Personal Injury Claims & Compensation
We are Northern Ireland’s leading personal injury claims law firm. Our specialist injury solicitors will quickly and effectively fight for the compensation that you rightly deserve. It is this dedication to customer service that resulted in more positive client reviews than another injury firm in NI.
With over 50 years of experience, we are certain we can help you with your personal injury claim. Contact our dedicated accident solicitors today to start your claim.
What is a personal injury claim?
Personal injury claims are legal cases where a solicitor brings a civil action against a person or company to compensate an individual for physical and psychological injuries. Injury claims can last several years as solicitors work to determine fault and examine the extent of the injuries. Compensation is typically paid to a claimant by the defendant’s insurance company.
What can I claim for?
If you’ve been injured through no fault of your own, it is possible to claim for a wide array of injuries. We have experience dealing with these types of personal injury matters and can guide you through the process:
- Car Accidents
- Passenger Accidents
- Pedestrian Accidents
- Motorcycle Accidents
- Whiplash Injuries
- Work Accidents
- Tripping or Slipping Accidents
- Serious Injuries
- Industrial Disease
- Hearing Loss
- Medical Negligence
How does the personal injury claims process work?
A typical personal injury claim goes through these phases:
1) Report your accident
Whether it’s a road traffic accident or a slip in a shop, it’s always best you report the accident as soon as possible.
2) Contact a solicitor
It is important to contact a personal injury solicitor after the accident in order to receive the necessary support you require. Solicitors are there to guide you through the entire claims process. Moreover, they will be able to advise on who is at fault and begin the legal proceedings on your behalf.
3) Gathering evidence of the accident
A key part of a solicitors job is gathering as much evidence as possible to assist with your case. A bit of detective work is necessary to determine what happened, how it happened, where it happened, and who was involved. In order to do this, our solicitors gather CCTV footage, examine photos, retrieve copies of the police report, as well as contact relevant witnesses.
4) Assessing your injuries
In order to proceed with your personal injury compensation claim, your solicitor will need to gather medical evidence associated with your injuries or illness. Ordinarily, you will likely be asked for photos of your injuries and consult with medical experts. Under those circumstances, all this will be done to determine the short and potential long-term impacts of your injury.
5) Calculating damages
It is important to assess the extent of your injuries in order to establish the level of damages (otherwise known as compensation) you receive. The length of time necessary to determine the damages depend directly on the complexity of the injury. In essence, a minor injury may be calculated quickly, while a serious injury would require additional time. Furthermore, medical reports will be examined closely in this calculation.
6) Reaching a settlement
Negotiations will likely take place as all parties want a quick, fair and reasonable settlement. After representation for the claimant and defendant meet, the claimant may be given an offer which they can either accept or reject. The majority of personal injury claims are settled in this way.
A legal case may proceed to court in order to reach the appropriate conclusion if liability is denied by the defendant. However, most personal injury cases are settled before they reach a trial. On the rare occasion that your case does go to court, our experienced solicitors would be able to represent you.
7) Receive your personal injury compensation
How does Paschal O'Hare help people make personal injury claims?
Is there a time limit for making a personal injury claim?
Many people aren’t aware that there is a time limit on when you can bring your personal injury claim. According to Section 11 of the Limitation Act 1980, a personal injury claim time limit is 3 years from either the date the injury occurred or from the date you first became aware your injury was a result of someone else’s negligence. This limitation can be extended under certain exceptional circumstances. For example, if the claim is for a child or if the injured party is not mentally fit to begin a claim. Contact our solicitors if you’re unsure whether your claim falls within this limitation.
How much is my personal injury claim worth?
Due to the complex nature of most injuries, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to how much your personal injury claim may be worth. Generally speaking, the amount of compensation you receive is proportionate to the extent of your injury. This means that the more severe the injury, the higher the compensation that you could receive. Interestingly, our website features an informative personal injury compensation calculator that provides estimates for certain types of injuries.
How long will my personal injury compensation claim take?
It is difficult to determine exactly how long a compensation claim can take because every injury is unique. Generally speaking, the length of time a claim takes is linked with its complexity. Therefore, a claim for an injury resulting from a minor road traffic accident will likely take less time than a serious accident at work. Our solicitors will be able to provide you with a timeline once they examined all the facts.
How can I make a personal injury claim in Northern Ireland?
You can begin a personal injury claim by speaking with an expert solicitor at Paschal O’Hare Solicitors. We are one of the top solicitors in Northern Ireland. Our injury specialists are here to guide you through the entire claims process. In fact, it doesn’t matter if it’s a road traffic accident / car accident or workplace accident or a hearing loss claim, our solicitors are here to help. Find out if you can make a claim by calling us or fill out our contact form.
Why choose Paschal O’Hare Personal Injury Solicitors?
We are personal injury specialists that work solely on personal injury claims. We take pride in helping injury victims across Northern Ireland every single day. Our top solicitors are here to fight in your corner and make sure you receive the compensation that you deserve. We have been helping local car accident, work accident, and serious injury victims for over 50 years. If you need an injury solicitor with extensive legal knowledge and experience, contact us today or visit our offices in Belfast, Glengormley and Carrickfergus.
Patrick O’Hare
Case Studies
Dorothy’s fall settles for £70,000 (Belfast)
Dorthy was walking from the hairdressers to cross the pelican crossing when she tripped on uneven paving causing her to fall to the ground. Her
Greg’s Work Accident Claim Settles for £100,000 (Ballymoney)
Greg, a lab technician in Ballymoney, was involved in an accident while working overtime during an Easter holiday shift. To deal with the sweltering lab
Samuel’s Work Accident Claim Settles for £35,000 (Belfast)
During his employment in Belfast, Samuel encountered a hazard that led to a serious injury. A ruffled-up mat caused him to trip and crash through
