Author Archives: Patrick Mallon

About Patrick Mallon

Patrick Mallon (BA, PgDl) is a Grade A personal injury solicitor and head of our EL/PL department, which handles accidents at work and public liability claims, such as slips, trips and falls. He qualified in 2005 and has over 20 years of experience. Patrick is an expert No Win No Fee lawyer and well-known for his successful case, Billie Mae Smith v McDonalds. You can learn all about Patrick, his qualifications and his experience as a solicitor here. Get in touch today for free to see how Patrick and the team can help you.

Can I Sue My Employer For A Slip And Fall?

By Stephen Hudson. Last Updated 6th May 2025. “Can I sue my employer for a slip and fall?” If you’re asking this question, our guide can help. You could claim against your employer if they caused a slip and trip accident resulting in your injury.

Even a small safety hazard, such as a spillage on the floor, can cause a slip at work. This guide will explain how slips and trips at work can happen and we will look at the injuries a slipping accident can cause. Moreover, we will explain how to claim against your employer if their negligence caused your injuries.

To see if you can sue for a slip and fall at work, contact Legal Expert today. We can offer you free legal advice on claiming compensation for an accident. Moreover, we could connect you with a skilled personal injury lawyer to handle your claim. They can handle your claim on a No Win No Fee basis, which means that your lawyer takes on the financial risk, not you. So contact us today to begin your claim.

A blurry image of an injured worked lying on the ground

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Can I Sue My Employer For A Slip And Fall In The Workplace?

Employers owe their staff a duty of care to take reasonable steps to ensure their health and safety in the workplace. This is established by certain legislation including the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The exact tasks an employer should carry out to fulfil their duty of care will depend on the type of workplace they operate. Tasks could include carrying out regular safety inspections of work areas and fixing or cleaning safety hazards such as spillages as soon as possible once they are reported. If such measures are not carried properly, then this could ultimately lead to a slip and fall at work accident.

You may be asking ‘can I sue my employer for a slip and fall?’ It may be possible for you to do this if the following applies:

  • Your employer owed you a duty of care.
  • Your employer breached this duty, causing a fall or slip at work.
  • The slipping accident at work led to you becoming injured.

To learn more about whether you’re eligible to start a slip and fall at work claim, you can contact our advisors for free either online or by calling our team.

What Is The Time Limit To Sue My Employer For A Slip At Work?

Generally speaking, the time limit to sue your employer for a slip at work is 3 years from the accident date, as established by the Limitation Act 1980. There are, however, some exceptions to the standard time limit.

Exceptions to the time limit are:

  • Persons under 18 at the time of the accident have the 3-year limit paused until their 18th birthday.
  • In cases where the injured person does not have sufficient mental capacity to make a fall at work claim, the time limit will be halted indefinitely, unless they regain this capacity. Then the 3-year time limit will run from this date.

In order to give such persons ample opportunity to start a claim, a suitable adult can be appointed by the court to act as their litigation friend. Litigation friends are assigned decision-making powers over the claim, and coordinate with the injured person’s solicitor in order to act in their best interests. In the event a minor wins their claim, any compensation is held by the Court Funds Office (CFO) until they reach adulthood.

To ask our advisors, “Can I sue my employer for a slip and fall?” and to find out more about the relevant time limit to your particular circumstances, contact our team today using the details provided below.

How Can Workplace Slips And Falls Happen?

You may be wondering if you can sue your employer for a slip and fall at work. If you can show that the accident and injuries were due to your employer’s negligence, then you may be able to.

Here are some examples of how a slip and fall accident can happen in the workplace:

  • Passers-by can slip on a wet floor. Cleaners should put up signposts to warn passers-by about a wet floor.
  • Spillages on the floor, such as a spilt drink, can cause slipping accidents if not attended to.
  • A leak that isn’t fixed can cause a build-up of liquid on the floor. This, if not marked by a floor sign, could cause a slip and fall.

How Do Slip And Fall Claims Against Your Employer Work?

To claim against your employer for a slip and fall at work, you must provide evidence to support your claim. You could use your medical records to prove that you were injured. What’s more, you’d attend a medical assessment as part of the claims process. We discuss this in the section below.

You can also collect the following evidence to support your claim:

  • Photographs of the hazard that caused your injuries
  • Photographs of your injuries, if they are visible
  • A copy of the report, in your company’s incident logbook
  • Witness contact details so you can get statements at a later date
  • CCTV footage of your accident
  • Receipts or other financial documents that show any purchases you have made because of your accident

To sue your employer for a slip and fall, you’d need evidence. If you’re unsure about the evidence you have, why not contact our advisors to discuss it?

An injured construction worker lying on his back after an accident

Slip And Fall At Work Compensation Amounts In The UK

After addressing the question, ‘Can I sue my employer for a slip and fall?’, you must be wondering how much compensation you could claim. Your fall at work compensation may include the following heads:

  • General Damages: This is compensation for the injuries you suffered due to the fall or slip at work.
  • Special Damages: This is compensation for the financial losses you incurred because of your injuries

You may have to appear for an independent medical assessment to determine the extent of your fall at work injuries. This would serve to document your injuries in the form of a medical report. If you make your claim with us, we’ll try our best to ensure your convenience by arranging the medical appointment at your preferred date and location.

Apart from the medical report, your solicitor or the person responsible for valuing your claim could also refer to the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). This is a list of compensation figures for various kinds of injuries. You can refer to the table below for some of the figures from the JCG. However, you must note that these are only guidelines, and the first row isn’t from the JCG.

Category Of InjuryCategory Of SeverityGuideline Amount
Multiple Serious Injuries And Special DamagesSeriousUp to £500,000+
Brain DamageModerate (i)£183,190 to £267,340
Hip InjurySevere (ii)£75,550 to £95,680
Hand InjurySerious£35,390 to £75,550
Hand InjurySevere finger fracturesUp to £44,840
Arm InjuryInjuries resulting in permanent and substantial disablement£47,810 to £73,050
Leg InjurySevere (iii) Serious£47,840 to £66,920
Elbow InjuryLess severe injuries£19,100 to £39,070
Ankle InjuryModerate£16,770 to £32,450
Foot InjuryModerate £16,770 to £30,500

As explained above, you may be able to claim special damages or compensation for financial losses due to your injuries. You could claim for the following:

  • Medical costs such as prescriptions, physiotherapy and travelling to appointments.
  • Loss of earnings 
  • Professional care or the care undertaken by a loved one
  • Home or vehicle adaptations due to resulting disability
  • Disability equipment

To prove the above, you could use receipts, payslips and bank statements.

If you need help in determining fall at work compensation in your case, use our compensation calculator or speak to a member of our team.

Talk To A Solicitor About Your Slip And Fall Claim

If you have an eligible fall at work claim, our team could connect you with one of our specialist accident at work solicitors. Our solicitors can do many things to make the claims process as easy as possible for you. For example, they can:

  • Gather your evidence.
  • Correspond with your employer on your behalf.
  • Explain legal jargon.
  • Update you regularly through the trip and slip at work claims process.
  • Ensure the compensation is accurate and fair.
  • Ensure the claims limitation period is adhered to.

What’s more, all of our solicitors work with their clients on a No Win No Fee basis, specifically through a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). What this means is that you don’t pay anything for their work:

  • Upfront.
  • During the whole claims process.
  • If the claim fails.

As such, if your fall at work claim is successful, your solicitor will keep a small percentage of your compensation for their work. This small percentage is known as the success fee, and is legally capped to ensure that the client always keeps the majority of the compensation.

So, if you’ve had a fall at work and are wondering “Can I sue my employer for a slip and fall?”, please contact us today to find out your claim eligibility. You could potentially be connected with one of our No Win No Fee solicitors to work with you on your claim. You can talk to us for free by:

  • Calling us on 0800 073 8804 to see if you can begin your claim
  • Using our contact us via our website
  • Or using the Live Support widget in the corner of your page to ask an advisor a question right now.

A client asking their solicitor "can I sue my employer for a slip and fall?" in an office

 

Related Employee Accident Claims

You may find these guides helpful if you wish to claim compensation for an accident:

We hope the question, “Can I sue my employer for a slip and fall?” has been answered. However, if you need anything more, why not reach out to our advisors?

Finding The Best Medical Negligence Solicitors Near Me

By Lewis Cobain. Last Updated 29th April 2025. If you believe you have grounds to make a clinical negligence claim, you may wonder “should I use medical negligence solicitors near me?”. This guide will address this question and others.

There’s no requirement for you to use a local solicitor in this kind of claim. You aren’t obliged to use a solicitor at all, but it’s a good idea to do so because they have experience in this complex area of law.

If you’ve been harmed by medical negligence, then you might be entitled to claim compensation. Medical negligence describes a situation in which a medical professional breaches the duty of care that they owe you, causing you harm.

We may not answer every one of the questions you have about your potential claim in this guide. Because of this, we have made our team of expert claim advisors available to answer your questions. You can contact them by:

A solicitor writing an important document

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Medical Negligence Solicitors Near Me – Do I Need To Stay Local?

You may be wondering, ‘do I need to use medical negligence solicitors near me?’ Firstly, you aren’t limited to only using local solicitors. Whilst in the past it may have been beneficial due to them being in close proximity to you, thanks to advances in technology, you can work with solicitors anywhere in the country. You can now speak to solicitors via online methods or by giving them a call.

Therefore, when looking for a solicitor to represent your claim, instead of considering , ‘are the best negligence solicitors near me?’solicitors who deal with medical negligence claims. Sometimes solicitors more suited to your case might be based elsewhere. As such, it may benefit you more picking your solicitor based on their experience rather than location.

Our solicitors, for example, can help you wherever you are based in the UK. They have experience in handling medical negligence claims. They’ll also be able to cover all bases of your claim.. You can check our reviews to see why clients choose to work with us.

Alternatively, for more information about the services our solicitors can offer, get in touch using the number above.

What Is The Time Limit For A Medical Negligence Claim?

The time limit for a medical negligence claim is generally 3 years as per the Limitation Act 1980. This can be counted either from the date of the medical negligence or the date where you would have been first reasonably expected to connect the harm caused with the care you received. This is called the date of knowledge.

Knowing the right time limit for your particular circumstances is very important. Whether you use medical negligence solicitors ‘near me’ or make use of services from further afield, adhering to your limitation period is key. There are circumstances when the standard 3-year limit is disapplied, these are:

  • Children: a patient who is under 18 when they receive sub-standard medical care has the time limit counted from their 18th birthday, therefore giving them until they turn 21 to start their claim.
  • Persons without mental capacity: if the patient does not have the mental capacity to claim for themselves are not subject to any limitation period. It would only reinstate if they recovered this capacity and would run from this date.

A suitable adult can be appointed as a litigation friend in these scenarios. The litigation friend has the authority to make decisions about the case and get any claim underway a lot sooner.

To learn more about what makes the best solicitors for medical negligence, find out how our expert legal team can help you, or ask any questions you have about the time limits, use the contact information given below.

How Do I Prove A Medical Negligence Claim?

In order to make a claim for compensation following a breach of duty of care, it’s important that you prove your claim.

There are various pieces of evidence that you can use in support of your claim. These include:

  • Photographs of your injuries. If the medical negligence caused visible injuries, then you may want to take photographs of these
  • A symptoms diary. You could take a record of how your symptoms progress and the way in which they affect you
  • Witness details. In some cases, another person might have seen the negligence occur. If this is the case, they could provide you with their contact details so that someone can take a statement at a later date.

You might also need to attend a medical assessment as part of your claim. Even if you don’t look for a solicitor by searching “medical negligence solicitors near me”, this could still be arranged in your local area to reduce travel time.

The results of this medical examination, in the form of a report, can be submitted in support of your claim. For more information on the evidence you can collect in support of your claim, speak with an advisor today.

What Is Clinical Negligence?

When you seek medical attention, you are entitled to a minimum standard of care. This applies whether you’re seeking medical attention from the NHS, or from a private healthcare facility. It also applies no matter what area of medicine you’re seeking care from; you’re owed a duty of care when visiting the dentist as well as when going to A&E or a walk-in centre for immediate medical attention.

If this minimum standard of care is not met, then this is an example of negligence. If you’ve been harmed unnecessarily as a result of negligence, then you may be able to claim.

An important consideration to bear in mind is that not every instance of harm caused in the course of medical treatment will be grounds for a claim. This is because, sometimes, a doctor or other medical professional must cause you harm in order to treat your condition.

