Personal injury compensation claims: Everything you need to know

What are personal injury compensation claims?

A personal injury compensation claim is a legal process where you can seek compensation if you’ve been injured because of someone else’s negligence.
It may cover:

• Medical expenses
• Loss of earnings
• Emotional distress

You can claim if the injury happened on the road, at work, in public, or due to medical negligence.

These claims are based on the legal idea of ‘duty of care.’ This means that individuals and organisations have a responsibility to act carefully and avoid causing harm to others. For example, drivers must follow traffic laws, employers must provide safe workplaces, and medical professionals must provide proper care.

If someone doesn’t meet this responsibility and their actions (or lack of action) cause you harm, that’s when a personal injury claim can apply.

Who Can Make a Personal Injury Compensation Claim?

You can make a personal injury compensation claim if you’ve been physically or mentally harmed because someone else was careless or failed in their duty of care. This could be another driver, your employer, a business, or a healthcare provider.

To start a claim, you generally need to meet these three conditions:

• You were owed a duty of care – For example, employers must keep workers safe, and drivers must follow the Highway Code.
• That duty was breached – The other person acted negligently or failed to take reasonable steps to prevent harm.
• You were injured as a result – There’s a direct link between their actions and your injury.

Can You Claim on Someone Else’s Behalf?

Yes. If someone is unable to make a claim themselves, such as a child under 18 or someone who lacks mental capacity; a parent, guardian, or close relative can act as their representative. This is called being a litigation friend

Is there a time limit?

Yes. Under the Limitation Act 1980, most personal injury claims must be made within three years of the date of the injury, or the date you first became aware of it. Exceptions exist for children (until age 18) and individuals lacking mental capacity.

Understanding Your Right to Compensation

Every year, thousands of people across the UK suffer preventable injuries — on the roads, at work, during medical procedures, or in public places. Many of these incidents are caused by someone else’s negligence. If you’ve experienced physical, emotional, or financial harm due to another party’s failure to meet their legal duty of care, you may be entitled to make a personal injury compensation claim.

Under UK civil law, you have the right to seek compensation for injuries resulting from third-party negligence. Whether it’s a careless driver, an unsafe workplace, or poor medical treatment, the law supports your right to hold others accountable.
However, personal injury claims can be complex. They require understanding time limits, gathering evidence, negotiating with insurers, and sometimes going to court. That’s why having an experienced personal injury solicitor on your side can make a significant difference.

Whether you’re exploring your legal options or ready to start a claim, this guide will help you understand the personal injury claims process in the UK — and give you the confidence to move forward.

What can you claim for?

Personal injury compensation claims can cover both financial and non-financial losses. What you can claim depends on the type and severity of your injury, but generally includes:

1. General damages (for pain, suffering & loss of amenity)

These cover non-financial harm, such as:

• Physical pain or discomfort
• Mental health issues (e.g, PTSD, anxiety, depression)
• Impacts on the quality of life or hobbies
• Long-term disability or disfigurement

B. Special damages (for actual financial loss)

Covers financial losses caused by the injury, including:

• Medical treatment and rehabilitation
• Lost wages or reduced earning capacity
• Travel costs to appointments
• Home or vehicle adaptations
• Paid care or family support
  

C. Punitive (exemplary) damages: Rare, but possible

Although rare in UK civil law, punitive damages may be awarded in exceptional cases involving:

• Malicious intent
• Gross negligence
• Reckless disregard for safety (e.g. repeated health and safety violations)
  

These are not based on your loss, but rather on punishing the wrongdoer, and are only awarded by the court.

Legal test for negligence (Three key elements)

To succeed in a personal injury claim, you must usually demonstrate:

1. Duty of care – The defendant owed you a legal obligation
2. Breach of that duty – The defendant failed to meet a reasonable standard of care
3. Causation and damage – You suffered harm as a direct result
   

Types of personal injury compensation claims

Personal injury compensation claims can arise in many everyday contexts — on the road, in the workplace, during healthcare, or even while shopping. Each type of claim has its own legal nuances, standard evidence requirements, and typical causes.

