Conditional Fee Agreement or No win, No fee agreement.

CICA

Otherwise known as the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority, this is a compensation scheme designed to award damages to innocent victims of criminal injuries.

Claimant

The person making a claim.

Claim Form

The document that is used to issue Court Proceedings.

Common Law

Law decided by Judges at trial.

Contributory Negligence

If you are partly to blame for your accident your compensation will be reduce by the % you are responsible. e.g. if you are 25% to blame then you will receive 75% of your compensation.

Defendant

The person or company you are claiming against.

General Damages

The amount your claim is worth for pain, suffering and loss of hobbies and lifestyle (otherwise known as amenities).

Heads of Claim

The categories of losses you can claim for.

Interim Payment

A payment of compensation as your case proceeds to pay for such things as loss of earnings or medical expenses. This is deducted from your final settlement amount.

Letter of Claim

This starts your claim and is sent directly to the person or organisation responsible for your accident.

Limitation

You only have 3 years from the date of your accident in which to bring a claim for compensation or at least to issue court proceedings.

Litigation

Court proceedings which are issued on your behalf if there is a denial of liability for your accident.

Litigation Friend

A person over 18 who acts on behalf of a child, gives instructions to us and signs documents on their behalf.

Particulars of Claim

This is a court document that describes your accident and the formal allegations of negligence (fault) against your opponent.

Rehabilitation

Therapy or treatment to aid recovery. This could be by physiotherapy, brain injury case manager and support worker, or counselling.

Special Damages

Your financial losses.

Strict Liability

Generally, the situation where there is no requirement to prove that the breach of duty was the fault of another party.