An example of this is a dentist extracting a tooth. This will be painful and cause you some suffering. However, as long as it’s necessary in the course of your treatment, you would not be able to claim because it fits within the minimum standard of care.

Furthermore, there may be instances in which a healthcare provider was negligent but this did not have an impact on your health. For example, you may have been prescribed the wrong medication because of a breach of duty of care, but this does not affect your wellbeing. If this is the case, you would not be able to claim.

For more information on the duty of care that medical professionals owe their patients, speak with an advisor today. They could help you avoid searching “medical negligence solicitors near me” in order to secure legal representation for your claim.

What Could Lead To Medical Negligence?

Any solicitor, regardless of location, should be able to help you to claim for harm caused by clinical negligence. Below, we have given some examples of scenarios that could be construed as negligence and might result in you suffering harm.

  • GP negligence – You may visit your GP with symptoms of an illness, but they fail to listen to your concerns and misdiagnose you as a result. If this causes your condition to worsen more than it would have if the care had been appropriate, you may be able to claim.
  • Pharmacy negligence – If you are prescribed or handed the wrong medication by a doctor or pharmacist as the result of negligence, then you could claim provided this has a negative impact on your health.
  • Hospital negligence – When you’re in a hospital, there could be a range of different medical professionals who have a hand in treating you. This could include nurses, surgeons and anaesthetists. If negligence on the part of any of them led to you experiencing unnecessary harm, then you could claim. 

These are just a handful of examples of where medical negligence can happen. If you want to find out if your claim is valid based on your own circumstances, please call and talk to an expert claim advisor today. You may find this more useful than simply searching “medical negligence solicitors near me” to find legal representation for your claim.

What Are Examples Of Medical Negligence?

As we addressed in the previous section, medical negligence can happen in all areas of medicine. However, there are also many different forms that medical negligence can take.

How Can I Be Harmed By Medical Negligence?

Below, we’ve included some examples of circumstances that could be caused by a breach of duty of care:

  • Allergic reactions – You might sustain an allergic reaction if you’re given a drug that you’re allergic to, or a dressing is applied to you that causes you to have a reaction. If your allergy was known but this happened despite this, then you could be entitled to claim.
  • Surgeon negligence – You may be harmed if, for example, a foreign object was left in the body after surgery and you needed to undergo another operation in order to have it removed. You could also claim if negligence relating to diagnosis led to you undergoing unnecessary surgery.
  • Misdiagnosis – Not all cases of misdiagnosis are caused by medical negligence. For example, in some cases, you might have symptoms that are not typical for the condition you have, meaning that even when the right level of care is administered, your doctor cannot come to a correct diagnosis. However, a misdiagnosis of cancer could lead to a more intense course of treatment or even death; if it was caused by negligence, you could claim.
  • Hospital infections – These can happen even when all healthcare providers are adhering to the duty of care, and exposure to bacteria that causes infections cannot always be reasonably avoided. However, if a surgeon failed to clean their tools in between operations, and an infection was passed between patients this way, then you could potentially claim.

Our team of lawyers can potentially help you to claim for any harm you suffered due to clinical negligence, provided it is based on a provable incident that is deemed as negligence. Instead of looking for “medical negligence solicitors near me” online, why not get in touch with our team of advisors today?

What Level Of Compensation Could I Claim For?

It’s difficult to give an average settlement for medical negligence. This is because compensation is valued based on your individual circumstances.

The Judicial College produces guideline compensation brackets that legal professionals use to value claims. We based this table on these guidelines. You may also be able to use our compensation calculator to roughly estimate your claim.

Compensation Table

Please be advised that the top entry is not a JCG figure and that this information is intended as guidance only.

Type of HarmSeverityGuideline Bracket
Multiple forms of severe harm with special damagesSevereUp to £250,000+
Reproductive system (female) Infertility by disease or injury£140,210 to £207,260
Bowels Total loss of natural functionUp to
£183,190


Lung disease Serious Disability (a)£122,850 to £165,860
Lung Cancer (b)£85,460 to £118,790
Digestive system - Non-traumatic InjurySevere Toxicosis (b)(i)£46,900 to £64,070
Serious But Short Lived (b)(ii)£11,640 to £23,430
Significant Discomfort (b)(iii)£4,820 to £11,640
Spleen Loss of Spleen (a)£25,380 to £32,090
Minimal Risk of Infection (b)£5,310 to £10,550

This table relates to the compensation that you could receive for the pain and suffering that your injuries have caused you. Read on for more information on what kinds of damages compensation consists of.

General Damages And Special Damages For Clinical Negligence Claims

When you claim compensation for harm caused by medical negligence, you may be entitled to two different heads of claim. These are general and special damages.

General damages are paid to you to compensate you for the pain and suffering that your injuries have caused you. This is the part of your claim that is set out in the table in the previous section.

In order to value this head of your claim, you might be invited to attend an independent medical assessment. Here, your injuries will be assessed and a report will be produced. This report can be referred to when your claim is valued.

Special damages cover any financial losses you have incurred. You’ll need to provide evidence to support your claim for special damages. Some examples of reasons why you may pursue special damages are given below.

  • Lost salary or wages. If you had to be away from your job while you recovered, and you did not get paid in full for this time, then the loss of earnings could be included in your claim.
  • Private medical charges. You may have had to pay for private medical care yourself because the treatment you needed was not available on the NHS.
  • Lowered income in the future if your medical condition will reduce your ability to work or means you cannot return to work at all.
  • The cost of care if you had to hire a care professional or nurse to help you at home.

You can find out what types of damages you may be able to claim if you call and speak to a claims advisor. Once you have explained your circumstances they can help you further without you needing to search “medical negligence solicitors near me”.

Can I Benefit From No Win No Fee Medical Negligence Claims?

If you decide to seek legal representation by searching “medical negligence solicitors near me”, then you might come across lawyers who expect you to pay for their services in the traditional way. This means that you could be expected to pay large upfront fees to secure their services, or to pay them their hourly rate as they work on your claim.

If you work with one of our solicitors, they could offer you a No Win No Fee agreement. This kind of agreement means that you won’t be expected to pay anything upfront or as the claim progresses. Furthermore, there is nothing to pay your lawyer at all in the event that your claim fails.

In fact, with a No Win No Fee agreement in place, the only time your lawyer will expect to be paid is if they secure your compensation. In this event, they will deduct a “success fee” from your compensation. This is legally capped to ensure that you always get the majority of the compensation awarded to you.

Call our advisors for more information about making a claim.

Could Legal Expert Provide The Best Medical Negligence Solicitors Near Me?

As we have already covered, the location of your solicitor doesn’t matter. However, we do operate solicitors all over the country. As long as your solicitor has experience in these kinds of claims, and is willing to work with you remotely, you can go through the whole claims process without the need to meet them in person.

Our expert lawyers have over three decades of experience in helping those who have been harmed as a result of negligence to get the compensation they are eligible for. They can handle your case with sensitivity and will work hard to get you the compensation you deserve.

Call our advisors for more information on how to claim. If you have a valid claim, they could put you in touch with one of our medical negligence lawyers.

Speak To Legal Expert About Your Claim

Our team of advisors can arrange for an expert clinical negligence lawyer to start working on your claim right away. To get the process started, use the contact details below to get in touch with our team:

More Resources On How To Find Medical Negligence Solicitors Near Me

Here are some reference links to useful websites.

Clinical Negligence In Mental Health

Taking Legal Action For Clinical Negligence

NHS Resolution Annual Statistics

And here are a few links to other claims guides that might be of use.

Care Home Negligence Claims

How To Make A Misdiagnosis Claim

We hope that this guide has helped to answer the question, “do I need to use medical negligence solicitors near me?”. However, if you’d like more information, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Written by Wheeler

Edited by Stocks

How Did The Highway Code Change in 2022 And How Do These Changes Affect RTA Claims?

This guide answers the question, ‘How did The Highway Code change on 29th January 2022?’ We also consider what this means for road traffic accident claims.

Highway Code

How did The Highway Code change in 2022?

All drivers have a responsibility to use the roads with standard care and skill. Therefore, you may be owed compensation if you have been injured in a road traffic accident that was not your fault. To see if you can begin your road traffic accident claim, please contact Legal Expert today. We could connect you with a knowledgeable personal injury lawyer to handle your claim.

Our advisors are available 24/7 and you’ll be under no obligation to proceed with the services of our solicitors. Why not call us on 0800 073 8804? Alternatively, use our online claims form to reach us.

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  1. How Did The Highway Code Change?
  2. What Are The New Highway Code Rules?
  3. Which Changes Are Law And Which Are Guidance?
  4. How Will The Highway Code Change Road Traffic Accident Claims?
  5. How Is Road Accident Compensation Calculated?
  6. Find Out If The Highway Code Will Change Your Claim

How Did The Highway Code Change?

The Highway Code is a set of rules for road users. Moreover, The Highway Code also provides information and advice about using the roads safely.

Road users include the following:

  • Car drivers
  • Van drivers
  • Pedestrians
  • Horse riders
  • Motorcycle riders
  • Bike riders
  • Cyclists
  • Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) drivers
  • Anyone else who uses the road

The Highway Code change occurred in January 2022. The main purpose of the updates is to provide better protection to road users who would be more vulnerable to injury if an accident occurred. Moreover, the new Highway Code rules expound a risk-based hierarchy, which means that vehicles that can do the most harm have the greatest responsibility to protect others on the road.

What Are The New Highway Code Rules?

We will now look at the changes that have been made to the Highway Code in more depth. And we will explain how these changes may affect you.

A New Hierarchy Of Road Users

The first Highway Code change establishes a new hierarchy of road users. Therefore, vehicles that are more dangerous to other road users have the greatest responsibility for the danger they pose to more vulnerable road users. For example, a car driver would have a stronger responsibility to avoid collision with a pedestrian.

Of course, all drivers still have a responsibility to protect other road users under the Road Traffic Act 1988. All road users (including pedestrians) have a duty to protect others’ safety on the roads.

Rules For Cyclists, Horse Riders, Motorcyclists And Drivers

Under the new rules for The Highway Code, cyclists, motorcyclists and drivers give pedestrians the right of way in certain situations. The Highway Code change prioritises pedestrians when they are waiting to cross the road at a junction or when already crossing the road.

Moreover, pedestrians and cyclists have the right of way when crossing a parallel crossing. Riders and horse-drawn vehicles should also give way in the above scenarios. These measures are to avoid pedestrian accidents.

When travelling on a shared use cycle track, cyclists should give way to pedestrians.

Rules For Motorcyclists And Drivers

Under the new rules for The Highway Code, cyclists have priority in certain situations. Therefore, drivers and motorcyclists should give way to cyclists in the following situations:

  • Do not cut across cyclists when turning out of a junction.
  • Do not cut across cyclists when changing lanes or changing direction.
  • When navigating a junction or roundabout in slow-moving traffic, drivers and motorcyclists should wait for a safe gap amongst the cyclists.
  • If a cyclist is travelling straight ahead, don’t turn at a junction if it would cause them to stop or swerve.

These measures are to reduce the number of cycling accidents.

Which Changes Are Law And Which Are Guidance?

Some of The Highway Code changes are legal requirements. If you fail to comply with the legal requirements, you commit an offence. On the other hand, some of The Highway Code’s recommendations promote road safety but aren’t set out under law.

How we determine whether something is a legal requirement or a recommendation is how the statement is worded.

  • It is a legal requirement if the rule states that you “must” or “must not” do something.
  • If the rule states that you “should”/”should not” do something, it is a recommendation.

Under what circumstances can you claim compensation for a road traffic accident? If another road user’s negligence caused your accident and injuries, you could claim compensation. Moreover, you could make a split liability claim if the accident was partially your fault. If the claim was successful, you would still receive injury compensation. However, the amount would be adjusted according to how liable you were.

How Will The Highway Code Change Road Traffic Accident Claims?

The new Highway Code changes may affect how traffic accident claims are made. For example, Rule H1 states a hierarchy of road users based on their capacity to harm others. Those that could inflict the most harm have more responsibility to ensure they don’t harm more vulnerable road users.

Determining who is at fault for injuries caused by a car accident can be complicated. So, please feel free to call Legal Expert, and we can help you work out who could be responsible for a road traffic accident.

