How to Make Car Accident Compensation Claims There are several factors that you must consider when filing an application for car accident compensation. These include the effects of suffering and pain as well as economic loss and loss of quality of life. If you are injured in a serious way it is important to know that the deadline to file a claim begins three years after the date of the incident. Pain and suffering Non-economic damages include suffering and pain. This type of damage doesn't have a fixed dollar amount, and can be calculated dif