Compensation (Damages)
You will find lawyers talk sometimes about "damages". This word means the same as "compensation". There are two types:
General Damages: these are awarded to compensate you for pain, suffering and loss of quality of life. There is no exact figure. They are calculated on the basis of what Judges have recently been awarding for similar circumstances. The amount of general damages will depend upon the nature and extent of your injury and how it impacts on your life. We will advise on the level of compensation a judge is likely to award once we have seen the evidence - which will include the medical evidence (which we will obtain at the appropriate time). Click here for the 'Role of Medical Experts' page.
Special Damages: these are directly quantifiable losses, such as loss of earnings, policy excess, damaged clothing, travel expenses, the cost of medication and treatment. Click here for the 'Disclosure of Evidence' page.
It is important that you keep a careful record of all losses and expenses that you incur, including the date they were incurred, what they were, why they were incurred and any supporting evidence such as receipts or details of witnesses who can and are willing to confirm them. Please remember the better the evidence, then the better your and our chance of being able to recover that compensation for them. It is also useful to keep a record of any travel that you undertake as a result of your accident (for example: for medical treatment) and also of the progression of your recovery. As time passes, it becomes harder to remember these details. A note made at the time (perhaps in a diary) can be very helpful when, at a later stage, you need to provide this information. You will sometimes be amazed at how much cost and expense and trouble you have been put to during the recovery period.
