We understand that making a claim can seem a daunting prospect and you may feel like the underdog, especially if you haven't dealt with a solicitor before. It doesn't help your confidence when companies are vague about how they work. So in this section we have tried to make the claims process as simple and transparent as possible - taking you through how the system works and what you can expect along the way.
Don't miss our interactive process diagram, below the questions, it will help you get a clear picture of the process and what is involved.
If there's anything we have missed just type your question into the one of the question boxes, or give us a call on 0800 4346 339 - we're happy to help.
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.
Paul Jones, 25, Yorkshire, received £1,700 when he was injured as a passenger:
"I injured my neck when the car I was a passenger in went into the back of another car. When I called the number on the TV advert an advisor listened to my circumstances and arranged for a local lawyer to take things forward."
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.
We have over 100 solicitor firms working on our panel
Each panel firm specialises in Personal Injury Claims
In 2009, we helped over 50,000 people get
access to justice
Our panel of solicitors cover 100% of the UK
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.
Wondering how much you can claim for?
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.
Mr Stevens, 28, Surrey, was awarded £4,980:
"The solicitor ensured that my case was handled in a straightforward way and I was very pleased that my compensation came through in six months."
You've had an accident and had a look at our website, now let us sort out the rest for you.
You have suffered an accident in the past 3 years
The accident was at least partly someone else's fault
All you have to do now is call National Accident Helpline or start your claims process here
at no cost to you
Defendant disputes your claim. Case goes to court ONLY if agreement cannot be reached
Case wins! You get 100% compensation
Responsibility accepted, your solicitor negotiates compensation
You and your solicitor decide to proceed with the claim
This is called a 'Letter of Claim' - it explains that you intend to claim for your injuries which were caused by their fault.
Your solicitor will collect medical evidence from your doctors or hospital records, they may also set up a new medical assessment on your behalf.
Once the evidence is collected, they will put together a list of all the financial losses you intend to claim for, called a 'Schedule of Losses'.
This letter will include the list of losses you have suffered. Following this, the other side will need to dispute your claim or accept responsibility and pay the compensation.
This is called a 'Letter of Claim' - it explains that you intend to claim for your injuries which were caused by their fault.
Your solicitor will collect medical evidence from your doctors or hospital records, they may also set up a new medical assessment on your behalf.
Once the evidence is collected, they will put together a list of all the financial losses you intend to claim for, called a 'Schedule of Losses'.
This letter will include the list of losses you have suffered. Following this, the other side will need to dispute your claim or accept responsibility and pay the compensation.