You could be eligible to make a serious injury claim if another person or organisation was legally responsible for an accident that left you with serious or life-changing injuries. Serious injury claims often arise when an accident causes life-changing harm that has a lasting impact on a person’s health, independence or ability to work. Compensation may take account of the physical and psychological effects of the injury, as well as financial losses such as reduced earnings, the cost of rehabilitation and any future care or support that may be needed. Accident Claims’ specialist solicitors can assess your case, explain your legal options and, where eligible, pursue your serious injury claim on a No Win No Fee basis.

A serious injury can have lasting consequences that extend far beyond the initial accident. Recovery may involve months or even years of treatment while changes to your mobility, independence or ability to work place additional emotional and financial strain on both you and your family. Where your injuries resulted from avoidable safety failures or substandard care, compensation can provide financial security and help you access the treatment, care and support you need.

Accident Claims’ trusted legal specialists combine decades of experience with a proven record of securing over £100 million in compensation. Our solicitors investigate how the accident happened and obtain independent medical assessments to understand how your injuries are likely to affect your future.

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Contact Accident Claims for a free consultation to discuss whether you could make a serious injury claim. Early legal advice can help preserve important evidence, identify who may be responsible and ensure your claim is valued to reflect the full impact of your injuries.

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What Is Classed As A Serious Injury?

A serious injury is one that has a significant and lasting impact on your health, independence or quality of life. While some people make a good recovery, others experience permanent disabilities, ongoing pain or long-term physical or psychological effects requiring extensive treatment, rehabilitation or specialist support. The seriousness of an injury is not determined by its diagnosis alone, but by its long-term effect on your daily life, independence and future care needs.

When assessing a serious injury claim, our solicitors consider the overall impact of your injuries rather than relying solely on the name of the injury. They consider the medical evidence alongside how your injuries have responded to treatment, the outlook for your recovery and the impact the injuries are likely to have on your future, including whether you will need ongoing care or support. They also assess the financial consequences, including lost earnings and future expenses, to ensure your compensation reflects the full impact of your injuries.

If your injuries have significantly changed your daily life because reasonable steps were not taken to protect your safety, you may have grounds to pursue serious injury compensation. Accident Claims’ specialist solicitors can assess your circumstances, explain your legal options and determine whether you could make a serious injury claim.

A man in hospital after a serious injury

Can I Claim If I Have Suffered A Serious Injury?

Yes, you may be able to make a serious injury claim if you suffered a serious injury because your accident resulted from avoidable safety failures. Serious injury compensation claims can arise whenever another person or organisation is legally responsible for an accident that causes life-changing harm. The circumstances vary widely, from collisions on the road to incidents in the workplace, public settings or during medical treatment.

Every serious injury claim begins by understanding not only how the accident happened, but how your injuries are likely to affect your recovery and future care needs. Our solicitors assess both liability and the long-term impact of your injuries before advising whether compensation may be available.

When assessing your claim, our solicitors will consider:

  • How your injuries occurred. Understanding what caused the accident and whether it could have been prevented helps establish the basis of your claim.
  • Who may be legally responsible. Identifying the person or organisation responsible helps determine who your claim should be brought against.
  • What evidence is available. The strength of a claim often depends on the available evidence. Your solicitor will review the information that can help establish what happened, who may be responsible and the extent of your injuries.
  • The long-term impact of your injuries. Understanding how your injuries are likely to affect your future helps ensure your claim reflects both the immediate and ongoing consequences of the accident.

Can I Claim On Behalf Of A Child?

Yes, you can claim on behalf of a child if they suffered a serious injury because another person or organisation was legally responsible. The claim is brought by a litigation friend, who is usually a parent or guardian, until the child turns 18. If no claim is made during childhood, they will usually have until their 21st birthday to begin court proceedings.

Claiming On Behalf Of Someone With Reduced Capacity

If someone lacks the mental capacity to manage their own serious injury claim, a litigation friend can bring the claim on their behalf. This is often a family member or close friend, although the court can appoint another suitable person where necessary. The litigation friend acts in the injured person’s best interests throughout the claims process.

If the injured person regains this mental capacity and no claim has been made on their behalf, they will have 3 years from this recovery date to start their own claim.

Many people contact Accident Claims because they are unsure whether they can make a serious injury claim for themselves or on behalf of a loved one. Our specialist solicitors will explain your legal options in clear, straightforward language, answer any questions you have and guide you through the next steps, giving you the information you need to decide how you would like to proceed.

Why Choose The Solicitors Here At Accident Claims?

