Our Personal Injury Services
Our personal injury experts are here to help.
If your injuries were caused by someone else's actions or negligence, you may be able to claim compensation.
Every year, we help injured people in Cornwall and across the UK. We can help you claim your compensation too.
What caused your injury?
Starting a personal injury claim is not complicated, but the process will differ depending on how and where you were injured.
Find out more:
Am I entitled to make a claim?
The key criteria for making a claim are that the injury must have occurred:
- within the last three years (except in the case of children), and;
- another person was negligent or at fault, and;
- that person owed you a duty of care.
Are there any other factors that could affect my right to claim?
Yes. There are quite a few other factors that can affect whether a successful compensation claim will be possible, such as the type of illness or injury or where the injury occurred.
We can confirm your eligibility to claim over the phone. Speak to an injury solicitor now on 0800 376 1001. If you prefer, you can check your claim online with our Injury Claim Checker.
How long does a child have to start a claim?
You can claim injury compensation yourself, at any time until you are 21 years old, whether you were injured at school, in a park or any other circumstance. As an injured child's parent or guardian, you can act as a 'litigation friend' and instruct a solicitor to start a compensation claim on behalf of your child.
Read more:
Claim child injury compensation
How much compensation can I claim for an injury?
The amount of money you could claim for your injury will depend on:
- the extent of your injury, and
- any financial losses or costs you have incurred.
At the start of your claim, your solicitor will consider the many ways your injury has affected your life. Your solicitor will take all of these effects into account to calculate the correct compensation award for you.
General damages
General damages are awarded for pain, suffering and loss of amenity (PSLA).
Awards for general damages are set by the Judicial College and published in their guidelines for personal injury awards.
Special damages
Special damages are for financial losses and expenses you have incurred as a result of the accident.
What can I claim for after an injury? (see list)
Examples of special damages (losses you can claim for) include:
- Lost earnings (including future earnings)
- Medical treatment costs
- Physiotherapy
- Travel costs
- Costs of care
- Costs of adapting your home or car
Calculate my injury compensation
Calculating how much compensation you can claim for an injury can be complicated.
Our injury compensation calculator tells you if you may have a claim, how much compensation you could claim, and what you can claim for.
Find out what your injury claim could be worth now:
Cornwall road accident claims
Accidents involving drivers, cyclists, pedestrians and other road users in Cornwall are relatively common. Official gov.uk data shows there were 1436 road accidents in Cornwall in 2021 (1184 slight accidents, 238 accidents and 14 fatal accidents).
You can claim compensation if you were injured as a driver or passenger and another road user was liable. You can also claim compensation if you were injured as a motorcyclist, cyclist or pedestrian.
Whether you sustained an injury in a cycling accident, or were hurt in a collision with another vehicle, our team are here. Our useful guide explains what you need to do to claim road accident compensation.
Read more:
Cornwall work injury claims
Per 100,000 workers, there were 253 non-fatal work accidents and 0.38 fatalities in Cornwall in 2021.
| HSE-reported Cornwall work accidents | Reported Injuries |
|---|---|
| Unspecified | 11% |
| Electrocution | 0% |
| Machinery related injury | 4% |
| Exposed to fire | 0% |
| Harmful substance exposure (e.g. chromium) | 1% |
| Fall from height | 12% |
| Animal related | 0% |
| Lifting | 23% |
| Physical assault | 3% |
| Slip or trip | 29% |
| Struck against | 3% |
| Struck by moving vehicle | 2% |
| Struck by object | 11% |
| Crushed by something collapsing | 1% |
Have you suffered an injury at work and your employer, or another member of staff, was responsible? If so you may be able to claim compensation through their liability insurance.
Employers owe a duty of care to their staff. Whether you sustained an injury when working as an HGV driver or a welder, our guide to work accident claims covers everything you need to know about making a successful claim.
Read more:
Cornwall medical negligence claims
When a person is injured as the result of a doctor, nurse or other medical professional's lack of care, it may be possible to make a medical negligence claim. Quittance's expert panel of injury lawyers can help you make a claim against one of the private clinics and NHS trusts covering Cornwall, including Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (Head Office: Carew House, Beacon Technology Park, Dunmere Road, Bodmin, Cornwall).
Read more:
Cornwall occupiers liability accident claims
There is a legal duty on the owners (occupiers) of premises to take reasonable care to ensure the safety of visitors.
Whether you have been injured at a public swimming pool or on public transport, and the property owner or occupier was at fault, you could be able to claim compensation.
If you or a family member has been injured in a public place, we can help.
Read more:
Compensation for serious injuries
A serious (catastrophic) injury is where a claimant's quality of life is impaired to the extent where they are forced to make permanent changes to their daily life. Serious injuries typically include head, brain and spinal injuries.