Changes To Low Value And Whiplash Claims

The Government introduced the Whiplash Reform Programme in 2021. One of the purposes of the programme was to reduce the number of false whiplash claims made. Under the Programme, you would only be able to claim through the new government portal if your injuries are valued below £5,000. What’s more, any financial losses you suffer due to the injuries should be valued below £10,000.

You would use the government’s official injury claims portal. And the amount you could receive would be determined by a fixed tariff. If you don’t know how much your claim is worth, don’t worry. You can call Legal Expert, and an advisor can value your claim and advise you on what action you should take next.

How Is Road Accident Compensation Calculated?

If your road traffic accident claim isn’t eligible to go through the Whiplash Injury claims portal, you could make a personal injury claim. What’s more, you can use the services of a solicitor to manage your claim. Your solicitor would value what general damages you can claim, based on your medical report and guidelines from the Judicial College. These guidelines are used by solicitors to value injuries.

The compensation table below contains figures from the Judicial College Guidelines. You can use it to check the potential value of your injuries. Alternatively, why not use our compensation calculator?

Please note, you may receive a different amount of compensation to what it says in our table. So, please feel free to contact us for a personalised compensation quote.

Edit
Type Of Injury Degree Of Injury Payment Notes About This Injury
Facial Injury Nose or nasal complex fractures (c) (i) £9,990 to £21,700 Multiple fractures or those which are serious and which need several operations to treat. They could cause permanent injury to the airway or facial deformity.
Facial Injury Nose or nasal complex fractures (c) (ii) £3,710 to £4,790 A displaced facial fracture where (following surgery) the person can make a full recovery.
Chest Injury (c) £29,380 to £51,460 Continuing disability which is caused by injury to the chest and the lung(s).
Chest Injury (d) A relatively simple injury £11,820 to £16,860 There will not be any long-term significant effects on lung function.
Brain Damage Moderate (i) £140,870 to £205,580 The person has sustained injuries such as a change to their personality, effects on their vision and could suffer the risk of epilepsy in the future. They are likely to be unable to work.
Brain Damage Moderate (ii) £85,150 to £140,870 The person will be unable to work, suffer an modest intellectual deficit and may develop epilepsy in the future.
Mental Anguish Mental Anguish £4,380 Where the person suffers the fear of death or that they will not live as long as they otherwise would have.
Back Injury Moderate (i) £85,470 to £151,070 Severe injuries such as damage to the nerve roots.
Pelvic / Hip Injury Severe (i) £73,580 to £122,860 There could be a dislocation at the lower back or extensive fractures and other injuries.
Pelvic / Hip Injury Moderate (i) £24,950 to £36,770 Moderate but significant injuries to the hips or pelvis. The injury is not major but may be permanent.

General damages are compensation for the pain, suffering and loss of amenity caused by your injuries. In addition, you may be eligible to receive special damages. Special damages are compensation for the financial losses associated with your injuries. Below are some examples of special damages you could claim:

  • Travel expenses
  • Medical expenses
  • Care expenses
  • Loss of income
  • Home adaptation and mobility equipment expenses

Find Out If The Highway Code Will Change Your Claim

We hope that this guide to The Highway Code change has been helpful. If you’re able to claim compensation for an accident and injury that wasn’t your fault, we could help. We could connect you with a skilled solicitor to handle your claim.

Our talented solicitors have sound experience working with people who have been injured in a car accident. What’s more, if they accept your claim, they’d do so as a No Win No Fee claim.

Under No Win No Fee, you don’t have to:

  • Pay an upfront or ongoing solicitor’s fee
  • Pay the solicitor’s fee if the claim loses

If the claim wins, you’d pay a success fee to the solicitor, which is capped by law.

To claim compensation for a road traffic accident, please get in touch with us using the details below:

  • Call Legal Expert on 0800 073 8804
  • Use our online claims form to reach us
  • Or you can ask us a question using the Live Support widget on the bottom right-hand side of your screen.

Learn More

Please review these resources to learn more about claiming compensation for a road traffic accident.

£2 million Compensation For Serious Road Accident

LV Motorcycle Insurance Compensation Claims Guide

How Much Compensation Can I Claim For A Death By Careless Driving?

The Highway Code

A government guide to legal obligations for riders and drivers

Reported road casualties in Great Britain

If you’d like to know anything more about claiming and how The Highway Code change might affect this, why not reach out?

Written by Chelache

Edited by Victorine

Do I Need To Find The Best Personal Injury Solicitors Near Me?

Last Updated 18th March 2025. This guide will answer the question: do I need to use personal injury solicitors near me? The short answer is no. A reputable national firm like Legal Expert may be the best option for you. This guide will explain how.

We will start by answering your question directly – do I need to use injury lawyers near me? Once we do so, we will address other common queries, such as what is involved in a personal injury claim, what sort of accidents could cause one, and how much compensation you could seek.

You may have heard the term “No Win No Fee” before. We will explain what this means for you and whether Legal Expert can offer their services on this basis. There are several benefits to working with our experienced and proven solicitors, and we shall provide them here for your consideration.

You may have questions during or by the end of this guide. We have made our claims line available 24 hours a day and 7 days a week to help. You can contact our advisors anytime to get the answers you need via the details below. All initial consultations are completely free and with absolutely no obligation.

A personal injury solicitor explaining a conditional fee agreement to clients.

Select a Section:

Must I Find The Best Personal Injury Solicitors Near Me?

No. You don’t have to do this at all. In days gone by, finding ‘personal injury solicitors near mewas all you could do. But this is no longer the case.

Modern technology means important correspondence can be attached to emails or other messaging services. Meetings can be held over the phone or via video conferencing. And your solicitor can maintain constant communication with you regarding the progress of your claim via whatever means are most convenient for you.

While staying local may have benefits, such as being able to attend in person meetings and having the security of a strong local reputation, the most important thing is finding a solicitor with the right knowledge, experience and standards of professionalism to maximise your chances of getting compensation.

At Legal Expert, we can help clients no matter where they are based. So, to find out how our dedicated personal injury solicitors could help you claim compensation, or for a no cost zero obligation eligibility assessment, get in touch with us today using the contact information given above.

How Do I Prove A Claim?

Can personal injury solicitors near me help me to prove my claim? Any solicitor should be able to offer advice on how to do this. In order for you to be able to make a claim, you need to prove that a third party who owed you a duty of care was at fault in some way. For example, they injured you through negligence.

In some cases, such as a clinical negligence claim, this will mean proving that a third-party had a duty of care to not cause you unnecessary harm, but a breach of duty of care occurred, harming you. In all cases, a but for test can be used to work out whether a claim is potentially valid or not. Put simply, had the incident never happened, you would not have been harmed.

Proving liability is a major step in preparing for a claim. If you would like to have your claim’s validity evaluated, please call and speak to one of our expert advisors. They can help you once they know a little about your circumstances.

Evidence You Could Submit To Support Your Claim

Depending on the circumstances of your claim, there may be specific types of evidence you can submit to support it. Can the best personal injury lawyers near me help me to correlate evidence? Any good lawyer should be able to advise you on this. Below are some examples of evidence you could submit.

  • If appropriate, photographs or video of the cause and scene of your accident, or your injuries. CCTV footage can also be useful here.
  • The results of a medical examination carried out by a doctor, proving the extent of your injuries.
  • Documented proof of financial losses. Such as bills, receipts, travel tickets, invoices, etc.
  • Witness details in case a statement is needed later on.

Is There A Claims Time Limit?

You must begin your claim within the applicable time limit. You have as long as you need to process your claim, as long as it is begun within the claims deadline.

The Limitation Act 1980 sets out a general claims time limit of three years from the date of the accident. Or the date of knowledge. With the date of knowledge being the date you first became aware of the harm you have suffered or the date you connect the harm with the negligence.

There are exceptions to the time limitation. They are for those who lack the mental capacity to claim for themselves and those under the age of 18.

What Could Cause An Accident To Happen?

In order to be able to make a valid personal injury claim with or without a solicitor, you need to prove that you were owed a duty of care. This duty will need to have been breached and as a consequence, you will have suffered harm that could have been avoided.

There are different ways that accidents can happen which mean a person could potentially make a personal injury claim. You may be looking for;

  • Car accident solicitors near me because you were injured in a car accident caused by another road user.
  • Road traffic accident solicitors near me, because you were hit while crossing the road, or
  • You may be searching for criminal injury solicitors near me to help you make a claim through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA).
  • Accident at work solicitors near me, may be another type of search you have tried because you want to make an accident at work claim.

What is important to remember is that if you want a personal injury solicitor to represent your case their location is not a priority. What is vital is that they are specialists in the area of your case. Call our advisors and we can connect you today with a specialist solicitor who offers No Win No Fee terms.

Which Accidents Could Lead To A Claim?

Personal injury solicitors near me may be a search term you have used because you have been in an accident. To be able to pursue a personal injury claim the accident you were involved in will need to have been the fault of a third party who owed you a duty of care. This accident will need to have caused an injury.

Types of injuries and accidents you could potentially claim for;

  • Broken/fractured bones caused by a road traffic accident.
  • Allergic reactions caused by lax health and safety compliance.
  • Cuts, lacerations and puncture wounds caused by work-related accidents.
  • Sprains and strains caused by slip, trip or fall accidents.
  • Whiplash caused by vehicular accidents.
  • Burns or scalds caused by an accident in a public place.

These, of course, are just a handful of examples. Call our claims team for more advice on whether you have a valid claim or not.

Can I Still Make A Claim If I Was Partially At Fault For My Accident?

Yes, it is possible to make a claim for an accident that you contributed to, but it can affect how much you are awarded in compensation.  If you’ve been searching online for “personal injury solicitors near me” after your accident, you might have already come across the legal term “split liability.”

Split liability agreements involve one or more parties accepting shared responsibility for an accident. They often occur in road traffic accident claims, but they can apply to any type of personal injury claim. For instance, a speeding motorcyclist and a car driver on their phone might both be at fault if they collide whilst merging in traffic

Generally, how much compensation someone receives will depend on their share of the blame for an accident. To put that in perspective, you could see the following scenarios in a split liability claim:

  • 25% of the compensation if you were found to be 75% at fault 
  • 50% of the compensation if there is equal blame for an accident
  • 75% of the compensation if you were 25% at fault

Do you have more questions about the process of making a personal injury claim and how split liability can affect how compensation is calculated? If so, please reach out today to speak with one of our friendly advisors who can help you in your search for the “best personal injury lawyer near me.”

How Much Compensation Could I Claim?

Can personal injury solicitors near me tell me how much, on average, I might get in compensation? No solicitor can give you an average figure for the compensation you might get. This is because each claim is unique. Can good personal injury lawyers near me provide any indication of the level of damages I might get? Your solicitor would need to evaluate your claim for you, before they can estimate the level of compensation you might win.

We can help with this as well. Below, we have provided a compensation table showing example compensation ranges for different injuries. The Judicial College produces guidelines used by the legal system to value injuries. We based this table on these guidelines. You may also like to try using our compensation calculator to get a rough idea of how much personal injury compensation you could receive.

Please note that the figure in the top row was not taken from these guidelines. Also note that this table is only provided for illustrative purposes and does not represent the individual circumstances of your claim.

InjurySeverityGuideline Payment
Multiple Injuries with Additional Special DamagesVery SeriousUp to £500,000+
Brain DamageModerate (ii)£110,720 to £183,190
Arm InjuriesSevere£117,360 to £159,770
Pelvis and HipsSevere (i)£95,680 to £159,770
BowelsSevere Abdominal Injury (d)£54,420 to £85,100
Leg InjuriesSevere (iv) Moderate£33,880 to £47,840
Neck InjuriesModerate (i)£30,500 to £46,970
Elbow InjuriesLess Severe Injuries£19,100 to £39,070
ToeSevere Toe Injuries£16,770 to £25,710
BackMinor (i)£9,630 to £15,260

Which Elements Comprise General Damages And Special Damages?

Is it possible for personal injury solicitors near me to help me decide what types of damages to claim for? Regardless of where your solicitor is located, they will be able to assist with this once they have evaluated your claim. You will likely claim for both general and special damages. This holds true whether you are awarded a settlement in court, or offered one out of court. The sections below cover these two main categories of damages in more detail.

What Are General Damages?

General damages are related to mental and physical harm you went through, or continue to face. Can personal injury claim lawyers near me help me to claim general damages? Your lawyer will help you to claim for any appropriate damages related to your medical condition. Below, we have given some examples.

