Personal injury

Personal injury refers to the physical and/or psychological harm you suffer as a result of someone else’s actions. It includes both material damages and non-material damages.

How can personal injury occur?

In most cases, personal injury results from a traffic accident or a workplace accident — that’s what most people think of first. But other situations can also cause injury (and therefore personal injury), such as a dog bite, poorly maintained roads, or a slippery shop floor. Even occupational illnesses — like burnout or back problems from heavy work — can lead to personal injury.

When are you entitled to compensation?

An injury often has a major impact on your life. You may be unable to work or study for a while, causing loss of income or study delays. You might also face additional expenses, for example for medical treatment, home adaptations, or help with daily tasks.

The emotional and psychological consequences can be just as severe — chronic pain, anxiety, lasting limitations, or losing something important to you, such as your job, sport, or hobby.

That’s why it’s important to know that you may be entitled to compensation if someone else is liable for your accident. The basic principle is clear: you should be restored, as much as possible, to the situation you would have been in if the accident had never happened — both financially and personally.

In personal injury cases, we distinguish between material damages and non-material damages — the latter also known as compensation for pain and suffering.

Material damages

Material damages include all financial losses directly related to the accident, such as:

• Lost income (now and in the future)
• Travel and parking expenses
• Costs of home modifications
• Costs of household help
• Costs of assistance with maintenance or chores
• Costs of personal care support
• Damaged personal belongings
• Costs resulting from study delay
• Costs of unused tickets or subscriptions

Non-material damages (compensation for pain and suffering)

Non-material damages — or compensation for pain and suffering — cover the physical pain, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life caused by the accident.

The amount of compensation depends on the specific circumstances of each case. Courts determine this based on comparable rulings, as published in the ANWB Compensation Guide for Pain and Suffering (ANWB Smartengeldgids).

Filing a personal injury claim can be a lengthy and complex process, especially when the damages are significant. As an injured person, you’re allowed to handle the claim yourself — but chances are, you don’t have the legal or financial expertise to do so effectively. This could mean you end up receiving less than you’re entitled to. Do you know exactly what you can claim and how each item of damage is calculated?

On top of that, you’ll often be dealing with lawyers and claims specialists from the insurance company — professionals who may “overlook” certain items of damage or undervalue them.

That’s why Dutch law states that you’re entitled to professional legal assistance, paid for by the liable party. We strongly recommend making use of this right. A personal injury specialist almost always secures a higher compensation amount than someone handling the claim alone. Plus, they take care of the entire process for you — so you can focus on your recovery.

If you’ve suffered an injury, illness, or condition that wasn’t your fault, you may be entitled to compensation. Ready to talk about your situation? One of our personal injury specialists will be happy to help.

Personal injury has a major impact — not only on your body, but also on your life, your work, and your future. Whether you’ve been injured in a traffic accident or a workplace accident, our experienced personal injury specialists are here to help you claim fair compensation.

At Kracht!, everything revolves around your recovery. We listen to your story, provide clear explanations, and are fully committed to finding a solution that does justice to your situation. We take care of the entire legal process so you can focus on what truly matters: getting better.

Why choose Kracht! Letselschade?

• With us, you’re not just a case number. You’ll have one dedicated personal injury specialist guiding you through the entire process.
• We always visit you in person — at home, at work, or in the hospital. Wherever you feel most comfortable.
• If necessary, we’ll visit the scene of the accident together. This helps us get a complete picture of what happened and represent your interests even better.
• We dig deep into your case and don’t let go until you’ve received fair compensation.
• We think in solutions, go the extra mile, and keep going — especially when others give up.
• If needed, we bring in one of our affiliated litigation lawyers.