We're here to help after your accident
Recovering after an accident can take time. Seeking compensation might not be the first thing on your mind, especially if you have a long road to recovery ahead. We don't believe that you should suffer all of the burdens of your injury alone - even more so if your injury was a result of someone else's negligent behaviour.
Many injured people just like you are put off claiming by the thought of how long a compensation claim takes to settle. In fact, research commissioned by National Accident Helpline showed that at least £1.4 billion of personal injury settlements were unclaimed in 2022 because of people's reluctance to make a claim.
We understand this hesitation, but we're here to support you through the claims process in a simple, stress-free and timely way. We always aim to get you the compensation award that you need.
For more information on how we can help or how long a personal injury claim can take, call us on or request a call back using our simple online form.
Think claiming takes too long?
If so, you're not alone. Almost half of people we asked thought so too. Rest assured that we work hard to ensure that every case moves along as quickly as possible and to keep you updated with your claim''s progress at every step of the way.
What affects the length of a personal injury claim?
What affects the length of a personal injury claim?
Because no two accidents are the same, it's very difficult for us to tell you exactly how long your claim will take. When you speak to one of our solicitors, they may be able to give you a rough idea of the average time to settle a personal injury claim like yours, but it can depend on a lot of factors.
Some of the main ones are:
- The seriousness of your injuries and the amount of time that it'll take you to recover
- If your injuries are complex, it can take time to establish the full impact. It is important to ensure that we have all of the information that we need about your injuries as this can affect how much compensation you receive.
- Who you're claiming against
While it is often the case that it's easy to work out who the party against which you are claiming is, in some cases it's not apparent. There may be more than one party involved or it could be that you were involved in a hit-and-run, for example. Where faced with these more complicated situations, it can take time to establish the facts of the claim.
- Whether the other party accepts or denies liability
If the other party doesn't accept liability, this can prolong the process.
The amount of time that it takes to claim can also depend on:
- The type of accident in which you were involved, e.g. a road accident or medical negligence
- The evidence that your solicitor needs to make your case
Our expert solicitors will work hard to keep your case moving as quickly as possible, and they'll keep you updated at every step of the way.
Proving the other party is responsible
If the other party accepts responsibility (also known as 'liability') for your accident straight away, your claim will usually progress fairly quickly.
However, it's not uncommon for them to deny liability at first. If this happens, your solicitor will need to gather evidence to prove that they were responsible and then negotiate with the other side to decide who was at fault.
These discussions can affect how long an injury claim can take - especially if there's a lot of compensation at stake, or if the claim is particularly complex.
It can also take time to get the evidence that your solicitor needs to build your case, as this can involve a lot of different people. For example, your solicitor might need:
- Medical reports
- Statements from witnesses
- CCTV footage
- Expert opinion and reports
How long does a compensation settlement take after a medical appointment?
After you start your claim with us, your solicitor will arrange a medical appointment. This is so that they have medical evidence of your injuries and recovery.
But if it's too early to tell what impact your injury could have in the future, your solicitor might recommend that you wait until this is clearer. This is to make sure that you receive the right amount of compensation to help you to deal with the long-term effects of your accident. This will affect how long your personal injury claim takes but is essential to making sure that you receive the compensation settlement that you deserve.
If your injury is particularly serious or unusual, your solicitor might need more medical reports from specialists, and this can cause your case to take longer. In some cases, the other party might even want to organise their own medical report.
In any case, your solicitor is working to negotiate the maximum amount of compensation for you, so, while these steps may add some time to your claim, in the long term it means that you're fully compensated and supported in your future.
How to claim through the claims portal
If your case fits certain criteria, your solicitor may be able to make your claim through the claims portal so that it's dealt with more efficiently.
The claims portal is an electronic system that streamlines the process by acting as a go-between for your solicitor and the other party. It also sets a strict time limit for the party against which you are claiming to respond (between 15-30 days, depending on the type of accident).
If the compensation is less than £25,000, the following types of claims can usually be made through the claims portal:
If the other party denies responsibility for your injury, your claim will be removed from the portal as it might need to go to court. Your solicitor will be able to guide you through the process and can do most of the paperwork for you.
The rules for making a small personal injury claim following a road traffic accident changed on 31st May 2021. The new structure for road traffic accident injury claims looks like this:
| Whiplash \ soft tissue injury duration (months) | Revised damages - whiplash only | Revised damages - whiplash including mild psychological injury |
| Not more than 3 months | £240 | £260 |
| More than 3 months but not more than 6 | £495 | £520 |
| More than 6 months but not more than 9 | £840 | £895 |
| More than 9 months but not more than 12 | £1,320 | £1,390 |
| More than 12 months but not more than 15 | £2,040 | £2,125 |
| More than 15 months but not more than 18 | £3,005 | £3,100 |
| More than 18 months but not more than 24 | £4,215 | £4,345 |
| Type of injury reclassified as a small claim | Judicial College Guidelines for compensation |
| Simple nose fracture | £1,600 - £2,370 |
| Simple cheekbone fracture | £2,180 - £2,810 |
| Partial loss of little finger | £3,150 - £4,670 |
| Minor hand injury | up to £4,461 |
You can find out how much your personal injury compensation could be via our claims calculator. You could be given an estimated compensation amount in seconds.
