Multiple Injuries

Our team of experts have successfully dealt with many different types of multiple injury claims, and we know the impact this can have on your life.

Common causes of multiple injuries include:

• Severe road traffic accidents
• A severe accident in the workplace or out in public

Types of injuries we have dealt with in the past include:

• Brain and head injuries
• Damage to internal organs
• Nerve and muscle damage
• Neurological injuries
• Orthopaedic injuries
• Paralysis and spinal injuries

Making a multiple injury compensation claim follows a standard set of steps, each step of which is essential in establishing your case and seeking the compensation you deserve:

1. Medical consultation: if you have suffered multiple injuries, your first priority should be seeking medical attention. This not only ensures your health and safety, but medical reports will also provide crucial evidence in your claim
2. Documenting the incidents: make sure to document the details of each incident as thoroughly and accurately as possible. This includes photographs, witness information, accident reports, and anything else that may be relevant to your claim
3. Consultation with a solicitor: reach out to an experienced personal injury solicitor to discuss your case. A specialist solicitor, such as those at Ramsdens, will be able to evaluate the potential claims and guide you through the legal process
4. Claim submission: your solicitor will then help you to submit your claims, ensuring all necessary documentation is accurately prepared and submitted within any applicable time limits
5. Negotiations and settlement: your solicitor will negotiate with the responsible parties or their insurance companies on your behalf to reach a fair settlement
6. Court proceedings: if a settlement cannot be agreed upon, your solicitor may advise you to take your claim to Court where a judge will decide on the matter

Remember that each multiple injury claim is unique, and the process can vary depending on the specifics of your case.

Making a compensation claim of this type can seem daunting, and sometimes it may seem unclear who you will be claiming against. At Ramsdens, we handle this for you, taking away the stress of the legal process to ensure you are able to focus on getting better.

To support a multiple injury claim, you will need to provide various documents and evidence, which may include:

1. Medical records: your medical records are crucial to establish the nature and extent of your injuries. These may include hospital records, GP records, and any reports from specialists you have seen
2. Photographic evidence: photographs of your injuries and the accident scenes can help demonstrate the circumstances and severity of the accident
3. Accident reports: if your accident was reported to any authorities or organisations, such as the police or your employer, these reports can be useful evidence
4. Witness statements: statements from anyone who witnessed your accident can help support your claim
5. Financial documentation: receipts, bills and wage slips can help prove any financial losses you have incurred due to your injuries, such as medical expenses, travel costs, loss of earnings, and care costs
6. Diary or notes: keeping a diary or notes detailing your injuries, the impact they have had on your life, your recovery process, and any pain or discomfort you experience can also be useful. It is also recommended that you keep a record of any care or assistance provided by friends or family, the nature of that assistance and amount of time that any such assistance was provided for.

Our expert team will guide you through what evidence is needed and take a lead role in assisting you in gathering the necessary documentation to build you a robust case.

In most cases, you will only be able to make a multiple injury claim for incidents where the same party is responsible. However, it is possible to make several multiple injury claims at the same time for accidents or incidents that occurred separately. If you have experienced more than one accident leading to injuries, you may make separate claims for each of these incidents.

Please note that every claim will be treated and assessed individually, each based on its own merits, the circumstances of the accident, and the evidence available. This means that the compensation you might receive can vary from one claim to another, reflecting the severity and impact of each respective injury.

It is crucial to understand, however, that managing multiple claims concurrently can be a complicated and intricate process, involving a multitude of legal and medical considerations. That is where the experienced Personal Injury team at Ramsdens Solicitors can help. We can guide you through this demanding process, ensure your rights are protected, and strive to secure the compensation you are entitled to for each separate injury.

You can make a personal injury claim on behalf of someone else in certain circumstances. These typically include:

1. Children: if the person who was injured is under 18, a parent or guardian can make a claim on their behalf
2. Mental incapacity: if the injured person lacks the mental capacity to manage their own legal affairs, a representative can make a claim for them
3. Fatal accidents: if the injured person has passed away, a representative can make a claim on behalf of their estate or their dependents

We understand that making a claim on behalf of someone else can be a complex and emotional process. Our team is experienced in representing claimants in these situations and will handle your case with the utmost sensitivity and professionalism.

