Car Accident Compensation Payout – How Much Can I Claim?
If your claim is successful, you will be entitled to two elements of a compensation award.
The first is for the pain and suffering you may have gone through and what is known as loss of amenity. This is called the general damages and can include awards for your inability to carry out every day tasks after the accident that you used to be able to, for example, taking children to school, housework, DIY etc. The award for loss of amenity can be made for a short period after the road accident or for the rest of your life if the medical evidence supports this.
The second element of a compensation award is for your losses and expenses and is known as special damages. It is important to keep the receipts for any expenditure you have incurred which is related to the accident, so that this can be reclaimed.
Uninsured losses are heads of claims, which are specifically not covered under the terms of your own motor insurance policy, which may include any of the following:
POLICY EXCESS – If you are insured on a Comprehensive basis, you may have to pay the first amount of the vehicle repairs upon completion. This is called a policy excess which can vary in amount. If you are unsure of the amount of your excess, then you should contact your Insurance Company or intermediary.
VEHICLE REPAIRS – If you are insured on a Third Party Fire and Theft basis, we will pursue to recover with regard to the damage sustained to your vehicle and if necessary appoint an independent assessor. Please ensure that two comparative repair estimates are forwarded to this office. If the vehicle is beyond economic repair, then please mark this on the Compensation Questionnaire.
HIRE CHARGES – If your vehicle has been so badly damaged that you are unable to use it, then you may need to incur hire charges. This may have been supplied through your Legal Expenses Company on a credit hire basis or part of a benefit on your Legal Expenses Policy. If you are currently paying for your own hire charges, then please contact this office as soon as possible.
LOSS OF USE – If at any stage you are without the use of your vehicle and do not have a replacement car facility, then we will include a claim for loss of use for the relevant period. Awards for loss of use are not guaranteed and will vary.
TRAVELLING EXPENSES – If you incur necessary travelling expenses as a direct result of the accident, such as bus fares, train fares, taxi fares, etc., we will attempt to pursue recovery of the same although it is essential that you supply all relevant receipts or tickets.
INCIDENTAL EXPENSES – These may take the form of necessary telephone calls, postal costs, photocopying etc., that has arisen as a direct result of the accident.
PERSONAL INJURY – If you or any passenger has sustained a personal injury as a result of the accident, we will attempt to pursue the claim on your behalf. If you have suffered a personal injury, please supply as much detail concerning the nature of the injury and whether you have visited a GP or Hospital following the accident.
LOSS OF EARNINGS – If you have incurred loss of earnings, you should obtain a letter from your employer which confirms the date which you were absent and also the nett amount of loss of earnings after Tax and National Insurance has been deducted. You may be required to provide wage slips for the three months prior to the accident. If you are self-employed, you should obtain documentation from your Accountant which will show your profit and loss account for the three months leading up to the accident and show your net loss of earnings after Tax and National Insurance.
If you would like our help, please call us our Uninsured Driver helpline on 0845 269 3571, and we can then help you recover compensation.