Compensation for injury-timescale.

[CurlewKate]

Someone I know suffered a permanently disabling injury at work. The employer admitted liability early on, but the person's compensation claim is still going on 2 years later. Their solicitor says it could be up to another 2 years. Is this usual? Fortunately, the person has been able to take money out of a pension to survive-but it's tight and no fun. Does anyone know if this timescale is usual?

My wife was hit whilst walking on a footpath by the side of a busy road. About 50mph. Hasn't worked since as pain medication (morphine) has caused memory problems and generally half the woman she was .. almost literally... 14st to 8st . Unhealed fractured and nerve damage. Feb 2019..

Motor insurance Bureau cover compensation for hit and run and untraced drivers. They are APPALLING. ! No accountability. You cannot take them to court . You just have to wait while they change case workers.. (5 so far) lose medical reports.. complete lack of communication with our lawyer. No chasing up of anything unless hassled. DW was a high earner . We couldn't pay the mortgage . Had to sell family home. I earn ok (45k) but DW was S/e contractor. (Avg £87k) ..

Eye witnesses. So claim was accepted eventually. On going issues as a result of medication so no final award yet although they do drop the odd 'interim' of £10k -15k once or twice a year ..

The whole system needs sorting out. Solicitor reckons a final award offer may be made next year .. 5 years !!!

I don't know specifically about injury at work claims, but my car crash claim where the other driver admitted fault took 22 months to be sorted and that was relatively straight forward. So I'd imagine bigger claims for a high value could take a lot longer

It took 7 years for my bil's claim to settle in full after he was knocked off his bike causing a spinal injury.

Years is normal, they have to be able to say that they have a full and complete understanding of the physical and mental effects of the injury and can make a final decision on how long the victim will be recovering, and what injuries are life long. At the end of the claim they are basically saying 'this is it, end of compensation calculation, you can't revisit this again' they often have to wait a few years before Doctors/psychiatrists etc will say that they can now state with reasonable accuracy that the injury will be xx% better within xx years but will never go beyond xx% functionality leaving an xx% deficit.

It's that level of understanding that lets them know if the final compensation should cover 1 years wages or reduced wages for a lifetime.

They should however be able to make claims for costs incurred while the claim is being evaluated and be given interim payments. Those interim payments are then deducted from the end amount. So if your friend is on reduced income or has transport or medical expenses they should be able to submit those through the claims process.

I was hit by a car in Jan 91, breaking 2 spines in my neck and buggering my thyroid, which I didn't know at the time, sadly.
In March/April 93 I was given a hefty nudge by a transit at a roundabout which joggled things up that were just about settled down. Sadly, I was studying for professional exams at the time, and failed them in May 92, doped up on coproxamol and naprosyn. It was essentially a 'bogof' as far as damages which were complicated as I was made refundant in Jan 93 in breach of contract - essentially 3-year articles with no provision for redundancy.

I couldn't get another training contract and had to jump through all sorts of hoops to qualify once I'd passed my exams in 94.

It was all settled in 96/6 and I received £17,500 in damages. I went to Lace Mawer in Manchester who are now Berry mans. Hth

Nope. Not at all unusual I'm afraid.
It's getting on for 5 years since I was seriously injured in a RTC. Absolutely no dispute about liability, the other driver was convicted, but I still don't have any compensation. I lost my job as a result of my injuries too. I had this naive idea that since none of it was my fault it would be straightforward and that "the system" would protect my interests. It doesn't.

Thank you. He seems resigned and has recently applied for an interim payment. I was naively horrified, but @FatAgainItsLettuceTime's post explains why it might make sense. @newtb-that doesn't sound like much😮 Everyone else-I do hope things work out for you all.