You may still be able to make a multiple injury compensation claim if you were partly at fault for the accidents. This is often referred to as a ‘split liability’ or ‘contributory negligence’. In such cases, the compensation you receive may be reduced to reflect the degree to which you were at fault. For example, if you were found to be 25% responsible for an accident, your compensation might be reduced by 25%. An example of this could be the failure to wear a seatbelt at the time of a road traffic accident.

These cases can be complex and often require skilled negotiation or court intervention to determine the degree of fault. Therefore, it is highly recommended to seek professional legal advice from experienced solicitors, like the team at Ramsdens Solicitors, to assist you with this process.

You can generally make a claim for multiple injuries even if you are already receiving benefits or compensation. However, it is important to understand that certain benefits might be taken into account when calculating your compensation, which could lead to some reduction in the final amount you receive.

If you are receiving benefits because of the same accidents for which you are making a claim, then any compensation you receive may have to be used to repay those benefits.

In such complex situations, it is important to seek legal advice to fully understand how your benefits or existing compensation may interact with your multiple injury claim.

The general rule for making personal injury claims in the UK is that you have a three-year period from the date of the accident or from the date when you first became aware of your injuries (also known as the ‘date of knowledge’). Depending on your circumstances, this may apply to each injury you sustained, meaning that the timeline for each claim can be different if the injuries occurred as a result of separate incidents.

There are a few exceptions to the time limit. In cases where children are involved, the claim can be brought at any time until their 21st birthday. For those who lack mental capacity, the time limit will not be imposed unless they happen to regain mental capacity.

It is advisable to seek legal advice as soon as possible to ensure that you do not lose your right to compensation due to time constraints.

While it is not legally required to hire a solicitor to make a multiple injury claim, it is highly recommended. Making a personal injury claim is a complex process, particularly when involving different accidents or incidents. This complexity arises due to the necessity of proving liability for each incident, navigating insurance policies or their solicitors, and dealing with medical evaluations for each injury.

Our team has the necessary knowledge and experience to navigate these complexities and can help ensure that all aspects of your claim are handled correctly and efficiently. They can also represent your interests in any negotiations or Court proceedings.

Our experienced Personal Injury team is well-versed in managing multiple injury claims, and we are ready to help you through this process. We strive to make this process as straightforward as possible, aiming to secure the maximum compensation you are entitled to while you focus on recovery.

The timeline for settling a multiple injury claim can widely vary depending on the complexity of the case, the severity of the injuries, whether fault is accepted by the other party, and how swiftly the responsible parties respond.

Claims involving minor injuries and clear liability might be settled in a few months, while cases with serious injuries, split liability or complex circumstances may take several years to resolve.

We understand that waiting for a resolution can be stressful. Our dedicated personal injury solicitors strive to progress each case as quickly and efficiently as possible, while ensuring your claim is thoroughly prepared and negotiated to secure the best outcome.

It is important to remember not to rush into a settlement. Accepting an offer too early, before the full extent of your injuries is known, could leave you without sufficient compensation for your needs.

Most personal injury claims, including multiple injury claims, are settled outside of Court. Your solicitor will negotiate with the other party or their insurance company to agree on a settlement. However, if a fair agreement cannot be reached, or if liability is disputed, it may be necessary to go to Court. We understand that this can be especially difficult for those who have suffered multiple injuries, and we will use our experience to guide you through the process to ensure it is as stress-free as possible.

Even when Court proceedings are initiated, a settlement can still be reached at any time before the final hearing. Our experienced solicitors are adept at representing clients both in negotiations and in Court. They can provide you with advice and guidance on whether to accept a settlement offer or proceed to Court.

Calculating compensation for multiple injury claims involves assessing several factors:

1. General damages: this refers to the compensation for the pain, suffering and loss of amenity caused by your injuries. The severity of each injury, its impact on your life, and how long it takes for you to recover are all taken into account
2. Special damages: these are financial losses resulting from your injuries, such as loss of earnings, medical costs, rehabilitation expenses, travel expenses for medical appointments, impacts upon future pensions and the costs of care and assistance needed due to the injuries

When multiple injuries are involved, each injury is typically assessed separately in terms of general damages. However, it’s important to note that the overall amount might not be the sum of each injury’s compensation because courts recognise that the total impact of multiple injuries on a person’s life can be more than the individual effects.

For special damages, any costs or losses directly related to each injury will be considered separately, but financial losses common to all injuries (like loss of earnings) are usually combined into a single claim.

Find out how much your claim could be worth with our guide – How much compensation can I claim for a personal injury?