Personal injury claims
If either you were injured or became sick and someone else was at fault, we're here to help.
If someone else was responsible for your accident or injuries, you may be able to make a claim for compensation.
Every year, we help injured claimants in Dronfield, Derbyshire and throughout the UK claim compensation for their injuries.
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:
Am I eligible to make a personal injury claim?
It should be possible to make a compensation claim if you suffered an injury:
- 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. In practice, various other factors can affect whether a successful no win, no fee claim will be possible, such as the circumstances of your injury or the quantum of the claim.
It costs nothing to find out if you are eligible to claim compensation. Speak to a legal expert now on 0800 376 1001. Alternatively, find out if you have a claim with our Claim Checker.
What if I was injured as a child?
Claimants who were injured as a child have until their 21st birthday to make a claim on their own behalf. An injured child's parent or legal guardian can start a compensation claim on behalf of the 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:
Dronfield road accident claims
Car, HGV, bike and motorcycle accidents in Dronfield are quite common. Official 2021 data recorded 1607 road accidents in Derbyshire. 1229 slight accidents, 352 accidents and 26 fatalities occurred on Derbyshire's roads in 2021. Incidents in the Dronfield region in 2013 included car crashes on the A61 and B6057 roundabout and on the single carriageway of the B6056 and B6057 junction.
If you have been injured on Dronfield's roads, or anywhere in the UK, you may be entitled to claim compensation. An injury claim may be possible if you were injured:
- As driver or passenger
- On a motorbike or bicycle
- As a pedestrian
- On public transport
Regardless of whether you have been hurt in a collision, or were involved as a pedestrian, our guide sets out how to start a road accident compensation claim.
Read more:
Dronfield work injury claims
According to the HSE, in 2021, there were 682 non-fatal and 2 fatal work-related accidents in Derbyshire. 483 of these accidents led to 7 or more days off work for the injured worker.
| Work accidents in Derbyshire (RIDAGGR) | Reported Injuries |
|---|---|
| Unspecified | 9% |
| Machinery related injury | 10% |
| Harmful substance exposure (e.g. exposure to teflon fumes) | 3% |
| Fall from height | 5% |
| Animal related | 1% |
| Manual handling | 24% |
| Physical assault | 4% |
| Slip or trip | 23% |
| Struck against | 3% |
| Struck by moving vehicle | 5% |
| Struck by object | 13% |
| Trapped by something collapsing | 1% |
You may be entitled to claim work accident compensation if you've been injured as a result of your employer's negligence.
By law, all employers owe their workforce a duty of care. Whether you sustained an injury when working as a carpenter or a vet, our work accident claim guide explains your legal rights and how to start a successful compensation claim.
Read more:
Dronfield medical negligence claims
Clinical negligence (medical negligence) is the term used when a patient is injured or becomes ill due to a doctor or other medical professional's lack of care. If you have been affected by medical negligence, our panel of expert clinical negligence solicitors can help you make a claim against a clinic or NHS trust covering Dronfield, including Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (Top Road, Calow, Chesterfield, Derbyshire).
Read more:
Dronfield public place injury claims
UK law imposes a duty of care on property owners and operators (occupiers) to ensure that their property is safe for anyone visiting the premises.
Whether your accident occurred on a loose paving stone on a footpath or in a pub, and the property owner or occupier was at fault, you could be able to claim.
If you have been injured in an accident in a public place, we can help.
Read more:
Serious injury claims
A catastrophic injury describes any case where a claimant's quality of life is has been so affected that they must make long-term or permanent changes to their daily life. Examples include head or spinal injuries. Serious and catastrophic injuries could also refer to work-related cancers, severe scarring and organ damage.
We understand how vital catastrophic injury compensation can be, helping you to focus on your recovery and rehabilitation. A claim will help to ease the financial burden, stress and uncertainty following a serious accident.
Read more:
Catastrophic injury compensation claims
Will I need to travel to a solicitor's office?
When making a personal injury claim, you won't need to attend your solicitor's office at any stage.
Before you start your claim, you can speak to a trained injury claims advisor about your options.
If you decide to start a claim, you will speak to a specialist solicitor. Your solicitor will always be available to answer any questions, and they will keep you updated every step of the way.
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 Dronfield 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
Have you helped many injury claimants in Dronfield?
We assist 100's of injured claimants in Dronfield and Derbyshire every year.
Your solicitor will fight hard to win your case and recover the best possible compensation sum, regardless of whether you were injured on a bicycle, because of a coworker's negligence or due to clinical negligence.
Are claims run on a 100% No Win, No Fee basis?
If your claim is not successful, 100% of the solicitor's fees are covered. You don't have to pay any costs upfront, and only pay a standard success fee at the end, if you win your case.
Dronfield injury solicitor reviews
All solicitors are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). Despite the strict professional standards that lawyers must meet, the quality of service they deliver can vary. Online reviews can help you decide which injury lawyer is the right fit for you.
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.