Making a personal injury compensation claim
If an injury or illness has affected your life or ability to work, we can help.
Whether you were injured due to a careless driver, employer or anyone else, you may be eligible to claim compensation.
We have helped hundreds of people in Darlington, South Yorkshire and across the UK. We will help you get the compensation you need to fund your recovery
How were you injured?
The claims process is different, depending on how and where you were injured. Personal injury solicitors tend to specialise in specific types of claim.
For more information, see:
Will I be able to make a claim?
If you were injured in an accident that was not your fault, you should be able to claim financial compensation. To make a successful claim, your injury must have happened:
- in the last three years (limitation) and
- was caused by another party (causation) and
- that party owed you a duty of care (liability).
Are there any other points to consider?
Yes. There are numerous other factors that can affect whether a successful no win, no fee claim will be possible, such as the specific details of the accident or how close to the claim limitation date you are.
We can give you a clearer answer over the phone. Speak to a personal 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?
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.
Anyone who was injured either during their birth or as a child can start a claim themselves once they turn 18 years old.
Read more:
Child injury compensation claims
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:
Road accident claims in Darlington
Vehicle accidents in Darlington are reasonably common. Official 2021 data recorded 154 road accidents in Darlington. 113 slight accidents, 41 accidents and 0 fatalities occurred on Darlington's roads in 2021. Incidents in the Darlington area in 2013 included traffic collisions on the dual carriageway of the B6280 and A167 roundabout and on the A167 and B6279 roundabout.
All road users in Darlington and across the UK, owe a legal duty of care to each other, including drivers, cyclists and pedestrians. If someone else was to blame for your injury, you may be able to claim compensation.
Whether you sustained an injury as a pedestrian, or were a passenger in a car accident, our team are here. Our guide sets out how to claim road accident compensation.
Read more:
Work accident claims in Darlington
In Darlington, there were 113 non-fatal work accidents and 0 fatalities in 2021, based on Health and Safety Executive (HSE) records.
| Darlington work accidents (RIDAGGR) | Reported Injuries |
|---|---|
| Undefined | 11% |
| Electric shock injury (e.g. burns) | 1% |
| Machinery related injury | 2% |
| Fire related | 1% |
| Exposure to harmful substance | 1% |
| Fall from height (ladder) | 5% |
| Injured by an animal | 2% |
| Lifting | 29% |
| Assault | 6% |
| Slip, trip, fall same level | 33% |
| Struck against | 3% |
| Struck by moving vehicle | 2% |
| Hit by object | 5% |
| Trapped by something collapsing | 0% |
Have you been injured at work and your employer or another member of staff was negligent? If so you may be able to claim compensation through their liability insurance.
Whether your accident happened while working as a hairdresser or a site labourer, our work accident claim guide covers everything you need to know about making a successful claim.
Read more:
Clinical negligence claims in Darlington
Clinical negligence is the term used when a patient sustains an injury or illness due to the lack of care of a doctor, nurse or other health worker. Quittance's expert panel of injury lawyers can help you claim compensation from one of the private clinics and NHS trusts covering Darlington, including County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust (Darlington Memorial Hospital, Hollyhurst Road, Darlington).
Read more:
Occupiers liability injury claims in Darlington
UK law states that owners (occupiers) of premises are liable for the safety and welfare of all visitors.
Whether you have been injured on a wet floor at a supermarket or on a public highway, and another party was to blame, you may be entitled to claim compensation.
If you or a family member has been injured in a public place, we can help.
Read more:
Serious injury claims
Compensation claims for injuries considered to be serious (catastrophic) typically include brain or spinal injuries, amputation, burns or multiple fractures.
Facial scarring, injuries to the senses, and health conditions such as Chronic Pain Syndrome are also considered to be life-altering injuries.
Your solicitor will liaise with doctors, health professionals and insurance providers to ensure you receive the care you need. Serious injury compensation will help to reduce the impact of bills and other expenses, so you can concentrate on your recovery.
Read more:
Serious injury compensation claims
Will I have to visit my solicitor's office?
Personal injury claims are carried out by phone, post and email, so there will be no need to travel to your solicitor's office when claiming compensation.
On a quick phone call with a friendly advisor, you can explain what happened and find out if you may have a claim. There is no obligation to start a claim.
Whenever you are ready, you can speak to a solicitor. They will address any questions you have, and will take care of each stage of the claims process until you recieve your compensation.
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 Darlington 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:
FAQs
Has Quittance helped many claimants in Darlington?
Whether you live in Darlington, South Yorkshire, or elsewhere in the UK, we can help you make a no win, no fee compensation claim.
Whether your injury occurred due to a negligent diagnosis or as a result of a negligent employer we will ensure your case is handled by an expert, specialist solicitor.
Do you work on a 100% No Win, No Fee basis?
Our no win, no fee service means that 100% of your legal fees are covered if your case is not successful. You will not need to pay anything upfront to start a claim.
Darlington personal injury solicitor reviews
All injury lawyers must meet strict professional standards, service levels can vary.
Online reviews and personal recommendations will make it easier to 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:
Jenny Jones, Senior litigator
About the author
With over 20 years' experience in the law, Jenny has spent the last decade specialising in personal injury, with a particular focus on industrial disease cases.