Personal injury types

What are the typical types of personal injury?

We understand that accidents on the road, in public or at work can often be traumatic experiences. Not only can they cause severe and life-changing injuries, but they can limit your ability to work, damage your finances and damage the  mental health and wellbeing of both you and your loved ones.

We're here to try and help you through what will likely be a difficult time and give you the assistance you need to get your life back on track.

Below are some of the injury types that we handle week in and week out for customers:

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

Yes, there is. You have three years from the date of the incident (or when you originally noticed your condition or it was first diagnosed) to claim for an injury. 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 limit. 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

Do I qualify to make a personal injury claim?

Anyone can make an injury claim after being hurt in an accident that was someone else's fault. The easiest way to find out if you're eligible to make a claim is to call us on  for a confidential chat.

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

Sometimes we hear from people who've picked up an 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 accident 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.

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

Not usually. We strive to make your 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.

How does the personal injury claims process work?

We carefully select the 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.

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 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 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.

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.

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.

We're the UK's most trusted and recommended personal injury advice service. We're also committed to giving you free, impartial and jargon-free guidance that's unique to your accident experience.

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)

In a car accident that was someone else's fault, you 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. It doesn't matter if you were the driver, a passenger, pedestrian or cyclist.

If you were hurt in a road accident that wasn't your fault, then it's likely we can help you make an injury claim.

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. However, the compensation you could 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.

Alternatively, you can call us for free and impartial serious injury claims advice on . We're good listeners and we'll never push you to take any steps with which you are uncomfortable.

Medical negligence

If you've suffered through any form of medical negligence, we can help you. It can stem from incorrect medical, dental or ophthalmological (eye) treatment.

You can be eligible to make a medical negligence claim in several ways:

• 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

Your life may even have been put at risk, and we can help you to make it right.

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.

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.

What do I do about rehabilitation?

The solicitor handling your personal injury 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.

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.