Question 1

Who is responsible for my personal injury?

Accepted Answer

This will depend on the type of injury you have sustained. If it was sustained in a road traffic accident it may be the driver who caused the accident with the damages recovered from their insurance company. If sustained in a public place it may be the owner of the property or a government body. If the injury was sustained at work or because of work, it will most likely be your employer with damages paid by their insurer.

Every accident is different, and no one claim is the same as another. This means that the claims process can differ according to the unique circumstances of each case.

At JMK, we have successfully assisted over 30,000 clients since 2003 and we are Northern Ireland’s number one personal injury specialist. To help us get the best possible result for your case, we will ask you for the following information:

  Details of the accident, such as where and when it occurred
  A police log or incident number plus any statements (if given)
  Details of your injuries
  Details and evidence of any treatment you’ve received
  Details of any known losses (e.g., wages, damage to property)
  Details of your employment which may include your income if you have been off work.
Once you’ve provided us with all the necessary information, we can bring your claim in the most efficient way. The unique circumstances of your case will determine how quickly we can bring it to a conclusion.

If there are disputes over who is responsible, called ‘liability’, or any serious losses or injuries, for example, the case may end up in court which can prolong the process. We aim to have most injury cases concluded within 12-18 months depending on the nature and complexity of injuries. It’s in your best interests to defer the conclusion of your case to ensure that a full picture of your situation is obtained, especially in cases involving ongoing medical problems caused by the accident. This allows us to ensure you are completely and rightfully compensated.

For non-injury claims, we generally aim to have your case concluded and compensation recovered within six months.

Question 2

How much compensation can I get for a personal injury?

Accepted Answer

How much personal injury compensation you can claim depends on your accident, the circumstances surrounding it, and the losses suffered.

Although some claims can stretch well into the hundreds of thousands and beyond, many factors influence the outcome, such as:

  Your age
  Whether you were partially at fault
  The nature and extent of your injuries
  The nature and extent of your losses
  Other involved parties
JMK Solicitors specialise in Personal Injury and Road Traffic / Car Accident claims and every case is different. We have processed over thirty thousand accident cases since 2003 and we are Northern Ireland’s Number 1 Personal Injury Solicitors. We may need to obtain expert evidence before providing advice on the value of your case.

If you’d like an idea of how much you might be able to claim, speak to the road traffic accident experts at JMK Solicitors to arrange a free consultation and we will give you our honest and expert opinion.

Question 3

How long will it take to get compensation?

Accepted Answer

Every case is different and various factors will determine how quickly we can bring your case to a conclusion, such as if fault for your accident is disputed and if court proceedings are necessary to resolve the issues in your case. However, in a case which does not involve a claim for injury then we will aim to have your losses recovered and your case concluded within six months.

For cases involving personal injury, the nature and complexity of the injury will dictate how long a case takes. We aim to have the majority of our injury cases concluded within twelve to eighteen months. However, it can be in your best interests to defer the conclusion of your case to ensure that a full and complete picture of your symptoms and prognosis is obtained, especially in cases involving worsening or ongoing medical conditions. This will enable us to ensure that you are fully and properly compensated for your injury, pain, and suffering.

Question 4

How much does it cost to make a claim, and who pays?

Accepted Answer

Our initial consultation is free and in fact, JMK Solicitors are the only solicitors in Northern Ireland who, as far as we are aware, are able to offer you an insurance policy which gives protection against the financial risks of bringing a claim for compensation for personal injury and other losses.

This policy covers not just your opponent’s costs, but also your own costs in the event that they cannot be recovered from another party. We believe that we are the only firm who offer any kind of legal costs cover on a complimentary basis – which means that, unlike other firms, when JMK Solicitors provide this  to you, subject to following it’s terms and conditions, you will never be asked to pay for it from any compensation awarded.

Call JMK Solicitors now on 028 9032 0222 for eligibility criteria and to find out more about this product.

Question 5

Can you take my case over from my current solicitor?

Accepted Answer

It is natural particularly when dealing with something as sensitive as a personal injury that you want to ensure you have the best possible person dealing with your case. It will always be advisable to instruct a solicitor who is well experienced in dealing with personal injury litigation, to make sure you get the best possible outcome in your case.

If you have concerns about the way your case is being handled by your current solicitor, you should address this with them directly. Should you remain dissatisfied with their response to your concerns then you may wish to seek a second opinion.

We at JMK Solicitors are always happy to help, we will give you an honest assessment of your case and the progress made to date and then it is up to you to make the decision to stay with the solicitor you already have or to move.

Should you choose to move to JMK Solicitors we will take care of all aspects of the move, all you have to do is make the decision.

We make people our priority at JMK Solicitors and making sure you get a straightforward and honest service is our aim.

Question 6

How much is my case worth?

Accepted Answer

The answer to this question is different for every case. If you have sustained a personal injury or sustained a monetary loss through no fault of your own, then you should be entitled to compensation.

