Introduction to accident claims Sheridan & Co Solicitors in Kingston Upon Thames Surrey SW London

Frequently Asked Questions - personal injury and accident compensation claims

How long will my personal injury case take?

This varies from case to case. Some claims settle within a few months; others, particularly where there has been a serious injury and the other side denies that the accident was its fault, take much longer. We try to conclude cases as quickly as possible, while at the same time not compromising on our goal of obtaining the maximum possible damages for our clients.

How long can I wait after the accident until I make a personal injury claim?

In most cases you must make the claim within three years of the accident or injury. However, there are some exceptions to this. So if your accident was more than three years ago, it is still worth contacting us to see whether one of the exceptions apply.

I feel I was partly to blame- can I still make a claim?

Yes, even if you were partly to blame you can still get compensation. However, this may reduce the total amount of compensation you receive.

Will I have to pay your fees if the personal injury claim is unsuccessful?

If we take your case on a conditional fee (‘no win, no fee’) basis, we will only get paid if the claim is successful. For more information on ‘no win, no fee’ and other ways of funding a case see Funding your Personal Inury claim.

What types of personal injury compensation claims does SheridanLaw bring?

Road Traffic Accident personal injury compensation claims; Accidents at Work personal injury compensation claims; Workplace Illness and Asbestos personal injury compensation claims; Accidents Abroad including Europe and the USA; Accidents on Airplanes compensation claims; Accidents at Sea injury compensation claims and Criminal Injuries Compensation Claims.

Can I use SheridanLaw even though I live in the north of England?

Yes; although we are based in Kingston and most of our clients are from Surrey and London, we frequently represent clients from other parts of the country and from abroad, in particular from America. Because of our national reputation in medical negligence compensation and claims that involve suing the NHS, we are often asked to act on behalf of people from across the country.

How much compensation will I get?
This depends entirely on the particular circumstances. Some of our clients, who have suffered severe injuries that have significantly impacted their lives, have been awarded very high amounts. At the other end of the spectrum, we represent clients whose claims are worth only a few thousand pounds. SheridanLaw will always work hard to ensure that you get the maximum compensation possible for the particular injury suffered.

Will I have to go to court?

The vast majority of cases settle (ie we reach an agreement on the amount of compensation with the other side after obtaining your approval). In these cases, there is no need for you to go to court.

Will I be updated regularly on the progress of my personal injury case?

Yes, we update our clients regularly in personal injury cases as well as medical negligence compensation cases, including those that involve suing the NHS.

Will there be lots of legal jargon that is difficult to understand?

When you are dealing with the law it is impossible to avoid all legal jargon. However, we always try to use clear and understandable English. If, however, there is anything you do not understand, we will be more than happy to explain it to you.

How much experience does SheridanLaw have in personal injury cases?

SheirdanLaw has brought many hundreds of claims, and has been specialising in accident claims and personal injury law, as well as medical negligence compensation and claims that involve suing the NHS, for over 25 years. Ian Sheridan is a member of the Law Society Personal Injury Panel and is a Senior Litigator of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL).

I was in an accident while on holiday in Florida. Are you able to help?

Yes; as well as having American qualified lawyers in our team, we have an extensive network of contacts throughout the US. Working with these contacts, we are able to bring cases in America when it is in the best interest of our clients to do so.