  • For any permanent impairment or long term disability you face.
  • To make up for the pain, suffering and trauma your primary symptoms put you through.
  • To cover additional stress, pain and suffering caused by traumatic therapy or invasive treatment.
  • For psychological injury caused by stress and trauma. For example, anxiety, new phobias, depression or post-traumatic stress disorder.

What Are Special Damages?

Special damages all relate to some form of monetary loss you already incurred, or will face in the future. Can the best personal injury solicitors near me help me to claim for money I lost because of my injuries? As long as you can provide documented evidence of the loss, you may be able to recoup it as part of your settlement. Below, are some examples of reasons why you may wish to try and claim special damages.

  • Loss of earnings. For example, if your injuries will leave you with a disability that will impact your ability to work.
  • Lost income, if you had to take time away from work to recover, and were not paid in full.
  • Ad-hoc expenses that you incurred dealing with your injuries, or with the claim itself.
  • Care costs, if you needed to hire a medical professional such as a nurse to provide care at home.
  • The cost of any private medical care you had to pay for out of your own pocket.

Do Personal Injury Solicitors Near Me Offer No Win No Terms?

Can personal injury solicitors near me offer a No Win No Fee agreement? Not every law firm offers No Win No Fee, but we do. No Win No Fee means you can hire a legal representative without paying an upfront fee.

Working under a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), our lawyers won’t charge you a fee if the claim fails. They will only expect to be paid a pre-agreed, legally limited success fee if the claim is won.

How Can Legal Expert Help Me?

How do I choose a personal injury solicitor? Should I just use personal injury solicitors near me? You should try and find a legal team that has plenty of proven history helping claimants to get the compensation they are eligible for.

Our lawyers have years of experience processing all types of claims, and have helped many people such as yourself to get the compensation that was rightfully theirs. Call our claims team to get a claim started.

Contact Legal Expert To Make A Claim

I don’t want to use any personal injury solicitors near me, can you handle a claim for me? Potentially we can, once we know a little about your claim. Use the contact information 24 hours a day to get in touch with us and get the ball rolling.

Find Out Why Personal Injury Solicitors Near Me Are Not Always The Best Choice

Here are some links to useful web pages.

And here are some links to other, useful guides.

Thank you for reading our guide to the question – “how do I find the best personal injury solicitors near me?”.

How Much Could I Claim For Surgeon Negligence?

By Stephen Hudson. Last Updated March 2024. If you’ve suffered avoidable harm during a surgical procedure, you may be entitled to claim for surgeon negligence if it occurred due to a breach in the duty of care owed to you. In this guide, we offer advice on the requirements and steps to making a surgical negligence claim.

This guide explains the different ways a healthcare professional may breach a patient’s duty of care and cause harm during a surgical procedure. We’ll also look at potential compensation payouts for avoidable harm caused by surgery negligence and the benefits of claiming with a No Win No Fee solicitor.

Surgeon negligence compensation claims guide

Surgeon negligence compensation claims guide

To learn more about making a medical negligence claim for harm caused during surgery, you can contact our friendly team of advisors. They’re available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to help answer your questions and offer free advice. To contact our team, you can:

Select a Section:

  1. How Is Surgeon Negligence Defined?
  2. What Are The 3 Points Of Criteria For Clinical Negligence?
  3. What Are Examples Of Clinical Negligence?
  4. How Do I Prove Negligence?
  5. What Are Examples Of Surgeon Negligence?
  6. What Will My Surgeon Negligence Payout Be?
  7. What Is The Process Of Making Surgical Negligence Claims?
  8. How Could You Benefit From Using A No Win No Fee Solicitor?
  9. Extra Resources Regarding Surgeon Negligence Claims

How Is Surgeon Negligence Defined?

If you become the victim of surgeon negligence, you could suffer potentially life-changing injuries. If you can prove that medical negligence affected your health, you could be able to claim for the harm or losses you suffered.

Surgical negligence is when a surgeon breaches the duty of care that they owe you as a patient, and deliver care of an unacceptable standard. You can only claim compensation for medical negligence that has caused you harm.

You may be wondering whether surgeons are liable for harm that they cause as a result of negligence and whether you claim against the surgeon, against the hospital or against another body altogether. While all surgeons do owe their patients a duty of care, you may not launch a claim against them directly.

Instead, you could claim against the relevant healthcare provider. This could be the relevant NHS Trust. If you were harmed by the negligence of a surgeon in a private hospital, then you could pursue a claim against the surgeon directly.

For more information on claiming compensation for negligence during surgery, speak with one of our advisors today.

What Are The 3 Points Of Criteria For Clinical Negligence?

Surgical negligence is when a surgeon provides a level of care that is below an acceptable standard. In order for you to claim compensation for surgical negligence, you would need to show that it caused your injury, illness or a worsening of your condition that wouldn’t have happened otherwise.

The three criteria below would need to apply for a claim to be valid:

  1. A surgeon who was treating you, had a duty of care towards you not to do you any unnecessary harm.
  2. There was a breach of duty of care,
  3. This resulted in you coming to harm.

It’s important to note that you cannot claim for all harm that comes about as a result of medical care. Particularly in cases of surgery, it might be necessary for a surgeon to cause you harm that cannot be avoided when providing the correct level of care.

For example, you may attend a hospital with a badly crushed leg that requires amputation. The amputation, while causing you harm, is necessary in the course of the treatment. Therefore, you would not be able to claim compensation.

For more information on whether you could have a valid surgeon negligence claim, speak with an advisor today.

Are There Time Limits For Claiming?

There are time limits that apply to surgical negligence claims. These time limits apply whether your claim is being made against a private or public healthcare provider.

The Limitation Act 1980 sets the general time limit for beginning a medical negligence claim at three years from the date of the incident, or the date of knowledge.

In some cases of surgical negligence, you might be aware that negligence during surgery has occurred immediately after the incident. For example, if you’ve had surgery performed on the wrong site, this is something you might notice that is the case right away. In such a scenario, the time limit for claiming would usually start run from the date you became aware of the issue.

In some instances, however, you might not be aware of the negligence until a later date. For example, you may think that your surgery has gone accordingly but at a later date start to develop symptoms. You could then undergo tests that show a foreign object has been left in your body. The limitation period would start from this date of knowledge and not the date that the negligent surgery occurred.

However, there are some exceptions that can apply to this time limit. Speak with a member of our team to find out more.

What Are Examples Of Clinical Negligence?

Below, we have included some examples of the types of medical negligence that can arise in surgery:

  • Wrong site or wrong-patient surgery. This is where an operation is performed on the wrong patient, or on the right patient but on the wrong part of the body. For example, an operation could be performed on the patient’s right leg instead of their left.
  • Wrong implant used. This is where the wrong implant or prosthesis is inserted into the body.
  • Foreign object left in body post-procedure. For example, the surgeon could mistakenly leave a tool used during surgery in the patient’s body, that they then need to undergo further surgery to have removed.
  • Infection caused by poor hygiene. Part of a surgeon’s duty of care is ensuring that they are adhering to hygiene standards. If they fail to do this, you could contract an infection as a result.
  • Injury to organs or damage to nerves. Sometimes, a doctor might cause nerve or organ damage during surgery. If this happens because they provided a substandard level of care, then you may be eligible to claim.

Wrong site or wrong patient surgery, wrong prosthesis or implant and foreign objects being left in the body are all examples of Never Events. Never Events are events that should not happen if all the correct procedures and frameworks that are in place are followed.

Our advisors can offer you free legal advice about the process of claiming for harm caused by surgeon negligence. Get in touch today to find out more.

How Do I Prove Negligence?

As we have mentioned, you need to prove that surgeon negligence took place in order to be able to make a compensation claim.

It can be difficult to determine whether the actions of a medical professional were within the duty of care that they owe their patient. For this reason, the courts will often use something called the “Bolam Test” to determine whether or not a surgeon was negligent.

This involves a panel of medical professionals in the relevant field being asked whether or not the care administered was of an acceptable standard. If it’s decided that it was not, then they can be considered to have acted negligently.

In addition to this, you will need to prove that your condition worsened as a result of the negligence. If you experienced medical negligence but this did not impact your health, you would not be able to claim.

What Are Examples Of Surgeon Negligence?

In this section, we are going to look at some of the different kinds of surgeries that you could experience negligence in, causing you harm. Surgical negligence can occur in elective surgeries as well as necessary ones; you’re owed the same duty of care in each.

However, this is not an exhaustive list; in any kind of surgery you undergo, there is the potential for negligence to cause you harm.

If you want to learn whether you have a valid claim, call and explain your circumstances to a member of our team. If you have a valid case, you could be connected with one of our No Win No Fee solicitors.

What Will My Surgeon Negligence Payout Be?

We cannot come up with an average figure for the amount of compensation you might get if you win your claim for surgeon negligence. This is because all surgery negligence claims are valued on a case-by-case basis.

However, if you look at the table below, you can see different compensation brackets for different types of injuries you may claim for during surgical negligence claims. The brackets in this table are taken from the 2022 edition of the Judicial College Guidelines. This is a publication used by solicitors to help value injuries.

Edit
Injury Severity Notes JC Compensation Bracket
Eye Total blindness Total blindness in both eyes would be included in this category. In the region of £268,720
Kidney (a) Serious and permanent damage to both kidneys £169,400 to £210,400
Kidney (b) Significant risk of further urinary tract infections or a total loss of the natural function of the kidneys Up to £63,980
Kidney (c) One kidney is lost but there is no damage to the other. £30,770 to £44,880
Bowels (b) Total loss of natural function and a dependence on colostomy. Up to £150,110
Bladder (b) Complete loss of control and function Up to £140,660
Arms Loss of both arms A person with full awareness will be reduced to a state of helplessness. £240,790 to £300,000
Arm Below-elbow amputation A severe ankle injury falls into this category. In the case of a broken ankle with severe ligament damage, for example. Almost certainly, the victim will experience some sort of permanent loss of ankle function, which will limit their mobility. £96,160 to £109,650
Legs Loss of both legs Where both legs are lost above the knee, or one above the knee to a high level and the other below. £240,790 to £282,010
Leg Amputation of one leg (b) Where one leg has been amputated below the knee. £201,490 to £270,100

You may also be invited to an independent medical assessment where your condition is assessed; the report from this will be used to value your claim.

How Do I Define General Damages And Special Damages?

When you make a claim for compensation, your settlement could consist of two different kinds of damages. These are general and special damages.

General damages are the part of your compensation that covers you for the pain and suffering caused by the negligence you experienced. This is the part of your compensation that is outlined in the table above.

You could also receive special damages. This part of your compensation covers any financial impact that your injury has had on you. For example, you could have experienced a loss of earnings due to taking time off work to recover. If your injuries have left you disabled, you may need to have your home or vehicle adapted accordingly.

You should provide evidence of these costs or losses. Bills, receipts and invoices can all be used to support this head of a surgeon negligence claim.

What Is The Process Of Making Surgical Negligence Claims?

Below, we have listed some steps you can take in preparation for making a compensation claim for surgical negligence. Our team can also offer some more advice about collecting evidence if you give us a call.

  • Take photographs of your injuries if appropriate.
  • Seek medical attention to confirm how the negligence has affected you. You can do this at another healthcare facility if you’re not comfortable doing so at the one where you experienced negligence.
  • If there were any witnesses who saw the negligent act take place, gather their contact details. They could provide a statement at a later date.
  • Save any travel tickets, invoices, receipts and bills that you have paid because of your injuries.

Call and speak to one of our claim advisors. Once you have explained to them what has happened to you, they can evaluate your claim and let you know whether you could be eligible to receive medical negligence compensation.

How Could You Benefit From Using A No Win No Fee Solicitor?

You may be in a position to use the services of a No Win No Fee solicitor to help you to make a claim for surgeon negligence. It’s not a legal requirement but might help the process run more smoothly than it would otherwise.

A No Win No Fee agreement means that your solicitor won’t ask you to pay them anything up front or while it’s ongoing. If the claim fails, you still don’t pay your lawyer anything. If your claim is a success, a pre-agreed success fee, which is legally capped, will be deducted by your lawyer.

To learn more about how a No Win No Fee agreement works, please call and talk to our advisors. If they feel your claim is valid, they could connect you with one of our solicitors.

Contact our claims team, any time of the day or night using the details below to get started. They can assess the validity of your claim and may be able to connect you with one of our solicitors.

