Your first conversations with a lawyer: How to get started with a personal injury claim

 

Your first chat with us is really an opportunity to tell us about what happened when you had your accident or suffered your injury. We may ask some questions so we can get more information from you, but do not worry, we do not expect you to know everything. It’s really about understanding your situation and seeing how we can help. 

How it works

The first conversation often takes place on the telephone, but we can also arrange a video call or meet in person, if you prefer. It may be relatively quick, or it may take a little longer depending on your circumstances and what information you already have to give us.

By speaking to us you are not committing to anything. There is no obligation to instruct us to go any further with a claim - your opportunity to find out if it’s worth exploring.

What we’ll cover

We’ll usually talk through:

• how the accident happened
• the injuries you’ve suffered
• any impact it’s had on your work or day-to-day life
• what you’d like to achieve from making a claim (e.g. compensation, support with treatment, or simply preventing it happening to someone else).

If we have enough information, we will give you an initial view on whether we think you should investigate or consider pursuing a claim further. Sometimes, conversations result in us saying that we are unable to help. If this is the case, we'll always explain why.

Talking about compensation

When we speak to people, they want to know whether it is worth their while. This depends on what you want to get from a claim. Do you want compensation, treatment which you cannot necessarily access on the NHS or an apology?

Many people want to know early on what their claim might be worth. At this stage, we can only give you a very broad indication using the recognised legal guidelines. Whilst you do not receive a set amount for an injury, these guidelines can give brackets of compensation for various injuries. The exact figure will depend on the seriousness of your injury, what effect the injury has had on your life and whether it may cause you long term difficulties. We can give you a more accurate valuation if we progress with your case and we obtain expert medical evidence.

Why people choose to claim

For some, compensation is the priority. For others, it’s about funding treatment they can’t access on the NHS, or making sure lessons are learned so future accidents are prevented. Whatever your reasons, we’ll listen carefully and tailor our advice to what matters most to you.

The important thing to remember is that these first conversations are about you, not about legal jargon or paperwork. They’re your chance to ask questions, share concerns, and find out whether making a claim feels right for you.

In the next section, we’ll look at what can count as evidence, and you might be surprised at just how much everyday information could help strengthen your claim.

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Thinking about making a claim? Contact our Personal Injury team today for a no-obligation chat and find out how we can help you move forward with confidence.