09012024 - Flipbook - Page 29
29
TUESDAY JANUARY 9 2024
Personal injury claim – what
is it and how does it work?
received from the other side, your
solicitor will usually arrange an appointment for you with a medical ex-
LEGAL
MATTERS
pert to record your injuries and the
likely recovery period.
Depending
juries
AOIFE DUFFY
may
I
you
send
on
the
sustained,
you,
for
type
the
of
in-
solicitor
example,
to
an
orthopaedic expert (for soft tissue
F
YOU
have
been
involved
in
injuries such as whiplash neck and
an accident that was not your
back
symptoms),
fault
pert
(for
or
was
partly
your
Most straightforward
personal injury cases
are resolved within
six to nine months
fault
a
psychiatric
symptoms
like
ex-
anxiety,
and you suffered injuries as a
nightmares, sleep disturbance, etc)
result, then you may be able to bring
or an x-ray specialist (in the case of
other side and they will be invited to
a claim for personal injury. But you
broken bones) for assessment.
make an offer of compensation.
should always seek legal advice from
It
is
vitally
important
that
you
Hopefully,
you
will
be
satised
a solicitor specialising in these types
tell the solicitor about all of your in-
with the offer you receive and your
of cases.
juries at the start of the claims pro-
case can progress to the settlement
cess and that you keep them up to
stage.
Claimants have three years from
the date of the accident to bring a
claim for personal injury.
An
exception
to
this
rule
is
date about your recovery.
If you have been involved in an accident that was not your fault and you suffered
injuries as a result, then you may be able to bring a claim for personal injury
where the injured party is under the
age of 18 in which case, they have
three
years
from
the
date
of
their
18th birthday to make their claim.
If
you
are
involved
in
an
acci-
to nine months but if your case is
conditions you had prior to the acci-
more complex and your symptoms
You should then contact a solic-
ter to the other party involved in the
dent and whether the accident exac-
more protracted, then it may take 12
itor to let them know that you have
accident or their insurance provider
erbated any such condition.
months or longer to resolve.
been
formally
involved
in
an
accident
and
wish to make a claim.
requesting
them
to
admit
fault for the accident.
Upon
receipt
of
your
of the damage at the scene and gath-
tailed instructions in relation to how
of the process can sometimes lead
there
er
the accident occurred and informa-
to delays as there can be disputes
(such as incorrect dates).
tion about the other party.
regarding who was at fault.
about
the
other party (such as their insurance
policy details) as possible.
The solicitor will then write a let-
Once
an
medical
reports, the solicitor will ask you to
It should be noted that this part
information
personal
the solicitor aware of any underlying
They will ask you to provide de-
much
straightforward
injury cases are resolved within six
dent, you should take photographs
as
Most
It is also important that you make
admission
review the contents to ensure that
If
has
been
are
you
no
are
factual
happy
inaccuracies
with
Aoife
Duffy
is
a
senior
associate in commercial law
rm
McKees
(www.mckees-
law.com ) and specialises in
the
re-
ports, these will be served on the
personal
injur y
claims
and
business disputes.
The need to be aware of telecare
“
B4B
DAVID ARMSTRONG
I
N
NOVEMBER
nounced
Switch
its
Off’
2017
BT
‘Great
with
an-
Copper
the
mote
For the elderly and vulnerable within
society, reliable communication in
whatever form can be a lifesaver
support
and
to
vulnerable
intention
whom
to retire its analogue telephone
areas.
reside
elderly,
people,
in
rural
disabled,
work
many
that
and
of
isolated
to
go
provide
beyond
back-up
regulator
solutions
Ofcom’s
minimum of one hour of continued,
uninterrupted access to emergency
networks by the end of 2025 and up-
Alarmingly, a small number of se-
grade to new digital technology us-
rious incidents have recently come
ing an internet connection, such as
to light involving telecare users re-
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)
porting device failures when trying
viduals in Northern Ireland aged 60+
or All-IP telephony.
to use them after the upgrade pro-
and/or
cess.
plex disabilities, this is a reassuring
In
short,
the
transition
means
users will need to plug their phones
into
a
broadband
router
for
As a result, telecoms companies
services in the event of power outages.
With
almost
requiring
half
a
million
support
for
indi-
com-
development.
exam-
including Sky, BT, Virgin Media, O2
However, with confusion still rife
ple, rather than the traditional wall
and TalkTalk, have agreed a tempo-
around the much-needed modernisa-
socket,
and has been described as
rary cessation on all non-voluntary,
tion of phone lines, we must ask our-
the biggest change to telecommuni-
managed migrations to a digital lan-
selves are we doing enough collec-
cations in the last 150 years.
dline.
tively to alleviate fears and provide
Many tech-savvy individuals are
aware
of
the
the
reassurance,
roll-out well underway here in North-
try
new digital network?
ern Ireland, but many older and more
tions and have committed to a new
2024 may be a case of ‘out with
vulnerable people may not be, and
charter, under which they testify not
the old and in with the new’ when it
this
to forcibly move customers onto the
comes
new
for the elderly and vulnerable with-
serious
with
information,
and awareness of the benets of this
pose
over,
accurate
erating with government and indus-
could
switch
Positively, these rms are co-op-
continuity
implications for them.
Amongst those who are most at
risk
of
being
negatively
impacted
are the nearly two million older and
watchdogs
network
to
expedite
unless
they
resolu-
are
fully
condent users will be protected.
Providers
will
conduct
spective checks on customers who
have already been forcibly migrated
alarms
offer
essential
re-
David
to ensure telecare continuity;
·
Providers
will
be
but
whatever form can be a lifesaver.
ment UK-wide.
personal
networks,
retro-
disabled people using telecare equip-
In many cases these sensors or
telephone
in society, reliable communication in
The charter also mandates:
·
to
required
to
Armstrong
is
executive of b4b Group
chief
In November 2017 BT announced its ‘Great Copper Switch Off’ with the intention to
retire its analogue telephone networks by the end of 2025