Below are the most common categories of personal injury claims in the UK:

1. Road traffic accident (RTA) claims

Road traffic accidents are among the most frequent sources of personal injury claims. You may be eligible for compensation if you were injured as a:

• Driver or passenger in a car or taxi
• Cyclist or motorcyclist
• Pedestrian hit by a vehicle
  

Common injuries include whiplash, fractures, spinal injuries, and psychological trauma (e.g. driving anxiety or PTSD).

🔗 Explore Further:

• Can Dashcam Footage Help My Road Traffic Accident Claim?
• 2025 guide to whiplash injury claim in the UK

2. Workplace injury claims

Employers have a statutory duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 to protect employees from foreseeable harm. Claims may involve:

• Unsafe working conditions
• Lack of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• Repetitive strain injuries (RSI)
• Accidents involving machinery or manual handling

Employers must carry Employer’s Liability Insurance to cover such claims.

Tip: You can still claim even if you’re a contractor or part-time worker — what matters is whether you were owed a duty of care.

🔗 Related Articles:

• Is your job making you sick? A guide to work-related illness claims and 10 common work illnesses
• How does a medical assessment for work injury compensation work in the UK
• Can I claim compensation for work-related stress? A guide for struggling employees
  

3. Medical negligence claims

Also known as clinical negligence, this involves healthcare professionals breaching their duty of care, leading to avoidable injury or worsening of a condition. Examples include:

• Misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis
• Surgical errors
• Incorrect medication or dosage
• Neglect during childbirth or post-operative care
  

🔗 Useful Reads:

• Legal experts on your side: Medical negligence solicitors ensuring accountability
  
• Maximising your compensation: A guide to medical negligence Claim Time limit
  

4. Slips, trips, and falls

These claims often involve premises liability, when an owner or occupier fails to ensure the environment is safe. You may have a claim if you slipped or tripped due to:

• Wet or uneven floors
• Poor lighting in stairwells
• Broken pavements or walkways
• Hazards without warning signs
  

Claimable from local councils, landlords, or private businesses, depending on where the fall occurred.

🔗Further Reading:

• Slip and Fall Accidents at Work vs Public Spaces: What UK Law Says?
• Shop Injury Claims: Proving Negligence and securing Compensation
• The Complete Guide to Making a Personal Injury Claim for Elderly People in the UK
• Slip and fall accident claim: What to do immediately after an injury
  

5. Product liability claims

Manufacturers, retailers, and distributors can be held liable if a defective product causes injury. This includes:

• Faulty electrical appliances
• Unsafe children’s toys
• Contaminated food or cosmetics
• Defective medical devices
  

🔗 More to Read:

• Defective Product Liability Claim Guide: When Is the Manufacturer at Fault?
• Faulty Product Injury Claims: Can You Seek Compensation for Allergic Reactions from Beauty & Skincare Items?

6. Sports Injury Claims

While sports mostly carry some risk, organisers, coaches, and supervisors still have a legal duty to minimise avoidable harm. If you’ve suffered an injury due to someone else’s negligence — whether during training, in a match, or at a gym — you may be eligible to file a sports injury claim.

Common causes of sports injury claims are as follows:

• Poorly maintained facilities, like uneven pitches, damaged gym equipment, or greasy floors.
• Faulty equipment, like defective goalposts, protective gear, or gym machines.
  
• Reckless or dangerous play, especially when organisers fail to control unsafe behaviour.
  

Tip: You don’t have to be a professional athlete to make a personal injury claim. If you were owed a duty of care and that duty was breached, you may have grounds for claiming compensation.

🔗 Guides & Explainers:

• Injury During Sports at School in the UK – Can Parents Claim Compensation?

7. Motorbike Accident Claims

Motorcyclists are some of the most exposed road users, and upon an accident, injuries are often very serious. 

The most common reasons for motorbike accident claims are:

Driver distraction – not checking blind spots or underestimating a motorbike’s pace or distance.

Risky road surfaces – e.g., potholes, oil spills, which pose a threat to two-wheeled vehicles.

Defects in the vehicle – e.g., defective brakes or tyres.

Other road users failing to signal when opening their doors or turning, especially prevalent in urban traffic.

Tip: You could still claim even if you weren’t wearing full protective gear, though this might reduce your compensation slightly under contributory negligence rules.

8. Industrial Disease Claims

Industrial diseases frequently develop over time due to prolonged exposure to harmful materials or unsafe working spaces. If your employer failed to protect your health and you’ve developed a condition as a result, you may be eligible to make an industrial disease claim.

