By Mark Ainsdale. Last Updated 3rd September 2024. Welcome to our London personal injury solicitors guide. On this web page, you will read a guide concerning London personal injury accident claims and why it is not always necessary to use London, personal injury solicitors to process a claim for you. Below, you should find all of the kinds of information and advice that you need to learn why a) you could be eligible to pursue a claim, b) who you could pursue for compensation, and c) how to select a good legal team to process your claim for you.
When you reach the end of this guide, if you have any questions that still need an answer, please speak to one of the Legal Expert claims team on 0800 073 8804. They will be ready to go over your claim and get you any answers you need.
Legal Expert’s Research Into Personal Injury Claims Against Councils In London
We’ve conducted significant research into the number of personal injury claims made against local councils in London. Below, you can discover what we found.
Barking and Dagenham Council
Research led by Legal Expert has found personal injury payouts have cost Barking and Dagenham Council £194,191 in the past year.
After responding to a Freedom of Information request, the local authority confirmed that 59 personal injury claims were made from April 2022 to April 2023.
Trip accidents were the leading causes of personal injury claims.
Amongst the main causes, included:
- Trip accidents – 46%
- Fall accidents – 24%
- Pothole accidents – 14%
- Slip accidents – 12%
- Accidents involving broken glass – 3%
- Infection or ill health – 2%
Barking and Dagenham Council has a duty of care to ensure that visitors and employees that use their premises, spaces or highways are reasonably safe.
If a council has breached their duty of care to you and caused an accident in which you were injured, you may be eligible to make a claim. Speak to our advisors at any time using our free 24/7 live chat function on your screen. You could be connected to our experienced personal injury solicitors.
An Overview Of The Personal Injury Claims Process
Suppose you have a valid personal injury case. In that case, a good team of London personal injury solicitors can advise you on the full range of facts that you must understand about pursuing a claim online, such as:
- Whether you have a valid reason to pursue a claim.
- Who you could potentially pursue for damages.
- The possible kinds of damages you might receive.
- How much compensation would be a sensible amount to try and claim.
- Whether there is any additional evidence that you could potentially provide that would support your claim.
Legal Expert can assist with all of the issues mentioned above. As a skilled and experienced firm, when you give us a call, we will ask you a series of questions designed to tell us all we need to learn about your claim, such as:
- When and where did the incident that caused your harm take place?
- Who do you feel was responsible for the accident that resulted in injuries?
- What harm did you suffer?
- Has your life been affected by your medical condition?
- Do your doctors expect you to make a full recovery in time?
- Did you have to miss work while you were recovering?
- Have you lost out financially at all?
These questions and others will help us learn about your claim. When we know enough, our personal injury solicitors for London will identify what your next move should be regarding how to claim.
How Do I Make A Personal Injury Claim?
Take a look at the above graph. It shows the number of people injured on each tube line in 2017. As you can see, several thousand people were injured in total. Suffering an accident on the tube is just one way you may be injured in London.
To make a personal injury claim, you must be eligible to do so. You could be eligible to pursue a claim if a third party is responsible for the accident that led to your injury through negligence or error. The injury could include the following;
- A physical injury or medical condition.
- An illness or disease.
- A psychological problem.
By the third party, we mean any separate entity that could be legally pursued for compensation because they owed you a duty of care and it was breached, such as:
- Local council
- Owner of a building
- A bus company.
- London Underground.
- Your landlord.
- Your employer.
- The local hospital.
- A dentist.
As long as they were at least partially liable for the harm you have suffered, then call Legal Expert who can assess your case and see if you are eligible to make a compensation claim due to a third party being liable.
Is My Injury Serious Enough To Make A Claim?
In general, as covered in the previous section, any time you are caused harm through an injury or illness by the negligent actions of a third party, you could have a valid reason for London personal injury solicitors to process a claim for you.
This is true even if you were partially to blame for the harm you have suffered. In this case, any third party involved would be pursued for damages at a reduced percentage of liability.
How Do I Find A Good Solicitor?
To answer the potential question, how do I find a good solicitor? Here are five tips that could assist you in finding a personal injury lawyer competent to process your claim.
- Check that any solicitor you consider could handle your claim under a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA) as this reduces the financial risk.
- Ask any solicitors you consider whether they have handled and won a similar case to your own in the last year.
