File a personal injury claim

What is a personal injury claim?

A personal injury claim is your request to the liable party, usually their insurer, to compensate you for the damage you have suffered as a result of an accident or incident for which another party is at fault. It therefore involves much more than just your medical expenses. Personal injury encompasses all adverse consequences of the injury on your life: from lost income and household help to the grief, pain, and loss of enjoyment of life you experience. The law assumes that you should not become the victim of someone else's mistake, and a claim is built upon this principle.

The essence of a claim is that someone else is liable for your injury. Think of a motorist who hits you, an employer who failed to ensure safety in the workplace, a dog owner whose animal bites you, or a municipality that allowed a dangerous situation on the street to persist. In all these cases, the person who caused the damage must place you in a financial position as if the accident had never happened. This is called the principle of indemnity: you do not become richer from a claim, but you certainly should not become poorer either.

Filing a claim sounds formal and perhaps even intimidating, but in practice, it boils down to us contacting the liable party on your behalf, carefully documenting all damages, and negotiating until you receive fair compensation. You do not have to call the insurer yourself, write complicated letters, or delve into legal terms. We translate your story into a well-substantiated case file. Would you like to first get an idea of ​​what your situation could mean financially? Then read more about personal injury compensation.

Tell your story Free consultation

Are you entitled to a claim for damages?

Whether you can file a successful claim depends on a few conditions. The most important is that another party is liable for your injury. Legally, this revolves around three things that must all be present: an error or wrongful act was committed, you suffered damage as a result, and there is a causal link between that error and your damage. Does that sound complicated? Don't worry, it is exactly our job to assess that for you.

You are often entitled to a claim for damages in situations such as:

• A traffic accident in which you were involved as a driver, passenger, cyclist, pedestrian, or occupant, and another party was at fault.
• A workplace accident or occupational diseasein which your employer has failed to comply with their statutory duty of care for a safe workplace.
• A medical error in which a healthcare provider did not act as may be expected of a reasonably competent and reasonably acting professional colleague.
• Injury caused by an animal, a defective product, or a dangerous situation on the street, in a shop, or in a building.
• Violence or assault, in which, in addition to the perpetrator, the Violent Crime Compensation Fund may sometimes also play a role.

Are you unsure if your situation falls under this? That is perfectly understandable, as the question of fault is far from always black and white. Sometimes you may have contributed to the accident yourself; in that case, there may be a question of contributory negligence, but that usually does not mean you will receive nothing. You often remain entitled to a portion of the compensation, and in traffic accidents, vulnerable road users such as cyclists and pedestrians are even entitled to extra protection. Therefore, always let us assess the situation without obligation before drawing any conclusions. During a free consultation, we will look together at whether you have a promising case and what the first steps are. Feel free to view our working method to see how we operate.

What damages can you claim?

In personal injury cases, we distinguish between two types of damage: material and non-material damage. It is important that all items are fully and well-substantiated, because damage that you do not claim or cannot prove is generally not compensated. Therefore, we look not only at the current situation but also at what the injury will cost you in the future.

Material damage

This is all damage that can be directly expressed in monetary terms. Think of:

• Loss of income due to being unable to work or working less, missing out on a promotion, or losing revenue as a self-employed person, now and in the future.
• Medical costs that are not reimbursed, such as the deductible, physiotherapy, psychological help, or medical aids.
• Costs for domestic help and informal care that you need because you are temporarily or permanently no longer able to do everything yourself.
• Travel expenses to the hospital, the physiotherapist, the rehabilitation center, or other healthcare providers.
• Loss of self-employment: odd jobs in and around the house and garden that you previously did yourself and now have to outsource.
• Modifications to your home or car and costs for additional study delay.

Non-material damage: compensation for pain and suffering

In addition, you are entitled to compensation for suffering that cannot be expressed in monetary terms: the pain, grief, loss of enjoyment of life, and the impact on your relationships and hobbies. This is called pain and suffering compensation. The amount depends on the nature and severity of your injury, how long your recovery takes, whether there are permanent consequences, and how significantly they affect your daily life. In making this assessment, judges consider amounts previously awarded in similar cases.

