Personal injury claims
If you were injured or became sick and someone else was at fault, we can 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 people in Galashiels, Selkirkshire and throughout the UK get the best possible compensation for their injuries.
What happened?
There are several steps involved in making an injury claim. The steps involved will depend on how and where you were injured.
Please select how you were injured:
Can I claim?
The main criteria for making a claim are that the injury must have occurred:
- 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, various other factors can affect whether a successful no win, no fee claim will be possible, such as the type of illness or injury or whether the claim is considered to be low-quantum.
Why not speak to a personal injury solicitor now on 0800 376 1001 to find out if you have a claim. Alternatively, find out if you have a claim with our Instant Claim Checker.
Can a child claim injury compensation?
Whether you were injured in a road accident, at the park, or in any other situation, you can start a claim at any point until your 21st birthday.
As an injured child's parent or guardian, you can instruct a solicitor to 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:
Road accident claims in Galashiels
Official 2021 data recorded 140 road accidents in Scottish Borders. 76 slight accidents, 56 accidents and 8 fatalities occurred on Scottish Borders's roads in 2021.
All road users owe a duty of care to all other road users. If you have suffered a road injury in Galashiels, or anywhere else in the UK, we can help you claim the no win, no fee compensation you need.
Regardless of whether you were hurt in a car collision, or have suffered an injury in a hit-and-run, our specialist team can help. This road accident claim guide explains what you need to know about starting a claim.
Read more:
Galashiels work accident claims
Per 100,000 workers, there were 308 non-fatal work accidents and 4.04 fatalities in Scottish Borders in 2021.
Have you been injured at work and your employer was liable? If so you may be able to claim compensation through your employer's liability insurance.
Whether your accident occurred while you were working as a farm worker or a security officer, our work injury claim guide shows you how best to make a successful compensation claim.
Read more:
Galashiels clinical negligence claims
Clinical negligence describes when someone suffers injury or illness as the result of a consultant or other health professional's carelessness. If you have been affected by medical negligence, we can help you claim compensation from one of the clinics and NHS trusts covering Galashiels.
Read more:
Galashiels Occupiers liability injury claims
Owners and operators of privately-owned land or property are known as 'occupiers'. Occupiers have a duty to take reasonable care to ensure the safety of anyone on their property.
Whether you were hurt in a restaurant or in a public park, and someone else caused the accident, you may be able to claim compensation.
If you have been injured in an accident in a public place we can help you make an injury claim for financial compensation.
Read more:
Serious injury compensation
A serious (catastrophic) injury is where a claimant's quality of life is impaired to the extent where they are forced to make permanent changes to their daily life. Serious injuries typically include brain or spinal injuries, amputation, burns or multiple fractures, but could also include injuries affecting the senses, cancer and other diseases arising from exposure to radiation or toxic chemicals.
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:
Claim serious injury compensation
Will I need to go into a solicitor's office?
There is no need to visit your solicitor's office in person if you are thinking about making a claim.
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 Galashiels 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
Has Quittance helped many claimants in Galashiels?
Whether you live in Galashiels, Selkirkshire, or elsewhere in the UK, we can help you make a no win, no fee compensation claim.
Whether your injury occurred in a road accident or in a supermarket we will ensure your case is handled by an expert, specialist solicitor.
Is your service 100% No Win, No Fee?
Our no win, no fee service means that 100% of your legal fees are covered if your case is not successful. This means you will never be out of pocket.
Galashiels solicitor reviews
All injury lawyers must meet strict professional standards, but service levels vary considerably. Online reviews and personal recommendations will make it easier choose the best solicitor 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:
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.