Making a personal injury compensation claim

If an injury or illness has affected your life or ability to work, we can help.

You may be able to claim injury compensation for any pain, suffering and financial losses.

We have helped injured claimants in Shetland Islands, Shetland and across the UK get the compensation they need.

How did your injury happen?

The injury claims process varies according to how your injury happened.

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Can I make a claim?

You should be able to make a compensation claim if you were injured or made ill:

  • in the last three years (limitation) and
  • was caused by another party (causation) and
  • that party owed you a duty of care (liability).

Is there anything else that can affect my eligibility to claim?

Yes. In practice, there are several factors that can have a bearing on whether a successful no win, no fee claim will be possible, such as the circumstances of your injury or how close to the claim limitation date you are.

A short phone consultation will tell you whether you have a valid compensation claim. There is no obligation to start a claim with Quittance. If you prefer, you can check your claim online with our Claim Checker.

Can I claim compensation on behalf of a child?

If you are the parent or guardian of an injured child, you can start a claim on their behalf.

Anyone who was injured either during their birth or as a child can start a claim themselves once they turn 18 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

Road accident claims in Shetland Islands

Department of Transport data shows there were 10 road accidents in Shetland Islands in 2021 (5 slight accidents, 5 accidents and 0 fatalities). From 2020 to 2021, road accidents in Shetland Islands decreased by 2.

If you've been injured in a road traffic accident in Shetland Islands, or anywhere else in the UK, we understand the pain and suffering you may be going through. If your injuries were caused by another driver, cyclist, pedestrian or any other road user, you may be entitled to claim no win, no fee compensation.

Whether you sustained an injury in a hit-and-run, or were a passenger in a car accident, our expert team are here. Our expert guide explains what you need to do to claim road accident compensation.

Read more:

Claim road accident compensation

Work accident claims in Shetland Islands

In Shetland Islands, there were 26 non-fatal work accidents and 0 fatalities in 2021, based on Health and Safety Executive (HSE) records.

If you've suffered an injury following an accident at work, you may be able to claim compensation for your injuries and any losses or expenses.

Whether you were injured while working as a firefighter or a care home worker, our work accident claim guide explains what you need to know about making a successful claim.

Read more:

Work accident compensation claims

Clinical negligence claims in Shetland Islands

Medical negligence is the term used when a patient suffers an injury or illness as the result of the lack of care of a doctor or other medical professional. We can help you make a claim against any of the clinics and NHS trusts covering Shetland Islands.

Read more:

Clinical negligence compensation claims

Occupiers liability injury claims in Shetland Islands

UK law states that owners (occupiers) of premises are liable for the safety and welfare of all visitors.

Whether you were hurt in a public park or on a station platform, and a third party was responsible, you may be entitled to claim compensation.

If you have been injured in an accident in public, we can help you make a public place accident claim for financial compensation.

Read more:

Public place accident claims

Compensation for serious injuries

Serious injuries, often referred to as catastrophic injuries, are those which have a life-changing impact on an injured claimant and their family. These include brain injuries, and skull or spinal fractures, but could also include scarring, injuries and illness caused by exposure to hazardous chemicals.

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 injury compensation claims

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

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

You can begin with a free phone consultation with a legally-trained advisor. Your advisor will set out your options for compensation, and 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.

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 Shetland Islands 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 Shetland Islands?

Whether you live in Shetland Islands, Shetland or elsewhere, we can help you to make no win, no fee injury claim.

Whether your injury occurred in a road traffic accident or as a result of a missed diagnosis our team will make sure your claim is handled by a specialist injury solicitor.

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 means you will never be out of pocket.

Shetland Islands injury solicitor reviews

Although the Solicitors Regulation Authority regulates professional standards for solicitors in England and Wales, the actual quality of service varies widely.

Personal recommendations, word of mouth and online reviews will help you choose the best solicitor for your needs.

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?

Jenny Jones, Senior litigator

Author:
Jenny Jones, Senior litigator