What's the difference between a personal injury lawyer and other solicitors?
Lawyers typically choose a particular field to work in. For instance, family, criminal or tax law. A personal injury lawyer is a compensation claims specialist who represents people hurt in accidents caused by someone else's negligence. They'll handle your claim and seek compensation from the party you think is to blame.
The cause could be anything: a road traffic accident; a trip, slip or fall in a public place; or a workplace injury. If the claim succeeds, your injury lawyer will make sure you receive the compensation you deserve. They'll also be able to give advice on any rehabilitation or counselling you may need.
Should I talk to a personal injury solicitor?
If you've been hurt in an accident that wasn't your fault within the last three years, it's worth a chat with one of our injury compensation lawyers.
There are some exceptions with the timeframe. Parents or guardians can make a claim on behalf of a child at any point until their 18th birthday. In serious cases where head trauma has affected mental capacity temporarily, indefinitely or permanently, or the client lacks capacity for other reasons, the limit may also be longer.
The best way to find out whether you qualify for a claim is to contact us and talk things through on . It won't cost you anything. With over 30 years of experience making it right for people, our personal injury solicitors can give you the advice you need.
You may not be ready to talk about the accident yet. No problem - why not try our online personal injury claims checker first?
Did you know?
All personal injury claims are registered with the Compensation Recovery Unit, which is part of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The records show over 477,000 personal injury claims were made during the year ending March 31, 2024.
That's an average of 1,303 new claims every day.
What types of accidents can personal injury lawyers help me claim for?
What types of accidents can personal injury lawyers help me claim for?
Injuries from road traffic accidents form the majority of claims, but our injury solicitors can help with a lot more than that. They specialise in instances where you may have suffered harm through the negligence of another individual or organisation.
Accidents on the road
This includes injuries to drivers, passengers, cyclists, motorcyclists and their pillion passengers, pedestrians, road runners and riders on horseback.
Accidents at work
This covers work: on-site, and off-site, in an industrial setting, in a factory or warehouse, on the farm, in the office, with machinery or as a carer. The law covers accidental injury wherever you may be working and in whatever capacity.
Accidents in public
This covers all public premises, environments or spaces whose safe maintenance is someone else's responsibility. For example, you may have suffered a slip, trip or fall: In a shop, supermarket or restaurants, on public transport, on pavement or steps.
Medical negligence
This is any failure in the duty of care where you're injured or harmed by the action, or inaction, of medical professionals treating you. It can be experienced with your GP, in hospital, at the dentist, optician or while in a care home.
What other types of accidents are covered?
Personal injury claims also cover injury, major trauma or wrongful death caused by:
- Defective consumer products
- Needlestick (hypodermic)
- Sports accidents
- Animal attacks
- Beauty treatment errors
- Accidents on holiday
- Carbon monoxide poisoning
- Military accidents
If you think you may be eligible to make a personal injury compensation claim after an accident that wasn't your fault, call us free and confidentially on .
If you do qualify and decide you'd like to take the next step, we'll pair you with the best personal injury lawyer for your case. They'll be happy to answer any further questions and discuss our no win no fee agreement with you.
Find out more information on making a small claim for personal injury.
How do I start my claim with your personal injury solicitors?
How do I start my claim with your personal injury solicitors?
The thought of using a personal injury lawyer can be intimidating. For most people, coming into contact with the legal system is a rarity. Chances are you'll have a lot of questions. We're a trusted helpline and are always here to help with impartial, clear advice that won't cost you a penny. We can also guide you through those first steps of making a personal injury claim.
We'll never rush or pressure you into starting a claim either; the choice is always yours. We give you accurate advice that helps you consider whether you'd like to go ahead. You decide the next steps in your own time, your own way and at your own pace. Contact us when you feel ready on .
If you decide you'd like to take those next steps, we'll put you in touch with one of our specialist no win no fee injury solicitors. They'll be happy to answer any extra questions or queries you may have. They'll also outline the no win no fee agreement for you.
