What is the procedure for making a claim?

First steps...get in touch

At Digby Brown we are aware that an accident can leave people feeling vulnerable and frustrated, which is why we have a highly trained and experienced team to give you all the support you need.

The process of making a claim after a personal injury begins as soon as you get in touch.

Advice about your personal injury claim in Scotland

To begin, we will take details of the accident and you can speak to one of our experienced legal advisors who will be able to give you initial advice on your personal injury claim.

Personal injury law differs between Scotland and England so it is important to speak with Scottish solicitors about an accident that happened in Scotland.

Claim process and funding explained

With current social distancing measures in place, we aim to follow up the initial conversation by arranging a meeting with new clients over the phone or using video calls.

This gives the client an opportunity to speak with the person who will be handling the case and it allows us to take a detailed statement about the accident and your injuries.

At this first meeting we will explain exactly what steps we will be taking to get you the compensation you deserve. We will also let you know what you can do to help us.

We will not charge for this initial meeting. We operate on a 'no win, no fee' basis and we will explain the funding of the case when we speak with you. It is very important that if you have a previous medical history which may be relevant to the claim, you should tell us straight away.

Your point of contact at Digby Brown Solicitors

We are committed to using highly qualified and experienced lawyers right from the outset of every case. Your solicitor will be your point of contact and keep you updated on the progress of your case.

Submit personal injury claim on your behalf

Following this meeting we will submit a claim on your behalf by writing to the person responsible for the accident telling them why we believe they are liable to pay you compensation.

In almost all cases we will be dealing not with the person who caused the accident but with their insurers.

Personal injury settlements

We will need to obtain a medical report so that we can value your personal injury case properly before settlement (see What other expenses can I recover?). We will also calculate any loss of past or future earnings as well as any other head of claim that might apply for personal injury settlements. 

Depending on the severity of your injuries, we may advise you to wait before getting a medical report if, for example, you are still undergoing treatment or awaiting an operation. In that event we really have to wait for your medical condition to stabilise but it may be possible for us to obtain an interim payment before the personal injury case is settled.

For additional help you may wish to view some of our case studies on specific injuries or types of accidents, alternatively we have a dedicated YouTube video Channel.

Will you need to go to court?

If the party responsible for your accident does not accept responsibility, we will raise a court action on your behalf.

It is important to recognise that a majority of cases settle out of court but we will be in a position to take your case as far as necessary without you ever having to incur any financial risk.