Because every case is unique, we cannot quote a fixed amount in advance, and we warn you to be cautious with online tables that suggest certainty. However, together we will make a careful and realistic calculation of all your damage items. Would you like to get an idea of ​​what that breakdown looks like? Then use our tool to calculate your personal injury claim.

Tell your story Free consultation

Here's how to submit your claim — step by step

Filing a claim doesn't have to be complicated, especially if you do it with us. You don't need to memorize the steps; we will guide you through them. However, it is good to know what the process usually looks like so you know what to expect:

• Step 1 — No-obligation introduction. You contact us and we call you back the same business day. We listen carefully to your story and assess, free of charge, whether you have a promising case. You immediately get your own dedicated contact person.
• Step 2 — Gathering evidence. Together, we map out everything that supports your case: the claim form or police report, your medical records, photos of the situation and the injury, witness statements, and proof of your expenses. The more complete the file, the stronger your position in negotiations.
• Step 3 — Holding the opposing party liable. We hold the liable party liable on your behalf in writing and with supporting evidence. From that moment on, all communication with the insurer goes through us, so you no longer have to worry about it.
• Step 4 — Mapping out the damage. We inventory all your damage items, both the costs you have already incurred and the damage you will suffer in the future, and record them in a statement of claim.
• Step 5 — Negotiating and finalizing. We negotiate firmly but carefully with the insurer for fair compensation and record the final agreements in a settlement agreement. We only finalize once you are satisfied.

You will find that you can focus primarily on your recovery, while we take the legal and administrative work off your hands. Here is a good tip: do not wait too long to keep receipts and invoices and to keep a simple diary of symptoms and things you can no longer do. It is precisely these details that make the difference in your case later on. Are you unsure about taking that very first step? Feel free to make a no-obligation appointment, and we can look at the options together.

An advance while your business is running

A personal injury case can take a long time, while your costs often mount immediately and your income decreases. That is a stressful combination, because you often need the money now, not in a year's time. Fortunately, you do not have to wait until the end of the process for funds to become available. As soon as liability is acknowledged by the insurer, we can request an advance payment on your behalf.

An advance payment is a prepayment on your final compensation. It is intended to alleviate financial pressure, for example to compensate for lost income, cover your medical expenses and deductible, or pay for domestic help. The amount will be properly settled with the final settlement later, but in the meantime, it ensures that you do not run into financial difficulties and can continue paying your bills.

Under the Code of Conduct for the Handling of Personal Injury Claims, insurers are required to handle a request for an advance payment reasonably and expeditiously once liability has been established. In practice, this sometimes requires some pressure, and that is precisely where the difference lies in having an experienced advocate act on your behalf and present the right arguments. We know which advance payments are realistic in your situation and how to secure them for you, so that you do not have to worry about the month ahead. And because our assistance is free of charge, applying for an advance payment naturally costs you nothing.

How long does it take and what does it yield?

One of the most frequently asked questions is: how long will all this take? An honest answer is that this depends heavily on your situation. A relatively simple case with clear liability and a swift recovery can be concluded within a few months to about a year. In the case of more serious or permanent injury, or if liability is disputed, the process can take several years. That sometimes feels long, but there is an important reason why we cannot always speed things up.

A case is only definitively settled once you have reached a final medical condition . This is the moment when your recovery has progressed to the point where the permanent consequences are reasonably clear and no substantial improvement or deterioration is expected. Only then can the full damages, including the future consequences for your work and your life, be calculated properly and fairly. Closing a case too early can mean that complaints arising later are no longer reimbursed, and we want to avoid that at all costs. Better a little patience than compensation that falls short.

The final outcome of your case varies from person to person and depends on your injury, loss of income, and all other damage items combined. That is why we never promise you an amount we cannot deliver, because false hope helps no one. What we *do* promise is that we will aim for the maximum amount you are entitled to under the law and that we will keep you honestly and openly informed throughout the entire process. And thanks to Article 6:96 of the Dutch Civil Code, you keep 100% of that compensation, because our costs are paid by the liable insurer and you will therefore never receive a bill from us. Do you have any questions about the duration or the approach? Then check our frequently asked questions or contact us directly. We are here for you.