PERSONAL INJURY CLAIM ARTICLES

Straightforward answers to the questions people ask us most — written in plain English, without the legal jargon.

Each guide covers one topic properly: what the law actually says, what it means for you, and what to do next. They apply to England and Wales.

If you cannot find what you are looking for, call us on 0330 818 1202. We will answer the question on the phone, free of charge, whether or not you go on to make a claim.

WOULD YOU RATHER JUST ASK SOMEONE?

Call 0330 818 1202 or email injuriesdirect@njslaw.co.uk

THREE GUIDES THAT APPLY TO ALMOST EVERY CLAIM, NO MATTER THE ACCIDENT.

— HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO MAKE A PERSONAL INJURY CLAIM?

Most people have three years — but there are more exceptions than you would expect, and the deadline is not the date you contact a solicitor. This guide explains the three-year rule, how it works for children and for people who lack mental capacity, the shorter two-year deadline for criminal injury claims, and what happens if you are already out of time.

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— HOW MUCH COMPENSATION CAN I CLAIM FOR A PERSONAL INJURY?

There is no fixed figure, but there is a clear method. This guide breaks a claim into its two parts — general damages for the injury itself, and special damages for what the accident has actually cost you — and explains how each is worked out, including the guideline brackets courts use and the separate fixed tariff that applies to whiplash.

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— WHAT DOES NO WIN, NO FEE ACTUALLY MEAN?

Almost every firm advertises it. Far fewer explain what comes out of your compensation at the end. This guide sets out the whole arrangement — the success fee and the 25% cap, what happens if your claim does not succeed, whether you might already have insurance that covers you, and the questions worth asking before you sign anything.

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PRACTICAL GUIDES FOR SPECIFIC SITUATIONS

— WHAT TO DO AFTER A CAR ACCIDENT THAT WASN’T YOUR FAULT?

A step-by-step guide to the things that matter most: what to do at the scene, what to do in the first 48 hours, and what to be careful about in the weeks after. Includes when you must report an accident to the police, why telling the other driver you are "fine" is a mistake, and what to know before you deal with their insurer.

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— CICA CLAIMS EXPLAINED: COMPENSATION FOR VICTIMS OF VIOLENT CRIME

If you were injured by someone else's violence, you may be able to claim from a government-funded scheme rather than from the offender — and the offender does not need to have been caught or convicted. This guide explains who can apply, the two-year deadline, and the things that most often cause an application to be reduced or refused.

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— SLIPPED OR TRIPPED IN A SHOP OR PUBLIC PLACE?

Falls in supermarkets, car parks, restaurants and on pavements are among the most common accidents we see — and among the most commonly not reported, because people assume it was their own fault. This guide explains the duty an occupier actually owes you, what has to be proved, and the evidence that decides these cases.

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STILL LOOKING FOR A SPECIFIC CLAIM TYPE?

If you want to know how we handle a particular kind of claim rather than read a guide, these pages will help:

You may also want our Claims Process page, which walks through what happens from your first call to settlement, or our FAQ.

— FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

  • No. They give general legal information for England and Wales, so you can understand where you stand. Advice on your own situation needs someone to look at your particular facts — call us and we will do that free of charge.

  • Each guide carries a "last reviewed" date and the name of the person who reviewed it. We update them when the law or the published guidance changes.

  • No. If you call and we do not think you have a claim, we will tell you so and explain why. There is no charge for that conversation.

  • No. They cover the law of England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate legal systems, with different time limits and different procedures, so nothing on these pages should be relied on for an accident that happened there.

  • Yes. Injuries Direct is a trading name of NJS Law Limited, a firm of solicitors authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority under SRA number 8006550. We are not a claims management company and we do not pass your case to a panel firm — your claim is handled by our own solicitors and litigation executives.

  • Call us anyway. These guides cover the situations we are asked about most often, not everything we deal with. We handle road traffic accidents, serious injury, accidents at work, public and occupiers' liability claims and criminal injury applications, and the general principles in the "Start Here" guides apply to almost every kind of claim.