Amy Stubbs is one of our Senior Litigators at National Accident Law
The law is often complex and the terms used can sometimes feel like a foreign language. It's our job as accident injury solicitors to unpick that complexity for customers, keeping them clearly in the picture about their claim, explaining the options and advising on decisions every step of the way.
Amy Stubbs
Senior Litigator, National Accident LawWhat does a personal injury solicitor need from me?
Your injury lawyer will need all your basic details, such as your name and address, as well as evidence concerning your personal injury claim. Our guide to what evidence is needed has all the specifics, but these are the basics:
- Details of the accident and your injuries
- Details of any witnesses and statements you've collected
- The location, time and date of the accident
- Your medical records and details of any medical staff who helped you
- Photos of your injuries and the place where the accident took place
- Any official records in accident report books
- Receipts and details of costs you've incurred, or continue to pay, as a result of the injury
Can you take over from my current personal injury lawyers?
If you're unhappy with the service provided by your current personal injury solicitor, you may have grounds to switch. This could be because they're not communicating clearly or often enough, they're not giving the best advice, or they haven't calculated your expected settlement correctly.
We ensure all our injury lawyers are attentive and compassionate, giving you a hassle-free legal journey as you seek compensation. Give us a call on to speak to one of our friendly advisors.
Useful things to remember about the law and accident lawyers
1. Insurance company early settlement offers can sometimes be undervalued
Your injury solicitor will always advise you to treat an early settlement offer from the other side's insurers with caution. Insurance companies sometimes try to limit the compensation they pay by making an early offer. It could be undervalued as a result.
Your personal injury lawyer will take the time to value your claim accurately. Gathering all the evidence can take a while, but it's worth waiting for. Putting in the groundwork at this stage will make sure your claim for damages will be full and fair. That's why you should always listen to your injury lawyer's advice.
2. Working with an experienced injury compensations lawyers matters
We understand the many different types of personal injury claims and that no two are the same. We also understand the impacts they can have on your home, family and work life. That's why and how we've built a network of the best personal injury solicitors with the right skills and experience for all accident types over the last years_since years.
If you're eligible to make a claim, we'll pair you with a specialist injury lawyer. They'll appreciate the physical, financial and mental impacts on you. They'll also take the legal worries off your plate and give you the space to focus on your recovery.
3. Compensation has several components
Compensation in personal injury claims comprises two parts. General damages compensate you for pain, suffering and the ‘loss of amenity' caused by your injury. Loss of amenity is legal-speak for being unable to do things you used to do as a direct result of your injury. These include things like active hobbies.
Special damages take care of the financial losses you've experienced as a result of your accident plus any anticipated future costs. These include:
- The cost of past, current and any future medical treatment, plus associated travel expenses
- The cost of any alterations to your home or car
- The cost of any special equipment required
- Loss of earnings and/or bonuses
- Any impact on your ability to work in the future
- Damage to your possessions
For claims involving the tragedy of wrongful death, special damages can also include:
- Funeral and associated expenses
- Loss of financial support and benefits for dependants
- Related medical expenses incurred before death
- Loss of companionship or consortium
The total compensation will always depend on the severity, type and impact of your injury or injuries. Your personal injury lawyer will calculate how much your claim may be worth. If you want a rough estimate, try our claims compensation calculator.
4. Every case is different and they can take time
There are fundamental legal steps set by the Ministry of Justice that are shared by all personal injury claims. The outcome of a given claim and the level of compensation awarded will always depend on the exact circumstances.
The time each takes to conclude will vary too. A very simple road traffic claim where the other side admits liability quickly could be settled in a matter of months (although this is rare). Everything depends on the particular case, what needs to be proved, how quickly you respond to our questions and requests, and a range of other factors.
Complex cases involving serious injury (for instance, medical negligence) can take three years or more. If the other side consistently denies liability, the claim may go before a judge at a court hearing. It's a rare occurrence, but court timetables often mean a minimum of nine months from filing the claim to resolving it.
