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Starting a personal injury claim can seem daunting, but experts are on hand to answer any questions you may have.

A personal injury is when injury is caused to an individual – either physically or mentally – as opposed to their property. It can occur as a result of road accidents, workplace mishaps, exposure to harmful substances or if you have had an operation that has gone wrong. It can also be caused by assaults, slips and trips or even faulty goods and dangerous equipment.

If you wish to make a personal injury claim, the law states that this must be done within three years of the incident or injury occurring. If the issue is a disease, it is three years from the date that you were diagnosed.

You will not have to pay to make a claim. As an RCM member, you receive free legal advice and guidance from Thompsons Solicitors with no hidden fees. Your membership also entitles your family members to free legal advice and representation if they have suffered a personal injury at no fault of their own.

RCM members who receive compensation will keep 100% of the damages they secure. The amount of money awarded as compensation is calculated according to a variety of factors including: the seriousness of your injury, the level of suffering you have or will endure and any loss of earnings.

The length of the claim process varies, depending on the severity of the injury and the extent of its impact on your health and daily life, as well as how strongly contested the case is by the person or organisation responsible for causing your injury. Thompsons Solicitors strive to settle every case quickly, with the aim of securing as much compensation as possible and keeping members informed of progress at all times.

Thompsons Solicitors has helped thousands of RCM members across the UK secure personal injury compensation, free of charge, through their union membership.

To use this service, call 0808 100 7776 or make a claim online.

Injuries at work – your rights explained

Gerard Stilliard, head of personal injury claims at Thompsons Solicitors, outlines how you can access legal support if you have been injured at work.

The best employers recognise that proper health and safety is vital and take steps to ensure they keep their employees as safe as possible in the workplace. 

At Thompsons, we see first-hand the devastating impact on workers and their families when health and safety is compromised - usually when management is under pressure to cut costs. That is why, as a proud partner of the RCM, we work with your union to actively promote the benefits of union membership and support you and your families with legal claims.

Since we started in 1921, we have always refused to act for employers or insurers, only ever acting for the injured and mistreated. Every year, we secure millions of pounds in compensation for union members injured or mistreated by their employer.

Making a legal claim

All employers have a responsibility to protect their employees from workplace accidents and injuries.

The law requires employers to avoid risks entirely if this is possible and, if not, to minimise the risk of injury at work to the lowest level ‘reasonably practicable’.

Where employers fail in their obligation to protect you, RCM and Thompsons will support your injury claim all the way to trial if necessary, but most cases settle well before they reach the doors of the court.

Giving you the best chance of success

To ensure your compensation claim for an accident at work is as strong as possible, you should try to:

  • Report the accident and your injuries to your employer
  • Record the accident in your workplace accident book
  • Take photographs of the place where the accident happened
  • Photograph any visible injuries
  • Find out the names and contact details for any witnesses
  • Keep a record of any visits to the doctors and treatments received, including receipts for any injury-related expenses.

Your trade union legal service gives you access to independent specialist legal advice from lawyers who are experts in their field. Using the union legal services is not only free, ensuring you receive 100% of any compensation awarded, it also increases the chances of your claim succeeding, because your lawyers can work with your local and national union representatives. You won’t get that level of compensation or support from any other law firm.

Here’s how our specialist teams can help

You can contact our experts for free advice and representation on:

RCM members’ families are also covered for:

  • Personal injury away from work, on holiday or on the roads
  • Special terms for medical negligence
  • Special terms for conveyancing, probate and powers of attorney.

Accessing support from Thompsons Solicitors

Thompsons Solicitors has been standing with unions and fighting for workers’ rights for more than 100 years. 

For more information, visit Thompsons Solicitors’ RCM hub or call us directly on 0808 100 7776.

Benefits for RCM members

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