Extra Resources Regarding Surgeon Negligence Claims

Here are some links to useful sites.

NHS guidance on having an operation

General Medical Council – Duties of a doctor 

Complaining To NHS England

And here are some links to related guides.

Clinical And Medical Negligence Claims

How Much Compensation Can I Claim For A Surgical Error?

How Much Compensation Can I Claim Against A Doctor Or GP Negligence?

We hope this guide on claiming for surgery negligence has helped you. If you have any further questions about surgical negligence cases or other types of medical negligence claims, then please get in touch with our advisors using the contact details found within this guide.

What Are The New Whiplash Claim Rules?

By Stephen Hudson. Last Updated 20th March 2025. In May 2021, the UK government introduced new whiplash claims rules. This guide will explain the Whiplash Reforms Programme and how it may affect you. Moreover, if you have experienced whiplash injuries that were not your fault, we will explain how to claim compensation.

The government has introduced these new whiplash claim rules to help reduce the amount of money spent on these claims. It is hoped that insurance companies will pass the savings they make onto their customers.

Have you experienced whiplash injuries because of a road traffic accident that was not your fault? Then you may be eligible to claim whiplash compensation. We can value your claim, and potentially provide you with a skilled solicitor to handle your case.

Please get in touch with Legal Expert today to begin your claim. Call us on 0800 073 8804, or contact us via our website.

A woman wearing a neck brace while recovering from a whiplash injury

Select A Section

What Are The New Whiplash Claim Rules?

The UK government introduced the new whiplash claims rules on 31st May 2021. They only affect those who live in England and Wales.

What Is The Whiplash Reform Program

The Whiplash Reform Program has its own criteria and can affect the way you make your personal injury claim after a road traffic accident.

  • It only applies to claimants 18 or over.
  • Injuries are caused through a road traffic accident.
  • And the accident took place on 31st May 2021 or afterwards.
  • It only applies to drivers or passengers of a vehicle. Motorbikes, scooters and mopeds are not included. Those claimants would make their claim the traditional way.
  • Furthermore, the claimant’s injury must be valued £5,000 or less. And the total value of the claim must be less than £10,000.
  • The injuries are valued according to a fixed tariff.

This government guide to the Whiplash Reform Programme has more information.

If you are unsure of how much your whiplash claim could be worth, please call our advisors, and we can value your claim for you.

How Are Whiplash Injuries Defined?

A whiplash injury is a soft tissue injury that mostly affects the neck, back and shoulders. Whiplash is caused by an impact forcing the head beyond its normal range of motion and overstretching the neck’s muscles and other soft tissues. Whiplash injuries are often caused by rear-end shunt collision accidents on the road because the impact of a car being hit from behind can throw the driver or passenger’s head forward.

Symptoms of whiplash include the following:

  • Neck stiffness, so it isn’t easy to move your head.
  • Muscle spasms and pain in the shoulders and upper arms.
  • Neck pain.
  • Headaches.

What Are The Time Limits For Claiming For Whiplash After A Car Accident?

Whiplash injury claims – whether made through the government portal, or in the form of traditional claims – are subject to time limits.

As the Limitation Act 1980 states, a claim for negligence should be started within three years of date in which the injury occurred.

There are provisions in place within the act for people who cannot start a claim for themselves. If you are making a whiplash injury claim on the behalf of a minor, their claim will not face a time limit. It can be started at any point before their 18th birthday through an appointed litigation friend. If a claim has not been started in this period, then the minor will be able to start a claim when they turn 18. They will be expected to start their claim within three years of their 18th birthday.

A person who lacks the mental ability to start a claim for themselves will have their time limit suspended indefinitely; a litigation friend can start a claim for them at any point. They will only face a time limit to start a claim if or when they gain the mental ability to do so. They will then have three years from this date to start a claim.

If you have any questions about claiming for whiplash after a car accident or any other form of accident, please reach out to one of our advisers for free legal advice.

Am I Affected By The New Whiplash Rules?

If you are involved in a road traffic accident and suffer injuries, then if the accident was caused by the negligence of a third party you could be eligible to make personal injury claim. How you make that claim will be dependant on specific criteria.

If you are aged 18 and over and was in a vehicle then you may have to make the claim through the new claim portal. This will be the case if your injuries are valued at £5000 or less. Also this is just for road accidents that happened on or after May 31st 2021.

However, if an uninsured or untraced driver hits you, and you are not at fault for the accident you could claim compensation through the Motor Insurers Bureau (MIB).

Can I Still Claim With A Solicitor?

If you are claiming through the portal and not in the traditional way you can still use a solicitor. However they would not receive some of their costs from the fault side if your case was successful as they would usually do.

What Claims Are Not Affected?

The whiplash claims rules only apply to vehicle occupants involved in road traffic accidents. So the new rules do not apply to people who have experienced the following:

Are My Injuries Worth More Than £5,000?

This section of the guide is important as having your injuries assessed prior to starting a claim means that your claim will be made using the correct route.

Here at Legal Expert we off to assess all claims for free. There is no obligation to use our services. But the information we provide allows you to know which way is the correct way to make your claim.

By calling our advisors you will be given a free consultation. We can assess the merits of your case, value your injuries and look at what evidence you have gathered. From here we can tell you how to proceed.

Does The Portal Handle Psychological Injury Claims?

You can also claim compensation for psychological injuries. The tariff includes payouts for mental and psychiatric injuries.

Claiming For Multiple Injuries

Essentially, it’s not important how many injuries you have sustained but rather how they’re valued. The threshold is £5,000, so if the total value of your injuries is £5,000 or less, you can claim it through the government portal.

If you have additional injuries that take the total value of your claim over £5,000, then you will need to make your claim in the traditional manner. Our advisors can provide a free eligiblity assessment and connect those with valid claims to a dedicated road traffic accident solicitor.

Our solicitors will value all of your injuries as well as your financial losses to calculate a possible total compensation figure. You can see some guideline figures for more serious injuries in the table in the next section, as well as the whiplash tariff table from the 2021 Regulations.

A car accident can cause serious harm and sustaining multiple injuries is very common. These injuries can have substantial impacts on your daily activities and abilitiy to undertake work. Read on for a more detailed explanation fo compensation in road accident claims. You can also get your free eligiblity assessment today via the contact details provided at the bottom of this page.

How Do The New Whiplash Claim Rules Affect My Payout?

How you make your personal injury claim after a road traffic accident will dictate the tariffs and compensation brackets that are used to value your claim.

Whiplash Injury Claim Tariff

The tariff includes valuations for whiplash injuries and minor psychiatric injuries as well. These come from the Whiplash Injury Reform Regulations 2021.

How Long The Injury LastedAmount Awarded Under
Regulation 2(1)(a)
Amount Awarded Under
Regulation 2(1)(b)
Greater than 18 months, but no longer than 24 months£4,215£4,345
Greater than 15 months, but no longer than 18 months£3,005£3,100
Greater than 12 months, but no longer than 15 months£2,040£2,125
Greater than 9 months, but no longer than 12 months£1,320£1,390
Greater than 6 months, but no longer than 9 months£840£895
Greater than 3 months, but no longer than 6 months£495£520
Less than 3 months£240£260

Calculating Injuries Over £5,000

You can use the table below to value your personal injury claim if your injuries are valued at over £5,000. The compensation amounts in this table are based on guidelines from the Judicial College, except for the top row. This figure was not taken from the guidelines published by the Judicial College and is included to demonstrate how you could be compensated for multiple injuries and related costs.

Type Of InjurySeverity Guideline Damages
Multiple Serious Injuries Plus Special DamagesSeriousUp to £250,000+
Neck InjurySevere (i)In the region of £181,020
Severe (ii)£80,240 to £159,770
Severe (iii)£55,500 to £68,330
Moderate (i)£30,500 to £46,970
Shoulder InjurySevere£23,430 to £58,610
Serious£15,580 to £23,430
Moderate£9,630 to £15,580
Whiplash InjuryOne or more whiplash injuries with one or more minor psychological injuries£4,345
One or more whiplash injuries£4,215

General damages are included in this table, which is compensation for the pain, suffering and loss of amenity you experienced because of your injuries. Please note you can receive more or less compensation than this table says. Why not try our personal injury claims calculator.

In addition to general damages, the claimant maybe awarded special damages compensation regardless of how the claim is made. Special damages pay for any costs associated with your injury. Including travel costs, medical expenses, care costs and compensation for loss of income.

Claiming For Whiplash With Help From No Win No Fee Solicitors

If you are claiming for whiplash on valid grounds, you could seek the support of a solicitor. One of our solicitors could guide you through the different elements of making a whiplash claim. For instance, they could answer questions you may have on the new whiplash claim rules or how the process of claiming works.

If one of our solicitors does agree to support your whiplash claim, then they can do so on a No Win No Fee basis through a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). Under a CFA, your solicitor will not charge you an upfront fee for their services or expect you to pay for any ongoing costs. If your claim is successful, they deduct a success fee from the compensation you’ve been awarded. This means they’ll take a small percentage from it, which is legally capped to ensure you get to keep most of your compensation. If your claim does not succeed, you normally won’t need to pay your solicitor for their work.

Contact our advisors today to learn more about making a whiplash claim with a No Win No Fee solicitor or to ask about other parts of the claiming process, such as how the whiplash tariff table can influence your final payout.

To get in touch today:

Where Can I Find Out More?

We hope that this whiplash claims guide has been helpful. Please feel free to read these related guides if you wish to know more.

If you’ve hurt your neck after a car crash, this NHS neck injuries guide may help

Information for road crash victims, from road safety charity Brake.

Thank you for reading our guide to the new whiplash claim rules.

Can I Claim Broken Humerus Compensation?

Last updated 14th May 2025. Did you suffer a broken arm? Are you wondering if you could make a personal injury claim for broken humerus compensation? If so, this guide may provide you with the sort of information and advice you need.

Our guide explains how to prove you have a valid reason for claiming compensation if your injuries were caused by someone else’s error or negligence. We provide information on the sort of accident that could lead to you breaking an arm, and how you could have grounds to seek damages. Furthermore, we explain how a No Win No Fee agreement works.

In addition to this, our guide offers advice on how much your claim could be worth in general and special damages. You will also find out about statutory time limits linked to personal injury claims and how these may vary.

Contact Legal Expert

To begin a broken humerus compensation claim today, just contact a member of our team on our freephone number, which is 0800 073 8804.

If you prefer, please continue reading our guide for more information on claiming compensation for a broken humerus.

A man with his arm in bandages and a sling.

Select A Section

What Amount Of Broken Humerus Compensation Could I Receive?

If your broken humerus claim is successful, you could receive compensation for up to two heads of loss. These heads of loss are called general and special damages. 

General damages cover the physical and psychological effects of your broken humerus injury and are awarded in all successful personal injury claims. When this head of loss is being calculated, legal professionals take into consideration factors such as:

  • Loss of amenity. 
  • The length of the recovery period. 
  • The severity of the pain. 

You may be asked to attend an independent medical assessment at some point during the claims process. Legal professionals can use the reports from this assessment, and the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG), to also help them calculate this head of loss. 

The JCG is a publication that contains guideline compensation brackets for different types of injuries and illnesses. 

Guideline Compensation Table 

In the table below, there are some injuries relating to a broken humerus. These injuries and their accompanying guideline compensation brackets have been taken from the JCG (except for the top figure, which is not from the JCG).

However, since each claim for a broken humerus has unique circumstances, none of these figures can be guaranteed for your specific case. 

Type of injurySeverity of injuryCompensation Guidelines
Multiple serious injuries with special damagesSeriousUp to £500,000+
Amputation of armLoss of one arm (b) (i)Not Less Than £167,380
Loss of one arm (b) (ii)£133,810 to £159,770
ArmSevere (a)£117,360 to £159,770
Permanent and substantial damage (b)£47,810 to £73,050
Less severe (c)£23,430 to £47,810
Simple forearm fracture (d)£8,060 to £23,430
Shoulder Severe (a)£23,430 to £58,610
Serious (b)£15,580 to £23,430

Special Damages

Special damages cover the financial effects of your broken humerus injury and are awarded in some successful personal injury claims. Some financial losses that could be suffered include:

  • Loss of earnings if you miss work to recover from your broken humerus. 
  • Medical expenses, such as paying for prescriptions and painkillers. 
  • Travel expenses to go to and from hospital appointments. 

