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Personal injury solicitors

A serious injury or illness can have a long-lasting and life-changing impact. And it brings with it uncertainty and challenges that you aren’t prepared for – especially if someone else is to blame. But this doesn’t mean you and your family must deal with the impact alone. At Shoosmiths, our expert personal injury lawyers are here to help you rebuild your life if the worst happens.

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People first, lawyers second

Our team has extensive experience of handling a wide range of personal injury claims. We have helped clients with claims for road traffic accidents, accidents at work and serious spinal cord and brain injuries. And we’ll do what we can to help make sure you receive the personal injury compensation and rehabilitation that you need.

What is 'personal injury'?

‘Personal injury’ is a legal term that covers injury to the body or mind that you suffer when someone else is at fault. Personal injuries can range from the moderate injury, such as a fracture which with time will heal causing limited impact on your life to serious, catastrophic injuries involving the spinal cord, the brain or resulting in amputations which will have a significant and long term impact on the injured person and their family life. Injuries can occur as a result of road traffic accidents, accidents at work or whilst you are going about your day to day life. If the injury is as a result of someone else’s fault or wrongdoing and you suffer pain, suffering and financial loss, you may have a claim for personal injury compensation. Of course, compensation can’t undo what’s already happened. It can, however, go some way to making things easier for you and your family.

Personal injury claims can be complicated, so it’s important that you get specialist support from legal experts. That’s what we’re here for. Our dedicated team of personal injury lawyers aim to get the best possible results for you and your loved ones. To find out more about what we do or how we can help, get in touch today – call 0370 086 8686 or send us a message.

Leysa's story

Are there different types of personal injury claims?

Our team of personal injury lawyers are highly skilled at supporting a wide range of claims. No matter your injury or its immediate cause, if the accident was not your fault, we may be able to help. We have experience of dealing with all types of physical and psychological injury and the ways in which they occur. In each case, we’ll offer the support and advice you and your family need throughout your claim.

Accidents at work: These commonly occur because of dangerous work practices, unsafe and badly maintained machinery, inadequate training, a lack of personal protective equipment, an unsafe work environment.

Road traffic accidents: The UK’s roads are among the safest in Europe. But accidents do still happen to drivers, motorcyclists, passengers, pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders. These accidents can result in serious injuries and sometimes in fatalities.

Military injury claims: For anyone serving in the armed forces, there’s always a risk of being seriously injured or even killed. If this happens to you or a loved one, you may have a claim.

The types of personal injuries that occur include:

Amputation claims: These claims involve the loss of a limb as a result of significant trauma to the limb. Loss of a limb can be traumatic and devastating, resulting in lifestyle changes and the need for rehabilitation. Our specialist amputation solicitors have the experience to handle this type of personal injury claim with care and precision and to recover the compensation you need.

Brain injury claims: An injury to the brain can be complex and have a significant physical, psychological and emotional impact, which may be obvious, but it can also be subtle. The impact can be life changing for the injured person and their family with a need for significant financial support and specialist care. Our specialist brain injury solicitors have the experience and skill to deal with these complex cases.

Spinal cord injury claims: An injury to the spinal cord can be serve resulting in the loss of the use of limbs, bowel, bladder and sexual function. The impact can be devastating and life changing with the need for rehabilitation, care, need for specialist equipment and adaptations to your property. Our personal injury lawyers are specialists in dealing with spinal cord injury claims.

PTSD claims: The witnessing of a traumatic or terrifying event can also result in psychiatric injury like Post Traumatic Stress Disorder which can be incredibly difficult to deal with. Our personal injury lawyers are experienced in dealing with these claims and securing the treatment support and compensation needed.

Sadly, it’s not uncommon for someone to lose their life in a serious accident. And we understand that no amount of personal injury compensation can make up for the loss of a loved one. But, if the accident is someone else’s fault, you can trust us to handle your fatal accident claim with the utmost dedication and respect. For more information, call 0370 086 8686 or send us a message.

Need more help?