You should choose the specialist solicitors at Accident Claims because they have experience handling complex serious injury claims and understand the long-term impact life-changing injuries can have on your future. Serious injury claims often require detailed liability investigations, independent expert evidence and careful assessment of your long-term rehabilitation, care and financial needs. Our solicitors build every claim around the long-term impact your injuries are expected to have, helping to ensure any compensation reflects both your immediate needs and the challenges you may face in the future.

Throughout your claim, our solicitors will:

  • Investigate how your serious injury occurred. We’ll establish how the accident happened, identify who may be legally responsible and obtain the evidence needed to prove liability, even where responsibility is disputed, or multiple organisations may be involved.
  • Build a comprehensive body of expert evidence. We’ll gather the evidence needed to support your claim, arrange independent medical assessments where appropriate and obtain specialist reports that clearly explain the impact your injuries have had on your life.
  • Plan for your future recovery. Our solicitors can arrange independent medical assessments to better understand your long-term recovery and the support you are likely to need, helping ensure these future requirements are reflected in your claim.
  • Secure compensation that reflects your lifetime needs. Where appropriate, we’ll assess the ongoing financial impact of your injuries and seek compensation that reflects both your current circumstances and the support you may need in the future. We can also request interim payments where these could assist your recovery before your claim concludes.

Serious injury claims are about more than proving who was responsible. They’re about securing the financial support you may need for rehabilitation, care and your future. Speak to us today to discuss your circumstances.

a man has suffered a serious accident at work

Common Types Of Serious Injury Compensation Claims

Serious injury compensation claims arise in many different circumstances, and the way a claim is investigated often depends on how the accident happened. Looking at common examples helps demonstrate how different accidents can lead to life-changing injuries and why identifying what went wrong is an important part of establishing who may be legally responsible.

The examples below illustrate some of the situations in which serious injury compensation claims commonly arise.

Road Traffic Accident Claims

Serious injury claims following road traffic accidents often involve high-impact collisions that leave road users with life-changing injuries requiring extensive treatment and rehabilitation.

  • Your car is struck head-on after another driver looks down at their mobile phone and drifts into your lane, leaving you with a traumatic brain injury that requires emergency surgery and months of rehabilitation.
  • While cycling through a junction, a driver turns across your path without checking properly, knocking you from your bike and causing a serious spinal injury alongside multiple fractures that permanently affect your mobility and independence.

Accidents At Work Claims

Serious accidents at work often occur when dangerous equipment, unsafe working practices or inadequate safety measures expose employees to significant and avoidable risks.

  • You suffer devastating crush injuries while operating industrial machinery because safety guards have been removed, trapping your hand and leaving you with a traumatic amputation that permanently changes your ability to work and carry out everyday tasks.
  • While carrying out routine maintenance on a construction site, defective scaffolding suddenly gives way beneath you, causing a fall from height that leaves you with a spinal cord injury requiring ongoing rehabilitation, specialist equipment and long-term care.

Public Liability Claims

Serious public liability claims commonly arise when unsafe premises or poorly maintained public spaces expose visitors to avoidable harm.

  • While shopping in a supermarket, heavy shelving that has not been properly secured collapses without warning, leaving you with multiple fractures and a serious pelvic injury that requires extensive surgery and months of rehabilitation.
  • You suffer a severe head injury when a large section of ceiling collapses in a shopping centre because it had not been properly maintained. The incident leaves you with lasting cognitive difficulties that affect your memory, concentration and ability to return to work.

Because serious injury claims often involve life-changing consequences, establishing who was responsible is only one part of building a successful claim.

Although these examples involve different types of accidents, the way serious injury claims are investigated is often very different from less severe personal injury claims. Our solicitors consider not only who was responsible but also how your injuries are likely to affect your rehabilitation, independence, and financial security for many years to come.

Can I Claim For Serious Injuries After Medical Negligence?

Yes, you can claim for serious injuries after medical negligence if substandard medical care caused you avoidable harm. Medical negligence occurs when the treatment you received fell below the standard reasonably expected of a competent healthcare professional, resulting in injuries that could have been avoided or made less severe.

Serious medical negligence claims can arise following surgical errors, delayed diagnoses, failures during childbirth and many other situations where avoidable errors cause life-changing harm. The key question is whether appropriate medical care would likely have prevented or reduced the harm you suffered.

Every medical negligence claim begins by reviewing the care you received, how your injuries occurred and whether different clinical decisions or earlier, appropriate treatment would likely have resulted in a better outcome.

Where appropriate, our solicitors assess whether earlier rehabilitation, different treatment or additional support may have improved your long-term outcome, helping ensure every consequence of the negligent treatment is properly reflected within your claim.

We explain your legal options in clear, straightforward language while investigating the full impact your injuries have had on you.

What If A Serious Injury Was A Result Of Criminal Assault Or Violence?

