An accident in Schiedam can disrupt your work, income and family life. Arslan Advocaten helps you claim compensation for personal injury and assess a proposal from the insurer. For clients from Schiedam, we work from our office in Rotterdam. We map out liability, your losses and the possible next steps.
On this page you will find practical explanations about road traffic accidents, injury at work and losses that continue during your recovery. You can also read which documents help when the insurer disputes your complaints, stops an advance payment or already wants to close the case for good.
Tell us about your accident. Mention whether an insurer is already involved and which decision you need to take now.
Personal injury after a road traffic accident or workplace accident
Collision and disputes about how the accident happened
After a collision, disputes may arise about right of way, speed, visibility and the movements of those involved. An accident report form is important, but not always the only evidence. Photos, witnesses and the first messages after the accident can complete the picture. Describe what you still remember while your memory is fresh. Be honest about uncertainties; an assumption filled in later can actually cause new disputes.
An accident does not have to have happened in Schiedam for your case to be handled from Rotterdam. Even if you work elsewhere or were hit while travelling, we look at the party that may be liable and the insurance policies involved. Where several vehicles are involved, the role of each party deserves separate attention.
Injury during work
In the case of a workplace accident, we investigate how the work was organised, which instructions applied and what was known about the risks. Think of lifting, working at height, machinery, vehicles on a work site or a fall. The precise circumstances and your position as an employee, agency worker or contractor determine which questions need to be answered.
Ask whether the incident has been recorded and note who was present. Keep work rosters, messages about the assignment and photos of the situation if they are lawfully available. Even if you continue working for the same employer after the accident, you can have your losses assessed. Claiming compensation and continuing your employment relationship are different matters that must be carefully coordinated.
Complaints caused by long-term strain
If complaints have developed gradually, establishing the cause is often more complicated than with a single clear accident. Your work history, the nature of the strain, medical information and possible other causes are then relevant. A diagnosis alone does not prove that the employer is liable. So first discuss what information makes a responsible assessment possible.
Recovery, income and help at home: look beyond the first bill
Losses can continue for longer than the first treatments. If you can work less, need help with the children or can no longer travel independently, you will notice consequences that do not all appear on a single invoice. The purpose of an overview of losses is to make those changes specific and verifiable.
| Change | What do you examine? | Useful information |
|---|---|---|
| Working less | Lost income, variable pay and consequences for the future. | Payslips, records of hours worked and agreements on returning to work. |
| Help from others | Household tasks taken over, personal care or support. | Which tasks, how much time and who provides the help. |
| Extra expenses | Care, transport, aids and adaptations. | Invoices, a log of journeys and compensation received. |
| Long-term limitations | Consequences for daily activities and plans for the future. | Course of recovery and relevant medical or occupational information. |
Fictitious example: after a fall, a warehouse worker is left with limitations in one shoulder. Wages are initially paid in full, but overtime is no longer possible and at home the partner takes over heavy household work. For a full assessment, several issues are then relevant. The example says nothing about the outcome of an individual claim.
Income and return to work
Keep documents about your income before the accident and afterwards. A payslip for one month may give an incomplete picture if you had irregular shifts, bonuses or overtime. For the self-employed, assignments, results, the cost of replacement and normal fluctuations in the business are among the relevant factors.
Also record changes in your work. Are you working fewer hours, have tasks been dropped or is a different position being considered? The personal injury assessment and your reintegration are not the same process. It may be necessary to coordinate those processes without replacing your medical recovery with a legal timetable. With long-term consequences, pension loss after an accident may also need attention.
Household help and personal care
Ask carers or those close to you to keep track of which tasks they take over. A weekly overview shows the extent better than an estimate afterwards. Distinguish ordinary shared tasks from extra help that has become necessary because of the injury. Personal care also raises different questions from cleaning or doing the shopping.
Proof of payment is sometimes missing when family members help. That does not automatically make the help irrelevant. Read our explanation of informal care and personal care in personal injury cases and discuss which substantiation suits your situation.
The insurer does not accept everything: what is the dispute about?
A rejection may concern liability, the link between the accident and your complaints, or the amount of a particular item of loss. Those issues call for different answers. So ask for a specific written explanation of the reasons and keep the documents the insurer relies on.
- How the accident happened is disputed: then the emphasis is on evidence about the accident and the parties involved.
- Your complaints are attributed to something else: then careful investigation of relevant medical information and the course of events is important.