Our team of friendly specialists are on hand to help guide you through all aspects of serious personal injury claims.

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Nicola Cooper, a client who suffered serious traumatic brain injury

Shoosmiths - the serious personal injury experts

Why choose Shoosmiths?
In any personal injury claim, it’s important to know that you can trust the people you turn to. It can often be a difficult and challenging time, and the last thing you need is any further stress or uncertainty. At Shoosmiths, we treat each person with the care and understanding they deserve – and our personal injury lawyers will do all they can to get you the best possible outcome.

Not only are we with you at each stage of the personal injury claims process, but we’ll also stay by your side for years to come – even once your claim is settled and compensation awarded.
You can be sure that our personal injury expertise is backed up in the awards and accreditations we receive too. This includes:
- Accreditation from the Law Society Personal Injury Panel; Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL); Headway; and Action against Medical Accidents.
- Recognition from the independent legal directories Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners UK for the care and knowledge of our lawyers who can handle your personal injury claim.
- Being signed up to the APIL/FOIL Guide to the Conduct of Cases Involving Serious Injury and the Headway Personal Injury Lawyers Code of Conduct.
For us, however, the most important reason for choosing Shoosmiths is our dedication to helping people in need. Our reputation is built on the success we achieve on behalf of our personal injury clients. You can read what some of those clients have to say – and how we could help you too.
How can Shoosmiths’ personal injury lawyers help?
If you or a loved one suffer a personal injury, getting better and back to ‘normal’ is what matters most. That’s why we think it’s essential to make sure your immediate needs are met – not least if you’re unable to work or would benefit from specialist rehabilitation services.

Our team of personal injury lawyers are committed to helping families when the worst happens. If you’re now coming to terms with a serious injury or illness where someone else is at fault, our personal injury claims lawyers will work hard to make sure you get the compensation you need.

But our personal injury claims expertise and knowledge isn’t all that we can offer you. We can:
- Put you in touch with the right medical and rehabilitation services
- Support your recovery and help improve your quality of life
- Obtain interim payments to cover any costs before your claim even starts
Your own dedicated personal injury lawyer can arrange meetings at your convenience over the phone, at one of our locations or any other location – whether that’s your home, in hospital or somewhere else you prefer. We'll tell you what a personal injury claim involves in plain English – no complex jargon or legal terms. And we’ll be there to answer any questions you may have.

To learn more about how our personal injury lawyers can help you, contact us now. Call 0370 086 8686 or send us a message for a no-obligation consultation.
How can a personal injury affect you?

It all depends on the type and severity of your injury.

In some cases, you might be in an accident that wasn’t your fault and come away with a minor sprain or fracture. So, the recovery process is relatively short and the impact little more than a feeling of inconvenience or annoyance.

In other cases, however, the impact of a personal injury can be significant. And this can be felt in a number of ways, such as:

Physical

This is often the most visible impact of an injury or illness. A personal injury has the potential to restrict your mobility, movement or even independence. And it could require specialist care long into the future, which personal injury compensation can help to fund.

Shoosmiths helped Leysa Hardy to receive £1.9m compensation after a road traffic accident left her with serious physical injuries – find out more about Leysa’s story.

Emotional

Not all signs of a serious injury or illness can be seen on the outside. You may be able to make a personal injury claim for the emotional or psychological impact, which can be just as hard for you and/or a loved one to deal with. And it’s just as important to get the right support too.

Milly Evans suffers from cerebral palsy after delays during birth caused a serious brain injury. We helped Milly and her family secure £10.8m towards her future – read Milly’s story to learn more.

Financial

A minor injury could mean a few days off work. But more serious injuries could leave you unable to do your job for a few weeks or months. You might not even be able go back at all. You may also need care, treatments and adaptations to your home. It can have a huge financial impact on you and your family.

With the right medical and legal support, our team were able to help an experienced 51-year-old cyclist after a serious injury left him unable to go back to work – here is his story.

