Personal injury solicitors
If either your life or the life of a loved one has been affected by an injury, we can help.
If your injuries were caused by someone else's actions or negligence, you may be able to claim compensation.
Each year, we help injured claimants in Hitchin, Hertfordshire and across the UK get the compensation they deserve.
What happened?
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.Please select how you were injured:
Can I make a claim?
If you were injured in an accident that was not your fault, you may be able 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 points to consider?
Yes. In reality, there are several factors that can have a bearing on whether a successful compensation claim will be possible, such as the specific details of the accident or if there is an uninsured driver involved.
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 Instant Claim Checker.
Can I start an injury claim on behalf of a child?
You can claim injury compensation yourself, at any time until you are 21 years old, whether you were injured at school, in a park or any other circumstance. 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:
Road accident claims in Hitchin
Car, HGV, bike and motorcycle accidents in Hitchin are quite common. Department of Transport data reveals there were 694 road accidents in Central Bedfordshire in 2021 (561 slight accidents, 117 accidents and 16 fatal accidents).
If you have been injured on Hitchin'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
Whether you have suffered an injury as a pedestrian, or were hurt in a collision with another vehicle, our expert guide explains how to make a road accident injury claim.
Read more:
Hitchin work injury claims
Official HSE statistics show that there were 0 fatal and 191 non-fatal work accidents in Central Bedfordshire in 2021 (140 led to 7+ days off work).
| Work accidents in Central Bedfordshire (RIDAGGR) | Reported Injuries |
|---|---|
| Undetermined | 18% |
| Electricity related | 1% |
| Machinery related injury | 5% |
| Harmful substance exposure (e.g. PVC) | 0% |
| Fall from height | 11% |
| Animal related (e.g. dog bites) | 1% |
| Manual handling | 19% |
| Assault | 3% |
| Slip or trip | 29% |
| Struck against | 5% |
| Struck by moving vehicle | 1% |
| Struck by object | 7% |
| Trapped under falling object | 1% |
Have you have had an accident at work and your employer, or another member of staff, was responsible? If so you may be able to claim compensation through their liability insurance.
By law, all employers owe their workforce a duty of care. Whether you sustained an injury when working as a waiter or a care home worker, our work injury claim guide explains what you need to know about making a successful claim.
Read more:
Hitchin medical negligence claims
When a patient is injured due to the carelessness of a registrar, nurse or other health worker, it may be possible to claim compensation for medical negligence. If you have been affected by medical negligence, our panel of expert clinical negligence solicitors can help you make a claim against a private clinic or NHS trust covering Hitchin.
Read more:
Hitchin occupiers liability 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 have been injured in a playground or in a shopping centre, you could be entitled to receive compensation for your injuries and any financial losses.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a public place, we can help.
Read more:
Serious injury claims
Life-altering injuries are often referred to as serious or catastrophic injuries for the purposes of a compensation claim. Serious injuries include paraplegia, spinal and brain damage and amputations, but could also include other illnesses and injuries such as loss of sight, cancer and back injuries.
Personal injury solicitors understand the importance of focussing on treatment and recovery. Your solicitor will take care of the legal process and will coordinate with medical professionals and insurance companies at every stage of the claim.
Read more:
Claim catastrophic injury compensation
Will I need to go into a solicitor's office?
If you are planning to start a claim, you do not need to go to a solicitor's office.
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.
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 Hitchin 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 Hitchin?
Every year, we help hundreds of injury claimants in Hitchin, Hertfordshire and across the UK.
Whether you have been injured in a car accident, as a result of a negligent employer or during a negligent medical procedure 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 don't have to pay any costs upfront, and only pay a standard success fee at the end, if you win your case.
Hitchin 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 and word of mouth can make it easier 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:
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.