- An item of loss is rejected: then the issues are necessity, extent, substantiation and connection with the accident.
- No advance payment is made: then we assess what has already been established, which amounts have been paid and why further payment is refused.
In the case of a stopped advance payment, it is wise to make your current financial need specific as well. A request for “more money” is less useful than an updated overview with proof of costs already incurred and costs expected in the near future.
A usable file in five parts
- How it happened: date, place, persons involved, photos, accident report form and witnesses.
- Health and recovery: the first complaints, contacts with healthcare providers and changes you experience. We discuss which medical documents are needed and how you provide them.
- Work and income: contracts, payslips or business records and information about absence from work.
- Overview of losses: expenses, help, travel and payments already received.
- Correspondence: the letter holding the other party liable, replies, proposals, agreements made and time limits that are running.
You do not need to have all this complete before you contact us. State what is missing and where the documents may be found. In a first request, mainly share the main points; sensitive medical information calls for a suitable way of submitting it.
How does Arslan Advocaten handle your personal injury case?
We start with your question: do you want to know whether someone is liable, does a rejection need to be assessed or is there already a settlement proposal? We then determine what information is needed, what work makes sense and which cost agreements go with it. During the handling of the case, we work towards a substantiated picture of the losses.
Where possible, we consult with the other party or the insurer. If a point of dispute is blocking the settlement of the claim, we discuss whether further substantiation, an expert investigation or proceedings are appropriate. Litigation is a means of solving a specific problem; the aim, the costs and the risk must be clear in advance. The information from the Dutch judiciary (Rechtspraak) on personal injury provides general background on these routes.
Costs, advance payments and a final settlement
Where liability is established, reasonable extrajudicial costs of legal assistance can in principle be recovered from the liable party. With a disputed claim or partial contributory negligence, the cost position may be different. Proceedings have their own rules on costs. We therefore make agreements in advance about the handling of the case and discuss which costs may remain payable by you.
Also read the independent information on costs from De Letselschade Raad. An advance payment on your losses is something different from reimbursement of lawyer’s fees. Keep these two flows of money separate in the file, so that it remains clear which losses have already been paid.
With a final settlement, we discuss whether the consequences are sufficiently known. Are medical examinations still planned, is a return to work uncertain or is there a chance of future costs? Then a proposal with full and final discharge deserves particular attention. Have it explained to you which issues are closed and which uncertainties you take on with the settlement.
Personal injury assistance for Schiedam from Rotterdam
Our office in Rotterdam is the point of contact for clients from Schiedam. There you will find the current address and telephone details. Mention in your request if travelling is difficult and discuss the practical options for the first contact. Include a letter with a deadline or a proposal to be signed in your request straight away.
You can read more about our practice on our main page on personal injury and in the profile of Onur Arslan. During the intake, we discuss who can handle your case and which next step suits your question.
Frequently asked questions about personal injury in Schiedam
Can I hold my employer liable if I still work there?
You can have your legal position assessed while the employment relationship continues. We discuss how the claim for compensation relates to contact with your employer and reintegration. Whether there is liability depends on the circumstances and the information available.
What if I also made a mistake myself?
Something you did yourself does not automatically mean that all compensation is lost. The consequences differ depending on the type of accident and the applicable rules. Give a full account of how the accident happened, including points you consider unfavourable.
The insurer wants medical information. Do I have to send everything?
Medical information may be needed, but the purpose and scope of the request must be clear. Discuss which documents are relevant and how consent and disclosure are arranged. Do not provide an unlimited collection of medical data without an assessment.
Can I switch if the handling of my claim stalls?
You can ask for an assessment of the existing file. Share the earlier agreements about assistance, the status of the claim and any time limits that are running. A possible takeover of the case and the consequences for costs must be discussed first.
What if I have complaints again after a second accident?
Make clear which complaints and limitations existed at which point in time. Several accidents often make attribution more complicated. See the explanation about two accidents and the same complaints.
Should I wait until the insurer finally responds?
Not always. Keep a record of your attempts to make contact and state which questions remain unanswered. Also have any limitation period or other time limits checked. Waiting is not a safe default when it may weaken your evidential position or your rights.
Can I be told a total amount in advance?
A reliable amount requires insight into liability, recovery and financial consequences. At the first meeting, we can indicate which elements require investigation. A general online indication is no substitute for a calculation of your own losses.
Get help with your personal injury claim — from Schiedam through our office in Rotterdam.