Personal injury claims

What types of accident and personal injury can I claim for?

Personal injury is a broad term that applies to many different kinds of accident.

Listed below are the most common types of personal injury claims with which we work. We've also included some handy links if you'd like to explore more.

Road traffic accidents (RTA)

If you've been involved in a car accident that was someone else's fault, you may be able to claim for vehicle damage on the responsible party's motor insurance policy. The cost of fixing your car (or replacing it if it was written off) is covered by the other party's insurance. But what about the cost to your health if you were hurt?

An insurance claim doesn't cover any lost earnings, injury treatment costs or the pain and stress caused by your accident. If you were hurt in a road accident that wasn't your fault, then it's likely we can help you make a personal injury claim. It doesn't matter if you were the driver, a passenger, pedestrian or cyclist. Read more about road traffic accidents.

Accidents at work

Your employer is responsible for your safety at work. They're legally required to make your workplace and the tasks you carry out as safe as possible. They must also train you properly and provide you with any necessary personal protection equipment (PPE) you need for the job.

Suffering an accident at work can be stressful. It may have left you feeling anxious about your job and worried about your finances. Such worries can make your recovery even more difficult. It's worth remembering that both health and safety at work legislation and UK employment law are firmly on your side in an accident case. They protect your rights, especially if you are feeling wary about pursuing an injury claim against your employer.

With 25 years' experience handling workplace personal injury claims with our specialist solicitors, we can help you make it right. Find out more about work accident claims in detail.

Slips, trips and falls

It's a common misconception that slips, trips and falls generally mean minor injuries like cuts or scrapes. In fact, slips, trips or falls form a significant portion of the personal injury claims we work with. They can cause serious harm like broken bones, spinal injuries, or head and brain trauma.

There's no need to feel embarrassed if you've fallen in public - accidents happen. The owner of the premises you fell in has a duty to maintain the area and keep you safe. If they've failed to do this, then your accident was the result of negligence and could have been prevented.

Find out more about making a claim for injury compensation after a slip, trip or fall.

Fatal or life-changing injuries

Sometimes we're contacted by the loved ones of somebody who has suffered a fatal accident or a catastrophic injury. We understand how overwhelming it can be to lose someone close to you or see them badly injured.

At such a difficult time, we're here to offer pressure-free advice. We can't take away what you've been through, but any compensation you receive may help to provide your nearest and dearest with the support they need. For example, it could help to pay for home adaptations and ongoing medical treatment. For more information, we recommend reading our serious injuries page or reading through our serious injuries FAQs.

Medical negligence

If you've suffered through any form of medical negligence, we can help you. There are various types of negligence, including incorrect medical, dental or ophthalmological (eye) treatment.

You may be eligible to make a medical negligence claim if you have experienced any of the following:

• A failure to diagnose, misdiagnosis or a delay in diagnosis that harms you or worsens an existing condition
• An error during surgery that injures you or exacerbates a pre-existing condition
• The mis-prescription of medication or any other form of incorrect treatment that causes you harm

You may also be able to make a personal injury claim for any negligent medical treatment that left you in pain for longer than you should have been. Visit our medical negligence page for more information.

We're the UK's most trusted and recommended personal injury advice service. We're committed to giving you free, impartial and jargon-free guidance that's unique to your accident experience. You can call us for personal injury claims advice on . We're good listeners and we'll never push you to take any steps that you are uncomfortable with.

Do I qualify to make a personal injury claim?

If you were hurt in an accident that was someone else's fault, it's likely you'll be able to make a personal injury claim. The easiest way to find out if you're eligible is to call us on  for a confidential chat.

We'll listen to everything you tell us and give you the best advice we can. We'll never rush you, or pressure you to start the personal injury claims process. Our job is to give you the support and help you need at your pace and in your own way.

Sometimes we hear from people who've experienced a personal injury in an accident but dismiss it. We also talk with people who have been injured but don't realise that it's more serious than they think. You may have had to take time off work to recover. If you're still seeing a doctor or being treated for an old injury, then give us a call.

We have 25 years' experience helping people make personal injury claims. We'll be able to let you know whether we think you could make a claim. It's up to you if you'd like us to take the next step and pair you with one of our personal injury solicitors.

If you don't feel ready to speak to us, then try our compensation claim calculator.