Common types of industrial disease claims include:

Asbestos-related illnesses – such as mesothelioma, asbestosis, and pleural thickening.

Occupational asthma or lung disease – caused by dust, fumes, or chemical exposure.

Skin Issues – including dermatitis from repeated contact with irritants.

Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) – from long-term exposure to loud environments without adequate protection.

Vibration-related injuries – like Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) from using vibrating tools.

Tip: You can still claim even if you left the job years ago. Time limits in industrial disease cases often begin from the date of diagnosis — not the date of exposure.

🔗 Explore Further:

• Is Your Job Making You Sick? A Guide to Work Related Illness Claims and 10 Common Industrial Diseases
• Hazardous Substances at Work: Know Your Legal Rights and How to Claim Compensation

 9. Public Liability Claims

Public liability claims arise when someone is injured in a public place due to the neglect of a business owner or some local authority. 

Common causes of public liability claims include:

• Slips, trips and falls – on wet floors, uneven paving, or poorly maintained areas.
  
• Accidents in shops or supermarkets, such as falling objects or obstructions in walkways.
  
• Injuries at public events – due to overcrowding, faulty equipment, or poor crowd control.
  
• Animal attacks – where the owner failed to prevent foreseeable harm.
  
• Accidents on council-owned property – including pavements, parks, or public buildings.
  

Tip: Take photographs and get witness details as soon as possible — evidence of the hazard can be crucial, especially if it’s cleaned up or repaired quickly after the accident.

The personal injury claims step-by-step process

If you’ve suffered an injury and believe someone else is legally responsible, you may feel overwhelmed by the idea of making a claim. The process might seem complex, but with the right guidance, it becomes manageable — and often straightforward.

Here’s how personal injury compensation claims typically unfold in the UK:

Maximising your personal injury compensation

Not all personal injury claims are equal, and neither are the compensation awards that follow. How much you receive depends not only on the severity of your injury but also on how well your claim is prepared, supported, and presented.

Here’s what goes into ensuring you receive the maximum compensation you’re legally entitled to:

How we help with personal injury compensation claims?

At Claim Time Solicitors, we understand that no two injury claims are the same, but every claimant deserves to be heard, supported, and compensated fairly. That’s why we provide specialist legal support tailored to your case, with the experience to handle every type of personal injury compensation claim across the UK.

Here’s what makes us different — and how we help you move forward with confidence:

A. Specialist legal expertise across all injury types

Our solicitors specialise exclusively in personal injury law, not general practice. We’ve successfully handled thousands of claims involving:

• Road traffic accidents (including cyclists, motorcyclists, and pedestrians)
• Workplace injuries and industrial illness
• Slips, trips, and public liability cases
• Complex medical negligence claims
• Defective product injuries
  

Whether your case is straightforward or highly complex, we bring legal precision, medical understanding, and negotiation strength to your side.

B. We operate on a no-win, no-fee policy

You pay nothing upfront. If your claim is unsuccessful, you don’t pay us a penny.

This conditional fee arrangement means:

• No financial risk
• No legal costs if we don’t win
• 100% focus on maximising your compensation
  

We only take on cases we believe in — and we fight to win them.

C. Guidance from start to finish

From your first call to final settlement, you’ll have a dedicated case handler who ensures:

• Clear updates on claim progress
• Fast answers to legal and practical questions
• Help with accessing medical support, rehabilitation, or benefits
• Support gathering evidence and building your case
• Transparent advice on timelines and outcomes
  

D. Why claimants trust Claim Time Solicitors

• Proven track record in securing high-value settlements
• 5-star client satisfaction across verified reviews
• Ethical, regulated practice: We are authorised by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA)
• Local knowledge with national reach — helping clients across England, Scotland, and Wales
  

Ready to start your claim?

If you’ve suffered an injury that wasn’t your fault, you have legal rights — and a limited time to act. Don’t wait.

Call us free: 0800 970 2727
No win, no fee — no stress.

Related Resources

See our complete collection of guides relating to personal injury compensation claims:

• Step-by-Step Guide to Personal Injury Claims

• Understanding No Win No Fee Claims

• How Serious Injury Compensation Claims Work

• Selecting the Best Personal Injury Solicitor