Injured at work, on the road or somewhere else?
A personal injury claim recovers compensation when someone else’s negligence has caused you harm. Under Section 11 of the Limitation Act 1980 you have three years from the date of injury (or knowledge of injury) to claim. Most cases run on No Win, No Fee — you pay nothing if we lose.
Reviewed by the Abrahams Solicitors litigation team.
SRA-regulated firm #809071 · Verify on SRA register
What happened?
Pick the closest match.
When did it happen?
3-year
limitation period for personal injury claims (Limitation Act 1980 s.11). Don’t leave it too late.
£1,500–£150,000+
Typical compensation range, depending on injury severity and financial losses.
No Win, No Fee
Most clients pay nothing up front and nothing if the claim is unsuccessful.
Compensation ranges based on Judicial College Guidelines (16th edition). Figures are illustrative — every case turns on its own facts. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
The basics
What is a personal injury claim?
A personal injury claim is a civil legal action against the person, business, or public body whose negligence caused you to suffer harm. Negligence is a legal concept with three ingredients: (1) the other party owed you a duty of care, (2) they breached that duty, and (3) the breach caused your injury or loss.
The duty of care depends on the situation. Employers owe you a duty under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. Drivers owe other road users a duty under the Road Traffic Act 1988. Shops, councils and landlords owe lawful visitors a duty under the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957. Doctors and clinicians owe patients a duty of reasonable skill and care.
If you can prove all three ingredients, the law allows you to recover compensation — money to put you, as far as possible, in the position you would have been in had the accident never happened. That covers pain and suffering (general damages), past and future financial losses (special damages), the cost of rehabilitation and care, and any necessary home or vehicle adaptations.
Time matters. Under Section 11 of the Limitation Act 1980you have three years from the date of the accident (or the date you first realised you had been injured) to bring a claim. Miss the deadline and you usually lose the right to compensation, so call early — even before you’ve gathered all your medical evidence.
Your legal rights
The four statutes that protect you
Every personal injury claim is built on a clear set of legal rights. We cite the source so you can verify it yourself.
Section 11, Limitation Act 1980
Three-year deadline to bring a personal injury claim, running from the date of injury or the date of knowledge.
Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974
Employers' duty to protect workers — the foundation of accident-at-work claims.
Road Traffic Act 1988 + RTA Protocol
Compulsory motor insurance and the fast-track Pre-Action Protocol for road traffic claims under £25,000.
Occupiers' Liability Acts 1957 + 1984
Duty of occupiers (shops, councils, landlords) to keep visitors reasonably safe — slips, trips and falls.
What we claim for
Personal injury claims we routinely take on
These are the core categories. If your circumstances don’t obviously fit one, call us — we’ll talk it through with you for free.
Accidents at work
Workplace injuries including falls, machinery, lifting, and breach of employer duty under HSWA 1974.
Road traffic accidents
Driver, passenger, motorcyclist, cyclist and pedestrian claims under the Road Traffic Act 1988.
Slips, trips and falls
Premises injuries on shop floors, public spaces and council land — Occupiers' Liability Act claims.
Public liability claims
Injuries in public places where a business or council failed in their duty of care.
Serious injury
Head, brain, spinal, sight-loss and life-changing injuries — long-term care and rehabilitation costs.
Fatal accidents
Claims by family members under the Fatal Accidents Act 1976 and Law Reform Act 1934.
Medical negligence
Misdiagnosis, surgical error, birth injury and other clinical negligence cases.
The process
How a personal injury claim runs
We follow the Pre-Action Protocol for Personal Injury Claims — the court-set process every solicitor must follow.
01
Free 30-min assessment
We listen, ask about evidence, and tell you honestly whether you have a claim worth pursuing.
02
Letter of claim served
We serve a formal letter of claim on the defendant or insurer. They have 21 days to acknowledge, then up to three months to investigate.
03
Medical evidence
We instruct an independent medical expert to examine you and produce a report. Costs are covered by the case, not by you.
04
Negotiation or court
Most cases settle without court — typically within 6 to 18 months. If liability is denied, we issue proceedings and prepare for trial.
Questions we get asked
Personal injury FAQ
Direct answers in plain English. If yours isn’t here, ring us — we don’t charge to ask a question.
0203 355 9823Be informed
Should you settle direct with the insurer or use a solicitor?
Both options exist. Here’s an honest comparison so you can decide for yourself.
Settling direct with the insurer
- Faster — no formal proceedings
- No legal fees on your side
- The insurer’s job is to pay as little as possible
- Without medical evidence you can’t value your claim properly
- Once you sign, the case is closed — even if injuries worsen
Solicitor-led claim (Abrahams)
- No Win, No Fee for most clients
- Independent medical evidence — properly valued claim
- Negotiation pressure — insurer knows we can issue proceedings
- Future losses + rehabilitation factored in
- ATE insurance protects you against opponent costs
Pricing — be honest with me
What does this actually cost me?
For most personal injury clients the answer is: nothing up front, and nothing if the claim is unsuccessful.
Read the full breakdown of every fee and how the No Win, No Fee agreement works on our fees page — no jargon, no hidden costs.
View All FeesNo upfront cost
We start work without asking you for money.
Success fee capped at 25%
If we win, our fee is taken from your damages — capped at 25%, never more.
Medical & disbursements
Covered by the case — we pay for your medical reports as the claim progresses.
ATE insurance
After-the-Event insurance covers the opponent’s costs if the case is unsuccessful.
Whiplash claims under £5,000
These are now handled via the Official Injury Claim portal — different funding rules. We’ll explain what applies to you.
Your Solicitor
Three SRA-regulated solicitors. Direct access.
Imran Shah
Immigration & Litigation Solicitor
Imran handles immigration and litigation cases that need methodical preparation and clear strategy.
SRA #509359
Humaira Anjum
Immigration & Litigation Solicitor
Humaira walks families through every stage of immigration and litigation matters with calm, careful guidance.
SRA #663190
Sannah Khatoon
Litigation & Housing Disrepair Solicitor
Sannah recovers damages and forces repairs in housing disrepair claims — usually on no win, no fee.
SRA #654258
No Win, No Fee
Don’t leave it too late. Three years goes fast.
Spend 60 seconds telling us what happened — a specialist solicitor will call you back within the hour with a free, honest assessment.
Abrahams Solicitors · SRA #809071 · https://www.abrahamssolicitors.co.uk/personal-injury/