Making a personal injury compensation claim
If either you were injured or became sick and someone else was at fault, we're here to help.
You can make a no win, no fee compensation claim with the help and support of a personal injury solicitor.
We have helped injured people in Dumbarton, Dunbartonshire and throughout the UK get the compensation they need.
What happened?
Starting a personal injury claim is not complicated, but the process will differ depending on how and where you were injured.
Please select how you were injured:
Am I entitled to make a personal injury claim?
If you were injured in an accident that was not your fault, the law entitles you 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 factors that could affect my right to claim?
Yes. In reality, 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, the quantum of the claim or whether causation can be established.
We can give you a clearer answer over the phone. Speak to a legal expert now on 0800 376 1001. You can also find out if you have a claim with our Online Claim Checker.
Can I start an injury claim on behalf of a child?
If you were injured as a child (under 18), you can start a claim at any time until your 21st birthday.
An injured child's parent or legal guardian can start a compensation claim on behalf of the child, as 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:
Dumbarton road accident claims
Car, HGV, bike and motorcycle accidents in Dumbarton are quite common. Government data reveals there were 54 road accidents in West Dunbartonshire in 2021, including 31 slight accidents, 21 accidents and 2 fatalities.
If you have been unfortunate enough to be injured in one of the 100's of serious road accidents that occur in Dumbarton and across the UK every year, you may be able to claim no win, no fee compensation.
Whether you have been hurt in a car crash, or were injured as a pedestrian, we are here to help. Our guide explains what you need to do to make a road accident claim.
Read more:
Dumbarton work accident claims
In West Dunbartonshire, there were 66 non-fatal work accidents and 0 fatalities in 2021, according to official Government data.
Have you have had an accident at work and your employer was negligent? If so you may be able to claim compensation through your employer's liability insurance.
Whether you suffered an injury or illness working as a carpenter or a doctor, our guide to work accident claims explains your legal rights and how you can make a successful work accident claim.
Read more:
Dumbarton clinical negligence claims
Medical negligence is the term for when a patient suffers an injury or illness as the result of a GP or other health worker's carelessness. Our expert solicitor panel can help you claim compensation from a private clinic or NHS trust covering Dumbarton, including NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (West Glasgow Hospital, Dalnair Street, Glasgow).
Read more:
Dumbarton public place accident claims
An occupier (owner or operator) of premises has a legal duty to take reasonable care to ensure the safety of visitors.
Whether you were injured at an airport or on an uneven pavement, and someone else was at fault, you may be able to start an injury claim.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a public place, we can help.
Read more:
Serious injury compensation
Compensation claims for particularly severe injuries include brain injuries, amputations or paraplegia.
If your life, or the life of a family member, has been affected by a serious injury, we can help.
Our panel of catastrophic injury lawyers will help coordinate with medical professionals and insurance providers to ensure you get the care and financial support you need.
Read more:
Serious and catastrophic injury compensation
Will I need to go into a 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.
A friendly advisor will talk to you about what happened on a brief phone call. Your advisor can then confirm if you may have a claim, but there is no obligation to proceed.
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 Dumbarton 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 claimants in Dumbarton?
Every year, we help hundreds of injury claimants in Dumbarton, Dunbartonshire and across the UK.
Whether you have been injured in a car collision or in a public park we can introduce you to the best personal injury solicitor for your needs.
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 won't have to pay a penny to start a claim.
Dumbarton 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. Personal recommendations, word of mouth and online reviews can make it easier 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.