UNISON Direct 0845 355 0845

What legal services are available?

UNISON membership means that if you have an accident at work, are assaulted at work or you suffer an industrial disease, then Thompsons will represent and advise you free of charge.

If you or any member of your family are hurt in a road traffic accident, on holiday or in the street, again, your UNISON membership entitles you and your family to free representation and advice.

There are time limits for taking court proceedings for compensation for injury or disease. The time limit is three years from the date of the injury or, if you have developed an industrial disease, the date that you first became aware of your condition. The longer you leave it to seek advice about your injury or condition, the more difficult it is to build up a strong case for you.

If your injury happens when you are abroad, or on the way to your holiday destination either at the airport, or when you’re already on a plane or ship, then there are different (and shorter) time limits for starting court proceedings. So the message is, don’t delay in getting advice.

Accessing UNISON’s legal services is very easy. Ring UNISON Direct on 0845 355 0845 or textphone 0800 0 967 968. You’ll need your membership number to hand.

How does my case get dealt with?

Thompsons’ lawyers will investigate your case and advise you about its strengths (and any weaknesses) as quickly as possible. We work to agreed standards of service required by UNISON and we are audited and judged against those standards.

Our teams have many years’ experience between them acting for injured UNISON members and their families and so you can be reassured that your case is looked after by a specialist who not only understands your situation, but works in a law firm with a commitment to the Trades Union movement and its aims.

We use plain English and try to avoid legal jargon wherever we can.

If the evidence in your case means that there is a reasonable chance of success, our job is to try to obtain as much compensation for you as we can, as quickly as we can.

We will also advise you about any benefits that you may be entitled to as a result of your injury or condition as well as the effect that receipt of those benefits (and any other benefits such as NHS Injury Benefit) will have on your claim.