The Advantages Of Obtaining Legal Advice At An Early Stage When Pursuing A Personal Injury Claim

When a person suffers a personal injury as a result of being in an accident, it can often have an immediate detrimental impact on their life. It is not uncommon for the person to feel overwhelmed which may result in them being reluctant to seek legal advice on any potential compensation claim.

The purpose of this article is to highlight the advantages of obtaining this advice as quickly as possible.

The list below is by no means exhaustive but sets out some of these advantages:-

1. In a personal injury claim, there is no property in a witness. This means that neither party can stop the other party from approaching a witness and obtain a witness statement from them. It is advantageous to be the first party to do this.
2. The shorter the time period since the accident, the more likely it is that the witness will have a clearer recollection of the accident.
3. The evidence relating to the accident is more likely to be preserved if it is requested at an early stage. For example, CCTV footage and dashcam evidence is often deleted after a period of time.
4. The Defendant insurance company will be invited to fund the Claimant’s immediate rehabilitation needs on a private basis when they are notified of the claim. There is often a long waiting list on the NHS for this treatment. If the Defendant insurance company agrees to fund this treatment through the private sector then it will inevitably enable the Claimant to undertake their treatment sooner and (most likely) in a more convenient location thereby maximising their chance of making a good recovery.
5. In many cases, the Claimant has been unable to return to work and is suffering from financial hardship. A voluntary interim payment can be requested from the Defendant insurance company at an early stage.
6. If a person has been involved in a fatal accident then it is likely that there will be an inquest. If legal advice is sought at an early stage then legal representation can be arranged for the inquest hearing on behalf of the bereaved family or friends.

To conclude, whilst it may first appear to be daunting to seek legal advice, it is a necessary step to take in order to get a person’s life back on track as quickly as possible.

If you require legal assistance and would like to discuss your situation with one of our personal injury experts, call us on 0330 822 3451 or request a callback online.