Making a personal injury compensation claim
If an injury or illness has affected your life or ability to work, we can help.
If someone else was responsible for your accident or injuries, you may be able to make a claim for compensation.
Every year, we help injured people in Whitby, North Yorkshire and throughout the UK. We can help you claim the compensation you need to fund your recovery.
How did your injury occur?
There are several steps involved in making an injury claim. The steps involved will depend on how and where you were injured.
Please select how you were injured to find out more:
Can I claim compensation?
You should be able to make a compensation claim if you suffered an illness or injury:
- in the last three years (limitation) and
- was caused by another party (causation) and
- that party owed you a duty of care (liability).
Are there any other points to consider?
Yes. Practically speaking, a number of factors can impact whether a successful no win, no fee claim will be possible, such as the context of your injury or how close to the claim limitation date you are.
We can verify whether you have a valid claim over the phone. Speak to a personal injury solicitor now on 0800 376 1001. If you prefer, you can check your claim online with our Online Claim Checker.
What if I was injured as a child?
Whether you were injured at school, in a playground or any other circumstance, you can start a claim at any point until your 21st birthday.
An injured child's parent or legal guardian can start a compensation claim on behalf of the child.
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 Whitby
Government data reveals there were 1382 road accidents in North Yorkshire in 2021, including 1006 slight accidents, 342 accidents and 34 fatalities. Accidents in the Whitby area in 2013 included road traffic collisions on the single carriageway of the A171 and B1460 junction and on the single carriageway of the A171 and A174 crossroads.
If you have been unfortunate enough to be injured in one of the 100's of serious road accidents that occur in Whitby and across the UK every year, you may be able to claim no win, no fee compensation.
Whether you have been hurt in a car crash, or were hurt as a pedestrian, our guide to road accident compensation sets out what you need to know about how to claim.
Read more:
Whitby work accident claims
There were 7 fatalities and 576 other work accidents in North Yorkshire in 2021.
| Work accidents in North Yorkshire (RIDAGGR) | Reported Injuries |
|---|---|
| Not Known | 19% |
| Electricity related | 1% |
| Machinery related | 4% |
| Fire related (e.g. scars) | 1% |
| Exposure to toxic substance | 0% |
| Fall from height (ladder) | 12% |
| Injured by an animal | 0% |
| Lifting and handling injuries | 19% |
| Physical assault | 8% |
| Slip, trip, fall same level | 27% |
| Struck against | 3% |
| Struck by moving vehicle | 1% |
| Hit by falling object | 7% |
| Trapped by something collapsing | 1% |
Have you suffered an injury at work and your employer or another member of staff was liable? If so you may be able to claim compensation through their liability insurance.
Whether you suffered an injury or illness working as a support worker or a motorcycle courier, our work accident claim guide shows you how to make a successful claim.
Read more:
Whitby clinical negligence claims
Medical negligence is the term for when a patient is injured as the result of a GP, nurse or other medical professional's lack of care. Our expert solicitor panel can help you claim compensation from a clinic or NHS trust covering Whitby.
Read more:
Whitby Occupiers liability injury claims
UK law states that owners (occupiers) of premises are liable for the safety and welfare of all visitors.
Whether your accident happened on land maintained by the local authority or in a nightclub, and a third party was responsible, you may be able to claim compensation.
If you have been injured in an accident in a public place, we can help.
Read more:
Serious injury compensation claims
Serious and catastrophic injuries typically include head, brain and spinal injuries.
If you have suffered a serious injury, we understand the vital difference a successful claim can make.
Our panel of catastrophic injury lawyers will help coordinate with care professionals and insurance providers to ensure you get the best medical and financial support.
Read more:
Catastrophic injury compensation claims
Will I have to visit my solicitor's office?
There is no need to visit your solicitor's office in person if you are thinking about making a claim.
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.
When you decide to go ahead, the next step is to discuss your case with an expert solicitor. Your solicitor will handle every stage of your claim and will be there to answer any questions you have.
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 Whitby 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 claimants in Whitby?
Every year, we help hundreds of injury claimants in Whitby, North Yorkshire and across the UK.
Whether you have been injured on the road or due to clinical negligence we can introduce you to the best personal injury solicitor for your needs.
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 won't have to pay a penny to start a claim.
Whitby 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 make it easier decide which solicitor 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:
Howard Willis, Personal injury solicitor
About the author
Howard qualified as a solicitor in 1984 and has specialised in personal injury for over 25 years. He is a member of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) and is a recognised Law Society Personal Injury Panel expert.