In the United Kingdom, there is a strict time limit in place to which you must bring forward a personal injury claim. Under the Limitation Act 1980, that time limit is three years. The three-year time limit starts from the Date of Knowledge, otherwise known as the Date of Limitation, which is the date your accident happened or the date your injuries first become clear. With regards to personal injury claims, it is usually the case that the three-year limitation period starts from the date the accident happened, because this is usually when the victim will have received medical treatment. After three years, personal injury claims become time-barred or statute-barred under the Limitation Act 1980. Once barred, it is not possible to bring them forward, except under exceptional circumstances.
When to contact a lawyer?
Due to the three-year time limit imposed on personal injury claims, it is important that you hire a lawyer to process your claim within three years of your accident if you wish to make a claim for compensation. Otherwise, you are going to run the risk of missing out on the compensation to which you are legally entitled to. If your accident happened some time ago, but you are unsure when then our message is to seek legal advice as soon as possible.
If you are the parent or the legal guardian of a minor who has been injured in an accident, you should contact lawyers when accidents happen immediately. As the parent or the legal guardian of a minor, you can put in a claim for compensation on their behalf as their ‘litigation friend’. To do so, you should seek specialist legal advice from a children’s solicitor.
How can a lawyer help me?
Personal injury lawyers can help you to win financial compensation for your accident and injuries. That compensation could cover your recovery period out of work, or pay for state-of-the-art medical treatment not offered by the NHS. A lawyer will also push for the maximum amount of compensation possible to ensure that you receive a fair pay-out. But above all else, a lawyer will provide you with sound legal advice and support you throughout the claims process (for example, your lawyer can coordinate any medical care you need).
To find a good lawyer, we recommend starting your search with large, national law firms because they have a network of first-class personal injury solicitors. You should also call the law firm’s accident helpline, if they have one, to discuss your case with a claims advisor. This will give you the opportunity to find out more about the law firm and get advice.