In order to receive special damages, you must provide sufficient evidence of your injury’s monetary effects. Such evidence can be payslips, receipts, bank statements, and invoices. 

To learn more about how broken humerus compensation is calculated, contact our team today. 

How Do I Make A Valid Claim?

To be eligible to claim compensation for a broken humerus, negligence must have occurred. Negligence is when a third party breaches their duty of care, and this results in you getting injured. 

Depending on where you are, there are multiple third parties that could owe you a duty of care:

  • At work. The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 states that all employers owe all of their employees a duty of care while they are at work. To comply with this duty, they must take reasonable steps to ensure that their employees are safe and are at minimal risk of injury. Some of these reasonable steps include conducting regular risk assessments, providing adequate training, and providing adequate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). 
  • In public. The Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957 states that anyone who controls a public space (known as an occupier) owes a duty of care to all members of the public who lawfully visit their space. To comply with this duty, they must take steps to ensure that the public is reasonably safe and at minimal risk of injury. Some of these steps include putting out warning signs for risks that cannot be removed, responding to reports of hazards as soon as possible, and conducting regular risk assessments. 
  • On the road. All road users owe a duty of care to one another. To comply with this duty, all road users must follow the rules in The Highway Code and The Road Traffic Act 1988 to ensure that one another are at minimal risk of injury. Some of these rules include not exceeding the speed limit, not using your mobile phone at the wheel, and not driving whilst under the influence. 

As such, you may be eligible to claim broken humerus compensation if you can prove each of the below criteria:

  • You were owed a duty of care from a road user, an occupier, or an employer. 
  • This duty of care was breached. 
  • As a result, you were injured. 

Please contact us today to confirm the eligibility of your potential broken humerus claim

Personal Injury Claim Time Limits

The Limitation Act 1980 linked to personal injury claims establishes how long you have to start a claim. That said, you normally have 3 years in which to start a claim. The exceptions to this rule are explained below:

  • A claimant does not have the mental capacity to make a personal injury claim themselves
  • The claimant is still a minor under the age of 18 which means they have up till they turn 21 years of age to file a claim for broken humerus compensation

That said, a court can appoint a litigation friend to file a claim for anyone who lack the mental capacity to make one themselves. A litigation friend can also be appointed when a minor under the age of 18 is injured and wants to make a claim before they turn 18 years of age.

Call today and speak to one of our friendly advisers. They can provide you with free legal advice, review your case, and let you know if your claim is valid. Once an adviser finds you have grounds to sue, they will connect you to a No Win No Fee solicitor.

Types Of Humerus Fractures

Before you seek broken humerus compensation, you should seek medical attention regarding your broken humerus. This is so that doctors can correctly diagnose the specific type of fracture you have with an X-Ray scan. You can then be treated properly, and these scan images can be used as part of your evidence. 

Here are the different types of humerus fractures:

  • Proximal humerus fractures – typically caused by a direct blow or by falling and landing on an outstretched hand.
  • Mid-shaft humerus fractures – this can often lead to damage in the profunda brachii artery or the radial nerve. 
  • Distal-end humerus fractures – this can often lead to damage in the interior interosseous nerve or the brachial artery. 

While some humerus fractures can be repaired with no complications, other injuries can be more complex. Depending on the treatment you receive and the severity of your injury, a broken humerus could take between a few months to many years to recover. This is one of the factors that will be taken into consideration when broken humerus claims are being calculated.

Whatever the extent of your injury, you can claim compensation for a broken humerus for all of the effects you are suffering with. Please contact us to tell us more about your injury.

Which Treatment Should I Receive For This Injury?

The sort of treatment you receive would depend on the severity of the break you sustained and whether any bones are exposed. Furthermore, the initial treatment you receive would be in the Accident and Emergency department of a local hospital. When you are seen by a doctor they may:

  • Make a detailed assessment of the fracture to the humerus you sustained. This would be a physical examination.
  • Followed by several x-rays.
  • Surgery carried out if needed
  • Or immobilisation and plasterparis.

The doctor may also want to carry out further tests which could include any or all of the following before deciding on a definitive treatment:

  • MRI scan
  • CT scan
  • Ultrasound

Call today and speak to a member of the Legal Expert team. One of our friendly advisers can answer any questions you have about the personal injury claims process and they can assess whether you could seek broken humerus compensation.

What Are The Symptoms Of A Humerus Fracture?

NHS advice for a  broken arm or wrist is that you should seek medical attention as a matter of urgency. If you experience any of the following symptoms, you should go to the nearest Accident and Emergency department to be diagnosed and treated:

  • Your arm is extremely painful
  • There is a large amount of bruising and swelling in the affected arm
  • You have lost the use of your arm because of the pain you are experiencing
  • The bone is at an odd angle
  • The bone is exposed

You will be treated by a doctor in the Accident and Emergency department of the nearest hospital.

Where Could I Suffer A Broken Humerus?

You could suffer a broken humerus in a number of ways whether in a road traffic accident, sporting incident, or in workplace accident. You could fall and break your arm in a public place like a shop or supermarket. As we have previously mentioned to be able to make a claim the accident has to be at least partially not your fault. You must be able to show the liability of a third party that owed a duty of care but failed to uphold this.

Ways people could potentially suffer a broken arm:

  • Fall from a height
  • Slip, trip and fall over something
  • Play contact and other sports
  • Crushed hand by machinery or equipment in the workplace

People could also suffer broken arms when they are in a road traffic, motorbike or cycling accident. If you broke your humerus in another sort of incident, please get in touch. A member of our team will review the details of your accident and offer you free legal advice. If they establish you have good cause to sue for damages, they will put you in touch with one of our solicitors. Please note, all our solicitors work on a No Win No Fee basis.

Is It Common For This Injury To Happen?

Below we have put together a list of the most common non-fatal injuries of accidents that happen in workplaces according to RIDDOR 2020/21:

  1. Slips, trips and falls on the same level account for 33%
  2. Lifting, handling and carrying amount to 18%
  3. Employees who were struck by a moving object accounted for 10%
  4. Those who suffered injuries because of a violent act 8%
  5. Injuries caused by falling from a height 8%

Technically all of these accidents have the potential to cause a fractured bone. These figures show us the type of accidents that happen in the workplace and are reported under RIDDOR. What they do not show is the number of accidents that could have been avoided.

Which Obstacles Could Stand In My Way From Claiming Broken Humerus Compensation?

Without enough evidence that you were injured in an accident caused by a negligent third party, your case may struggle. As such, you must gather as much proof as possible to support your case. However, there are other obstacles that could prevent you from making a successful claim. This includes not following the pre-action protocols attached to personal injury compensation claims. Another pitfall you may encounter is if you wait too long to file a personal injury claim. If you fail to respect the statutory time limit, your case may not be accepted simply because you ran out of time.

By contacting Legal Expert, you know you are in good hands and that any obstacles will be expertly handled. Our advisers and solicitors have the necessary legal knowledge to manage all type of personal injury claims. Just call our freephone number to speak to an adviser and find out how we can be of assistance.

What Are The First Steps Towards Making My Claim?

First and foremost, you should seek medical attention as a matter of urgency if you suspect you have broken your humerus. This is essential because the sooner you are treated, the better the outcome could be. If you cannot collect any evidence yourself, you can always ask a trusted friend or a family member to do this for you. As soon as you are able to, we advise contacting a solicitor for legal advice, and this is where we can be of assistance.

One of our friendly advisers will provide free advice on the sort of evidence you need to support a personal injury claim. This could include the following:

  • Photos of the injury to your arm
  • As many photos as possible of where you were injured
  • A copy of a police report if they attended an accident or incident
  • The detailed medical report from the doctor who treated you
  • Witness contact details

Which Are The Main Benefits Of Hiring A No Win No Fee Solicitor?

Many people worry that the cost of hiring a solicitor could be too expensive. They also find that the personal injury claim process daunting. When you work with Legal Expert, the process is made much easier. Furthermore, our solicitors work on a No Win No Fee basis. This means you won’t have to pay for their services upfront.

You only pay when you win your claim. The solicitor deducts their fee (success fee) from the amount you receive. If your personal injury claim for compensation for a broken humerus fails, you won’t pay anything for the services a No Win No Fee lawyer provided.

Call one of our advisers on our freephone number for more information. They will assess the details of your claim before advising you on how best to go forward. Our lines are open 24/7 and the first consultation is free of charge. When a member of the Legal Expert team finds you have good reason to sue, they will connect you to a No Win No Fee solicitor.

Speak To An Advisor At Legal Expert About Making A Claim

Please contact a member of our team today and find out whether you could claim broken humerus compensation. We will review your details, provide free legal advice and if we establish you have a strong case, we can connect you to No Win No Fee solicitor. This will take all the worry away of having to pay for legal representation upfront. Moreover, our solicitors will work hard to get you the right amount of compensation payout.

You can reach a member of the Legal Expert team in the following ways:

  • Call our freephone number 0800 073 8804 – our lines are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
  • Complete our online claims form
  • Use our Live Chat
  • Request a callback

We offer a free, no-obligation, initial consultation to everyone who gets in touch. You can also read some reviews left by past clients we have helped achieve compensation payouts.

A solicitor explaining broken humerus compensation

Get More Information On Claiming Broken Humerus Compensation

Employers’ Liability Act (compulsory insurance) 1969

Health and Safety At Work etc Act 1974 

Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957

Road Traffic Act 1988

Other guides that can be found on our website

A comprehensive guide to what an employer’s responsibilities are at work

Making a No Win No Fee personal injury claim

How to file a car accident claim

Dislocated Shoulder Compensation Claims Guide

Last Updated On 8th July 2025. Have you had an accident that wasn’t your fault? Did this lead to you suffering from a dislocated shoulder? If so this could have caused you to suffer immense pain and potentially also financial losses. Within this guide, we discuss when you could be eligible to make a dislocated shoulder compensation claim.

We begin by setting out the eligibility requirements all personal injury compensation claims must meet. Furthermore, we share what evidence could be used to support your claim and how long you have to begin this process.

Additionally, we share the different types of compensation you could be awarded. Finally, we end this guide by sharing how one of our specialist personal injury solicitors could help you claim on a No Win No Fee basis.

To discuss your specific circumstances today, you can contact one of the friendly advisors on our team:

Someone holding their shoulder in pain. The area is highlighted in red and the person may have to claim dislocated shoulder compensation.

Choose A Section

  1. What Is A Dislocated Shoulder Compensation Claim?
  2. What Exactly Is A Dislocated Shoulder?
  3. How Do I Claim Dislocated Shoulder Compensation?
  4. What Is The Time Limit For A Shoulder Dislocation Claim?
  5. How Much Dislocated Shoulder Compensation Could I Receive?
  6. How Long Will It Take To Claim For A Dislocated Shoulder?
  7. Contact Us For Free To See If You Can Claim Compensation For A Dislocated Shoulder
  8. More Useful Resources About Claiming Personal Injury Compensation

What Is A Dislocated Shoulder Compensation Claim?

A dislocated shoulder compensation claim is a personal injury claim that could be made if your case meets the following criteria:

  • You were owed a duty of care.
  • This duty was breached.
  • This caused you to suffer from a dislocated shoulder.

There are various instances where you are owed a duty of care and where an accident could occur if this duty is breached. Some examples are set out below:

Accidents at Work

Under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, all employers owe their employees a duty of care. The must take reasonable actions, steps and measures to prevent their employees from coming to harm while working.

If they fail to do so, and this causes you to suffer a shoulder injury, you may be able to make an accident at work claim. For example:

  • Due to your employer not providing you with any manual handling training, you try and lift a box that was too heavy, causing you to suffer a dislocated shoulder.

Accidents in a Public Place

Members of the public are owed a duty of care by those in control of public spaces (occupiers). Per the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957, occupiers need to do all that is necessary to ensure the reasonable safety of those visiting that public space.

If they fail to do so, and this causes you to suffer a shoulder injury while in a public place, you may be able to make a public liability claim. For example:

  • The occupier of a shopping centre has not fixed a faulty stair railing, causing you to fall down the stairs and suffer a dislocated shoulder and a broken foot.

Road Traffic Accidents

Anyone who uses the roads, from pedestrians to motorists, owes each other a duty of care. They must use the roads safely and navigate them in a way that avoids causing harm to one another. To adhere to their duty of care they must also follow the rules and regulations set out within the Road Traffic Act 1988 and the Highway Code.