How do I start a personal injury claim?

If you think you may have grounds for a personal injury claim, first take advice.

• Contact our friendly, legally trained advisors in confidence when you're ready
• We'll listen carefully to your circumstances and let you know if you could be eligible to make a personal injury claim
• We'll then explain the options so you can make an informed decision about what to do next

If we think you have grounds for compensation, it's your choice whether or not to go ahead. If you do, we'll then pair you with one of our specialist personal injury solicitors. We can usually do this on the same call if that suits you.

Your solicitor will let you know if they can take on your injury claim. If they do, they'll explain what happens next and the charges you pay from your compensation if you win. Once you're both happy to proceed - and only then - they'll start collecting the evidence to build your case.

How does the personal injury claims process work?

We carefully select the personal injury solicitors we work with and keep a close eye on their service standards. They'll handle everything for you and keep you in touch with the progress of your injury claim. All you need to do is follow their advice and share the information they need from you in a timely fashion. Here is a brief outline of the personal injury claims process:

Step 1: Assessment

You may already have taken the first steps and talked with one of our legally trained advisors. This is the point when we assess whether you've got a valid claim - if you have, we explain your options. If you decide to go ahead with your personal accident claim, we'll then match you with the right solicitor for your claim type.

Step 2: Consultation

To double-check your eligibility, your personal injury solicitor will examine all the facts and assess how the accident has affected you. This may include collecting evidence that will support your injury claim, such as photographs and medical records.

Step 3: Submission

Your solicitor submits your claim and the precise details to the other side (also called ‘the defendant'). This formally notifies the person or organisation you believe is to blame for your injury.

Step 4: Negotiation

Your claim moves through the stages set by the Ministry of Justice. The other side may accept or deny liability. Your solicitor talks with the other side and negotiates on your behalf. If they can't reach an agreement or the other side denies liability, the personal injury claim may go to a hearing at court. A hearing before a judge is a pretty rare occurrence.

Step 5: Finalisation

Your claim is settled - either by negotiation or, in a small minority of cases, in court. Succeed and you receive the personal injury compensation you deserve. You'll pay your solicitor from your compensation. This amount is typically slightly less or slightly more than 25% of your damages payment. Lose your accident injury claim and you pay nothing under no win no fee terms.

What makes a successful personal injury claim?

In short, it's clear and compelling evidence that establishes beyond doubt that the other side's negligence caused your injury - either wholly or in part. If you and the other side both bear responsibility, this is called shared negligence. Your personal injury solicitor's job is to build an accurate claim that secures the full amount of compensation you deserve. 

The stronger that evidence is, the more likely the other side's insurers will admit liability at the beginning. This will considerably speed up the time it takes to settle your case. Even if the other side denies liability, a sound personal injury claim with good evidence stands a strong chance of being settled in negotiation.

That's why it's always important to be totally honest with the evidence. Sometimes people do try and ‘game' the system by embellishing the truth. It's a fool's errand. It can lead to a claimant being found to be ‘fundamentally dishonest'. If that happens, a solicitor can withdraw from the personal injury claim and charge for the time they've spent. It may also lead to contempt of court proceedings.

How does a personal injury solicitor prove a claim?

Proving a personal injury claim is all about establishing fault across four main factors.

1. Duty - Did the other side owe you (the claimant) a legal duty of care in the circumstances?
   Example: A council is duty bound to keep public pavements, kerbs and roads in safe order.
2. Breach - Did the other side commit a breach of that duty by acting (or not acting) in a particular way?
   Example: The council failed to maintain or repair the pavement where you tripped and fell.
3. Causation - Did the other side's actions (or lack of them) cause your personal injury?
   Example: The staircase was defective, and you could not have reasonably predicted that walking down it would cause an injury.
4. Damages - Were you demonstrably injured by the other side's actions or inactions?
   Example: The court (or through the settlement negotiation with the other side's insurers) is able to compensate you because you broke your leg in the fall.

Who actually pays the compensation?

It's the other side's insurance company that pays the compensation. People sometimes worry that if they're claiming against their employer or even someone they may know, then a personal injury claim will leave that other person out of pocket. This isn't the case. All employers, just like anyone else you may be claiming against (other drivers for example - or perhaps your local council), are legally obliged to have insurance to cover any injury claims made against them.

