Personal Injury Lawyers in Singapore: Accident Claims

Last updated on April 5, 2022

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Personal injuries (i.e. injuries to your person, or body) are commonplace. They can be a result of motor accidents, work accidents, e-scooter accidents or even accidents arising out of product defects. They can range from minor abrasions and sprains, to major injuries such as paralysis.

If your personal injuries are caused by a third-party and you can prove it, damages can be claimed as compensation. The compensation sum is meant to restore the injured party to the position he/she would have been if not for the injuries. You may want to find out more about how to claim for personal injuries before taking any action.

This article will cover:

Do You Need a Personal Injury Lawyer For your Accident Claim in Singapore?

If both parties are able to reach a settlement amongst themselves, then the issue is resolved. A settlement means that the Claimant (i.e. the party bringing the claim, such as the injured party, and who may also be referred to as the Plaintiff) gives up the right to pursue the matter in court, in exchange for payment from the Defendant (the party defending against the claim, such as the person who caused the injury or the insurance company).

However, claims are hardly so straightforward. In the event parties are unable to reach an agreement, a personal injury lawyer would be very useful in helping to mediate or represent you in court, should the matter be brought to trial.

In fact, hiring a personal injury lawyer even before the start of negotiations would be handy in resolving the matter as soon as possible.

Nonetheless, should your injuries be minor, such that filing a claim with your insurance company would provide sufficient compensation, you may not necessarily need to seek legal advice.

What a Personal Injury Lawyer Can Do For Your Accident Claim

A personal injury lawyer would have seen many prior cases relating to a range of personal injuries. Thus, he/she would be in a better position to gauge the appropriate settlement sum, taking into account the circumstances of your case.

Having a personal injury lawyer would also save you much complex paperwork. For example, your lawyer would have to write letters to the insurance company or the individual in attempting to negotiate a settlement sum out of court.

Should your case go to trial instead, your lawyer would have to file a complaint, approach expert witnesses, prepare submissions, and appear in court. Such procedures may appear daunting to the layman, and having a lawyer would alleviate much of your stress.

Furthermore, such personal injury lawyers would have more convenient access to resources such as private investigators and medical experts. These resources would be vital in building a robust case for your compensation claim. Personal injury lawyers would also have more experience dealing with insurance companies and hence would be more capable in dealing with their tactics.

Even if your injury is minor, you may want to consider seeking a lawyer’s advice, as minor injuries could escalate into major ones. Such aggravating injuries may result in a loss of future earnings or a loss of earning capacity, which can be included in the settlement sum provided there is sufficient evidence to prove it.

For example, should you suffer from depression as a result of the incident, your condition may deteriorate over the years, affecting your ability to work. A lawyer may thus be more mindful of such possibilities and would be able to advise you if it is worthwhile pursuing a legal course of action and if so, for how much compensation.

Finding the Right Personal Injury Lawyer For Your Accident Claim in Singapore

You should have certain considerations in mind when choosing a personal injury lawyer to represent you in Singapore. Some of these may include the:

History of the personal injury law firm
Number of cases the personal lawyer has taken on
Fees charged as legal costs

Ultimately, you should choose a lawyer whom you are comfortable working with so as to smoothen the whole process and hopefully obtain a satisfactory outcome.

A key consideration you should have is the number of years the lawyer has been practising as a personal injury lawyer. Some lawyers may take on a wide variety of cases while some may be specialised in personal injury claims. Having someone who is particularly skilled in this area would bolster your case with the experience that he/she brings. While experience does not guarantee success, it provides a good gauge of the lawyer’s standing.

Most law firms provide a free first consultation for cases involving personal injury claims. This would allow you to compare opinions of several lawyers before choosing one to engage. Be sure to check with the firm/lawyer on the charges for the first consultation prior to booking it.

SingaporeLegalAdvice.com has a list of experienced personal injury lawyers in Singapore whom you can approach. You may browse through the reviews by these lawyers’ past clients to have a rough feel of which lawyer you might be most comfortable with. Alternatively, you may wish to fill in our online form with the brief details of your case and the lawyers will get back to you.

What to Expect From Your First Meeting With a Personal Injury Lawyer

Should you decide to engage a personal injury lawyer to act on your behalf, your lawyer would require you to give a full account of the case.

It is crucial that you provide all facts to the best of your ability, even if some may appear disadvantageous to your case, in order for the lawyer to provide the most appropriate advice. A lawyer may decline to take up your case should he/she think that the chances of success are too slim.

A non-exhaustive list of information your lawyer would likely require from you is as follows:

Any relevant background information leading up to the accident
Information relating to the accident – such as the parties involved, the time and place of the accident and how the accident occurred
Potential witnesses involved
Any police reports made or interviews given
Your medical history
The medical records of the treatments you received to date
Your current medical status
Your insurance coverage
Your past and present employment history

Your personal injury lawyer would first seek to establish liability of the other parties you are claiming against, before assessing the projected quantum of the compensation sum.

Your personal injury lawyer may also discuss the practical aspects of the case with you, such as the cost of legal fees and the expected duration of the whole process.

It should be noted that there is no fixed procedure for all personal injury lawyers; claiming for personal injury is essentially a form of litigation and there would be differences in working style amongst lawyers. To engage a lawyer most suited for your personal injury matter, use our Find a Lawyer service to contact experienced personal injury lawyers in Singapore today.