Have you been hurt in an accident that wasn't your fault?
If you were injured or became sick and someone else was at fault, we can help.
If you were injured in the last 3 years and another person was to blame, you could claim financial compensation.
Every year, we help hundreds of people in Ottery St Mary, Devon and throughout the UK. We can help you claim the compensation you need to fund your recovery.
What caused your injury?
There are several steps involved in making an injury claim. The steps involved will depend on how and where you were injured.
Find out more:
Can I claim compensation?
You should be able to claim financial compensation for your injury if the accident (or 'date of knowledge') happened:
- within the last three years, and;
- another person was at least partly 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 numerous other factors that can affect whether a successful claim will be possible, such as the specific details of the accident or whether the defendant is uninsured.
We can confirm your eligibility to claim over the phone. Speak to a legal expert now on 0800 376 1001. You can also find out if you have a claim with our Injury Claim Checker.
How long does a child have to start a claim?
As an injured child's parent or guardian, you can act as a 'litigation friend' and instruct a solicitor to start a compensation claim on behalf of your child. 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 Ottery St Mary
Accidents on Ottery St Mary's roads are quite common. Department of Transport data reveals there were 1695 road accidents in Devon in 2021, including 1366 slight accidents, 302 accidents and 27 fatal accidents.
If you have been injured in a road traffic accident that was not your fault in Ottery St Mary, 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
Regardless of whether you were a passenger in a car accident, or have suffered an injury as a pedestrian, our guide to road accident compensation claims explains what you need to know about making a claim.
Read more:
Work injury claims in Ottery St Mary
In 2021, there were 647 non-fatal work accidents and 3 fatalities in Devon.
| Devon work accidents (RIDAGGR) | Reported Injuries |
|---|---|
| Unspecified | 11% |
| Machinery related | 2% |
| Fire related (e.g. burns) | 1% |
| Harmful substance related | 2% |
| Fall from height | 10% |
| Animal related | 2% |
| Lifting | 34% |
| Assault | 3% |
| Slip, trip or fall | 20% |
| Struck against | 3% |
| Hit by vehicle | 2% |
| Hit by object | 10% |
| Trapped by something collapsing | 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.
By law, employers and site operators owe a duty of care to their staff, to visitors and contractors. Whether you sustained an injury when working as a lifeguard or a care home worker, our guide to work accident claims shows you how to make a successful no win, no fee claim.
Read more:
Medical negligence claims in Ottery St Mary
Clinical negligence is the term for when a patient is injured or becomes ill as the result of a doctor, nurse or other medical professional's carelessness. Quittance's expert panel of injury lawyers can help you claim compensation from one of the private clinics and NHS trusts covering Ottery St Mary.
Read more:
Public place injury claims in Ottery St Mary
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 your accident happened on a station platform or on council property, you could be entitled to claim.
If you or a family member has been injured in a public place, we can help.
Read more:
Serious injury compensation claims
A serious or catastrophic injury is defined as an injury that results in a life-changing disability. Serious injuries typically include brain or spinal injuries, amputation, burns or multiple fractures, and can also include other long-lasting injuries and chronic illness.
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:
Catastrophic injury compensation claims
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.
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.
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 Ottery St Mary 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:
FAQs
Have you helped many Ottery St Mary injury claimants?
We help 100's of injured workers, road users and other claimants in Ottery St Mary and Devon every year.
A specialist solicitor will fight hard to settle your claim and recover the best possible compensation sum, regardless of whether you were injured due to a manager's negligence, in a road accident or due to medical negligence.
Do you work on a 100% No Win, No Fee basis?
Our no win, no fee service means that 100% of your legal fees are covered if your case is not successful. With nothing to pay up front, the success fee is only payable if you win your case.
Ottery St Mary personal injury solicitor reviews
The SRA regulate the professional standards of all injury solicitors. Despite this, service levels do vary from firm to firm.
Personal recommendations, word of mouth and online reviews 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:
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).