If you were injured due a road traffic accident, accident at work, while undergoing medical treatment or through some other reason that was not your fault, we can help you obtain any payment you are entitled to for your medical expenses plus compensation for pain and suffering. If your injury was serious, we can help you obtain compensation for loss of earnings in the past, present or future as well provision for future care including housing adaption, vehicle and equipment needs.
If a member of your family including a child was injured in an accident, we can also help them obtain compensation for their injuries.
If you have had a road traffic accident and your vehicle was damaged as a result of someone else’s negligence we can recover the cost of repairs or replacement of your vehicle along with hire car costs, any depreciation in value of your vehicle and other expenses.
As we are specialised in this type of law and have processed thousands of cases, we will be able to give you an estimate of how much we think your particular case is worth. Call or email us today to arrange a free consultation and we will give you an honest and expert opinion on the value of your case.

Question 7

Which road traffic accident injuries can I claim for?

Accepted Answer

You’re entitled to make a claim for any type of loss or injury that comes about as a result of a road traffic accident. Some of the most common injuries and losses claimed for include:

  Bruises, cuts, burns, and lesions
  Minor ‘soft-tissue’ injuries such as whiplash
  Fractures, and broken bones
  Trauma to the head or brain
  Psychological harm
  Cost of recovering damaged property
  Lost earnings and loss of future earnings potential
  Pain and suffering

Question 8

How are road traffic accident claims made?

Accepted Answer

Every road traffic accident is different, and no one claim is the same as another. This means that the claims process can differ according to the unique circumstances of each case.

At JMK, we have successfully assisted over 30,000 cases since 2003 and we are Northern Ireland’s number one personal injury specialist. To help us get the best possible result for your case, it helps if you have the following information ready to go:

  Details of the accident, such as where and when it occurred
  A police log or incident number plus any statements (if given)
  Details of your injuries
  Details and evidence of any treatment you’ve received
  Details of any known losses (e.g., wages and property)
  Details of your employment which may include income if you have been off work
Once you’ve provided us with all the necessary information, we can begin to bring your claim. The unique circumstances of your case will determine how quickly we can bring it to a conclusion.

If there are disputes over who is responsible, called ‘liability’, or any serious losses or injuries, for example, the case may end up in court which can prolong the process. We aim to have most injury cases concluded within 12-18 months depending on the nature and complexity of injuries. It may be in your best interests to defer the conclusion of your case to ensure that a full picture of your situation is obtained, especially in cases involving ongoing medical problems caused by the accident. This allows us to ensure you are completely and rightfully compensated.

For non-injury claims, we generally aim to have your case concluded and compensation paid out within six months.

Question 9

Do I need to be a driver to make a road traffic accident claim?

Accepted Answer

No—anyone who’s involved in an accident can make a claim.

Compensation is available for drivers and passengers in cars and other vehicles, including motorcycles. Cyclists and pedestrians, including children, may also be able to make their own claims if they were involved in a road traffic accident.

Question 10

Is there a time limit for making a claim?

Accepted Answer

Yes—it’s important to begin your claim as soon as possible. We would advise this even in the absence of a time limit.

Currently, in Northern Ireland, there’s a limitation period on claims of three years from the date of the injury or three years from the date of knowledge (depending on each case’s unique circumstances) as set out in The Limitation (Northern Ireland) Order 1989. However, the courts have a wide discretion to extend this if it’s equitable to do so.

Claims for anyone under the aged of 18, can be brought up to three years after they turn 18 but the sooner the claim is progressed the better.

Question 11

How much road traffic accident compensation can I claim?

Accepted Answer

How much road accident compensation you can claim depends on your accident, the circumstances surrounding it, and the losses suffered.

Although some claims can stretch well into the hundreds of thousands and beyond, many factors influence the outcome, such as:

  Details of the accident, such as where and when it occurred
  A police log or incident number plus any statements (if given)
  Details of your injuries
  Details and evidence of any treatment you’ve received
  Details of any known losses (e.g., wages and property)
  Details of your employment which may include income if you have been off work
JMK Solicitors specialise in Personal Injury and Road Traffic / Car Accident claims and every case is different. We have processed over thirty thousand accident cases since 2003 and we are Northern Ireland’s Number 1 Personal Injury Solicitors. We may need to obtain expert evidence before providing advice on the value of your case.

If you’d like an idea of how much you might be able to claim, speak to the road traffic accident experts at JMK Solicitors to arrange a free consultation and we will give you our honest and expert opinion.

Question 12

How long will it take to bring my case to a conclusion?

Accepted Answer

Every case is different and various factors will determine how quickly we can bring your case to a conclusion, such as if fault for your accident is disputed and if court proceedings are necessary to resolve the issues in your case. However, in a case which does not involve a claim for injury then we will aim to have your losses recovered and your case concluded within six months.

For cases involving personal injury, the nature and complexity of the injury will dictate how long a case takes. We aim to have the majority of our injury cases concluded within twelve to eighteen months. However, it can be in your best interests to prolong the conclusion of your case to ensure that a full and complete picture of your symptoms and prognosis is obtained, especially in cases involving worsening or ongoing medical conditions. This will enable us to ensure that you are fully and properly compensated for your injury, pain and suffering.

Question 13

Will I have to go to court?

Accepted Answer

We at JMK Solicitors will work to get the best possible outcome for your case. At times it can be best to settle your case with your employer/previous employer or their insurers which would not require you to go to court. However, there are times especially in the most serious injury cases when it’s in the best interest of you the client to proceed to court in order to get the best possible compensation award. We will advise you on the best course of action at the time.

Dearbhla Rafferty

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