5 Things to Consider When Making a Court Claim

5 Things to Consider When Making a Court Claim

Saying “I’m going to sue you” is a very easy statement to make but the reality of actually suing  someone or a company is not quite so easy. A claim can be a long and expensive process without any guaranteed result.  However, if you genuinely believe a court claim is the only way to resolve a dispute, then there are a number of things that you should consider first. 

1. Do you have enough evidence?

It is important to ensure that you can provide as much evidence as possible to substantiate your claim.  This can include contracts, documents, photographs, receipts, witness evidence. This will not only support your claim, but the evidence can add more weight to your claim. 

1. Don’t wait too long to make a claim

If you feel you have enough evidence and you want to pursue a claim, then don’t leave it too long before you action this. This is because some matters, you only have a limited time to bring a claim to court.

1. Knowing what you want to achieve 

In some cases, such as debt claims, you know exactly why you are bringing the claim. However, if you simply want to be heard then a court claim will not be the best place for this. Also, knowing exactly what you want will help focus the mind when it comes to accepting or making any offers.

1. Know the likely costs and time involved in advance

Court proceedings can be a lengthy and costly pursuit. It is always worth considering whether it is worth spending the time and money involved before you make a claim. It is worth speaking to a solicitor about the likely costs involved in trying to bring a claim as solicitor fees, barrister fees and court fees can really add up and in civil proceedings, you may sometimes be ordered to pay your opponent’s costs. 

1. Do you have a valid claim? 

Whilst you may feel 100% correct about bringing a claim, it is always important to know the law.   Just because you feel you have a grievance doesn’t mean you have a cause of action.

If you still wish to make a claim, GoodyBurrett can help you.  Please contact our Litigation Team for more information.