Arranging interim payments
You may be worried that your case will take a long time to complete and that you'll struggle to keep up with the costs of your injury and the effects it's having on your life in the meantime.
You don't need to worry about this. Your solicitor can usually arrange for you to receive a personal injury claim 'interim payment' of compensation. This is compensation you're paid before your claim is settled to cover the immediate costs of your injury.
Your solicitor will be able to discuss this with you before starting your claim and can arrange it on your behalf.
How long does it take to get paid after a settlement?
Once your claim has been settled, your compensation will normally be paid to you quite quickly - usually within two weeks to a month.
If your case is settled in court, the judge will give a deadline by which you should receive your compensation. If it's settled out of court, your solicitor will agree on a deadline with the other party, then provide you with a timeline for how long it will take to get paid after your settlement.
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Frequently asked questions...
Yes, you can. If they're under 18, you'll need to make the claim on their behalf. This is called being a litigation friend as is usually done by a parent, guardian or other responsible adult. You can also act as a litigation friend if your loved one has been so seriously injured that they are unable to make the claim themselves.
There's no need to visit a solicitor's office in person. If you decide you'd like to go ahead, we pass you onto one of our specialist solicitors for a free initial consultation. We usually transfer you to them on the same call and they'll typically handle your case without you needing to visit them.
Yes - it's highly likely you'll need to go to one. An independent medical opinion is an important part of the evidence that your solicitor will rely on when building your claim. Your solicitor will advise you based on the specifics of your claim.
The appointment will be booked for you and in most cases, will be with a medical professional local to you. It doesn't take long, usually no more than 30 minutes to an hour. After the appointment, the medical professional will write a report giving their opinion and then send it to your solicitor. You'll be able to read the report and your solicitor will ask you to check it for accuracy.
Charles Boyce won £12,000 after a serious accident
It didn't take long - four months later the driver admitted liability. Everything was handled really well
Meet Amy Stubbs - she is a Senior Litigator at National Accident Law. Amy's skillset allows her to take on compensation claims when the other side involved challenges accident liability, doesn't admit fault or if the circumstances are difficult or challenging. Her task is then to build the strongest possible case for a successful outcome. She works hard to settle your compensation claim as efficiently as possible.
How do I start my claim with National Accident Helpline?
You could be entitled to compensation if you have experienced an injury and it wasn't your fault. If you've got any questions about how to make a claim, contact us for free and impartial advice on or request a call back. We'll listen to what you've been through and let you know if we think that you could make a claim. We won't be able to tell you straight away how long your injury claim will take, but we will work hard to make the process move quickly and will keep you informed at every stage.
If we think that you could make a successful personal injury claim and you want to go ahead, we can connect you with specialist lawyers. They will give you a free consultation, assess how they can help you, and will talk you through the no win no fee agreement.
For instance, if you have been in a road traffic accident, you might want to seek compensation. Up to 50 million injuries are caused by road traffic crashes, according to road safety charity, Brake.
Should you want to make a claim after sustaining your own injuries, we will put you in touch with expert solicitors who have worked on road collision claims. They are fully acquainted with the latest legislation around certain road -accident-related claims and understand how this can impact on the timings of your claim. They will let you know roughly how long a car accident claim could take to settle before starting the compensation process for you.
Whatever the circumstances of your injury, we will establish what happened and strive to get you the compensation you deserve.
Why claim with National Accident Helpline?
Why claim with National Accident Helpline?
After a traumatic accident and a long recovery period, we understand that you might be hesitant about starting a no win no fee personal injury claim. That's why we aim to make the entire claims process as quick, straightforward and hassle-free as possible.
While the average time to settle a personal injury claim does vary, our network of solicitors will get to work on your claim as soon as you decide to make it. Along with our team of trained professionals, your personal injury solicitor will guide you through making a claim, help you gather all of the necessary evidence and keep you updated every step of the way.
Our commitment to aiding people like you has helped over 2 million people in the past years_since years. Through our compassion, dedication and expertise, we've enabled people to rebuild their lives after accidents that weren't their fault.
See what past clients are saying about us on Trustpilot, where we have earned an ‘Excellent' rating. Alternatively, talk to one of our team by calling now to find out why we're the UK's leading personal injury experts.
Our personal injury solicitors
Although the time frame for a personal injury claim is variable, the support, guidance and expertise you will receive from our network of personal injury lawyers isn't.
National Accident Helpline is a brand of National Accident Law and has provided personal injury support for over years_since years. We ensure that all our partner firms adhere to the strictest legal regulations and are members of the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). Giving us - and you - confidence that you will be represented by solicitors that have your best interests at heart.
Contact our team today
If you have been injured in an accident that wasn't your fault, get in touch with our team today. We know how hard it can be to discuss a traumatic accident, which is why our team are here to listen to your experience, offer free, impartial advice and help you make a claim - in your own time.
Contact us on now or request a call back via our secure online form at a time that suits you.