The injury lawyer we select for you will keep you fully informed about all the likely timings for your compensation claim.
5. Cases are usually settled out of court but some go before a judge
Most personal injury claims are settled out of court. Your personal injury claim lawyer will negotiate with the other side's insurers to agree to a full and fair compensation figure.
Even if an agreement can't be reached and court proceedings begin, those negotiations will continue. Some claims are even settled at the last minute, just before the court hearing is due.
Very few compensation claims actually go to a hearing before a judge. Figures from the Ministry of Justice reveal that just 11,000 claims out of a total of 415,000 went to trial from January to March 2024 - around 2.6%. However, only 14,000 of the total number of claims were related to personal injury.
In some cases where the other side admits liability but a settlement still hasn't been reached, we can handle court proceedings without you present.
6. Don't forget the time limits.
Generally speaking, you have three years from the date of the accident or subsequent injuries to make a compensation claim. But there are exceptions:
- You can make a compensation claim for a child anytime up to their 18th birthday. If they choose to make the claim themselves as an adult, they have until their 21st birthday to do so.
- If the accident victim lacks ‘mental capacity' (because of a pre-existing condition or after a stroke or traumatic brain injury, for example), this period will not begin until they regain it. If the victim never regains mental capacity, a 'litigation friend' can claim on their behalf at any time.
Your personal injury lawyer will advise you of the limits based on the exact details of your compensation claim.
What will my personal injury lawyer do for me?
Your personal injury solicitor has one task: working hard on your behalf to help make things right. They'll use their specialist knowledge of personal injury legislation to make sure you receive all the compensation you're entitled to.
An important part of the service you receive is knowing how your compensation claim is progressing and having all your questions answered as the claim moves forward. Your injury lawyer will take care of this and:
- Let you know whether you can make your claim on a no win no fee basis
- Organise all the relevant paperwork and submit the documentation for you
- Outline the claims process in a way that's jargon-free, in plain English and easy to understand
- Give you a rough estimate of how much compensation you might receive
- Contact the responsible party and negotiate hard on your behalf
We helped Kevin make it right when he was injured while working on the road.
I had seven weeks where I didn't have a wage at all, just minimal sick pay really. It did put a lot of pressure on us financially.
I had to do something to make sure that I could afford to pay my bills and look after my family.
I didn't know what to expect. But I didn't need to be nervous because they were really good. They took me very seriously … it took a massive weight off my shoulders.
Kevin
Shane's job is to help build the strongest possible compensation claims for each customer.
It's our job to put our customers at ease and explain their options in a clear and friendly way, so they can make an informed decision about what to do next. This support allows them to have the time to focus on their recovery.
Shane Connolly
Paralegal, National Accident LawIt's all about service and results with our personal injury solicitors
We've spent over 30 years building a proven, nationwide network of the best personal injury lawyers. We trust them to work in your best interests every time. Their objective is simple: to give you the advice and support you're looking for and help you make a successful injury compensation claim.
We regularly check the standards of our injury solicitors.
If you decide to move ahead with your claim, it's very important to us that you receive the most effective legal service from them. We want them to be attentive and sympathetic to your needs while ensuring you have a hassle-free experience.
We and all our partner firms are registered with:
- The Solicitors Regulation Authority
- The Law Society (in England and Wales)
- The Law Society of Scotland
Our injury lawyers work under strict codes of professional conduct.
We also make sure they carry the correct insurance to work with these types of claims before they become one of our approved personal injury solicitors.
We take great pride in the ‘Excellent' Trustpilot rating our friendly advisors and personal injury lawyers have earned over the years. See what our customers have to say for yourself.
Contact our friendly advisors and personal injury lawyers about your claim today
If you think you have a claim for an injury that wasn't your fault, please feel free to get in touch with us on or enter your details below for a call back.
After an initial assessment, we'll put you in touch with the very best no win no fee lawyers if we think you have a case for compensation. They'll do everything they can to help you through what we know can be a traumatic time.