What are interim payments and rehabilitation in personal injury claims?

Interim payments and rehabilitation can provide valuable support following a serious injury. While compensation claims can take time to resolve, these measures can help people access financial assistance, treatment and rehabilitation when they need it most.

An interim payment is an upfront payment by a defendant, usually through their insurance company, which is then set off against the final payment of a claim.

An insurance company will often agree to make an interim payment where it believes it is likely to admit fault in full or part of the claim, and where the interim payment is unlikely to exceed the final value of the claim.

Interim payments can provide practical financial support at a time when it may be needed most.

For example, an injured person may have suffered a serious injury that prevents them from returning to work. As a result, they may not continue to receive their usual income and could struggle to meet everyday expenses such as mortgage payments or food costs. An interim payment may help cover these costs while the claim progresses.

Interim payments can also provide support in other difficult circumstances. Where a family has been bereaved, the cost of a funeral can be significant, and insurance companies will often make an upfront interim payment to help meet those costs.

Where a person is seriously injured, the initial phase of treatment immediately after the incident is almost always provided by the NHS.

However, challenges can arise once that acute treatment has been completed and the injured person is preparing to return home.

Many people worry about how they will cope after leaving hospital, particularly where they have suffered a serious injury. They may live alone, face difficulties accessing parts of their home, or require ongoing treatment and support.

Under the Rehabilitation Code 2015, a solicitor can approach the other party’s insurer to ask whether they will fund the appointment of a rehabilitation case manager.

The case manager can assess the injured person’s immediate needs and prepare recommendations. The insurer may then provide further funding to implement those recommendations. This may include managing a person’s discharge home and supporting their ongoing rehabilitation for an agreed period.

Learn more about our commitment to supporting recovery through our Recover. Rebuild. Thrive. approach.

While the outcome of a personal injury claim is often a financial settlement, the role of a solicitor extends beyond securing compensation alone.

As Matthew Claxson explains, the aim is to support an injured person to regain as much independence as possible and help return them, as far as they can be, to the position they would have been in had the incident not happened.

Interim payments and rehabilitation both work towards that goal.

At Fletchers, we understand that recovery after a serious injury involves much more than a legal claim. Access to rehabilitation, practical support and financial assistance can all play an important role in helping people move forward.

Our serious injury team works to secure the support people need as early as possible, helping them focus on their recovery and independence while their claim progresses.