Multiple Injury Claims
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The term ‘multiple injuries’ in compensation claims refers to cases where you’ve suffered from more than one injury. For example, you may have internal injuries and a broken limb from the same accident, or you may have suffered from psychological problems as well as various physical injuries.
Any injury can have a devastating impact on your life, and suffering multiple injuries at the same time can feel particularly unfair. You may be able to claim compensation if:
You can speak to an adviser for free on 0800 234 6438 to get more advice on whether you might be able to make a claim.
Multiple injuries can be caused by many types of accidents, but are particularly common in road traffic accidents. The sudden impact of a collision can cause:
Scarring could also be counted as a second injury – for example, if you suffered from a fracture and the bone has pierced the skin, then your solicitor will take into consideration the scar as well as the fracture when working out your compensation.
As vulnerable road users, cyclists and motorcyclists are at particular risk of suffering multiple injuries in a road traffic accident. For example, it’s common for a road accident to lead to broken bones, internal injuries and scarring. If these injuries were sustained in the same accident, then you might be able to make a claim for multiple injury compensation.
The effect of multiple injuries can be devastating and long lasting – they may take a long time to heal; but it’s not just the physical injury that can have an impact on your life.
Any injury can have a devastating impact on your life, and it can feel particularly unfair if the accident wasn’t your fault. If you do choose to make a compensation claim, you solicitor will make sure that your compensation covers every aspect of how your injuries have affected your life and future.
Because no two cases are the same, it’s impossible to know exactly how much compensation you might receive before you start your claim. Your solicitor will consider the full impact of your multiple injuries when calculating your estimated compensation, and will work hard to get you the money you need. For example, your compensation can cover:
For a guideline figure, you can try our compensation calculator which can give you an idea of how much money you might be able to receive for your injuries.
As multiple injury claims can be very complicated, it can sometimes take a while for your claim to be completed. Your injuries will probably already have caused you a significant amount of stress and expense, so, where possible, your solicitor will try to get you an ‘interim payment’ of compensation.
An interim payment is an amount of compensation you receive before your final settlement. This is to cover your immediate needs and allows you to get the help you need while your case progresses. In the case of multiple injuries, you may:
However, it is important to understand that interim payments are only available if liability is admitted by the other side. Your solicitor will work hard to ensure the issue of liability is settled as soon as possible so that they can concentrate on getting a fair settlement and interim payments when possible.
Following an accident, it can be easy to feel that some part of it was your fault; you might feel embarrassed, for example. However, often someone else should have taken steps to make sure you’re safe – your employers in your workplace, or your local authority on the roads, for example.
When you speak to a solicitor, they’ll try to gather as much evidence as possible to show who was liable for your injury – this will make your claim easier, and your solicitor can then try to secure interim payments.
If fault is not admitted, your solicitor will have to prove that the other side was negligent. This will mean showing that they owed you a duty of care, that this duty was breached, and your injuries were a direct result.
Your solicitor will take a full account of events leading to the accident. They’ll also need as much evidence as possible to build a strong case for you such as:
Your solicitor will tell you what other information and documents they will need to support your claim – the more you have, the stronger the chances of your claim being successful.
Your solicitor will also apply for your medical records and arrange an assessment with an expert medical professional on your injuries and your prognosis. It’s likely more than one of these will be needed in the case of multiple injuries.
You should take steps to make your compensation claim as soon as possible because, usually, you only have three years from the date of the incident in which to start legal proceedings. After three years, you’ll be what is known as ‘time-barred’ and might not be able claim compensation.
If you’re claiming for a child, you have until they reach 18 to make a claim (they then have until they’re 21 to make a claim in their own name). If you’re claiming on behalf of someone who isn’t able to do so on their own because of the extent of their injuries, this three-year period doesn’t start until they’ve regained their mental capacity.
However, whether you’re claiming for yourself or for anyone else, start the ball rolling as soon as you can while the accident is fresh in your mind.
If you or a loved one has suffered multiple injuries a result of someone’s negligence, speak to a legal advisor about making a compensation claim as early as possible. Most solicitors work on a no win no fee basis, which means there is minimal financial risk in starting the claim.
You can speak to an expert legal adviser on 0800 234 6438 or by filling in one of the secure call back forms on this page.
Nicola is a dual qualified journalist and non-practising solicitor. She is a legal journalist, editor and author with more than 20 years' experience writing about the law.
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