Compensation - How much will I get?

Medical Information

As you can imagine this is crucial to any compensation claim. Your solicitor needs medical information about the injury you have sustained to assess the value of any compensation to which you may be entitled. To do this, he or she may request your medical records from your GP or the hospital where you were treated. No-one can access your records without your written permission.

The solicitor may also require you to see a specialist doctor who will make a professional report explaining the extent of your injuries, how long it might take to recover, etc.

Quantum

The term 'quantum' refers to the total amount of compensation your claim is worth. You can claim for your injuries, suffering, disabilities and expenses. It is therefore imperative that you keep all invoices, receipts relating to your accident.

It is common that an offer of compensation is made to the injured party before the case reaches court, but make sure you have the worth of your claim valued by a specialist as these offers are more often that not way below what could be expected from a court ruling.

Claimants are awarded compensation for 'general damages' and 'special damages'. 'General damages' covers compensation for any pain and suffering and any disability or loss of amenity, such as sight, hearing, etc. It can also cover future difficulty in securing employment. They are valued by your solicitor or assessed by the court using precedents (similar cases) as a guide.

'Special Damages' are the items that can be calculated. These might include: loss of earnings, travel expenses, nursing expenses, cost of prescriptions, private medical care, damaged property, increase in insurance premium, etc.