Assessing the Costs Associated with Personal Injury Claims
- By Daniel Smith
- Published 02/2/2012
- Business
- Unrated
When you suffer injuries in an accident for which you were not responsible you have the right to file a personal injury claim. You need to apply to the Irish Injuries Board in order to claim compensation from the liable party. However, this body does not hear cases, and you may have to take the claim to court if the defendant party does not admit liability or there is any disagreement between the two parties regarding the settlement amount.
One concern that bothers the victim of a personal injury case is the cost associated with filing such a claim. When you have to deal with expenses like medical treatment for the injuries as well as problems like loss of earnings, any additional cost seems like a burden. In such a circumstance, it is difficult to arrange for the legal costs. This may include solicitor’s fees, application fees, court costs, and so on. The solicitor’s fees depend on certain factors, which are as follows:
- The knowledge and experience of the solicitor
- The success rate of the solicitor
- The complexity of the case
There is no reason to worry. What you need to do is find a solicitor firm that works on a ‘no win no fee’ basis. How does this arrangement work? Many solicitors specialising in personal injury claim Ireland charge fees from clients only if their claim is successful. This ensures that you are not burdened with the solicitor’s fees even when you lose. However, as the solicitor invests significant time and effort in such a case, they take up claims only if the chances of success are good.
Generally the losing party pays the legal costs of both the parties in a personal injury claim. However, if you had a ‘no win no fee’ arrangement with your solicitor, and if he is not successful, you need not pay any fees for the services he provides. As your solicitor’s fees are at stake, he would take up the cases that have the merit to succeed. Getting a legal fees insurance policy is an additional measure you can take to avoid monetary hassles if your solicitor is unsuccessful.
The solicitor’s fees are not the only expense associated with filing a personal injury claim. There may be other costs as well. It is better to get in touch with a solicitor to assess these beforehand to understand how much you may have to pay. This may include charges for getting medical evidence. Sometimes, you may have to pay for the expert testimonials to support your claim. Consult your solicitor to get a briefing about the expenses that you may incur during the legal procedure.
It is necessary to talk to a solicitor before you apply to the Injuries Board. This would ensure proper representation from the beginning. Do not let the thought of cost be a deterrent, as proper representation is necessary to ensure proper exercise of your rights to claim compensation for the injuries you suffer. Before you appoint his services, it is wise to enquire about the costs associated with the legal process.
Author Bio
Daniel Smith is a legal expert and consultant. He provides suggestions to victims regarding injury and accident claims. If you were looking for more information on personal injury claims, he recommends you to visit http://www.personalinjurydirect.ie/for more details.
