Serious Injury Claims and Compensation

Claims.co.uk is a free legal advisory service dedicated to helping clients access the support they need to make a compensation claim. We work in partnership with National Accident Law and the National Accident Helpline, serving as the first port of call for people exploring the possibility of compensation.

The average payouts for serious injury claims depend on the injuries you suffer and how they impact your life. Your solicitor will also factor in any psychological and financial damage caused by the injury when they put your claim forward.

Please note that the following amounts are estimates only, and each case is different.

A serious injury is any form of injury that’s likely to have a long-term impact on a person’s life. While general injuries can lead to long-term complications, catastrophic injuries often mean the individual has an ongoing disability. In worst-case scenarios, these injuries can result in fatalities.

There are numerous incidences where a serious injury might occur, including as a result of medical negligence, workplace accidents and road traffic accidents.

There are multiple types of serious injuries, but in most cases, yours (or a loved one’s) will be classed as serious if it meets the following criteria:

• Extensive Treatment: Minor injuries might need non-urgent treatment, and they usually heal quickly, while severe injuries often require emergency support and often result in long-term treatment.
• Life-Threatening: If the injury is life-threatening – or has the potential to be – it can also count as serious.
• Long-Term Impact: Life-changing injuries will usually mean you’re unable to work for the foreseeable future and might need to make drastic changes to your lifestyle and home.

• Traumatic Brain Injuries: A traumatic brain injury can occur due to a road traffic accident, incident at work or anything else that exposes the head. These injuries can cause permanent damage, including severe migraines, speech issues, physical disabilities, and personality changes.
• Spinal Cord Injuries: These injuries often occur due to road traffic accidents, workplace injuries and falls. Serious spinal cord injuries impact your mobility and even lead to paralysis.
• Multiple Fractures: Suffering multiple fractures or a complex fracture is also usually classed as a serious injury because you’ll usually require surgery and long-term physiotherapy.
• Internal Injuries: These complex injuries can cause a variety of complications, including ruptures and organ damage. Emergency surgery is often necessary for severe internal injuries, and they can be fatal if not treated immediately.
• Serious Burns: Suffering severe burns can have a lasting impact on your life, with many resulting in permanent disfiguration.

Your ability to make a serious injury compensation claim depends on multiple factors, including whether your solicitor can prove that there was negligence.

The eligibility criteria for most compensation claims are as follows:

• The Injury: Any injury suffered must be classed as severe. This usually means it has a life-threatening impact or requires extensive medical care.
• Duty of Care: The person or authority responsible for your injury must have a duty of care to you. For example, medical professionals must maintain high care standards, while road users must behave responsibly.
• Breach of Duty: You can only claim compensation if your solicitor successfully proves that there was a breach of care.
• Causation: Finally, your injuries must occur as a direct result of this breach.

Your ability to make a serious injury claim depends on whether you’re eligible. Seeking free legal advice using the online form or phoning 0800 234 6438 is the first step in determining whether you can receive compensation.

If the advisor feels that you might be eligible, they’ll connect you with personal injury lawyers who will argue your case on a no win no fee basis.

In most cases, yes. However, it depends on the circumstances surrounding their injury. For example, if a child suffers a serious injury, the parents can file a claim on their behalf, as the child won’t be able to seek legal support until they turn 18.

The general time limits for making personal injury claims are three years from the date of your injury or when the negligence was first discovered. However, if a child suffers injuries, they get a claim for up to three years after turning 18.

Vulnerable individuals or those with reduced mental capacity will also have longer to claim compensation, as someone else will need to file for compensation on their behalf.