Claims Process

Everything we do at Watermans is about getting you the resolution you need and making that process as easy, clear, and painless as possible. We offer digestible legal advice and a straightforward claims process. Because it should be that simple.

How does the claims process work?

1

You contact us

We take your details and a brief deception of your circumstances. You can send us this information via our website, by email, on social media or by calling us.

2

We investigate

We gather the full details of your claim from you and any witnesses to ensure that we have a complete picture of the injuries and losses you have sustained.

3

You Leave it to us

We then deal with the at fault party on your behalf from intimating the claim, presenting your case and, in most cases, negotiating settlement for you.

4

We get you justice

We will hold the at fault party to account to ensure you receive the maximum level of compensation you are entitled to, allowing you can move on with your life.

The Long of it

Why make a claim?

Personal Injury claims through Watermans don’t only result in monetary compensation, we can also help get your life back on track by providing you with a replacement vehicle or physiotherapy for example.

Have you suffered a personal injury as a result of an accident that wasn’t your fault? You may be entitled to personal injury compensation. Accidents can be traumatic and often have serious lasting impacts. You might need to find a new job, be unable to attend work, or have trouble caring for your children. Whether you’ve been in a road traffic accident or an accident at work, adjusting to life afterwards can be difficult.

After your accident, injury lawyers at Watermans will help you get the best medical care, build a strong case for making a personal injury claim, settle your claim, and work towards helping you acclimatise to life afterwards.

We understand that it can be daunting to make a personal injury claim—especially if you haven’t previously used a solicitor. Our specialist team of personal injury lawyers have helped lots of people just like you to get the compensation they deserve. From the initial accident to adjusting to life afterwards, we will be with you every step of the way providing you with Straightforward legal advice and getting your life back on track

How to make a claim?

At Watermans we understand that the thought of pursuing a claim after an accident can be daunting. Therefore, we will provide you with straightforward legal advice and make the process simple for you. To enquire about a possible claim:

call us on 0131 555 7055

Request a call back from one of our team

or complete our enquiry form

How much can I claim?

Every accident is unique and so are the injuries and losses that arise from the accident.

Knowing what you can claim for is equally as important as knowing that you can pursue a claim at all as you only have one opportunity to receive compensation following an accident. That is why it is essential that you use a personal injury specialist to act for you following an accident to ensure that they obtain the maximum amount of compensation that you are entitled to.

There are a number of different things that you can receive compensation for following an accident and a brief guide of each of these Heads of Claim is listed below:

Solatium (pain and suffering)

Compensation is provided for the pain and suffering you have endured as a result of your injury. In Scotland, this is known as solatium. The amount of compensation you receive will depend on the type and severity of the injury you have suffered. For further information on the level of compensation you could recover for solatium please see our Personal Injury Calculator.

Loss of Earnings

It is very common that following an accident you might need to take time off work. This may result in you suffering a loss of earnings. If the accident was not your fault you are entitled to recover any loss of earnings you have suffered from the person responsible for causing your accident (even if that happens to be your employer). In cases involving more serious injuries it may not be possible to return to work or at least to the job you were doing at the time of your accident. In this scenario a claim for future loss of earnings may also be made.

Other Financial Losses/Out of Pocket Expenses

Whilst a claim for loss of earnings deals with what you don’t receive as a result of an accident it is also important to consider additional expenses that you have incurred following an accident. This might include things like damage sustained to property or clothing which you require to replace and the cost of attending hospital appointments. These are all expenses which would not have arisen had your accident not happened. Vouching for thee losses will however be required.

Vehicle Repair

As part of the full care service provided by Watermans we can arrange for your vehicle to be repaired to its pre –accident standard by an approved repairer. The costs of this will be met in full by the at fault party and, unlike pursuing a claim through your insurers you will not require to pay an excess. We can also pursue a claim for the value of your vehicle if the damage is such that your vehicle is written off following the accident.

Replacement Vehicle Costs

We can provide you with a like for like hire vehicle for the duration of the time your vehicle is being repaired at no cost to you. This will be recovered from the at fault party.

Medical Treatment

If you require medical treatment following an accident such as physiotherapy, counselling, etc then you may wish to have this provided privately to avoid the need to wait on an NHS waiting list. If you fund this treatment yourself we can recover these costs for you providing vouching for the cost of the treatment is provided. Alternatively, our Total Care allows us to provide this treatment to you at no cost and we would then recover the costs directly from the at fault party.

Services (Assistance form family members)

The law in Scotland recognises that following an accident, family members play a key role in helping an injured person during their recuperation. Assistance may be given in a number of ways for example helping you get washed and dressed, preparing meals, doing housework or grocery shopping. Whilst it is accepted that families b their nature will provide this help without charge, it is possible to recover compensation for the services that have been provided toyou (and may be required in the future) as a result of the accident.

What is no win, no fee?

You may have heard this term used in various personal injury adverts. The actual, legal term being referred to is called ‘conditional fee agreement’ however; ‘no win no fee’ seems to be more widely used.

No win no fee means that you don’t have to be out of pocket, and also if your case is unsuccessful you won’t be charged a penny. If you win, the at-fault party will cover the legal costs, including fees, court costs, and other expenses. Your solicitor will also be entitled to a fee, which is known as the ‘success fee’. This would be deducted from your compensation.

The advantage of the no wins no fee system, is that it’s relatively easy and reduces the risks for the claimant. A lawyer or solicitor will not take on your case unless they think there is a good chance of it succeeding. Which means that from the start if you will know if you have a good case before committing time and money.

Unfortunately, there may be firms who work in conjunction with insurance companies and sell their policies, often at expensive premiums, for their clients. Another risk is that of the ‘success fee’ which is deducted from your compensation award.

This can be set at a very high rate and makes a huge dent in your award. In some situations, clients receive a tiny amount of money which is much less than they had expected to receive. Make sure that you understand the no win no fee policy for your chosen lawyer or solicitor. Ensure that you are fully aware of what you are paying for and why before you sign any contracts or similar documentation.

How much could you claim?

The figures quoted are a rough guide to show you the amount you could receive as compensation for your injury. Our solicitors will advise you in more detail about your specific claim.

Your claim could be worth...

Claim Worth

The figures quoted are a rough guide to show you the amount you could receive as compensation for your injury. Our solicitors will advise you in more detail about your specific claim.

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Get in touch with us

Everything we do at Watermans is about getting you the resolution you need and making that process straightforward. Start the process by sending us your details below or calling us on 0131 555 7055

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Our personal injury claims expert

“Making a claim for compensation can be such a daunting process for people, so I try to make it as straightforward and easy to understand as I can for them.”

Susanne McGraw, Head of Personal Injury

About-hero-2

Watermans are your modern law firm and estate agency operating across Scotland with offices in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dundee.

We get results. But more than that, we’ve dedicated our business to uncomplicating the journey that gets us there.

Dealing with a solicitor should be a straightforward, transparent experience that resolves your situation. Too often that is not the case. Everything we do at Watermans is about getting you the resolution you need and making that process as easy as possible.

Straightforward legal advice.

Why choose us Meet the team