Personal injury solicitors understand the importance of focussing on treatment and recovery. Your solicitor will take care of the legal process and will coordinate with medical professionals and insurance companies at every stage of the claim.
Read more:
Claim catastrophic injury compensation
Will I need to meet my solicitor face to face?
If you are planning to start a claim, you do not need to go to a solicitor's office.
You can talk to a legally-trained advisor about your accident or injury, before you choose to start a claim.
When you decide to go ahead, the next step is to discuss your case with an expert solicitor. Your solicitor will handle every stage of your claim and will be there to answer any questions you have.
No win, no fee injury compensation claims
With no win, no fee, you can claim injury compensation without financial risk. If your claim isn't successful, you pay nothing. If you win, you only pay a pre-agreed percentage of your compensation.
How we can help you
Your solicitor will fight for the best possible compensation settlement for you, and the highly-experienced panel of solicitors have an excellent track record of winning injury claims in Cornwall and cross the UK.
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FREE If you have any questions, or would like to start a No Win No Fee claim, we are open:
- 8am to 9pm weekdays
- 9am to 6pm on Saturday
- 9.30am to 5pm on Sunday
Call us for FREE advice on 0800 376 1001, or arrange a call back from a friendly, legally-trained advisor:
Frequently asked questions
Has Quittance helped many claimants in Cornwall?
Whether you live in Cornwall, Cornwall, or elsewhere in the UK, we can help you make a no win, no fee compensation claim.
Whether your injury occurred at work, in a bicycle accident or during a negligent medical procedure we will ensure your case is handled by an expert, specialist solicitor.
Is your service 100% No Win, No Fee?
Our no win, no fee service means that 100% of your legal fees are covered if your case is not successful. This gives you the peace of mind that you will never be out of pocket.
Cornwall injury solicitor reviews
Although the Solicitors Regulation Authority regulates professional standards for solicitors in England and Wales, the actual quality of service varies widely. Personal recommendations, word of mouth and online reviews will help you choose the best injury lawyer for your needs.
Read more:
Personal injury lawyer reviews
Can I claim for someone else?
Yes. It is possible to claim compensation on behalf of another person, in the capacity of a 'litigation friend'.
If, for example, an injured person is either too young or vulnerable, too injured or otherwise unable to claim on their own behalf, their litigation friend can handle the claim process for them.
The litigation friend will be responsible for communicating with the personal injury solicitors, and for making decisions in respect of the claim.
Read more:
Read more about claiming on behalf of another person.
Can I claim if I was partly to blame?
Even if you feel you were partly responsible for your accident, you may still be able to claim compensation.
You may also still be able to claim if something you did (or failed to do) meant your injuries were more serious than they might have otherwise been (e.g. you were knocked off your bike, but you weren't wearing a helmet).
If you were partly to blame, this is known as contributory negligence. Successful claims are often made on the basis of contributory negligence, although compensation may be reduced.
Read more:
Claiming compensation if you were partly responsible for an accident.
How long will my claim take?
The time needed to resolve a compensation claim and pay out compensation can vary considerably.
For example, straightforward car accident claims can settle in a matter of weeks, whereas complex medical negligence cases can sometimes take years.
Injury claims can also take longer if it is not clear who is responsible for your injury, or if liability is denied by the defendant.
This table sets out approximately how long personal injury claims take to settle:
|
Personal injury claim type |
Estimated claim duration* |
|---|---|
|
Road accident claims |
4 to 9 months |
|
Work accident claims |
6 to 9 months |
|
Medical negligence claims |
12 to 36 months |
|
Industrial disease claims |
12 to 18 months |
|
Public place or occupiers’ liability claims |
6 to 9 months |
|
MIB claims (uninsured drivers) |
3 to 4 months** |
|
CICA claims (criminal assault) |
12 to 18 months** |
**Official Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) Government agency and Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) figures.
Read more about how long personal injury claims take.
Will I have to go to court?
The vast majority of claims that are settled by the solicitor panel are settled out of court.
Only a very small percentage (approx. 2%) of personal injury claims go to court - typically only very complex cases, or those where liability cannot be resolved.
Read more:
Will my injury claim go to court and what if it does?
Can I get an early (interim) compensation payment?
If you suffer financial hardship as a result of an injury, you may be able to claim an interim compensation payment.
An interim payment is a partial settlement of your claim which is paid out to you before your claim is concluded. The amount you receive in interim payments would then be deducted from your final compensation settlement or award.
Read more:
Can I get interim compensation payments?
Author:
Paul Carvis, Personal injury solicitor
About the author
Paul is a member of the Law Society Personal Injury Panel, a member of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers, and has served as a Deputy District Judge, giving him a uniquely broad understanding of the claims process.