- Check that any solicitor you are considering is part of a specialist personal injury firm rather than a firm of general solicitors.
- Ask any solicitor you consider whether they can arrange for you to have a free local medical examination.
- Find out if the solicitor you consider has any positive reviews published on review sites (more on this below).
Legal Expert can answer yes to each of these queries. If you would like to learn more about the service we offer, please speak to one of our claim advisors on the contact number near the end of this guide.
Compare Client Reviews Of A Solicitor
One of the most strategic methods of starting a search for personal injury firms that take on London personal injury cases is to check reviews of solicitors online. Without using reviews as the seed for a shortlist, you could face the task of calling potentially dozens of legal firms to vet them. If you can find some relevant and reliable online reviews, check facts such as the following:
- How old is the review?
- Does the review cover a claim that is similar to your own?
- Was the claim successful?
- Is the review positive or negative?
- Did the solicitor offer a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA)?
- What did the solicitor charge as their free?
- Did the reviewer recommend the legal team?
Comparing facts like these will assist you in creating a shortlist of solicitors who could be suitable to handle your claim for you. Alternatively, you can speak to a member of the claims team here at Legal Expert. They will go over your claim with you and know the best way to proceed with your claim. Use the contact number near the end of the page to do this.
Why Local Solicitors Might Not Be The Right Choice For Your Claim
When searching for good London personal injury solicitors, London residents need to know that they do not have to use a solicitor within the London area to pursue any claim they have. We always advise choosing experience and knowledge over the location. There may be a personal injury specialist specialising in your claim but is not based in London, but there is nothing to worry about as law firms such as Legal Expert can deal with clients all over the UK.
Therefore, using a local legal firm might not be the right option. With various communication avenues, law firms can start and finish cases simply using the phone and the internet. You are free to use any solicitor you wish, regardless of where they are based. For example, here at Legal Expert, we offer our service nationally. We can help anyone across the UK. We can also arrange for you to have a local medical examination from the following doctor in Central London:
Sam Al-Jafari
127 Harley Street
London
W1G 6AZ
If you live in Greater London, we may have local medical professionals who could help with this. Please speak to one of the Legal Expert claim team to find which is closest to you, and arrange an examination.
Common Personal Injury Claims Made In The UK
Personal injuries and illnesses can take on many different forms, and regardless of where you are in the UK, accidents and injuries could occur. Here are some examples of accidents and injuries that could happen to London residents or residents of anywhere;
- Slips, trips and falls.
- Road traffic accidents.
- Clinical/medical negligence.
- Work-related accidents and illnesses.
- Food-related illnesses and allergic reactions.
No matter how you have come to harm, if a third party was at least partially the cause through negligence, then you could have a valid reason to make a compensation claim. If you use the contact number near the end of this guide and explain to one of the Legal Expert claims team how you have been harmed, they will tell you whether you have a valid cause to pursue a claim. Here are some potential compensation payouts for a variety of injuries.
| Injury | Severity | Notes | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brain Damage | Very severe | The person might be able to follow some basic commands. However, they will need full-time care and show little meaningful response to their environment. | £282,010 to £403,990 |
| Neck Injury | Severe | A neck injury that is associated with incomplete paraplegia or results in permanent spastic quadriparesis. | In the region of £148,330 |
| Knee Injury | Severe (ii) | Constant pain and limited movement caused by a leg fracture that has extended into the knee joint. | £52,120 to £69,730 |
| Arm Injury | Less severe | The person will have suffered with significant disabilities. However a substantial recovery has taken place or is expected to. | £19,200 to £39,170 |
| Back Injury | Moderate (ii) | Frequently encountered back injuries, that disturb the ligaments and muscles and cause backache. | £12,510 to £27,760 |
| Shoulder Injury | Serious | A dislocated shoulder with damage to the lower part of the brachial plexus that causes shoulder and neck pain. | £12,770 to £19,200 |
| Elbow Injury | Moderate or minor | Elbow injuries such as lacerations, simple fractures or tennis elbow syndrome. The recovery rate will affect how much is awarded. | Up to £12,590 |
| Leg Injury | Less serious (iii) | Simple tibia or fibula fractures, or soft-tissue injuries, with minor ongoing symptoms. | Up to £11,840 |
| Whiplash Injuries With Psychological Injuries | One or more | Lasting for 18-24 months | £4,345 |
| Whiplash Injuries | One or more | Lasting for 18-24 months | £4,215 |
Industrial Disease Claims
Every employer in the UK is legally obligated, under multiple levels or legislation, to provide a safe and healthy place of work at all times to all staff. Suppose the employer fails in this legal requirement, resulting in an employee becoming ill. In that case, it may be possible for them to seek legal representation to make an accident at work claim or an industrial disease claim.
