FT Claims will make the claims process as simple and straightforward as possible. The questions and answers on this page give you some general guidance about our service and how to make a claim. If you have a question that isn't answered here, you can call us on 0871 310 9992. How do I know if I have a claim?
You can only claim compensation for an injury if a person or organisation is at least partly to blame. They must have been careless about the way something was done, or not done when it should have been.
A personal injury can happen at work, in a road accident, because of a faulty product, because of a mistake during medical treatment or because you tripped on a paving stone or slipped on a wet floor in a shop. It can also include an illness or condition caused by your working environment, such as contact with asbestos.
An injury may be psychological as well as physical, so you may be able to get compensation for distress or upset after an accident as well as for the physical injury.
You should get legal advice before you contact the person or organisation you think caused the injury or before replying to any letters or offers to settle your claim.
Can I claim if the accident happened a long time ago?
If you are thinking about making a claim for compensation, it is important to get legal advice as soon as you can. This is because you must start court proceedings within three years of when you were injured, or of when you first knew you were injured. After this, it will almost always be too late.
This three year limit can only be waived if the claimant is suffering from a mental disability, is under 18 or if the case involves a disease which takes a long time to develop. For example, if you are suffering from an asbestos-related disease, you would have three years to make a claim from the date you first knew about your illness and that it was linked to your work.
If you are concerned about whether you still have time to claim, or if you are close to the three-year limit, contact FT Claims as soon as possible and we can advise you.
Can I claim if I don't know who caused the accident?
With some claims, such as criminal injury compensation claims and claims against untraced drivers ('hit and run'), you won't know who caused the accident. In these cases, we can't recover our legal costs. So if we do represent you, you will have to pay the legal costs out of your compensation. We will always try to keep these costs down as much as possible and will explain these to you before we start work on your case.
If you have suffered an injury following a criminal act, you may not need to use a solicitor. You can make a claim directly from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA). See www.cica.gov.uk for more information.
If my accident happened at work, can my employer sack me if I claim?
Your employer is not allowed to dismiss you for making an accident claim. They are also required by law to have insurance against staff accidents. This means that their insurance company will pay your compensation, not your employer.
Can I claim if my accident happened abroad?
If you've been injured while on a package tour arranged by a tour operator in England and Wales, you may be entitled to compensation, even if your accident happened abroad. If you weren't on a package tour we may still be able to help. Your solicitor will be able to give you more advice about this.
Will people think less of me if I make a claim?
If you have suffered a genuine injury that wasn't your fault, then you have a right to compensation for your pain and suffering. Furthermore, by making a claim you are helping to prevent the same thing happening to someone else.
What will it cost me to claim?
When you use FT Claims to make a claim you do not have to pay for your Solicitor. This is because if you win your case, the legal costs will be paid by the other side.
There are some exceptions to this, but your solicitor will explain this all fully to you before you start your claim.
What if I lose my case?
If we take on your case but don't win, we won't charge you for our services, but you may have to pay the costs of the other side. For more information, see what does 'no-win, no-fee' mean?
How much compensation will I get?
FT Claims will ensure that wherever possible, you get 100% of any compensation awarded to you. But it's impossible to give an idea of how much you might get until we have some details about your injury, including a medical report. Your solicitor will be able to discuss this with you and give you more detailed advice.
As well as compensation for your pain and suffering, you might also get money for loss of earnings or any treatment costs.
What does 'no-win, no-fee' mean?
Under a no-win, no-fee agreement, your solicitor will not get paid if you lose your case. But this does not mean that if you lose you will have nothing to pay. You will usually still have to pay your opponent's costs.
You can buy insurance to cover these costs to ensure you don't face a huge bill if you do lose your case. This is called after-the-event insurance'. If you already have insurance, for example as part of your car or household insurance, you may be able to use this to fund your case. Your solicitor can give you more information about these different types of insurance.
If you are a member of an organisation that has insurance (such as your employer, a trade union or sports club) you may not need to fund your case using a no-win, no-fee' agreement. Speak to that organisation first to see if their insurance covers you.
Are there any cancellation fees?
If your solicitor advises you that you are unlikely to win your claim, you can withdraw without paying anything. But if you decide not to make your claim for another reason, you might have to pay for the work done on your claim so far.
How does FT Claims get paid?
FT Claims is a trading name of Fastrack Solutions Ltd, a leading National Finance Company. FT Claims is paid by a group of specialist personal injury solicitors. The solicitors themselves are paid by the insurers who pay your compensation.
You don't have to pay FT Claims anything. Your solicitors won't pass their costs on to you either.
What happens when I make a claim?
Will I have to fill out loads of paperwork?Your solicitors will do most of this for you. You will have to check the details of your claim, but your solicitor will help you with this.
Who will deal with my claim?
Your claim will be investigated by FT Claims.
Your case will then be handled by a specialist personal injury solicitor.
Our solicitors will try to settle your claim as quickly as possible. Many low value claims can be settled in just a few months. If you have suffered a severe injury, it will probably take longer. But every case is different and your solicitor will be able to tell you the average time it takes to settle your type of case.
Will I get any help to get better?
The most important thing is to make sure you recover from your injury as quickly as possible. Your doctor will be able to advise you if you need treatment. This might be available on the NHS. However, you sometimes have to wait a long time for some kinds of NHS treatment, so you might be able to get help quicker through your compensation claim. FT Claims works with a number of organisations who can help with this.
When will I get my compensation?
Your compensation will be paid when your claim is settled, although sometimes you might get an interim payment before this happens.
Will I need to go to court?
Most personal injury cases are settled without having to go to court. If your accident was very straightforward and the other side agrees an amount of compensation, you probably won't have to go to court. Your solicitor will discuss this with you in more detail.
Will I have to go to the solicitors's office?
You won't normally have to go to your solicitors office. FT Claims and your solicitors can handle your claim by phone and email. But we can visit you at home or in hospital if necessary.
Will I have to get a medical?
Yes, you will have to get an independent medical to see if you have recovered from your injury. The costs of this will be paid for by the insurer.