In all cases, no amount of personal injury compensation can change what’s happened. But it can help to relieve the impact on you and your family – along with the legal, practical and emotional support we can also offer.

We can help you

Call our specialists for a free initial discussion.

Meet our experts

Chris McKinney

Partner

Personal injury

Chris will come to your home or hospital. He specialises in serious personal injury and has won several multi-million pound claims for clients. Call Chris today.

Call 03700 86 3195 Call Chris

Sharine Burgess

Partner

Personal injury

Sharine is an award-winning lawyer in the personal injury department, acting on behalf of claimants and their families through a wide range of cases, so give her a call.

Call 03700 86 3423 Call Sharine

Why should you claim personal injury compensation?

Are you or a loved one coming to terms with a life-changing injury or illness? We appreciate just how much of a tough time this can be for you and your family. We also know the idea of making a claim could be the last thing on your mind.

If someone else is at fault for your injury or illness, feelings of distress and frustration might feel even worse. After all, it can be a split-second event with long-lasting consequences.

Physical, emotional or financial – no matter how that impact is felt, we believe that it’s important to explore if you can claim personal injury compensation. It can never turn back time. But it may help you cover the cost of treatment, rehabilitation, lost income and anything else still to come.

That means it gives you the strongest chance of making the fullest recovery possible. For all our clients, personal injury compensation can be a genuine catalyst to getting life back on track.
How common are personal injury claims in the UK?

You may be surprised to discover how common it is for someone to make a personal injury claim in the UK. And these people are just like you – coming to terms with a devastating injury or illness where someone else is to blame.

In the UK, the Compensation Recovery Unit (CRU) is a government agency that must be notified when a personal injury claim is successful. In 2019-20, the number of cases registered with CRU totalled nearly 830,000 – covering a broad range of injuries and incidents.
Do you have a personal injury claim?

A road traffic collision or a blow to the head from falling debris at work – accidents happen all the time. You can be given no warning and the incident can be over in the blink of an eye. But injuries or illnesses caused as a result can last a lifetime.

You (or a loved one) could be able to make a personal injury claim when someone else is at fault for your pain and suffering. Our specialist personal injury lawyers know exactly what’s needed to help you rebuild after a serious accident – from expert legal advice to ongoing medical care.

It’s also possible to make a personal injury claim on behalf of someone else if:

− You’re the parent/guardian of a child under the age of 18

− A loved one no longer has the ability to claim themselves

− A family member passes away as a result of their injuries

Not sure where you stand? Please get in touch. By talking to a member of our friendly team, we can let you know your options. Call 0370 086 8686 or send us a message to learn more today.
What do you need to prove?

In any personal injury claim, it must be proven that it’s more likely than not an injury or illness is the fault of someone else. With this in mind, there are four things to consider:

Duty – Did the other party involved in the accident owe you a legal duty of care?

Breach – Did the other party do (or not do) something that breached that duty of care?

Causation – Did the other party’s action (or inaction) cause the injury or illness?

Damages – Has your injury or illness had a physical, emotional or financial impact?
How does the personal injury claim process work?

Our aim is always to make the personal injury claim process easy and straightforward for you. After all, coming to terms with a life-changing injury or illness is stressful and challenging enough. A personal injury claim should only ever help to make life easier – not even harder.

We’re signed up to the Serious Injury Code. What this means is that we work with you and the insurer(s) to achieve the best possible outcome for you and your family.

If we believe that you have a personal injury claim, one of our personal injury lawyers will take up your case. They’ll be your point of contact at all times. They also get in touch with the other party involved, as well as collecting evidence to support your claim.

We’ll ask independent medical specialists to assess the impact of your injury – both in terms of the immediate care you need and what long-term considerations there are.

If the other party accepts blame at this stage, we’ll seek to secure an interim payment to cover any immediate costs. If not, we’ll start the court process. All this means in practice is that your claim now has a deadline to be settled. And you can be sure that we’ll be with you at every step.

