Accidents & Personal Injury - FAQs

Below are some initial questions many personal injury clients have when they first contact Pinney Talfourd LLP.

Q. What claims do Pinney Talfourd deal with?

A. Passenger Claims

If you have suffered injury whilst a passenger in a vehicle, train or other mode of transport, Pinney Talfourd can handle your claim.

A. Cycle Claims

Accidents involving cyclists caused by pot holes in the road or as a result of collisions with vehicles. Pinney Talfourd has extensive experience of dealing with accidents on 2 wheels.

A. Motorcycle Accident Claims

Pinney Talfourd has particular expertise in dealing with motorcycle accident claims. Your claim will be dealt with by a lawyer who is also an advanced motorcyclist with extensive experience of dealing with these very specialised claims.

A. Fatal Accidents

These claims are handled with particular sensitivity. Pinney Talfourd has extensive experience of dealing with claims on behalf of the bereaved in a variety of different circumstances.

A. Pedestrian Accident Claims

Pinney Talfourd have dealt with many of these claims with a high success rate and are always willing to consider whether a claim has reasonable prospects of success, whether it be against the driver of a vehicle, the highway or another responsible party.

A. Road Traffic Accident Claims

If you have been injured in a road traffic accident we can handle your claim for you even if the responsible driver is uninsured or untraced.

A. Whiplash Claims

Whiplash injuries can involve long lasting symptoms. Pinney Talfourd has a great deal of experience of dealing with these claims over many years and the particular difficulties they can present.

A. Slips and Trips

Pinney Talfourd are experienced in dealing with these claims whether the accident has occurred in a shop or other place open to the public or on private land.

A. Accidents Involving Children

These cases require particular sensitivity and skill. Pinney Talfourd has extensive experience of dealing with claims involving children of all ages who have been injured in a variety of different circumstances.

A. Workplace Injuries

These cases can often involve serious injury and financial loss. Pinney Talfourd has a breadth of experience in dealing with such claims which often involve complex issues of law.

A. Accidents involving visitors

If you have been injured whilst visiting an office, shop or other premises, Pinney Talfourd can provide the legal expertise needed to pursue your claim.

Q. Are you claims handlers or solicitors?

A. We are a firm of Solicitors with offices in Upminster, Hornchurch and Brentwood in Essex. We are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and must abide by a strict set of Practice Rules. At all times your claim will be dealt with by an experienced Personal Injury solicitor and not by a claims handler. Our aim is not only to maximise the sum of compensation for you but also to ensure that you have the best quality of life available to you following an accident.

Q. I am not sure if I have a claim

A. Please call Stephen Green on 01708 511000 to discuss any potential claim. This discussion is free of charge and there is no obligation to use our services. You can telephone or e-mail us with your query. Should you want to discuss your claim face-to face, we can either come to our offices or we can visit you at your home or at your place of work. Again, any follow up interview is completely free of charge and there is no obligation to use our services.

Q. I can't afford to bring a claim

A. There are many ways your legal costs can be funded. You might have Legal Expenses Cover attached to your Household and/or Motor Insurance policies. Your Credit Cards may even provide you with Legal Expenses Cover. If you belong or used to belong to a Trade Union, they may also fund your legal costs. If none of the above are available, then you might be able to use our No Win-No Fee Scheme. If your claim is successful, we will claim your compensation and also our costs from the other party's insurance company. You will receive 100% of your compensation, but please also refer to the question below regarding compensation for further details on this.

Q. My accident happened a long time ago

A. The general rule is that you have three years from the date of the accident to issue Court proceedings against the person or organisation which caused your injury. If you do not issue Court proceedings within this time, you will not be able to bring a claim. However, there are exceptions to this rule (for example, in the case of a child, a claim can be made up until he/she reaches the age of 21) and so if you fall outside this time period, please contact us anyway to discuss the matter further.

Q. How much is my case worth?

A. The amount of compensation (also called damages) that you might be entitled to is split into two parts, general damages and special damages. General damages compensates you for the pain, suffering and loss of amenity you have endured as a result of the accident. A medical report will be prepared on your injuries which will give us a clear idea as to the nature and extent of your injuries. Your injuries are then valued by making comparisons with awards in similar cases, guidelines published by the Judicial Studies Board and adjusting them as necessary with the benefit of our experience. Special damages compensate you for any reasonable financial losses incurred as a result of the accident such as: loss of earnings, travelling costs and care costs. Therefore, it is very important that you keep all receipts and a careful note of what you spend. We will give you a specifically tailored document to help you to do this.

Q. How long will my claim take?

A. We will look to finish your claim as soon as possible. However, it might not always been in your best interests to rush a claim through to completion. It all depends on the type of accident and the extent of the injuries suffered. It normally takes between 6 months to 2 years to finalise settlement of claims, but can take longer. Each case is different and we will offer you guidance on when it is appropriate to settle the claim or issue court proceedings.

Q. Will I get all of my compensation?

A. As long as you have signed the relevant paperwork, we will aim to ensure that you receive 100% of the compensation awarded to you. Only on very rare occasions will a client have to pay something from their damages and this will probably be because he/she has not kept to the terms of their agreement with us or we have not been able to recover legal costs in full.

Q. I don't want to make a claim against my employers in case I lose my job.

A. An employer is not allowed to sack you if you are injured in an accident at work. Also, please remember that by law, your employer has to have insurance to cover their employees for accidents at work. In reality, the insurance company will deal with the claim and pay your compensation, and not your employer.

Q. Will I have to go to court?

A. Most cases are settled before they go to court. However, sometimes, it may be necessary to issue court proceedings if that is the best way of getting you the compensation you deserve as quickly as possible. We will advise you fully about what to expect at any court hearing and guide you through the court process.

Q. I feel embarrassed about making a claim

A. There is no reason why you should put up with injury and pain caused by an accident which was somebody else's fault. Please remember that as a victim of an accident which was not your fault and was caused by someone else, you are legally entitled to receive compensation. Indeed, your claim will only succeed if we can show that someone has been negligent or has been in breach of a duty.

Accidents & Personal Injury - FAQs

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