A serious injury caused by a criminal assault or violent crime may entitle you to claim compensation. Depending on the circumstances, you may be able to pursue an award through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA). This is the government-funded compensation scheme for victims of violent crime in Great Britain.

Our specialist solicitors will assess whether your circumstances meet the CICA eligibility criteria, including whether the assault was reported to the police, your application is being made within the relevant time limits, and sufficient evidence is available to support your claim.

We’ll review the available evidence to understand how the assault has affected you and explain the compensation options that may be available in your circumstances. We’ll then explain your legal options and guide you through the criminal injury claims process from start to finish.

The Serious Injury Claims Process

Every serious injury claim is different, but most follow a similar process. Serious injury claims often require detailed liability investigations, specialist medical evidence and assessment of your long-term needs. Beginning the claims process early can help preserve evidence and identify the applicable limitation period.

Step 1: Contact Accident Claims

Contact Accident Claims for a free consultation. We’ll explain your legal options, confirm the applicable limitation period and advise whether you may have grounds to pursue serious injury compensation.

Step 2: Assessing Your Circumstances

If you decide to proceed, one of our specialist solicitors will assess how the accident happened, identify who may be legally responsible and determine whether avoidable safety failures or substandard care caused your injuries.

Step 3: Investigating Liability

We will gather the evidence needed to establish liability and support your claim, such as medical records, witness statements and any available CCTV footage.

Step 4: Obtaining Medical And Rehabilitation Evidence

Your solicitor will arrange independent medical assessments to understand your injuries, prognosis, rehabilitation needs and any future care or support you may require.

Step 5: Assessing The Full Impact Of Your Injuries

One of our solicitors will assess the full impact of your injuries, including how they affect your daily life, ability to work and any future support you may require.

Step 6: Valuing Your Serious Injury Claim

Once the evidence has been gathered, we will value your claim by considering compensation for your pain and suffering alongside any financial losses supported by the evidence.

Step 7: Negotiating Your Compensation

Our team will negotiate with the responsible party or their insurer to seek compensation reflecting the full impact of your injuries. Where appropriate, interim payments may also be requested to help fund rehabilitation or other immediate needs.

Step 8: Receiving Your Compensation

If your claim succeeds, your solicitor will explain the outcome and ensure any agreed compensation is paid correctly.

If you’re ready to begin your serious injury claim, contact Accident Claims today for a free consultation and clear advice about your legal options.

a serious car accident causes multiple injuries

How Can A Serious Injury Change Someone’s Life?

A serious injury can permanently affect your health, independence and quality of life, often changing far more than your physical recovery. Many people require ongoing treatment while adapting to lasting changes, such as reduced mobility, difficulties returning to work or the need for additional support. Family members may also take on caring responsibilities as they help support your recovery.

The impact of a serious injury extends beyond the immediate aftermath of the accident. The long-term effects of a serious injury vary from person to person. Some people need ongoing support to live independently, while others face lasting physical, emotional or financial challenges.

Understanding how your injuries have affected your life is an essential part of building a serious injury compensation claim. Our specialist solicitors work hard to ensure your compensation reflects your pain and suffering, future care, and other financial losses.

How Much Compensation Could Be Awarded For A Serious Injury?

The amount of compensation awarded for a serious injury depends on how the injury has affected your life and the evidence available to support your claim. Every case is assessed individually, so there is no fixed amount.

Our specialist solicitors build your claim by obtaining independent medical evidence to understand the nature of your injuries and how they are likely to affect you in the future. They also investigate the financial impact of the injury by reviewing documents such as payslips, invoices and receipts, helping to identify losses that have already arisen as well as those expected in the years ahead.

Compensation is normally made up of two parts. General damages compensate you for your pain, suffering and loss of amenity, which refers to the impact the injury has had on your ability to enjoy everyday life. Special damages are calculated separately and reflect the financial losses you can prove with evidence. Keeping records of expenses and lost income can therefore help support the value of your claim.

When valuing compensation for general damages, legal professionals often refer to the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG), which provide guideline compensation brackets for different types of injuries.

The table below contains guideline compensation figures taken from the JCG. These figures are intended as guidance only, and the first entry has not been taken from the JCG.

