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INDEPENDENT GUIDANCE — ENGLAND AND WALES

Is this website actually free?

Personal injury claims attract significant commercial interest. Solicitors, claims management companies, and lead-generation businesses all have financial reasons to engage with claimants. That does not make them illegitimate. But there is a difference between commercial services and independent guidance — and that difference is not always made clear. These questions help establish what a site is before you decide whether to engage with it.

01

Does the site ask for your contact details before showing you any content?

Guidance does not require identification. A site that requests a name, phone number, or email address before providing information is collecting contact details. That is how lead generation works in this sector.

02

Does it recommend specific solicitors or claims management companies?

Recommending named firms is typically a commercial arrangement. Referral fees are common in personal injury. In most cases, a site that directs you to specific firms has a financial relationship with those firms, whether or not this is disclosed.

03

Does calling the number connect you to someone handling claims?

Some sites present as information resources while operating a claims intake function. If a phone number connects you to someone asking about your accident, the site is operating as a commercial service rather than an information provider.

04

Does the content use urgency to prompt action?

Limitation periods are real and relevant. Most claims have a three-year limit from the date of the accident. That is worth understanding. Language that goes beyond explaining time limits — implying your claim is at risk unless you act immediately — is not typically present in neutral guidance.

05

Is the "free" offer conditional on providing claim details?

Free assessments, free consultations, and free case reviews are entry points into a commercial process. They are free in the sense that no upfront payment is taken. They are not free in the sense that an article or guide is free. They typically lead to a follow-up call from a firm.

06

Is it clear who runs the site and how it is funded?

An independent site should state clearly what it is, what it does, and what it does not do. If ownership is not stated, or if the about page does not explain the basis on which the site operates, that is a gap worth noting before engaging further or sharing any information.

07

Does it acknowledge when its guidance is not sufficient?

General guidance has limits. Some claims involve disputed liability, complex injuries, or procedural issues that go beyond what a guidance resource can address. A site that describes those limits clearly is operating honestly. A site that does not define its limits may be overstating what it can provide.

The distinction is not always obvious at first glance. Once you know what to look for, it becomes much clearer.

About this site

These questions can be applied to ClaimTalk in the same way they apply to any other site. ClaimTalk does not collect contact details, refer claims, recommend specific firms, or earn from claims in any form. Where a situation falls outside general guidance, that is stated clearly.

What would you like to do next?

If you are ready to use ClaimTalk, here is where to start.

If you are not sure whether you have a claim

The seven-question checker works through your situation and tells you whether you have a claim, which process applies, and what the likely next steps are. No details required to use it.

Check Where I Stand
If you want to understand the process from the beginning

Start Here covers what happens when a claim is made, how the OIC portal works, and what the key decisions are at each stage. It is the main entry point for first-time claimants.

Start Here
If you want to know whether you need a solicitor

The honest answer to that question depends on the specific circumstances of your claim. This page goes through what a solicitor does in an OIC claim, when they add genuine value, and when the process was designed to be navigated without one.

Do I Need a Solicitor?
If you want to know more about how ClaimTalk works

The about page explains what ClaimTalk is, what it is not, and the experience behind the guidance. It also explains in plain terms why the site is free.

About ClaimTalk

Last reviewed: 8 April 2026

Please note

ClaimTalk provides general guidance only. Not legal advice. Not affiliated with the Official Injury Claim portal or any government body.

ClaimTalk cannot respond to questions about individual claims. If you need advice specific to your situation, a regulated solicitor is the appropriate route.