How does it work?

For some people, the first step in making a claim can be the hardest, that's why we've tried to make it as straightforward as possible for you.

When you are ready to make a claim, all you need to do is call us or fill in the claim form on our website. Or, if it's easier for you, you can just leave your details and we'll call you back at a convenient time.

If you're not quite ready to claim and have more questions, give us a call for a chat with one of our advisors.

Our aim is to help you understand exactly how the claims process works and what's involved, and to ensure it is straightforward for you from start to finish.

To show you how exactly what's involved, we have put together an interactive process diagram to give you a clear, step-by-step guide.

Our role is to make it simple and straightforward for you to gain access to justice following an injury, making claiming compensation as stress-free as possible.

As soon as you get in touch with us, our legally trained advisors will be happy to give you all the information you need to help you decide whether to make a claim, and answer any questions you may have. If you wish to go further, they can then advise if you may have a valid claim.

If you are eligible to claim, your advisor will pass you on to one of our specialist personal injury solicitors, usually in your local area. Your solicitor will then look after your claim. And you shouldn't have to pay a penny.

When you have established that you want to claim for your injury, we will put you in touch with one of the solicitors from our panel.

We believe it's important to find the right solicitor for every claim. To us, finding the right solicitor means two things; firstly, we find a solicitor who specialises in personal injury, and secondly, we aim to find a solicitor in your local area. If there isn't an appropriate solicitor in your area, we'll find the best solicitor for your claim, though they might be a little further away. In the majority of cases, you won't have to travel so this will not affect you in any way.

The idea of piles of paperwork is enough to put many people off claiming altogether. But when you claim with us your solicitor will do a lot of this for you.

All you will need to do is supply basic details which are relevant to your claim and sign some documents. You will also need to attend a medical assessment that will be arranged for you. Your solicitor will try to take care of everything else.

You can read our customer charter, which outlines the service standards we set for ourselves.

The idea of claiming may conjure up images of an intimidating court room. However, almost all cases are settled before they get that far - in fact, fewer than 5% of our personal injury claims end up in court.

This is because the other side's insurance company has to pay all of your solicitor fees as well as their own if they lose, so they will usually want to settle your case before it goes to court.

People sometimes worry that if they are claiming against their employer or someone they know, that they will leave that person out of pocket, but this shouldn't be the case.

All employers, like most people you might claim against (from other drivers to your local council), are legally obliged to have insurance to cover any claims made against them. It is their insurance company that will pay your compensation.

Our solicitors aim to resolve each case as swiftly and efficiently as possible, however we don't believe in settling for what's easy or quick, so we won't compromise on time when it comes to getting you the compensation you deserve.

Simple claims can often be settled within a relatively short time, but some cases (particularly when the injury is more serious) require a different, more cautious approach and can take longer. But every case is different. Your National Accident Helpline solicitor will be able to give you a better indication of how long it might take, and will keep you informed of how things are going whenever there is a development.