Compensation
Can you receive an interim payment before your injury claim ends?
An advance may help cover documented expenses or lost income while recovery continues. Understand how it differs from a final settlement.
Why an advance may be needed
Medical appointments, additional help and lost earnings do not wait until a claim is complete. If responsibility is established and loss can be supported, an adviser can request a payment for the part that can already be assessed. Future recovery does not always need to be settled first.
An insurer may dispute some losses while accepting others. Ask it to identify which items are accepted and what information is missing for the remainder. A clear schedule helps avoid an all-or-nothing discussion about the entire claim.
Prepare a specific request
Set out the period covered, each loss and the supporting document. Distinguish expenses already incurred from reasonable costs expected shortly. Explain any urgent consequence, such as inability to fund necessary support, without overstating what has been agreed.
If the request concerns help at home, include a record of the tasks and hours. Our household help guide explains why an invoice is not always the only relevant evidence.
Read the payment terms
Check whether the insurer describes the payment as an advance without final discharge or as an amount settling a defined part of the dispute. Ask whether liability remains contested and whether repayment conditions are proposed. The description in a bank transfer is not a substitute for understanding the written agreement.
Keep an overview of all payments. Advances are normally taken into account when the final compensation is calculated; they are not an additional award on top of the same losses.
If a request is delayed or refused
Ask for a reasoned response and address any genuine evidence gap. An incomplete income calculation and an insurer simply not responding call for different next steps. See dealing with insurer delays before treating a complaint as a solution to every dispute.
Injury Lawyer’s personal injury support can assess a proportionate request. Avoid committing to an expensive service solely on the assumption that an advance will be paid; confirm the position first where practical.
Example: expenses arrive before the claim is ready to settle
Illustrative example · fictional situation, not a client case
Someone is temporarily unable to work after a traffic accident and has travel receipts for appointments. They prepare a dated list of the immediate shortfall, distinguishing amounts already reimbursed from outstanding costs. Their adviser can then identify what evidence is missing and discuss a specific request with the insurer.
Practical takeaway: Make an interim-payment request understandable and documented. This is not an example of an approved payment or a promise that an insurer will pay.
If the immediate shortfall follows a car collision, car accident legal support can consider the liability position alongside the payment request. For a collision involving a lorry, truck accident claim support provides the relevant accident-specific starting point.
Before requesting an interim payment
- List the immediate losses and the period they cover.
- Attach available receipts and income records.
- Deduct amounts already reimbursed or clearly identify payments awaiting confirmation.
- Ask whether liability and the relevant part of the loss have been accepted or remain disputed.
- Keep a record of each advance so the same amount is not claimed twice.
Questions you may still have
Does receiving an advance mean the insurer accepts everything?
No. An advance can concern only an agreed part of the loss or be made under specified reservations. Check what has actually been acknowledged.
Must I wait until I have fully recovered?
Not necessarily. An advance is intended to address sufficiently established loss while other issues remain open. Eligibility and amount depend on the particular claim.
Sources and legal context
General information about Dutch personal injury claims. Some source material is in Dutch. Your circumstances may require a different assessment.
This guide explains general principles. It is not a decision on liability or the value of an individual claim.