Serious injury claims

If you or a loved one has suffered a serious injury in an accident, your health and recovery should always come first. Seek medical attention as soon as possible and follow the advice of the professionals treating you.

If you are able to, several steps can help protect a potential serious injury claim:

• Keep records of your medical treatment, appointments, and rehabilitation
• Take photographs of the accident scene and your injuries, where possible
• Keep contact details for any witnesses
• Report the accident to the relevant person or organisation, such as your employer
• Keep receipts and records of expenses, lost earnings, and additional care needs
• Speak to a specialist serious injury solicitor who can explain your options

We understand that gathering evidence may not be possible when you’re recovering from a life-changing injury. Our serious injury solicitors can help you through this process, taking on the legal work so you can focus on recovery.

Making a serious injury claim can feel overwhelming, particularly when you’re also dealing with the physical and emotional impact of your injuries. Our solicitors will guide you through each stage of the process and explain what to expect.

1. Initial assessment

Our team will listen to what happened, discuss your injuries, and explain whether you may be able to make a claim.

2. Investigation & evidence gathering

Your serious injury solicitor will gather evidence such as witness accounts, medical records, photographs, accident reports, and any available CCTV footage. This helps to build a clear picture of what happened and who was at fault.

3. Assessing your needs

We’ll work with medical and rehabilitation specialists to understand how your injury affects your life, both now and in the future.

4. Compensation

We’ll negotiate with the responsible party of the insurer to secure a settlement that reflects your injuries, financial losses, and ongoing care needs. Where appropriate, we’ll also seek interim payments to support your recovery while your claim progresses.

Most serious injury compensation claims are settled without going to court. Even if you think you were partly to blame, you may still be able to claim, although your compensation could be reduced to reflect your responsibility.

In most serious injury claims, you have three years from the date of the accident to start legal proceedings for a serious injury claim. There are some exceptions, though.

Where the injured person was under 18 at the time of the accident, the usual three-year time limit does not begin until their 18th birthday. Different rules can also apply where someone lacks the mental capacity to conduct legal proceedings.

Since limitation rules can depend on the circumstances, it’s better to seek advice early rather than assume you still have time.

You do not need to have collected all the evidence yourself before contacting us. Our serious injury solicitors can help gather and assess the information needed to investigate your claim.

Evidence may include:

• Medical records
• Hospital reports
• Photographs
• Witness statements
• Accident reports
• CCTV or other footage
• Rehabilitation and therapy records
• Independent medical assessments
• Employment and earnings information
• Receipts and evidence of financial losses

Independent medical, rehabilitation, occupational therapy, and care experts may also be instructed where appropriate. The evidence needs to establish how the injury happened and who was responsible, as well as how serious injury is likely to affect your daily life, independence, and future care needs.

How much compensation for serious injury claims you receive will depend on a number of factors, including the severity of the injury, the circumstances of the accident, and factors such as loss of earnings and future care needs. 

Generally, compensation amounts can range from a few thousand pounds for minor injuries to several hundred thousand or even millions of pounds for serious injuries. When calculating your serious injury compensation package, our team will consider how your injury has impacted you today, and how you are likely to be affected over the course of your lifetime.

The calculation for pain and suffering caused by a serious injury varies according to the location and severity of the injury, as well as its long-term impacts.

Part of this payment reflects the individual’s pain and suffering, often referred to as general damages. You may receive extra compensation on top to reflect your loss of earnings, medical and rehabilitation costs, adaptations to your home and vehicle, and so on. These financial losses and expenses are known as special damages.

There is a statutory time limit of three years after your accident to make a claim. A judge can extend this depending on the circumstances of your injury but there is no guarantee that they’ll do so.

Serious injury claims can take several years to settle. We always aim to secure the maximum compensation as quickly and efficiently as possible. Most claims are resolved without going to court.

Timelines depend on:

• Complexity of the injury: Multiple or medically complex injuries may need extensive assessment
• Evidence gathering: Building a strong legal case takes time
• Liability disputes: If the defendant denies responsibility, negotiations or court action may extend the process

Yes. Our serious injury solicitors can work with you on a No Win, No Fee basis, which means you don’t need to pay upfront legal fees to start your claim. If your claim is successful, you won’t pay our legal fees, subject to the terms of your agreement.

You may still be able to make a serious injury claim even if you were partly responsible for the accident. This is known as contributory negligence.

In these circumstances, your compensation may be reduced to reflect your share of responsibility. Our serious injury solicitors can help investigate what happened and explain whether you may still be eligible to claim.