Personal injury claims
Our personal injury experts are here to help, so you can focus on your recovery.
If someone else was responsible for your accident or injuries, you may be able to make a claim for compensation.
Each year, we help injured claimants in Devon and across the UK get the best possible compensation for their injuries.
How were you injured?
Although some solicitors handle all types of claim, a specialist personal injury solicitor will give you the best chance of making a successful compensation claim.For more information, see:
Do I have a claim?
The main criteria for making a claim are that the injury must have occurred:
- within the last three years, and;
- another person was at least partly to blame, and;
- that person owed you a duty of care.
Are there any other points to consider?
Yes. Practically speaking, there are several factors that can have a bearing on whether a successful no win, no fee claim will be possible, including the type of illness or injury, how close to the claim limitation date you are or whether your claim meets your chosen solicitor's risk assessment criteria.
Why not speak to a legally trained expert now on 0800 376 1001 to find out if you have a claim. If you prefer, you can check your claim online with our Personal Injury Claim Checker.
Do I have longer to claim if injured as a child?
Whether you were injured in a shop or park, at school, or in any other situation, you can start a claim at any point until your 21st birthday.
If you are the parent or guardian of an injured child, you can start a claim on their behalf, in the capacity of a 'litigation friend'.
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:
Devon road accident claims
Department of Transport data shows there were 1695 road accidents in Devon in 2021, including 1366 slight accidents, 302 accidents and 27 fatalities.
If you have been injured in a road traffic accident that was not your fault in Devon, or anywhere in England or Wales, you may be entitled to claim compensation. A compensation claim could be possible if you were injured as a:
- Driver or passenger in a car
- Rider or pillion on a motorbike
- Lorry, HGV or van driver or passenger
- Public transport user (bus or taxi)
- Cyclist or e-scooter rider
- Pedestrian
Regardless of whether you were involved in a motorbike accident, or have been hurt in a car crash, our expert team are here. This guide to road accident compensation claims explains what you need to know about how to claim.
Read more:
Devon work accident claims
According to the HSE, in 2021, there were 647 non-fatal and 3 fatal work-related accidents in Devon. 463 of these accidents led to 7 or more days off work for the injured worker.
| HSE-reported work accidents in Devon | Reported Injuries |
|---|---|
| Undefined | 9% |
| Machinery related injury | 1% |
| Harmful substance exposure (e.g. toxic torts) | 2% |
| Fall from height (scaffolding) | 13% |
| Animal related (e.g. riding accident) | 0% |
| Manual handling | 20% |
| Physical attack | 7% |
| Slip, trip, fall same level | 24% |
| Struck against | 2% |
| Struck by moving vehicle | 4% |
| Struck by object | 15% |
| Trapped by something collapsing | 1% |
If you were injured at work and someone else was to blame, you might be able to claim compensation.
All employers owe their workforce a duty of care. Whether you sustained an injury when working as a baggage handler or a cleaner, our guide to work accident claims explains what you need to know about making a successful compensation claim.
Read more:
Devon clinical negligence claims
Medical negligence is the term for when a patient is injured due to the lack of care of a GP or other health worker. If you have been affected by medical negligence, our panel of expert clinical negligence solicitors can help you make a claim against any of the private clinics and NHS trusts covering Devon, including Devon Partnership NHS Trust (Wonford House, Dryden Road, Exeter, Devon).
Read more:
Devon Occupiers liability injury claims
Occupiers' liability refers to the legal duty of care owed by property owners to anyone who visits their property.
Whether you were injured when travelling by train or in a gymnasium, and a third party caused your accident, you may be able to claim compensation.
If you have suffered an injury as a result of an accident in public, we can help.
Read more:
Claim compensation for a serious injury
Catastrophic injuries usually lead to long-term health issues, ongoing medical treatments, disability or reduced life-expectancy. These injuries include brain or spinal injuries, and can also include other injuries and chronic conditions.
If you have suffered a serious injury, we recognise how important a successful injury claim will be towards supporting your recovery.
Our panel of expert catastrophic injury solicitors understand the difference compensation can make to the lives of severely injured claimants.
Read more:Claim serious injury compensation
Will I have to visit my solicitor's office?
Personal injury claims are conducted remotely. This means you won't have to travel to your solicitor's office when making a claim.
You can begin with a free phone consultation with a legally-trained advisor. Your advisor will set out your options for compensation, and there is no obligation to proceed.
Once you do start your claim, a specialist solicitor will take you through each step. Your lawyer will be with you throughout the process, from your initial questions to the day 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 Devon and cross the UK.
-
![Tick icon]()
FREE
consultation -
![Tick icon]()
Find out
if you can claim -
![Tick icon]()
No obligation
to start a claim
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
Have you helped many claimants in Devon?
Each year, we help hundreds of injured people in Devon, Devon and across the country.
Whether you have been injured whilst doing your job, in a road accident or as a result of a missed diagnosis we can introduce you to the right solicitor for your claim.
Does Quittance offer 100% No Win, No Fee
If your claim is not successful, our No Win, No Fee policy covers 100% of your legal fees. Your solicitor fights your case for you, and only gets paid a success fee if they win your case.
Devon solicitor reviews
All personal injury solicitors are regulated by the SRA. Although injury lawyers must meet strict professional standards, service levels can vary. Online reviews can help you to select which solicitor is the right fit for your claim.
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:
Howard Willis, Personal injury solicitor
About the author
Howard qualified as a solicitor in 1984 and has specialised in personal injury for over 25 years. He is a member of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) and is a recognised Law Society Personal Injury Panel expert.