How do I pay for a personal injury claim?

Typically, claims can be made using a no win no fee arrangement between you and your personal injury lawyer. The benefit of this is that there is no financial risk to you - if you don't win your case, you don't pay a penny. It's as simple as that. Our no win no fee personal injury solicitors will explain how this process works, but here are some of the main points to note:

• If your lawyer wins the injury claim, you pay them
• Typically, this is up to 25% of the compensation secured
• This figure can vary slightly either way, depending on the claim circumstances
• It will only be deducted when your compensation is paid
• There are no upfront costs and no hidden charges
• If you don't win your personal accident claim, you pay nothing.
• Your lawyer may need to arrange insurance for you to ensure claiming is risk-free
• You'll never be left out of pocket - that's our guarantee

How long do personal injury claims usually take?

The time it takes to reach a settlement in a successful personal injury claim can vary significantly. It depends on how complex your case is, the type, severity and circumstances of your injuries, plus the time it takes to gather all the necessary medical evidence. 

An injury claim duration is also affected by things like whether or not you know the identity of the other side and if the other side admits liability - or challenges it in court. A clear-cut road traffic accident claim may be settled in just weeks whereas a complicated medical negligence case may take up to three years or more. 

As a rule of thumb, an uninsured driver claim takes three or four months. Other road and work accident claims may take four to nine months, trips and slips six to nine months, industrial disease claims between one year to 18 months and clinical negligence one to three years plus.

Is there a time limit for making my personal injury claim?

Yes, there is. The personal injury claim time limit is three years from the date of the incident, when you originally noticed your condition or it was first diagnosed. There's a formal administrative procedure your personal injury lawyer must follow to register the compensation claim. If you're nearing the three-year deadline, call us on without delay.

There are some exceptions to the three-year personal injury limitation period. These are:

• Psychological trauma: If the claimant has suffered a brain injury that has seriously impaired their function, there is no time limit
• Children: A parent or guardian can make an injury claim on behalf of a child at any time until they are 18. If no claim has been made by that point, that child - now legally an adult - has three years until their 21st birthday to make a claim

Will making a personal accident claim take up much of my time?

Not usually. We strive to make your personal injury claim hassle-free and this includes ensuring it doesn't take up lots of your time. The solicitor we pair you with will do all the legal heavy lifting. This enables you to concentrate on the important things like recovering from your accident.

All you need to do is provide the information they need as promptly as you can by signing and returning documentation quickly and being ready to attend any medical assessment they book for you.

What do I do about rehabilitation?

The personal injury lawyer handling your claim will sort out all the rehabilitation you need if you need it. The medical assessment they arrange for you will state any further treatment you may need. The cost of it will form part of the ‘special damages' element of the compensation you receive if the injury claim succeeds. It'll make sure the costs of any and all ongoing treatment you need is paid for by the other side.

What makes a successful personal injury claim?

In short, it's clear and compelling evidence that establishes beyond doubt that the other side's negligence caused your accident injury - either wholly or in part. If you and the other side both bear responsibility, this is called shared negligence. Your personal injury solicitor's job is to build an accurate claim that secures the full amount of compensation you deserve. 

The stronger that evidence is, the more likely the other side's insurers will admit liability at the beginning. This will considerably speed up the time it takes to settle your case. Even if the other side denies liability, a sound injury claim with good evidence stands a strong chance of being settled in negotiation.

That's why it's always important to be totally honest with the evidence. Sometimes people do try and ‘game' the system by embellishing the truth. It's a fool's errand. It can lead to a claimant being found to be ‘fundamentally dishonest'. If that happens, a solicitor can withdraw from the personal injury claim and charge for the time they've spent. It may also lead to contempt of court proceedings.

Can I switch personal injury lawyers if I'm unhappy with the service I'm getting?

You can, but only if you have reasonable grounds for switching. If you've got any concerns with how your personal injury claim is being handled, raise them with your solicitor first. A good solicitor will make every effort to address them.

If they can't sort things out and you're still unhappy, get a second opinion from another law firm. You're within your rights to do so. You won't be charged for that second opinion.

We regularly and carefully track the service standards of all the solicitors we work with. This goes a long way to helping ensure you don't experience such unwanted problems.