Personal Injury & Insurance Claims
After an accident or serious loss, clients need to know whether there is a viable claim, what records matter, and how insurers, employers, or other parties are likely to respond.
Practical guidance after accidents, injury, and contested claims
For injured clients, families, drivers, insured parties, and businesses dealing with negligence claims, motor-vehicle losses, liability disputes, or insurance settlement issues in Trinidad and Tobago.
If you have been injured in an accident or suffered a loss because of someone else’s negligence, speaking with a personal injury lawyer in Trinidad and Tobago as early as possible is the most important step you can take. Personal-injury claims are subject to a four-year limitation period under the Limitation of Certain Actions Act, Chapter 7:09, after which the claim is generally statute-barred. Evidence fades, witnesses become harder to locate, and memories of the sequence of events become less reliable with time. The strength of a personal-injury or negligence claim depends substantially on the quality of the early record — medical notes, photographs, police or incident reports, and witness details gathered while they are still fresh. At Martin George & Company, we advise injured clients and their families on the full range of personal-injury and insurance-related claims, from motor vehicle accidents to occupier’s liability and fatal-accident matters.
Negligence claims in Trinidad and Tobago require proof that someone owed you a duty of care, that they breached that duty, and that the breach caused the harm you suffered. Motor vehicle cases are shaped by the Motor Vehicles Insurance (Third-Party Risks) Act, Chapter 48:51, which requires all vehicles to be insured against third-party risks; recovery in road-traffic claims usually proceeds against the at-fault driver’s insurer. The circumstances of the collision, the other driver’s conduct, and any police report or witness account of what happened are key evidence. Workplace accident claims involve both potential common-law negligence claims against the employer (often turning on whether the employer breached duties under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, Chapter 88:08) and a parallel statutory route under the Workmen’s Compensation Act, Chapter 88:05 for some categories of workers. Public liability and occupier’s liability cases turn on what precautions should have been taken and whether the responsible party met that standard. Insurance is often involved on both sides, and the insurer’s position — whether they accept liability, dispute it, or offer a settlement that undervalues the claim — significantly shapes how the matter proceeds.
Fatal-accident claims bring an additional layer of legal complexity and personal difficulty. Where a family member has died as a result of someone else’s negligence, dependants and close relatives may have the right to claim for the loss of financial support and other consequences under the Compensation for Injuries Act, Chapter 8:05. These matters require careful handling from both a legal and a human perspective, and we approach them accordingly. Loss of earnings claims, claims for pain and suffering (general damages), and recovery of medical expenses (special damages) are also part of the personal-injury practice and are assessed on the specific facts of each case.
Services in this practice area
- Motor Vehicle Accidents
- Negligence Claims
- Personal Injury Compensation
- Insurance Claims & Settlements
- Public Liability Claims
- Occupier’s Liability
- Damages for Pain and Suffering
- Loss of Earnings Claims
- Medical Expenses Recovery
- Fatal Accidents Claims
When you consult with us following an accident or injury, bring everything you have gathered: photographs of the scene and any injuries, the police report or incident report if one was made, medical records and receipts related to the injury, witness names and contact details, and any correspondence you have received from an insurer or from the other party’s representatives. If an insurer has already made a settlement offer, do not accept it before taking legal advice — settlement offers, particularly early ones, often do not reflect the full value of the claim.
Our approach to personal injury and insurance claims is methodical and realistic. We will assess the strength of the liability position, the quality of the evidence, and the range of compensation that may be available before advising on whether to negotiate, make a formal demand, or commence proceedings. Clients across Trinidad and Tobago who have been injured through no fault of their own deserve proper legal support, and we are committed to making sure their claims are taken seriously and pursued to a fair conclusion. If you are unsure whether your situation gives rise to a claim, a consultation is the right way to find out.
