Making a personal injury compensation claim
If your life or the life of a loved one has been affected by an injury, we can help.
If your injuries were caused by someone else's actions or negligence, you may be able to claim compensation.
We have helped hundreds of people in Weymouth, Dorset and throughout the UK claim compensation for their injuries.
How were you injured?
Your specialist injury solicitor will follow a specific process, depending on what caused your injury or illness.
For more information, see:
Do I have a personal injury claim?
If you have been injured or made ill in an accident that was not your fault, you are legally entitled to claim financial compensation. To make a successful claim, your injury must have 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 points to consider?
Yes. There are numerous other factors that can affect whether a successful no win, no fee claim will be possible, such as the type of accident or where the injury occurred.
Talk to a personal injury solicitor 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?
You can claim injury compensation yourself, at any time until you are 21 years old, whether you were injured at school, in a playground or any other circumstance. 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.
Read more:
Claim child injury compensation
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 Weymouth
Vehicle accidents in Weymouth are quite common. Department of Transport data shows there were 897 road accidents in Dorset in 2021 (633 slight accidents, 245 accidents and 19 fatalities). Incidents in the Weymouth region in 2013 included crashes on the B3157 and B3158 roundabout and on the single carriageway of the B3154 and B3158 junction.
If you have been injured on Weymouth's roads, or anywhere in the UK, you may be entitled to claim compensation. An injury claim may be possible if you were injured:
- As driver or passenger
- On a motorbike or bicycle
- As a pedestrian
- On public transport
Regardless of whether you were injured in a motorcycle accident, or were hurt in a collision on a roundabout, our specialist team can help. Our expert guide explains what you need to do to make a road accident injury claim.
Read more:
Weymouth work injury claims
There were 2 fatalities and 297 other work accidents in Dorset in 2021.
| Work accidents in Dorset (HSE) | Reported Injuries |
|---|---|
| Not Known | 12% |
| Electric shock injury | 0% |
| Machinery related injury | 5% |
| Harmful substance exposure (e.g. chromium) | 1% |
| Fall from height | 8% |
| Injured by an animal | 4% |
| Lifting and carrying | 24% |
| Physical assault | 5% |
| Slip or trip | 27% |
| Struck against | 2% |
| Hit by vehicle | 3% |
| Hit by object | 6% |
| Trapped by something collapsing | 1% |
Have you suffered an injury at work and your employer or another member of staff was to blame? If so you may be able to claim compensation through their liability insurance.
By law, all employers owe their workforce a duty of care. Whether you sustained an injury when working as a welder or a school teacher, our guide to work accident claims explains your legal rights and how you can make a successful compensation claim.
Read more:
Weymouth medical negligence claims
When a patient suffers an injury or illness due to the carelessness of a GP, nurse or other medical professional, it may be possible to make a clinical negligence claim. If you have been affected by medical negligence, our panel of expert clinical negligence solicitors can help you make a claim against a clinic or NHS trust responsible for Weymouth.
Read more:
Weymouth occupiers liability accident claims
Claims for injuries that occur on property or land owned by somebody else are called occupiers' liability claims.
Whether you were injured on a footpath or in a supermarket, and someone else was responsible, you could be entitled to receive compensation for your injuries and any financial losses.
If you've been injured in a public place, we can help you.
Read more:
Compensation claims for serious injuries
A serious or catastrophic injury is defined as an injury that results in a life-changing disability. Serious injuries typically include brain injuries, amputations or paraplegia, but could also include scarring, injuries and illness caused by exposure to hazardous chemicals.
If your life, or the life of a family member, has been affected by a serious injury, we can help.
A claim will ease the financial burden, helping you and your family to focus on your recovery. Our panel of expert personal injury lawyers coordinate with insurance providers and medical professionals, so you get the rounded support you need.
Read more:
Will I need to meet my solicitor face to face?
Personal injury claims are carried out by phone, post and email, so there will be no need to travel to your solicitor's office when claiming compensation.
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.
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.
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 Weymouth 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:
Frequently asked questions
Have you helped many injury claimants in Weymouth?
We assist 100's of injured claimants in Weymouth and Dorset 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 medical negligence or at work.
Are claims run on a 100% No Win, No Fee basis?
If your claim is not successful, 100% of the solicitor's fees are covered. You don't have to pay any costs upfront, and only pay a standard success fee at the end, if you win your case.
Weymouth injury solicitor reviews
All solicitors are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). Despite the strict professional standards that lawyers must meet, the quality of service they deliver can vary. Online reviews and word of mouth can help you select which solicitor is the right fit for your claim.
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:
Paul Carvis, Personal injury solicitor
About the author
Paul is a member of the Law Society Personal Injury Panel, a member of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers, and has served as a Deputy District Judge, giving him a uniquely broad understanding of the claims process.