Speak to a personal injury solicitor today

If either your life or the life of a loved one has been affected by an injury, we can help.

If you were injured in the last 3 years and another person was to blame, you could claim financial compensation.

We have helped injured people in North Somerset, Somerset and across the UK. We will help you get the compensation you need to fund your recovery

What caused your injury?

Depending on how your injury happened, the compensation claims process will vary. A specialist solicitor will guide you through the stages of making a claim.

Find out more:

Can I make a claim?

You should be able to claim financial compensation for your injury if the accident (or date of injury diagnosis) happened:

  • in the last three years, and;
  • someone else was to blame, and;
  • that person owed you a duty of care.

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 circumstances of your accident, the quantum of the claim or whether there is sufficient evidence to support your 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 Personal Injury Claim Checker.

Do I have longer to claim if injured as a child?

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'. Whether you were injured at school, in a park or any other circumstance, you can begin an injury claim at any time until you are 21 years old.

Read more:

Child injury compensation claims

Check my claim online

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:

Calculate my claim

North Somerset road accident claims

Vehicle accidents in North Somerset are quite common. Department of Transport data shows there were 294 road accidents in North Somerset in 2021 (245 slight accidents, 47 accidents and 2 fatalities).

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 hurt in a collision at a junction, or you were involved in a motorbike accident, our team are here. This road accident compensation guide explains what you need to know about how to get started.

Read more:

Claim road accident compensation

Work injury claims in North Somerset

North Somerset Health and Safety Executive data for 2021 revealed there were 136 non-fatal and 1 fatal work accidents. The injured worker was required to take 7 or more days off work in 85 cases.

HSE-reported work accidents in North SomersetReported Injuries
Not Known12%
Electricity related0%
Machinery related3%
Explosion related (e.g. Nitroglycerine)0%
Fire related0%
Harmful substance exposure (e.g. TCE)1%
Fall from height (scaffolding)7%
Injured by an animal0%
Lifting25%
Physical assault4%
Slip, trip or fall28%
Struck against5%
Struck by moving vehicle1%
Struck by object13%
Trapped under falling object0%

You may be entitled to claim work accident compensation if you've been injured as a result of your employer's negligence.

All employers owe a duty of care to their employees. Whether you were injured or made ill when working as an HGV driver or a builder, our work accident claim guide explains your legal rights and how you can make a successful work accident claim.

Read more:

Work accident compensation

Medical negligence claims in North Somerset

Medical negligence describes when someone sustains an injury or illness as the result of the lack of care of a GP, 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 private clinics and NHS trusts covering North Somerset, including Somerset Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (2nd Floor, Mallard Court, Express Park, Bristol Road, Bridgwater, Somerset).

Read more:

Clinical negligence compensation claims

Occupiers liability accident claims in North Somerset

An individual or company that owns or occupies a property has a legal duty of care to the people who visit it.

Whether you have been injured at a leisure centre or when travelling on public transport, and a third party caused your accident, you could be entitled to claim compensation.

If you have suffered an injury as a result of an accident in public, we can help.

Read more:

Public place accident claims

Compensation claims for serious injuries

Life-changing injuries that have long term or debilitating effect on your life are referred to as 'serious' injuries. These injuries typically include paraplegia, spinal and brain damage and amputations, and can also include other injuries and chronic conditions.

If you have suffered a serious injury, we recognise how important a successful injury claim will be towards supporting your recovery.

Our panel of expert catastrophic injury solicitors understand the difference compensation can make to the lives of severely injured claimants.

Read more:

Catastrophic injury compensation claims

Will I need to travel to a solicitor's office?

When making a personal injury claim, you won't need to attend your solicitor's office at any stage.

Before you start your claim, you can speak to a trained injury claims advisor about your options.

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.

Find out more about how no win, no fee claims work

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 North Somerset and cross the UK.

  • Tick icon FREE consultation
  • Tick icon Find out if you can claim
  • Tick icon 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:

Call me back

FAQs

Have you helped many injury claimants in North Somerset?

We assist 100's of injured claimants in North Somerset and Somerset every year.

Your solicitor will fight hard to win your case and recover the best possible compensation sum, regardless of whether you were injured due to a manager's negligence or due to medical negligence.

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.

North Somerset solicitor reviews

All personal injury solicitors are regulated by the SRA. Although injury lawyers must meet strict professional standards, service levels can vary.

Personal recommendations and online reviews can make it easier to decide which solicitor 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**

*RTA and other claims processed through the Ministry of Justice portal can settle faster.
**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?

Paul Carvis, Personal injury solicitor

Author:
Paul Carvis, Personal injury solicitor