Personal injury claims help and support
If either your life or the life of a loved one has been affected by an injury, we can help.
Whether you were injured as the result of a negligent road user, employer or anyone else, you may be able to claim financial compensation.
We have helped hundreds of people in Melksham, Wiltshire and throughout the UK. We will help you get the compensation you need to fund your recovery
What caused your injury?
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.Find out more:
Am I entitled to make a personal injury claim?
You should be able to claim financial compensation for your injury if the accident (or 'date of knowledge') happened:
- in the last three years, and;
- someone else was to blame, 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 circumstances of your injury or the quantum of the claim.
Talk to a legal 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 Claim Checker.
Do I have longer to claim if injured as a child?
Whether you were hurt on a playground, on a school trip, or in any other situation, you can start a claim at any point until your 21st birthday.
If you are the parent or guardian of an injured child, you can start a claim on their behalf, in the capacity of 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 Melksham
Vehicle accidents in Melksham are relatively common. Department of Transport data reveals there were 1042 road accidents in Wiltshire in 2021, including 804 slight accidents, 215 accidents and 23 fatal accidents. Incidents in the Melksham area in 2013 included crashes on the A365 and A350 roundabout and on the dual carriageway of the A3102 and A350 roundabout.
If you have been injured in a road traffic accident that was not your fault in Melksham, or anywhere in England or Wales, you may be entitled to claim compensation. A compensation claim could be possible if you were injured as a:
- Driver or passenger in a car
- Rider or pillion on a motorbike
- Lorry, HGV or van driver or passenger
- Public transport user (bus or taxi)
- Cyclist or e-scooter rider
- Pedestrian
Whether you have suffered an injury as a pedestrian, or have been hurt in a crash on a roundabout, our road accident compensation guide sets out what you need to know about the claims process.
Read more:
Melksham work accident claims
In 2021, there were 391 non-fatal work accidents and 5 fatalities in Wiltshire.
| Wiltshire work accidents (HSE) | Reported Injuries |
|---|---|
| Other | 13% |
| Electricity related | 0% |
| Machinery related | 3% |
| Explosion related (e.g. gas) | 0% |
| Exposed to fire | 1% |
| Harmful substance exposure (e.g. toxic torts) | 1% |
| Fall from height (scaffolding) | 11% |
| Animal related (e.g. riding accident) | 4% |
| Lifting and handling injuries | 24% |
| Physical assault | 4% |
| Slip or trip | 24% |
| Struck against | 3% |
| Struck by moving vehicle | 2% |
| Struck by object | 10% |
| Trapped underneath something | 1% |
If you've suffered an injury following an accident at work, you may be able to claim compensation for your injuries and any other losses or expenses.
All employers owe their workforce a duty of care. Whether you sustained an injury when working as a police officer or a site labourer, our work injury claim guide explains what you need to know about making a successful compensation claim.
Read more:
Melksham clinical negligence claims
Clinical negligence (medical negligence) is the term for when a patient is injured due to the lack of care of a GP, nurse or other medical professional. If you have been affected by medical negligence, our panel of expert clinical negligence solicitors can help you make a claim against any of the private clinics and NHS trusts covering Melksham.
Read more:
Melksham Occupiers liability 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 you were hurt when travelling on public transport or at a public swimming pool, and the property owner or occupier was at fault, you may be able to claim compensation.
If you have suffered an injury as a result of an accident in public, we can help.
Read more:
Claim compensation for a serious injury
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 injuries, and skull or spinal fractures.
If you have suffered a serious injury, we understand the vital difference a successful claim can make.
Our panel of catastrophic injury lawyers will help coordinate with care professionals and insurance providers to ensure you get the best medical and financial support.
Read more:
Serious and catastrophic injury compensation
Will I need to meet my solicitor face to face?
Personal injury claims are conducted remotely. This means you won't have to travel to your solicitor's office when making a claim.
You can talk to a legally-trained advisor about your accident or injury, before you choose to start a claim.
Whenever you are ready, you can speak to a solicitor. They will address any questions you have, and will take care of each stage of the claims process until 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 Melksham 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 Melksham?
Each year, we help hundreds of injured people in Melksham, Wiltshire and across the country.
Whether you have been injured at work, in a bicycle accident or due to medical negligence we can introduce you to the right solicitor for your claim.
Does Quittance offer 100% No Win, No Fee
If your claim is not successful, our No Win, No Fee policy covers 100% of your legal fees. Your solicitor fights your case for you, and only gets paid a success fee if they win your case.
Melksham personal injury solicitor reviews
The SRA regulate the professional standards of all injury solicitors. Despite this, service levels do vary from firm to firm. Online reviews and personal recommendations can make it easier to 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:
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.