If someone using the roads does not adhere to their duty of care, and this causes you to suffer a shoulder injury, you may be able to make a road traffic accident claim. For example:

  • A taxi driver drives through a red light at a junction, causing them to crash into you on your bicycle. In the accident, you suffer a dislocated shoulder and a back injury.

To see whether you may be eligible to claim dislocated shoulder compensation, you can contact our advisors.

Image of the shoulder bone, with the area highlighted in orange to graphically represent our guide on dislocated shoulder compensation.

What Exactly Is A Dislocated Shoulder?

When your shoulder is dislocated, your upper arm bone comes out of its place from the shoulder socket. Some common symptoms of this injury include:

  • An inability to move your arm.
  • The shoulder looks deformed, or its shape has changed.
  • There is pain, bruising or swelling on the shoulder.

If you experience any of the above symptoms, it is recommended that you seek medical attention on an immediate basis. This would prevent your injury from becoming more serious and help create a medical record that can be used as evidence for claiming dislocated shoulder compensation. While you’re awaiting treatment, here are the steps which the NHS has suggested:

  • You could apply an ice pack to your shoulder for 20 minutes every 2 hours.
  • Paracetamol may be taken for pain relief.
  • You could put your arm in a sling or use a towel to support the affected arm.
  • Do not attempt to put the arm back yourself or move your arm.

The doctor will examine your arm through an X-ray to check whether your shoulder has been dislocated. Once the dislocation is confirmed, the doctor will administer a local anaesthetic and rotate your arm back in place. Afterwards, they will give you a sling to support your arm, and they may suggest surgery or physiotherapy to prevent the risk of another dislocation.

While it usually takes around 12 weeks to recover from a dislocated shoulder, it may take up to 16 weeks to fully resume sports. Your compensation amount may include the cost of medical treatment, physical aids, and the loss of amenity (your loss of enjoyment of hobbies and activities, such as not being able to participate in a sport that you normally enjoy). Read our guide on making dislocated shoulder injury claims for more information, or call our advisors now.

How Do I Claim Dislocated Shoulder Compensation?

In order to make a dislocated shoulder compensation claim, you will need to provide evidence that supports your case, such as:

  • CCTV, dashcam or other video footage.
  • Accident reports, such as a police report or from the workplace accident book.
  • Medical records detailing your injury.
  • Photographs of defective equipment or the accident site.
  • The contact information of any witnesses.

One of our expert personal injury solicitors could gather this evidence on your behalf. Contact our advisors about working with one of them today.

What Is The Time Limit For A Shoulder Dislocation Claim?

All personal injury claims have a time limit of 3 years from the date of the accident. This is outlined in The Limitation Act 1980. However, there are some exceptions to the rule:

  • If the injured person is a minor (under the age of 18), the time limit is paused until they become 18.
  • If they lack the mental capacity, the time limit is paused permanently unless they recover this capacity. In these cases, it will then run from the recovery date.

In both situations where the time limit is paused, a litigation friend could make a claim on their behalf.

To see whether you are within the time limit to begin our dislocated shoulder compensation claim, you can contact our advisors.

A man in a white t-shirt holding his shoulder in pain and wishing to claim dislocated shoulder compensation.

How Much Dislocated Shoulder Compensation Could I Receive?

How much dislocated shoulder compensation you could receive for a successful claim will depend on the factors of your case.

However, should you make a successful claim, you will receive compensation for the pain and suffering your injury has caused you under general damages.

The Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) could be used alongside your medical records to help calculate your general damages payout. Within the JCG are guideline compensation brackets for various injuries.

We have listed the JCG entries that relate to shoulder injuries in the table below, aside from the first entry.

InjurySeverityGuideline Amount
Multiple severe injuries including further lossesMost severeUp to £150,000+
Shoulder injurySevere£23,430 to £58,610
Serious£15,580 to £23,430
Moderate£9,630 to £15,580
Minor (i)£5,310 to £9,630
Minor (ii)£2,990 to £5,310
Minor (iii)Up to £2,990
ClavicleFracture£6,280 to £14,940

Can I Claim For Loss of Earnings Caused By Shoulder Injuries?

Yes, you could claim for loss of earnings. In addition to general damages, you could also be awarded special damages. This compensates you for any financial losses your injury has caused you, such as lost earnings if you needed time off work to recover.

Other financial losses you could claim for include:

  • Medical expenses.
  • Travel costs.
  • Care costs.

All of these will need to be proved with evidence, such as wage slips and receipts.

To learn more about how compensation is calculated in personal injury claims, you can contact our advisors.

How Long Will It Take To Claim For A Dislocated Shoulder?

There is not set time frame for how long it will take for your personal injury claim to settle. Various factors could impact the length of your claim, such as:

  • The severity of your injury.
  • Have you recovered from the injury?
  • What treatments have been or are still needed?
  • Is the defendant admitting liability?
  • Does your claim need to go to court or not?

Regardless of how long your claim may take, one of our solicitors could guide you every step of the way. Learn if you could work with one of them by contacting our advisors.

Contact Us For Free To See If You Can Claim Compensation For A Dislocated Shoulder

You can contact one of our friendly advisors to see whether you may have an eligible dislocated shoulder compensation claim. If you do, they could connect you with one of our specialist solicitors.

  • Our solicitors have years of experience working on personal injury claims and could help you:
  • Submit your claim within the time limit.
  • Gather evidence on your behalf.
  • Explain legal jargon.
  • Negotiate your final settlement.

Furthermore, they can provide all these services to you on a No Win No Fee basis under a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA).

The benefits of claiming with one of our solicitors under this arrangement includes:

  • Not having to pay for their services upfront.
  • Nothing to pay as the claim progresses for the work they are providing.
  • Not paying for any completed work should the claim be unsuccessful.
  • Paying a success fee in the event of a successful claim. This fee is taken from your compensation as a legally limited percentage.

If you would like free advice or would like to chat with one of our expert advisors regarding your case, contact us using our contact details below:

More Useful Resources About Claiming Personal Injury Compensation

  • Learn about the other types of personal injury claims we could help you with:
  • See how we could help you make an arm injury claim following an accident that was not your fault.
  • Learn if you could make a compensation claim following a pavement accident.

Additional useful resources.

Thank you for reading this guide on dislocated shoulder compensation claims.

The Process Of Medical Negligence Claims Explained

By Danielle Jordan. Last Updated March 2024. In this online guide, we are going to take a basic look at the medical negligence claim process. This guide will explain what medical negligence is, and how it can happen. We will look at how a medical professional or healthcare facility could be liable in a negligence claim if the standard of care they provided was below expected. We will also briefly touch on the financial aspects of the claims process.

Medical negligence claim process

Medical negligence claims process

Please keep in mind though, that we can’t hope to cover every set of circumstances that could lead to a claim in one guide. Your claim will be unique in some way. Therefore, we have made our claims team available 24 hours a day, every day of the week. You can contact our team and have any outstanding questions answered. An advisor can also tell you about how we could be able to provide you with a lawyer to help you make a claim. You can call us on 0800 073 8804, or use our website contact form to reach us.

Select A Section:

  1. What Are The Points Of Criteria To Meet For A Claim?
  2. How Could Medical Negligence Occur?
  3. Which Injuries Could Arise Or Worsen?
  4. What Is The Medical Negligence Claims Process?
  5. The Steps To Beginning The Medical Negligence Claims Process
  6. What Amount Of Compensation Could I Claim For?
  7. Differences Between General Damages And Special Damages
  8. No Win No Fee Solicitors For Medical Negligence Claims

What Are The Points Of Criteria To Meet For A Claim?

One of the first steps in the medical negligence claim process, is to actually prove that negligence took place. It will be up to you and your legal team to prove that you were harmed unnecessarily due to oversight, omission or mistake in some way. This is done using the Bolam test. Where a group of peers question whether the medic provided the right standard of care.

Every healthcare professional and medical facility has a duty of care not to cause avoidable harm through negligence. If a breach of duty of care does harm you, then a team of medical negligence claim solicitors may be able to secure compensation for you. A potentially valid claim would fulfil the following criteria.

  1. You were being treated by a medical professional who had a duty of care towards you. This could be any medical professional involved in your treatment, not simply your primary doctor.
  2. The medical professional breached the duty of care in some way, and this resulted in you suffering harm.
  3. Had the medical professional upheld the duty of care, you would not have suffered either harm or financial loss.

Time Limits For Claiming Explained

There will be a medical negligence claims time limit that you are going to have to start your claim within. It will not matter how long it takes to process your claim, as long as it is begun within this deadline. In general, a claims time limit of three years from the date of knowledge exists in the UK. Date of knowledge refers to the date that you came to learn that you had been harmed. This might be the date that you were harmed in an accident, or the date that you were diagnosed with a medical condition caused by negligence.

Other factors can come into play that might affect the general three-year claims time limit. For example, if you are affected by the Mental Health Act 1983. Or if you are considered a minor (under the age of 18). To learn exactly which claims deadline will apply, based on your own situation, call and speak to one of our claims experts today.

The medical negligence claim process could be followed, if you have come to harm, due to the negligent acts of a medical professional or healthcare provider. If negligence can be proven, a solicitor may be able to process a claim for you.

How Could Medical Negligence Occur?

Now we have explained the duty of care, it is time to look at how the medical negligence claim process begins. There are different ways medical negligence could potentially occur. Below, we have listed a few examples.

In each of these examples, if you could successfully prove that negligence took place, you may be in a position to make a compensation claim. If you need further help, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our claims team for assistance.

Which Injuries Could Arise Or Worsen?

In the previous section, we explained how an act of negligence is the catalyst for the medical negligence claim process starting. However, it isn’t just fresh injuries or medical conditions that can be caused by negligence. A mistake could exacerbate an existing condition as well. Below are some examples of the types of harm that negligence could cause you.

  • Due to a blood test negligence, a potentially catastrophic illness such as cancer is misdiagnosed for some time.
  • An injury caused by an accident could be wrongfully diagnosed. For example, a fracture is mistaken for a sprain.
  • A baby could suffer a birth injury due to a mistake made by a midwife during the birthing process.

As we can see, the ways that clinical negligence could harm you are wide-ranging. If you are unsure whether the harm you suffered was caused by negligence, please call and speak to our claims team. They will be able to help you with this.

What Is The Medical Negligence Claims Process?

We have already looked at how the medical negligence claim process begins, and how proving negligence is a fundamental step. Now it is time to look at the process more broadly. Below, we briefly cover the basic process for pursuing a claim.

Firstly, you can contact our claims team. One of our advisors will talk through the claims procedure with you. They will evaluate your claim and let you know whether it is potentially valid or not.

A solicitor could offer to begin processing your claim for you if it is valid. It is not compulsory to have a solicitor represent your case but with the complexities of medical negligence hiring one is highly recommended. Your solicitor will help you to prepare evidence and proof (more on this in a later section), as well as handle legal requirements such as submitting a letter of claim to the defendant.

If the defendant does not refute your claim, you may be offered an out of court settlement, and your solicitor will talk you through this if it happens. Alternatively, your claim may need to go to court for a ruling. Your solicitor will be able to represent you.

Who Would The Defendant Be?

As part of the medical negligence claim process, your solicitor will identify the defendant that the claim will be pursued against. This could be either the relevant NHS Trust, or a private hospital or healthcare provider.

To find out who you would need to direct your claim to why not call our advisors. They will provide free legal advice. There is no obligation you can just ask questions to further your knowledge but they will offer to assess your case for free.

The Steps To Beginning The Medical Negligence Claims Process

We can help you with the medical negligence claim process. One of our expert clinical negligence lawyers will be able to assist you every step of the way. Our claims procedure is very straightforward. All you have to do is follow the three steps below.

  1. Call and speak to a member of our claims team. They will answer any questions you have about making a claim. They will also give you critical information such as the claim deadline that will apply.
  2. One of our expert claim advisors will evaluate your claim for you. They can tell you if you have valid grounds for claiming, and whether you have a chance of getting compensation.
  3. An expert medical negligence solicitor will begin processing a claim on your behalf. Assisting you with things like valuing your claim and helping you correlate evidence.

What Amount Of Compensation Could I Claim For?

If the medical negligence claim process is successful, you will receive a compensation settlement. We cannot, unfortunately, provide you with an average medical negligence claim amount. This is because each claim is unique in some way that will have an impact on the level of compensation won.