Furthermore, the time limit for making such a claim begins when the medical condition is first diagnosed, not when originally contracted. For example, if an ex-miner develops lung problems related to their previous employment long after they stopped working in the mine, their time limit for bringing a claim will start from the day they are diagnosed with an illness. Legal Expert could help with this type of claim; our claims team is experienced in dealing with workplace illness claims. Please speak to our personal injury solicitors covering London on the number below to start your claim today.
Medical Negligence Claims Against The NHS And Private Medical Companies
If you are harmed while receiving treatment in an NHS or private hospital and feel that this harm was caused due to a breach of duty through negligence, you may have grounds to pursue a medical negligence compensation case.
Medical negligence could take on different forms, including;
- Medical misdiagnosis
- Late diagnosis
- GP negligence
- Surgical errors
- Dental negligence
How to make a clinical/medical negligence claim
Work Accident Compensation Claims
Suppose your employer fails to comply with all of the Occupiers Liability Act’s safety requirements and the Health & Safety regulations related to the industry. In that case, they operate in, and you come to harm due to such negligence, it may be possible that you are eligible to pursue a work accident compensation claim.
Here at Legal Expert, we have a proven track record of helping people to claim compensation from their employer for a work-related accident. We could likely do the same for you. If you have a valid claim for an accident at work, we can pursue your case through a No Win No Fee agreement.
Accident At Work Statistics For London
The table below shows the number of workplace accidents that took place in Central London.
| Work Related Accidents in Westminster Local Authority | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 |
|---|---|---|---|
| General | 223 | 209 | 175 |
| Electrical | 12 | 8 | 8 |
| Machinery | 20 | 15 | 13 |
| Explosion | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fire | 6 | 4 | 5 |
| Substance exposure | 42 | 16 | 16 |
| Fall (from height) | 135 | 87 | 105 |
| Animal | 4 | 3 | 4 |
| Manual handling | 289 | 166 | 169 |
| Assault | 48 | 39 | 36 |
| Slip, trip or fall | 345 | 277 | 245 |
| Struck (by unknown) | 52 | 25 | 25 |
| Struck (by vehicle) | 8 | 9 | 6 |
| Struck (by object) | 144 | 109 | 95 |
| Crushed in collapse | 5 | 5 | 1 |
Slips, Trips, And Falls In London
Slips, trips and falls are some of the most common of all types of accidents that people could pursue damages for. These accidents could happen at any time and in any place. They could be caused by hazards such as:
- Dirty or wet floors.
- Obstructions left on a footpath or walkway.
- Damaged carpets, tiles, etc.
- Broken paving slabs and curbstones.
- Uneven floors or pavements.
Legal Expert could assist you in making a slip, trip and fall claim. A claims advisor will tell you how if you speak to one on the contact number near the final part of this guide. You may also find the guide at this link to be of use:
A guide to slip, trip and fall claims
The Serious Injury Claim Process
Serious injuries often attract the highest compensation payments of all. These injuries often leave the victim with a reduced quality of life long-term or even permanently. Our personal injury solicitors for London understand that when we act as lawyers for serious injury claims, we need to get the claimant the maximum level of compensation possible for their case so that their quality of life can be increased. If you would like to learn more about how we could assist you in making a serious injury claim, you can either speak to one of our claims team or check out the guide at this link;
How to make a claim for a serious injury
Road And Car Accident Claims London
Road incidents, unfortunately, are common occurrences. They can involve the driver of a vehicle, a passenger, or even a pedestrian. If you are injured in a road traffic accident that was even partially the fault of another driver, then call Legal Expert to see if you could claim damages after any injuries, with whiplash being one example. If you speak to one of the Legal Expert claims team on the contact number near the end of this page, they will be able to help you in regards to liability. You may also like to take a look over this guide:
A guide to claiming for a road traffic accident
London Road Traffic Accident Statistics
The table presented below shows road traffic accident statistics for different types of vehicles in Central London from the start of 2011 to the end of 2014.
