Personal injury claims help and support
If either you were injured or became sick and someone else was at fault, we're here to help.
If your injuries were caused by someone else's negligence, you may be entitled to claim financial compensation.
Every year, we help hundreds of people in Dumfries, Dumfries and Galloway and across the UK get compensation for their injuries, loss of earnings and any other losses.
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 hurt in an accident that was not your fault, you are legally entitled to claim financial compensation. To make a successful claim, your injury must have happened:
- 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.
Is there anything else that can affect my eligibility to claim?
Yes. There are several other factors that can affect whether a successful compensation claim will be possible, such as the type of illness or injury or whether a child was injured.
We can confirm your eligibility to claim over the phone. Speak to an injury solicitor now on 0800 376 1001. You can also find out if you have a claim with our Claim Checker.
Can I claim compensation on behalf of a child?
If you are the parent or guardian of an injured child, you can start a claim on their behalf. If you suffered an injury as a child, you have until you turn 21 years old to claim compensation.
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 Dumfries
Road accidents in Dumfries are relatively common. Government data reveals there were 201 road accidents in Dumfries and Galloway in 2021, including 115 slight accidents, 76 accidents and 10 fatalities. Accidents in the Dumfries region in 2013 included traffic collisions on the single carriageway of the A76 and A75 roundabout and on the single carriageway of the A780 and A781 junction.
If you've been injured by another road user's actions or negligence, we can help you get the support and financial compensation you need for your recovery.
Whether you were involved in a hit-and-run, or have been hurt in a car accident, we're here to help. Our useful guide sets out how to start a road accident injury claim.
Read more:

Work injury claims in Dumfries
In 2021, there were 132 non-fatal work accidents and 2 fatalities in Dumfries and Galloway, based on official records.
Have you have had an accident at work and your employer was liable? If so you may be able to claim compensation through your employer's liability insurance.
All employers owe a duty of care to their employees. Whether you were injured or made ill when working as a builder or a nurse, our work accident claim guide sets out everything you need to know about making a successful claim.
Read more:

Medical negligence claims in Dumfries
Medical negligence (clinical negligence) is the term for when a patient suffers an injury or illness as the result of the carelessness of a doctor, nurse or other health worker. If you have been the victim of clinical negligence, our panel of specialist clinical negligence solicitors can help you make a claim against any of the clinics and NHS trusts covering Dumfries, including NHS Dumfries & Galloway (Crichton Hall, Dumfries, Dumfries and Galloway).
Read more:

Public place injury claims in Dumfries
Claims for injuries that occur on property or land owned by somebody else are called occupiers' liability claims.
Whether your accident happened on a public footpath or on a slippery floor at a supermarket, and another party was to blame, you could be entitled to make an injury claim.
If you have been injured in an accident in public, we can help you make a public place accident claim for financial compensation.
Read more:
Serious injury compensation
A serious or catastrophic injury is an injury that leads to life-changing disability or requires long-term treatment and recovery. Serious injuries include head, brain and spinal injuries.
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:
Claim catastrophic injury compensation
Will I have to visit my solicitor's office in person?
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.
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 Dumfries and cross the UK.


-
FREE
consultation -
Find out
if you can claim -
No obligation
to start a claim
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 Dumfries?
Whether you live in Dumfries, Dumfries and Galloway, or elsewhere in the UK, we can help you make a no win, no fee compensation claim.
Whether your injury occurred at work or as a result of a missed diagnosis we will ensure your case is handled by an expert, specialist solicitor.
Can I get 100% No Win, No Fee?
If your claim is not successful, our No Win, No Fee policy covers 100% of your legal fees. This takes the financial risk out of making a claim.
Dumfries solicitor reviews
All injury lawyers must meet strict professional standards, but service levels vary considerably.
Personal recommendations and online reviews will help you to find the right solicitor 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:
Jonathan Speight, Senior litigator
About the author
Jonathan has over 30 years' experience in the personal injury sector and has been awarded the rank of Senior Litigator by the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL).