Digital Photos.Net
