Speak to a personal injury solicitor today

If your life has been affected by illness or injury, we are here to help.

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

How did your injury happen?

The process your solicitor will follow when making an injury claim will depend on where and how you were injured.

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Am I entitled to make a claim?

The main criteria for making a claim are that the injury must have occurred:

  • within the last three years (except in the case of children), and;
  • another person was negligent or at fault, 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. There are a number of other factors that can affect whether a successful compensation claim will be possible, such as the type of illness or injury or whether a child was injured.

It costs nothing to find out if you are entitled to injury compensation. Speak to an expert now on 0800 376 1001. If you prefer, you can check your claim online with our Personal 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 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.

West Sussex road accident claims

Road accidents in West Sussex are reasonably common. Department of Transport data reveals there were 1972 road accidents in West Sussex in 2021, including 1503 slight accidents, 442 accidents and 27 fatal accidents.

All road users in West Sussex and across the UK, owe a legal duty of care to each other, including drivers, cyclists and pedestrians. If someone else was to blame for your injury, you may be able to claim compensation.

Whether you have been hurt in a crash at a junction, or have been involved riding a bike, our useful guide explains what you need to do to make a road accident compensation claim.

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Claim road accident compensation

Work accident claims in West Sussex

In 2021, there were 523 non-fatal work accidents and 1 fatalities in West Sussex, based on official records.

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

Whether your accident happened while working as a crane operator or a zero-hours contractor, our work accident claim guide explains your legal rights and how to start a successful work accident claim.

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Work accident compensation claims

How common are West Sussex work accidents?

Work accidents in West Sussex (HSE)Reported Injuries
Other15%
Machinery related injury3%
Exposed to explosion0%
Fire related (e.g. scars)0%
Harmful substance exposure (e.g. soil contamination)2%
Fall from height6%
Animal related4%
Manual handling18%
Physical assault4%
Slip, trip or fall32%
Struck against2%
Struck by moving vehicle3%
Hit by object10%
Trapped by something collapsing0%

Clinical negligence claims in West Sussex

Clinical negligence is the term for when a patient is injured due to a doctor 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 West Sussex, including Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (Holtye Road, East Grinstead, West Sussex).

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Clinical negligence compensation

Public place accidents claims in West Sussex

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 have been injured on public transport or in a public park, you may be entitled to make an injury claim.

If you or a family member has been injured in a public place, we can help.

Read more:

Claim public place accident compensation

Serious injury claims

Serious or 'catastrophic' injuries are those that can have a long-term or permanent effect on a claimant's life. Serious injuries typically include brain injuries, and skull or spinal fractures.

Facial scarring, injuries to the senses, and health conditions such as Chronic Pain Syndrome are also considered to be life-altering injuries.

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 meet my solicitor face to face?

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 West Sussex 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 injury claimants in West Sussex?

We can help you make a no win, no fee injury claim whether you live in West Sussex, the South East, or anywhere across the UK.

Your lawyer will work hard to recover the best possible compensation for your injuries, regardless of whether you were injured in a bicycle accident, as a result of a negligent employer or in public.

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. You will not need to pay anything upfront to start a claim.

West Sussex personal injury solicitor reviews

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

Personal recommendations, word of mouth and online reviews will help you to find the right solicitor for your claim.

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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.

Read more:

Can I get interim compensation payments?

Paul Carvis, Personal injury solicitor

Author:
Paul Carvis, Personal injury solicitor