What we have done, is provide you with the table below, to demonstrate compensation award brackets. We based this table on data taken from guidelines that are produced by the Judicial College. These guidelines are used by the legal system to value injuries and illnesses.

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Injury Type How Bad? Range of Damages More Information
Neck Severe £45,470 to £148,330 A category of severe neck injuries. For example, fractured vertebrae, or damage to the spinal nerves.
Neck Minor Up to £7,890 Injury which may have accelerated or exacerbated pre-existing conditions
Pelvis Severe (i) £78,400 to £130,930 A category that covers severe injuries to the pelvis. For example, crush injuries or multiple non-union fractures resulting in a significant loss of mobility.
Illness Severe (i) £38,430 to £52,500 A severe illness with painful symptoms. The illness would be fairly long-lasting, with a potential impact on the life of the sufferer in the long term.
Illness Serious (ii) £9,540 to £19,200 This would be a short but serious illness with painful and uncomfortable symptoms. There could be some residual health issues after a partial recovery.
Illness Significant discomfort (iii) £3,950 to £9,540 A moderate illness, with painful symptoms that would last for some time. However, the sufferer would recover completely eventually.
Illness Disabling pain (iv) £910 to £3,950 A minor illness, with uncomfortable or painful symptoms, but recovery would be made quickly and completely.
Ankle Modest Up to £13,740 Injuries in this category will usually have symptoms such as; pain and discomfort, scarring, aching, loss of movement and a likely existence of osteoarthritis.
Foot Modest Up to £13,740 A poorly healed metatarsal fracture that leaves the foot with a deformity.

You may also like to try using our compensation calculator to get a rough estimate of the level of damages you might receive, if you win your claim. Alternatively, for a much more accurate valuation of your claim, we can arrange for a solicitor to evaluate it for you. If you would like us to do this, call and speak to our team of advisors today.

Differences Between General Damages And Special Damages

Compensation settlements for successful claims for medical negligence may consist of general and special damages. General damages compensate you for the medical negligence. In the previous section, we provided a list of compensation guidelines for various injuries taken from the JCG.

Special damages compensate you for the financial losses and expenses incurred due to the unnecessary harm you suffered. Examples of financial losses you could be compensated for under special damages include:

  •  Loss of earnings if you’ve required time off work.
  • Medical expenses. For example, the costs of prescriptions.
  • Care costs if you’ve required a carer to help you cope with your daily life.
  • Travel expenses. For example, if you need to take taxis to and from medical appointments.

However, to be able to claim special damages, you will need to provide proof of your financial losses, such as receipts or payslips.

Contact our advisors to learn more about the process of medical negligence claims. They can also assess the eligibility of your particular claim, and if it seems valid, you could be put in touch with one of our medical negligence claims solicitors.

No Win No Fee Solicitors For Medical Negligence Claims

You may be able to use a No Win No Fee solicitor to help you through the medical negligence claim process. A No Win No Fee agreement, also known as a conditional fee agreement, would mean you can start a claim without  paying any upfront or ongoing fees to your lawyer. Also, if the claim is unsuccessful, you won’t need to pay your lawyer a fee.

However, if the claim is won, your lawyer is likely to ask to be paid a success fee, that is limited by law. It can be taken from the compensation payment the lawyer was sent on your behalf. Our claims team can give you more information about making a claim using a No Win No Fee solicitor, if you get in touch.

To speak with one of our advisors about No Win No Fee solicitors or other matters regarding medical negligence claims, you can use the following methods:

Further Information On The Medical Negligence Claims Process

Here are some links to websites with information you might like to check over.

Clinical Negligence In The NHS – Citizens Advice Taking Legal Action

Time Limitation Act 1980 – Sets time limits for starting claims.

How To Complain To The NHS

Here are links to other guides you might like to check through.

Psychological Injury Claims – How Much Compensation Could I Be Entitled To?

How Much Compensation Can I Claim For Care Home Negligence or Injury?

Can I Claim Against A Doctor Or GP For Negligence?

How Much Could I Claim After A Knee Replacement Gone Wrong?

Last Updated On 8th July 2025. You may wonder whether you could be eligible to claim compensation if your knee replacement has gone wrong. All medical professionals owe their patients a duty of care. This means that they have a responsibility to provide the correct standard of care. Should they fail to do this and cause you to suffer avoidable harm, you could be eligible to begin a medical negligence claim.

A doctor checks on a patient after a knee replacement surgery

However, it is important to state that just because a knee replacement surgery has gone wrong, this does not mean that a surgeon breached their duty of care. They could have provided the correct standard of care and done everything possible to treat you. However, a factor outside of their control meant you suffered harm. For this, you will be unable to claim.

Keep reading to learn how knee surgery could go wrong, when this may be caused by medical negligence and how it could impact you. You can speak to one of our advisors for free legal advice. They can answer any questions you may have and provide information regarding the services of a No Win No Fee solicitor. Our advisors are available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. Therefore, you can get in contact at a time that suits you.

Reach out by:

  • Calling us on 0800 073 8804
  • Filling in our contact form
  • Writing to a member of our team using the live chat pop-up in the corner

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What Is A Knee Replacement That Has Gone Wrong?

Knee replacement is an arthroplasty procedure; it involves replacing a worn, diseased or damaged knee with an artificial joint. But what happens when a knee replacement has gone wrong? A compensation claim may be possible if a knee replacement goes wrong due to medical negligence.

You could be eligible to claim compensation for the avoidable harm you suffered due to medical negligence. However, it is important to be aware of the criteria that you are required to meet in order to have a valid case. This is as follows:

  • A medical professional owes a duty of care to you
  • They then breach this duty of care
  • This caused you to experience harm that was avoidable

If you feel unsure as to whether you could have the grounds to start a valid medical negligence claim, speak to one of our advisors. Once they have learned a little about your circumstances, they can offer you advice.

How Could Medical Negligence Occur During Surgery?

There are various ways in which surgery could go wrong. In the following table, we have provided some examples of how medical negligence could occur during surgery:

  • During the surgical process, the surgeon operates on the incorrect knee.
  • A foreign object is left in the patient’s body after the procedure.
  • Too little or too much anaesthesia was administered during surgery

If you have suffered avoidable harm due to a medical professional breaching their duty of care during a knee replacement surgery, please contact our team of advisors to learn about how to make a claim.

How Could You Be Impacted If A Knee Replacement Has Gone Wrong?

A knee replacement gone wrong could have a significant effect on your quality of life. In this section, we will look at some of the potential negative impacts you could suffer.

You may sustain physical or psychological harm that could have been avoided, such as:

  • A worsened prognosis
  • An exacerbation of a pre-existing condition
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety or depression
  • Physical pain and suffering
  • More extensive, long-term, painful or invasive treatment

Additionally, you could suffer financially as a result of medical negligence. This could apply if the avoidable harm you suffered prevents you from working, you may struggle financially due to the loss of income. Please speak to a member of our team to discover whether you could be eligible to receive compensation for the avoidable harm you have suffered due to medical negligence.

Are Knee Replacement Surgery Issues Always Due To Medical Negligence?

No, knee replacement surgery issues are not always caused by medical negligence. As stated, the harm that you suffer must have been avoidable in order to start a knee replacement negligence claim

Unfortunately, sometimes medical treatment requires you to suffer some harm in order to improve your health. For example, you will likely experience some degree of discomfort and pain after your knee surgery. However, this is often an unavoidable consequence of surgery.

There are many other instances where a medical professional treats you according to the minimum standard of care but you still suffer harm. Imagine that an anaesthetist administers anaesthetic before surgery. You have never had this anaesthetic before and experience a severe allergic reaction. 

This would not be considered as medical negligence, as there would be no way for medical professionals to have prior knowledge of the allergy in this case. On the other hand, it would be a different situation if there was a note on your medical records confirming your allergy.

You may not be sure whether you meet the eligibility criteria for a knee replacement gone wrong claim. Speak with our advisory team to establish whether you have been a victim of medical negligence and what steps you can take to move forward.

How Could You Prove Medical Negligence?

Should medical negligence have caused you avoidable harm, and you wish to pursue a compensation claim, you should gather evidence to prove that a medical professional breached their duty of care. You could do this by providing:

  • Photographs of any physical injuries, if applicable
  • Medical records
  • Prescriptions
  • A diary of how your medical condition has progressed
  • Proof of any financial loss that the medical negligence has caused

Also, we recommend that you seek legal advice. Contact our team of claim advisors to learn about the different types of evidence that may apply when proving medical negligence.

How Much Compensation Could Be Awarded For A Successful Medical Negligence Claim?

If a medical negligence claim for a knee replacement gone wrong is successful, the settlement can be comprised of up to 2 different parts: general and special damages.

Under the general damages part of the compensation, you can be awarded compensation for the harm caused by medical negligence. This will take into consideration how this harm affected your quality of life.

Below, we have provided a compensation table using the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG), except for the figure in the first row which is not from this document. Legal professionals, such as medical negligence solicitors, can also use this document to assist with the calculation of an award.

Type of InjurySeverityNotesCompensation Range
Multiple injuries with financial costsSevereMultiple injuries with the associated costs, such as payments for medical treatmentUp to £500,000+
Leg InjuryAmputation (a)(iii)One of the person's legs will be amputated above the knee. £127,930 to £167,760
Knee InjurySevere (a)(i)Serious injuries to the knee that disrupt the joint, cause osteoarthritis to develop and lead to further problems such as loss of function. £85,100 to £117,410
Knee InjurySevere (a)(ii)This bracket includes injuries such as a fracture of the leg that extends down into the knee joint. This would cause constant permanent pain and further problems. £63,610 to £85,100
Knee InjurySevere (a)(iii)Injuries that are less severe than in the two brackets above and/or lead to less severe disability. £31,960 to £53,030
Knee InjuryModerate (b)(i)This bracket includes injuries to the knee such as torn cartilage or meniscus, or dislocation which leads to a mild future disability such as minor instability. £18,110 to £31,960
Knee InjuryModerate (b)(ii)The injuries that fall within this bracket will be similar to those in the bracket above. However, they will be less serious in nature. They could involve shorter periods of exacerbation or acceleration, bruising, twisting or laceration injuries. Up to £16,770
ScarringNumber of Noticeable Scars or One Single Disfiguring ScarThis bracket can cover a single disfiguring scar or several noticeable laceration scars to the leg(s). £9,560 to £27,740

Please consider the figures in the table above as a guide. The differences between each claim affect the level of the award.

What Are Special Damages?

The special damages part of the claim can compensate for monetary losses incurred due to medical negligence. This may include:

  • Accommodation alterations due to disability
  • Loss of income
  • Care costs
  • Medical costs
  • Travel expenses

However, it is important to understand that you will need to provide evidence to prove these losses. This could include payslips, invoices and travel tickets.

If you would like to know whether you could make a medical negligence claim for compensation, speak to a member of our team. You could also use a claims calculator to get an estimate of the value of your claim.

How Might I Benefit From A No Win No Fee Agreement?

Should you speak with one of our advisors to assess your case, and they find that you may have valid grounds to start a claim, they could connect you with one of our No Win No Fee solicitors. If a solicitor offers to work on your case through a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), which is a type of No Win No Fee agreement, it can benefit both you and your claim.

Opting to use a solicitor under a CFA will generally mean that you will not be asked to pay any upfront or ongoing fees for their services. It also means you typically won’t pay for a solicitor’s services at any time should your claim be unsuccessful.

On the other hand, a successful case will generally mean that a medical negligence solicitor working under a CFA can take a small percentage of the compensation. There is a cap upheld by legislation and is commonly referred to as a success fee. A solicitor will explain any payments to you before you enter into an agreement.

Speak With Legal Expert To Start Your Medical Negligence Claim

Have you suffered avoidable harm due to a knee replacement gone wrong? Contact our team of advisors to learn whether you could be eligible to begin a medical negligence claim. They can provide you with legal advice on how you could proceed. Our claims line is open 24 hours a day, every day of the week. Therefore, you can call us whenever it is convenient for you.

Contact us by:

  • Calling us on 0800 073 8804
  • Filling in our contact form
  • Writing to a member of our team using the live chat pop-up in the corner of this page

Further Information On Claiming Compensation After A Knee Replacement Gone Wrong

For further resources on medical negligence claims, read the other guides on our website:

Below we have provided more sources for you to explore:

Thank you for taking the time to read this guide on whether you may be eligible to proceed with a medical negligence claim after a knee replacement has gone wrong.