PERSONAL INJURY
Legal advice and representation if you have been injured in an accident caused wholly or partly by someone else.
An accident can affect your health, your work, your finances and your day-to-day life. Rahim Ahmed Solicitors can advise you on whether you may have a claim for compensation and, where we are able to accept your case, guide you through the claims process.
We act in a range of personal injury matters, including road traffic accidents, accidents at work and accidents in public places.
No Win, No Fee funding may be available subject to an assessment of your claim and agreement of the funding arrangements.
HOW WE CAN HELP
We can advise and represent individuals who have suffered injury as a result of the fault or negligence of another person, business or organisation.
Every claim is different. We will consider the circumstances of the accident, who may be responsible, the injuries sustained, the available evidence and any financial losses before advising you on the appropriate next steps.
Road Traffic Accidents
Claims arising from car, van, taxi, bus and other road traffic accidents, including claims involving drivers and passengers.
Whiplash and Minor Road Traffic Injuries
Advice and representation concerning whiplash and other injuries arising from road traffic accidents, including claims which may fall within the Official Injury Claim process.
Uninsured and Untraced Drivers
Claims involving uninsured drivers or vehicles which cannot be traced, including claims which may need to be pursued through the Motor Insurers' Bureau.
Cyclists, Pedestrians and Motorcyclists
Personal injury claims involving cyclists, pedestrians, motorcyclists and other vulnerable road users injured in road traffic accidents.
Accidents at Work
Claims arising from accidents in the workplace, including accidents involving unsafe systems of work, equipment, machinery or workplace conditions.
Accidents in Public Places
Claims arising from accidents in shops, businesses, public premises and other locations where another person or organisation may have been responsible for the accident.
VEHICLE DAMAGE AND TOTAL LOSS CLAIMS
Where we accept a personal injury claim arising from a non-fault road traffic accident, we may also be able to assist with the associated vehicle damage claim. Depending on the circumstances, this may include obtaining an engineer’s assessment and pursuing the reasonable cost of repairs or the vehicle’s pre-accident value if it is a total loss.
Depending on the circumstances and the available evidence on liability, the vehicle damage claim may be pursued against the other party’s insurer rather than under your own policy.
Where appropriate, we can also discuss whether the vehicle may be retained, subject to any salvage deduction and the rights of any finance provider.
CAN I MAKE A PERSONAL INJURY CLAIM?
Whether you can make a claim will depend on the particular circumstances of your accident.
In general, a claim may be possible where you have suffered an injury and another person, business or organisation was wholly or partly responsible for what happened.
You should contact us even if you are unsure who was responsible or believe that you may have been partly at fault. We can consider the circumstances and advise you whether the matter is one which we may be able to pursue.
HOW A PERSONAL INJURY CLAIM WORKS
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Initial assessment
Investigating the claim
Medical evidence and financial losses
Negotiation and resolution
We obtain information about the accident, your injuries and the available evidence and consider whether we are able to accept your claim.
Where appropriate, we investigate responsibility for the accident, notify the relevant defendant or insurer and obtain supporting evidence.
Medical evidence will usually be required to establish the nature and extent of your injuries. We will also consider relevant financial losses and expenses arising from the accident.
We will advise you on any settlement proposals and seek to resolve the claim. Where a claim cannot be resolved by agreement, court proceedings may be required.
WHAT CAN COMPENSATION INCLUDE?
The compensation recoverable in a personal injury claim will depend on the individual circumstances of the case.
A claim may include compensation for the pain, suffering and loss of amenity caused by your injuries together with relevant financial losses and expenses arising from the accident.
Depending on the circumstances, these may include loss of earnings, treatment and rehabilitation costs, travel expenses, care and assistance and other reasonable losses caused by the accident.
The value of a claim cannot be determined properly until the relevant evidence has been considered.
TIME LIMITS
Strict time limits apply to personal injury claims.
For most adults, court proceedings must usually be started within three years of the accident or the relevant date of knowledge.
If the injured person was under 18 when the accident occurred, the ordinary three-year limitation period will generally not begin until their 18th birthday. This means that court proceedings will usually need to be started before their 21st birthday. A claim can also be pursued on a child’s behalf before they turn 18.
Different rules and shorter time limits may apply to some claims, including applications under statutory compensation schemes. Different provisions may also apply where a person lacks capacity to conduct legal proceedings.
You should seek legal advice as soon as possible and should not wait until the end of any limitation period.
NO WIN, NO FEE FUNDING
We are able to act in many personal injury claims under a Conditional Fee Agreement, commonly known as a “No Win, No Fee” agreement.
If we offer to act for you under a Conditional Fee Agreement, the precise terms will be explained to you before you decide whether to instruct us.
If your claim is successful, a success fee may be deducted from your compensation. We will explain the amount and basis of any deduction, together with any other costs or expenses which may be payable, before the agreement is entered into.
If your claim is unsuccessful, what you may be required to pay will depend upon the terms of the funding arrangement and any applicable insurance or other costs protection. We will explain this to you before you enter into the agreement.
Further information about our charging arrangements is available on our Fees and Transparency page.
LOWER-VALUE ROAD TRAFFIC CLAIMS
Some lower-value road traffic accident claims are dealt with through the Official Injury Claim process.
Whether that process applies depends upon matters including the type of road user involved, the circumstances of the accident and the value of the claim.
If you contact us about a road traffic accident, we can consider the information you provide and explain whether your claim is one which we are able to accept.
WHY CHOOSE RAHIM AHMED SOLICITORS?
We understand that making a personal injury claim may come at a difficult time.
Our aim is to provide clear legal advice, explain the steps involved in your claim and keep you informed as the matter progresses.
Rahim Ahmed Solicitors is based in Prestwich, Greater Manchester, and acts in personal injury claims falling within the jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales, including for clients who live elsewhere in the United Kingdom.