Further reading at law.martingeorge.net
For deeper background on T&T personal-injury and tort law, see the firm’s legal education site:
- Motor Vehicle Accidents in Trinidad and Tobago: Fault, Claims, and Compensation
- Quantum of Damages in Motor Vehicle Collisions in Trinidad and Tobago: How Courts Calculate What You Are Owed
- Wrongful Death Claims in Trinidad and Tobago: Dependants’ Rights and How Compensation Is Calculated
- Occupier’s Liability in Trinidad and Tobago: The Duty Owed to Visitors and Trespassers
- The Tort of Negligence in Trinidad and Tobago: Elements, Proof, and Defences
Negligence and personal injury review
Assessment of accident facts, liability issues, injury records, and whether a compensation claim may be worth pursuing.
Motor vehicle accidents and related losses
Support for clients dealing with injury, property damage, loss, or dispute following road-traffic incidents.
Insurance claims and settlement disputes
Advice where insurers dispute coverage, delay response, reduce value, or challenge the basis of a claim.
Evidence and compensation strategy
Early review of medical reports, receipts, photographs, witness material, and the financial impact of the loss.
Built for clients dealing with Trinidad and Tobago legal realities, deadlines, and procedural demands.
Matters we handle
Common instructions in this area
- Negligence and personal injury claims
- Motor vehicle accident losses and liability disputes
- Insurance claims and settlement disagreements
- Evidence gathering after injury or damage
- Early review of compensation strategy
What to expect
How the first stage usually works
- Set out the accident or loss chronology, the parties involved, the injuries or damage claimed, and any insurance position already taken.
- Gather medical records, photographs, receipts, incident reports, policy documents, and correspondence relevant to liability or settlement.
- Assess claim strength, evidential gaps, negotiation posture, and whether the matter should move toward formal proceedings.
Why clients use this practice
Documents matter early
Injury and insurance matters often become stronger or weaker based on the quality of the early record, so the page focuses heavily on what to gather first.
Built for claim realism
The service line is written to help clients understand both claim potential and practical obstacles such as proof, causation, and insurer response.
Relevant to personal and commercial loss
The page is useful not only for injured individuals, but also for insured businesses and clients facing contested settlement positions.
Related attorneys
Your Personal Injury & Insurance Claims Legal Team
Meet the attorneys most closely connected to injury & insurance work.
Martin George
Senior Partner & Lead Counsel
Senior Partner and Lead Counsel with more than 30 years of practice in the courts of Trinidad and Tobago, leading the firm across all of its practice areas with a calm, measured, results-driven approach.
Danesha Munroe
Attorney-at-Law
Instructing Attorney-at-Law admitted to practise in 2023, building experience in negligence claims, mortgage and financial institution disputes, defamation and social media slander, and employment dispute resolution with major local and international companies.
Frequently asked questions
What is the limitation period for a personal-injury claim in T&T?
Personal-injury claims must generally be brought within four years of the injury under the Limitation of Certain Actions Act, Chapter 7:09. Fatal-accident claims under the Compensation for Injuries Act, Chapter 8:05 have similar time limits. Once the limitation period has passed, the claim is generally statute-barred — making prompt advice critical.
I was hit by an uninsured driver — what are my options?
All motor vehicles in Trinidad and Tobago must be insured against third-party risks under the Motor Vehicles Insurance (Third-Party Risks) Act, Chapter 48:51. If the driver is uninsured or unidentified (a hit-and-run), recovery may still be possible directly against the driver, against the vehicle owner, or in some cases through other channels. The firm assesses what realistic recovery looks like before any formal step is taken.
I was injured at work — is that personal injury or a workmen's compensation matter?
Both routes may be available. The Workmen's Compensation Act, Chapter 88:05 provides a no-fault scheme for some categories of workers, with set compensation amounts. A common-law negligence claim against the employer may also be available where the employer breached a duty of care under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, Chapter 88:08 or general negligence principles. The right route depends on the facts.
Ready to discuss your matter?
Speak with the firm about injury & insurance issues, timelines, and the best next step for your situation.