The aftermath of an accident can be an extremely worrying time for those people who find themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time and are left to cope with both the physical and mental impact.

Should you be unfortunate enough to sustain an injury through no fault of your own then you might be tempted to investigate whether or not to make a compensation claim once the initial shock subsides, especially if your life has been changed forever as a result.

Am I eligible to make a claim?

It’s fairly straightforward to determine if you are able to make a compensation claim or not. Can you prove the accident was not your fault? Did the accident happen in the last three years? Are you aged 18 or over? Can you prove you have received medical attention for the injuries sustained in the accident? Does the person or organisation that caused the accident have the funds available to pay the compensation? If you’ve answered yes to all these questions then you have solid foundations on which to build a case.

What type of accident were you involved in?

There are many different types of injury claims and amongst the most common are injuries or illnesses sustained while abroad on holiday or a business trip, in the work place, during road traffic accidents, as a result of being a victim of a crime, due to faulty products, following medical negligence or while playing sport.

What kind of injuries did you sustain?

Certain injuries commonly occur following certain kinds of accidents. For example, should you be involved in a road traffic accident then whiplash or a head injury is particularly common, as are back problems if you suffer a trip, slip or fall.

How much could my compensation claim be worth?

No two cases are ever the same and common sense dictates that the severity of any injuries sustained during an accident will determine the amount of compensation likely to be paid out by the person, people or organisation responsible.  Compensation may also be awarded for loss of earnings, medical and travel expenses and for any other financial outlays made as a result of being injured. The exact amount of compensation will ultimately be determined after medical reports have been thoroughly checked. As a rough guide, though, here are estimates of what you may receive by way of compensation if you suffer some of the most common injuries. A simple fracture of the tibia or fibula could lead to a pay-out of up to £5,000, minor whiplash may range between £750 and £4,250 and a minor head injury could total up to £7,000.