Personal Injury

For most personal injury claims, you have **three years** from the date of the accident, or from the date you first knew your injury was due to someone else's negligence (the "date of knowledge"). If the injured person is a child, the three-year limit only starts on their 18th birthday.

A 'No Win, No Fee' agreement, or **Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA)**, means you only pay our legal fees if your claim is successful. If you lose, you pay nothing for our time. If you win, we take an agreed percentage (the success fee) from your compensation, capped at a legal maximum.

We handle claims arising from **Road Traffic Accidents (RTAs)**, **accidents at work**, **slips, trips, or falls** in public places, injuries caused by **defective products**, and cases of **medical or professional negligence**. Any injury caused by another party's negligence may be claimable.

Essential evidence includes: photographs of the accident scene, contact details of any witnesses, records of your injuries (GP/hospital visits), receipts for expenses incurred (travel, medication), and any police or accident reports. **Documentation is crucial.**

Compensation is split into two parts: **General Damages** (for the pain, suffering, and loss of amenity caused by the injury) and **Special Damages** (for specific financial losses, like lost earnings, medical costs, travel, and care expenses).

**Yes.** To value your claim accurately, the court requires a report from an independent medical expert detailing the nature and extent of your injuries, your prognosis, and any future needs. We arrange this appointment for you.

**Unlikely.** Over 95% of personal injury claims are settled out of court through negotiation between solicitors. Court proceedings are usually only necessary if the defendant denies liability or a fair settlement cannot be agreed upon.

Minor injury claims are typically low-value, short-term injuries with a quick recovery. Severe claims involve life-changing injuries (e.g., brain or spinal injuries) where compensation covers extensive future care, adaptations to property, and substantial loss of lifetime earnings.

It is **unlawful** for an employer to dismiss you or treat you unfairly just because you have made a claim against them. All employers are required to have insurance to cover such claims, meaning the claim is made against their insurer, not the employer personally.

This is when the defendant argues that the claimant (you) were partly to blame for the accident or the extent of the injury. If proven, the court reduces your compensation by the percentage of fault attributed to you (e.g., a 20% reduction if you were 20% at fault).

Simple, settled claims can take **6 to 9 months**. More complex claims, especially those involving severe injuries where the full extent of recovery is unknown (meaning a final medical prognosis is delayed), may take **18 months to 3 years** or longer.

**Yes.** If your physical injury leads to recognized psychological conditions such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), anxiety, or severe depression, these elements are included in the General Damages part of your compensation, supported by a specialist psychological report.

If the driver was uninsured or untraced (a hit-and-run), we can pursue your claim through the relevant industry fund, such as the **Motor Insurers' Bureau (MIB)**. This ensures that innocent victims still receive the compensation they are entitled to.

If the defendant admits liability early, we can often secure **interim payments**—advance payments of compensation—to cover urgent needs like private medical treatment, physiotherapy, or necessary care costs before the final settlement is reached.

First, seek appropriate medical attention. Second, gather all contact and insurance details from any parties involved. Third, take photos and notes. **Crucially: do not admit fault or sign anything** before speaking to us.