We've all seen the adverts with the "have you suffered a slip, trip or fall? then you may be entitled to compensation", and they always seem a bit creepy. However, if you are unfortunate enough to find yourself injured through no fault of your own, then you may well be entitled to some form of compensation.  It could well be that you slipped on a wet shop floor, or tripped on a broken paving slab resulting in an injury.  Many people every year break bones in these sorts of accidents and for some people it can be quite traumatic. If you find yourself needing to make a personal injury compensation claim then there are a few things you should know first.

From the time of your accident, as a general rule you have 3 years in which to make your claim. There are no set rules as to the amounts of compensation that are payable with regards to accidents. It may be that you settle out of court, which is always the preferable option, but if it goes to court then the amount awarded is down to the judges discretion. You need to be able to prove that you were injured as a result of a person or company's negligence, which would make them liable. The best way to start making a personal injury compensation claim is to contact a solicitor to see if they feel you have a case. If you are a member of a trade union this may entitle you to free or reduced legal representation. However if you are not, there are many no win no fee solicitors who will help represent you, who will be willing to give their opinion as to whether you have a case or not. They will ask you for some details of your accident such as the date it happened, where it happened and how. The may ask for contact details for any witnesses there may have been, the details of your injuries and any treatment you have recieved or are still receiving.

They may also ask to see things such as proof of loss of earnings as a result of the accident and copies of any household or car insurance policies you have to see if they will cover your legal costs. Once it is established you have a case, you can then decide to appoint the solicitor to act on your behalf. If you have found a no win no fee solictor to represent you then their fees and any other disbursements relating to you claim will be paid by the other party should you win. There will also be a "success fee" that is more often than not payable by the other party. In the unlikely event you should loose your claim then you will not be liable for the solicitors fees.

Making a personal injury compensation claim can be a long, drawn-out process. However, if you believe you have genuinely suffered as a result of an accident then it is worth going through the claim process in order to get rightfully compensated.