Most people will know someone who has an accident story. It could be a run-of-the-mill road traffic collision caused by someone not paying attention that led to a broken bumper or a case of whiplash. Or it could be a more serious accident that led to a lifelong condition. We have cautionary tales of tripping on public pavements or slipping on spilled produce in the supermarket. Many people barring long-term damage would probably just accept the accident as a fact of life and move on. But why is it important to make sure that claims are followed up?
Why are Injuries Important for Claims?
The main reason for people to pursue a claim is if it caused injury. Types of injury claims can range from road traffic accidents to accidents in public places. The results of these accidents can be varied from the financial impact of a temporarily broken ankle to lasting head, neck, and spinal injuries or even post-traumatic stress disorder.
Inhibiting a persons life through injury is the main impetus many feel for pursuing a claim. Indeed, having provable damages that can be linked to the accident in the first place also helps see a claim to fruition. Plus, seeing the result of injury shows that better practices should be implemented to prevent these injuries occurring to others.
In the case of longer-lasting health problems, then the claim may be pursued due to the impact on the life of the claimant. Being rendered paralyzed, for example, would invariably change someones life. If they are not at fault for this but someone else is then many would want to mete out justice.
Road Traffic Accidents
Accidents involving uninsured drivers, for example, or even those who have insurance but behave recklessly, could end with them losing their licence. Or, at the least, undertaking a course on being a safer driver. A claim could be worth pursuing if it would take a dangerous driver off the roads, for instance. One in 13 private vehicles are uninsured in Ireland, so a claim could help change this.
But road traffic accidents could also be caused by the road itself. Perhaps the spot the accident occurred in has had other accidents occur and is badly signposted or needs traffic calming. A claim would have a greater chance of being successful if identical claims have previously been made. This could then lead to a positive change that improves the area for other road users.
Public Place Accidents
With accidents happening in public places, pursuing a claim could have long-lasting effects. For example, in the case of tripping over loose paving, a young, fit person could fall and then recover quickly from any injury. But an older person could be injured in a more severe way. So, pursuing claims for public place accidents can prevent anyone else suffering a similar fate.
But this may also have a wider impact. If authorities are faced with claims relating to areas in their jurisdiction, then they may take a closer look at ensuring peoples safety in these places in future. So a claim could have a lasting impact. Indeed, a passenger of British Airways slipped on spilled Baileys and despite the airline not being deemed negligible, he still received a £130,000 pay-out. This will no doubt inspire them to be more stringent in future.
Pursuing a claim can have a positive impact on the claimant and can also impact others in the future. From removing dangerous drivers from the roads to fixing problematic pavements, claims can help authorities and those responsible keep a closer watch on their health and safety procedures. Or, for individuals, claims can be the justice necessary to help them come to terms with their accident.