| 2011/12 | 2012/13 | 2013 /14 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Car | 1 | 1 | 7 |
| Motorcycle | 7 | 6 | 9 |
| Cyclist | 11 | 14 | 17 |
| Pedestrian | 21 | 28 | 27 |
No Win No Fee Accident And Injury Claims
Legal Expert is a team of specialist personal injury lawyers that offers a comprehensive No Win No Fee claims service to all residents of the UK. This is a simple yet effective way for you to get the compensation you are eligible for in a way that offers a reduced risk from a financial viewpoint. To learn more about how this claims service works, please speak to one of our claim advisors on the contact number below. They will answer any questions you may have.
How Do Fees Work In These Cases?
When you use the Legal Expert claims service, which operates under a full No Win No Fee Agreement, there is absolutely no charge when we first start working on your claim. As we are processing your claim, even if this takes many months, we will never ask you to develop any ongoing legal fees. If we are unsuccessful and don’t win you any compensation, we zero our fee entirely, and you pay nothing.
If we win you a compensation settlement, though, we will take our pre-agreed percentage as a fee from the money we have received on your behalf. We will then forward the remaining money to you. If you would like to learn more about how this service works or are ready to start your claim today, use the number below to speak to a member of our claims team.
Liability
For any personal injury claims, a crucial element of the case succeeding is where liability lays. So, for a claim to win, you must prove the defendant’s liability (that being the person or organisation you’re suing). And to do that, you must prove they breached a duty of care that they owed you, thus causing the accident that left you injured. But to achieve this, you need to produce clear evidence that emphasises the defendant’s sole responsibility for your harm. For example, perhaps in a supermarket, a wet floor with no signage indicating a slippery surface. In that case, the defendant holds responsibility for failing to handle the problem on their property that represented a health hazard.
However, in some cases, liability doesn’t lie 100% with the defendant. Perhaps you have some level of responsibility. Going back to the floor spillage, it could be that you caused the spillage in the first place. If the defendant could prove as such, the claim loses some credibility in that scenario. In other situations, though, liability might be 50/50, with a two-car accident being one such example. If both drivers are at fault, the result is a split liability case that sees both motorists pay out equally. However, you’re highly unlikely to win maximum compensation if you hold some responsibility for the accident taking place. Hence the importance, when working with any London personal injury solicitors, of proving that liability rests 100% with the defendant. Please speak to us for more advice on this topic.
How To Begin Your Compensation Claim
If you are ready to begin your claim, then the process for having Legal Expert start working on it is very straightforward. To get the ball rolling, all that you need to do is use the number below to contact our claims team. When you do, they will talk you through our new claims process by asking you a series of questions to tell us all we need to learn about your claim. Our personal injury solicitors covering London will go over your claim with you. Once we know enough about your circumstances, you will be given some legal information completely free on your course of action.
Further Information And Resources
If you need some general personal injury claim advice, you can use the number below to speak to one of the Legal Expert claim advisors. They should be able to answer any questions that you have about your eligibility to claim and the process of making your claim. You may also find these links to be useful:
The Occupiers Liability Act 1984
Road traffic safety statistics for London
Contacting Legal Expert
Are you a London resident who has come to harm at the hands of a third party? Do you believe that you have a valid reason to claim compensation? Are you ready to move forward with your claim today? If so, then Legal Expert can help you right away. Speak to one of our claims team on 0800 073 8804, and they will explain how we can get started on your compensation claim right now for you.
Useful Links
Inner London Crown Court
Sessions House
Newington Causeway
London
SE1 6AZ
Tel: +44 20 7234 3100
You can find out more about the Inner London Crown Court On the government website.
Opening times: 8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.
The Royal London Hospital
Whitechapel Rd
Whitechapel
London
E1 1BB
Tel: +44 20 7377 7000
Web: www.bartshealth.nhs.uk/the-royal-london
Opening times: 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Metropolitan Police
Victoria Embankment
Westminster
London
SW1A 2JL
Tel: +44 20 7230 1212
Web: www.met.police.uk
Opening times: 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Edited By Melissa.
Thank you for reading our London personal injury solicitors guide.