InjurySeverityCompensation
Various Very Serious Injuries + Special DamagesA number of very serious injuries and financial losses such as home adaptation costs, medical expenses and life-long care costsUp to £10million+
Paralysis InjuriesTetraplegia (also known as Quadriplegia) - those at the top end of the bracket will have experienced sensory loss, and a reduction in the ability to communicate£428,850 to £533,720
Brain/HeadVery Severe - there may be some remaining ability to follow basic commands, but little if any evidence of a meaningful response to their environment£372,570 to £533,720
Arm AmputationsLoss of Both Arms - reduces the injured person to a state of considerable helplessness£318,120 to £396,340
Leg AmputationsLoss of Both Legs - both legs lost above the knee, or one at a high level above the knee and one below the knee.£318,120 to £372,570
FootAmputation of Both Feet - treated similarly as the below-knee amputation of legs as the useful ankle joint is lost£223,800 to £266,200
HandTotal or Effective Loss of Both Hands - serious injury resulting in extensive hand damage to both hands, rendering them little more than useless£185,840 to £266,200
BackSevere (i) - damage to the spinal cord and nerve roots£120,340 to £212,670
NeckSevere (i) - neck injuries associated with incomplete paralysis or permanent spastic quadriparesisIn the region of £195,970
Pelvis + HipsSevere (i) - extensive pelvic fractures involving the dislocation of a lower back joint and ruptured bladder£103,580 to £172,970

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Can Serious Injury Claims Include Financial Losses?

Yes, serious injury claims can include financial losses, often referred to as special damages, where those losses result from your injuries and are supported by evidence. Because serious injuries often have lifelong consequences, these financial losses can form a significant part of your compensation. Our solicitors assess not only the losses you’ve already experienced but also the support, treatment and care you are likely to require in the future before calculating the value of your claim.

As part of your claim, we’ll consider:

  • The impact on your ability to work. If your injuries have reduced your earning capacity or prevented you from working, we’ll calculate your lost earnings and future loss of income using employment records, payslips, and other financial evidence.
  • The cost of your treatment and recovery. Expenses such as rehabilitation or private treatment may be recoverable where they are directly linked to your injuries and supported by evidence.
  • Additional expenses caused by your injuries. If your injuries have resulted in extra costs, these may be included in your claim where they are directly related to the accident and supported by evidence. We’ll calculate these losses using receipts, invoices and other relevant documentation.
  • The long-term financial impact. If your injuries are expected to affect your future care needs, independence or ability to earn a living, we’ll use medical and financial evidence to calculate those future losses as accurately as possible.

Every financial loss included in your claim should be supported by evidence, but you don’t need to know exactly what documents are required before contacting us. Our specialist solicitors will explain what information is likely to help and ensure your claim reflects the full financial impact your injuries have had on your life.

What Can Be Done After A Serious Injury Occurs?

After a serious injury occurs, your priority should be getting the medical care you need and, where possible, taking steps that could support a future compensation claim. The action you take in the hours and days after the accident can help protect both your recovery and any claim you later decide to pursue.

After a serious injury, it can help to:

  • Seek immediate medical treatment. Prompt medical assessment ensures your injuries are properly diagnosed and treated while creating medical records that may later help support your claim.
  • Report the accident. Tell the appropriate person or organisation about what happened, such as your employer, the occupier of the premises, the police or another responsible authority, so the incident can be formally recorded.
  • Photograph the accident scene. If it is safe to do so, photographs or videos of the accident scene, any hazards involved and the surrounding area can help preserve evidence before conditions change.
  • Photograph your injuries where appropriate. Visible injuries may change as they heal, so photographs taken during your recovery can help document the effects of the accident alongside your medical records.
  • Obtain witness details. If anyone saw the accident, their contact details may allow your solicitor to obtain witness statements that help establish how the incident occurred.

Even if you weren’t able to take these steps because your injuries required urgent medical treatment, you may still have grounds to claim. Our specialist solicitors can assess the available evidence, explain what additional information may help support your case and advise whether you may be eligible to pursue serious injury compensation.

A specialist serious injury claims solicitor explains how to claim

Pursuing Serious Injury Compensation With Accident Claims

Serious injury claims involve life-changing injuries, complex liability investigations and careful assessment of your long-term rehabilitation, care and financial needs.

Accident Claims’ specialist solicitors manage every stage of your claim, obtaining the evidence needed to understand the full impact of your injuries. They assess your long-term prognosis and future needs while pursuing compensation that reflects the effect your injuries are likely to have throughout your lifetime.

No Win No Fee Serious Injury Claims

At Accident Claims, our specialist solicitors handle eligible serious injury claims on a No Win No Fee basis under a Conditional Fee Agreement.

This means you won’t pay any solicitor’s service fees upfront or while your claim is ongoing. If your claim is unsuccessful, you won’t pay your solicitor’s service fees.

If your claim succeeds, a legally capped success fee is deducted from your compensation.

We’ll explain exactly how the agreement works before your claim begins, so you can decide whether you’d like to proceed.

Speak To Our Team Today

Recovering from a serious injury can be overwhelming, but you don’t have to navigate the claims process alone. Contact Accident Claims today for free advice and find out whether you could be eligible to pursue serious injury compensation.

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