Personal injury claims help and support

Our personal injury experts are here to help.

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

How did your injury happen?

There are several steps involved in making an injury claim. The steps involved will depend on how and where you were injured.

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Can I claim?

If you were hurt in an accident that was not your fault, the law entitles you to claim financial compensation. To make a successful claim, your injury must have happened:

  • within the last three years, and;
  • another person was at least partly to blame, and;
  • that person owed you a duty of care.

To get a clearer idea if you can make a claim, you can check your claim online, or for a more definitive answer, speak to an injury claims advisor on 0800 376 1001.

Are there any other points to consider?

Yes. In practice, various other factors can affect whether a successful no win, no fee claim will be possible, including the context of your injury, whether a child was injured or whether your chosen solicitor believes your claim has a prospect of success.

Why not speak to an expert now on 0800 376 1001 to find out if you have a claim. You can also find out if you have a claim with our Online Claim Checker.

What if the injured claimant is a child?

Regardless of when the injury occurred, an injured child's parent or legal guardian can start a compensation claim on behalf of the child at any point until the child's 18th birthday.

If you were injured when you were under 18 years old, you have until your 21st birthday to make claim.

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.

Read more:

A complete list of recoverable losses in an injury claim

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.

Reading road accident claims

Car, HGV, cycle and motorcycle accidents in Reading are reasonably common. Department of Transport data shows there were 263 road accidents in Reading in 2021, including 217 slight accidents, 46 accidents and 0 fatalities. Accidents in Reading in 2013 included collisions on the A329 and A327 roundabout and on the single carriageway of the A329 and A4 crossroads.

We can help people injured in road accidents that have occurred in Reading and throughout England and Wales. You may be able to claim compensation if you were injured as a driver, passenger, cyclist or pedestrian and another road user was liable.

Whether you were a passenger in a car accident, or were injured in a hit-and-run, our team are here. Our guide to road accident claims explains what you need to know about how to claim.

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Claim road accident compensation

Work accident claims in Reading

In 2021, there were 111 non-fatal work accidents and 1 fatalities in Reading.

If you were injured at work in the last three years, you may be able to claim compensation.

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 personal trainer or a carpenter, our work accident claim guide shows you how best to make a successful claim.

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Work accident compensation claims

How common are Reading work accidents?

Work accidents in Reading (RIDAGGR)Reported Injuries
Not specified10%
Electric shock injury1%
Machinery related3%
Fire related (e.g. burns)1%
Harmful substance exposure (e.g. soil contamination)1%
Fall from height (scaffolding)6%
Animal related (e.g. veterinary)0%
Lifting24%
Assault11%
Slip, trip or fall28%
Struck against4%
Hit by vehicle4%
Struck by object7%
Crushed by something collapsing1%

Clinical negligence claims in Reading

Medical negligence is the term for when a patient suffers an injury or illness as the result of the carelessness of a doctor or other medical professional. Our expert solicitor panel can help you make a claim against a clinic or NHS trust responsible for Reading, including Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust (Royal Berkshire Hospital, London Road, Reading, Berkshire).

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Claim clinical negligence compensation

Public place accidents claims in Reading

A compensation claim for an injury on property or land that is accessible to the general public is called a public liability claim.

Whether your accident happened on a station platform or on a loose paving stone on a footpath, and a third party was responsible, you may be entitled to make an injury claim.

If you've been injured in a public place, we can help you.

Read more:

Public place accident compensation claims

Compensation for serious injuries

Any injury or long-lasting health condition that has had a life-altering effect on your life and ability to work may be referred to as a 'serious injury'. Examples include serious burns, complex fractures and head trauma.

We understand how vital catastrophic injury compensation can be, helping you to focus on your recovery and rehabilitation. A claim will help to ease the financial burden, stress and uncertainty following a serious accident.

Read more:

Serious and catastrophic injury compensation

Will I have to visit my solicitor's office in person?

There is no need to visit your solicitor's office in person if you are thinking about making a claim.

You can talk to a legally-trained advisor about your accident or injury, before you choose to start a claim.

If you decide to make a compensation claim, your solicitor will take you through the process over the phone. You will be able to speak to your solicitor at any stage and you wlll receive regular updates.

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 Reading 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

Has Quittance helped many claimants in Reading?

Whether you live in Reading, Berkshire, or elsewhere in the UK, we can help you make a no win, no fee compensation claim.

Whether your injury occurred in a car or bike accident or in a supermarket we will ensure your case is handled by an expert, specialist solicitor.

Do you work on 100% No Win, No Fee?

If your claim is not successful, 100% of the solicitor's fees are covered. With nothing to pay up front, you only pay a success fee if your solicitor wins your case.

Reading personal injury solicitor reviews

All injury lawyers must meet strict professional standards, service levels can vary.

Personal recommendations and online reviews will make it easier to choose the best injury lawyer for your needs.

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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.

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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.

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Can I get interim compensation payments?

Jenny Jones, Senior litigator

Author:
Jenny Jones, Senior litigator