Even after your personal injury claim process is over, that’s not the end of our involvement. Our team will still be here to give you the expert support you’ll need in the months ahead.

Not only that, but we’re part of a large and highly regarded UK law firm, helping people for more than 165 years. So, we can draw on additional in-house legal expertise if you’d benefit from it.
How many personal injury claims go to court?

We can’t make any promises – but we can tell you that most personal injury claims are settled without going to court. And that applies even if we do need to start court proceedings as part of the process.

If you’re making a personal injury claim on behalf of a loved one under the Mental Capacity Act 2005, it will be necessary to go to court. But your dedicated personal injury lawyer will take you through everything you need to know so that nothing comes as a surprise.
How much does it cost to make a claim?

When you first speak to us about your injury, your initial consultation with us is free of charge. It’s at this stage that we’ll learn more about the details of your medical negligence claim.

We’ll then be able to discuss with you what funding options are available to you and advise you on the most suitable funding option to meet your needs, which will include discussing a no win no fee arrangement. Our guide to funding your claim explains the different options available.
How much does a personal injury claim cost?

At Shoosmiths, we believe it’s essential that you know exactly where you stand. If you think that you or a loved one might have a personal injury claim, please do get in touch with us. Your initial consultation with us is free – giving you all the expert guidance you need. This includes details of how to fund your claim – and if we can take up your case on a No Win No Fee basis.

Ready to find out more? Call 0370 086 8686 or send us a message now.
How long does a personal injury claim take?

If you choose to make a claim with us, your personal injury lawyer will keep you right up to date every step of the way. What we can’t tell you for certain, however, is exactly how long your claim will take.

There are many factors that can affect the duration of a personal injury claim. If the other party doesn’t accept fault, for example, this can make the process longer. And some of the most complex cases also take time to make sure that all the facts are correct.

But rest assured we’ll do all we can to make the process as short as possible.
How much personal injury compensation could you receive?

Each person we help is unique – as is each claim we support. So, the amount of personal injury compensation you might receive will reflect you and your exact circumstances. And it’s worked out by your lawyer based on your experience and the evidence we gather.

A compensation award is made up of two strands: general damages and special damages.

General damages are awarded. to recognise your pain and suffering. Judicial College guidelines set out amounts to be paid, which are based on the part of the body affected, the severity of the injury and the duration of the injury.

Special damages, however, are much more personal to you. They reflect your circumstances and can include a claim for financial losses you have suffered and are likely to suffer in the future because of your injury. Such financial losses include loss of earnings and pension, cost of care, medical and treatment costs and adaptations to your property.

James Robshaw grew up with cerebral palsy after suffering brain damage at birth. His mother, Suzanne Adams, came to us for help. Denise Stephens took up the case and was successful in securing £14.6m for James’ family.

Watch James’ story by clicking on the video below:
How long do you have to start a personal injury claim?

In personal injury claims in England and Wales, you have three years from the date of your accident to initiate court proceedings. If an injury or illness isn’t apparent at the time, the three-year limit may start from when you first had knowledge that the injury was significant and related to the accident – ‘the date of knowledge’ – .

For some personal injury claims, however, this limit doesn’t apply. These are claims where:

− If you are a child (under the age of 18) when you suffer the injury, the 3-year time period for bringing your claim does not start until your 18th birthday. A claim can still be brought and concluded for a child under the age of 18 if it is pursued by a litigation friend.

− If the injured person does not have mental capacity, the time limit only starts when they regain that capacity. If the mental incapacity is permanent there is no time limit. Learn more about the importance of time limits for personal injury claims. Or, if you’re unsure about your own situation, call 0370 086 8686 or send us a message to see if we can still help.
How do you start a personal injury claim?

It all starts by calling 0370 086 8686 or sending us a message.

With 10 offices around the UK, our personal injury lawyers are here to help wherever you are in the country. As part of our free initial consultation, we draw on our substantial experience to let you know if you have a claim. And we’ll never force you to do something if you’re not happy.

Why not discover how Shoosmiths can help you today?