How Do I Use An Accident Advice Helpline For PTSD?

Accident helplines are one of the most popular tools that people use to get legal advice following an accident. They are free to call and they are offered without obligation, and they can be called in the comfort of one’s home. This makes them hugely convenient.

The way these helplines work is simple – you call them, you answer some questions, and then they will answer yours. For people suffering from PTSD, an accident helpline is a fast and efficient way to get their claims-related questions answered by a qualified professional, and if the helpline is operated by a law firm, then an enquiry can be escalated to a solicitor.

Making the most of your phone call

When you contact an accident advice helpline PTSD for legal advice, it’s important that you make the most of your call. To do so, the person you speak with is going to need from basic information from you. Here’s what we recommend you should have to hand:

1. The date your PTSD symptoms first started: To be eligible for compensation, the date you were diagnosed with PTSD medically must be no more than three years ago, due to claims being statute-barred under the Limitation Act 1980 after this. If you do not know the exact date, then an approximate date is fine;
2. Details about your PTSD: Are you suffering from acute, chronic or delayed onset PTSD? Is your PTSD minor, moderate or severe? The claims advisor you speak with needs to know these things, so that they can offer you an estimated pay-out figure and advise you on how long your claim might take to process;
3. Details about how your PTSD was caused: This is an important point, because it will determine your eligibility for compensation. If you were in an accident, for instance, you cannot have been 100 per cent responsible for the accident in which you injured yourself, otherwise the other side will be under no obligation to pay out.

With this information, the claims advisor you speak with will be able to help you establish:

• Your eligibility for compensation;
• How much compensation you may be entitled to;
• Who your claim will likely be against.

Taking your PTSD Enquiry Further

If you wish to take your PTSD enquiry further with the helpline you call, the escalation process will see you discuss your case with a solicitor next. This should be offered without any obligation, just as the helpline was. Speaking with a solicitor about the PTSD and the circumstances surrounding your PTSD will help to clarify your position further, and you will have an even greater understanding your legal rights.