Personal Injury Claims

What is a personal injury claim?

A personal injury claim is a formal request for financial compensation after you’ve been hurt due to another party’s negligence or breach of duty. To succeed, you generally need to show that the other party owed you a duty of care, that they breached it, and that the breach caused your injury. In England and Wales, you usually have three years from the date of the accident (or from when you first became aware your injury was linked to someone’s negligence) to start court proceedings — so it’s worth getting advice as early as possible.
Claiming compensation for an accident, illness or injury

What sort of personal injuries are covered?

Below are the most common causes of personal injury we handle. Get in touch and we’ll tell you how we can help with your specific case.

1. Road Traffic Accidents

What it is: Any accident that happens while you’re in a vehicle — whether you’re a driver, passenger, cyclist, or pedestrian. These range from minor collisions to serious crashes. How it can affect you: Injuries can range from whiplash and broken bones to more severe issues like brain injuries or spinal cord damage, impacting your ability to work, your finances, and your wellbeing. How we can help: If the accident wasn’t your fault, we can help you claim compensation for medical treatment, lost wages, pain and suffering, and vehicle repair costs.

2. Incidents in Transit

What it is: Injuries that occur while travelling — on public transport, in taxis, or on foot — including trips, falls, or harm caused by unsafe conditions. How it can affect you: You may suffer sprains, fractures, or head injuries, disrupting your routine, work, and daily life. How we can help: Where someone else’s negligence caused your injury — poorly maintained public transport, unsafe walkways, overcrowded spaces — we can help you claim for the harm and inconvenience caused.

3. Accidents at Work

What it is: Injuries at your place of employment, from slips, trips, and falls to machinery accidents, lifting injuries, or work-related stress. How it can affect you: You could face physical injuries or mental health impacts like anxiety, potentially affecting your ability to earn a living. How we can help: If your employer failed in their duty of care — inadequate safety measures, equipment, or training — we can help you claim for both immediate and long-term effects. Employment Tribunal Defence

4. Clinical Negligence

What it is: Medical errors, misdiagnoses, delayed diagnoses, or surgical mistakes that cause harm or worsen your condition. How it can affect you: Clinical negligence can cause lifelong health problems, additional medical expenses, and emotional trauma. How we can help: We help hold medical providers accountable, claiming for extra medical costs, pain and suffering, or long-term care needs.

5. Physical or Sexual Abuse

What it is: Physical or sexual abuse experienced at home, in public, or in institutions such as schools or care homes. How it can affect you: The emotional, psychological, and physical toll can be devastating and long-lasting, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression. How we can help: We can help you claim for both physical and emotional harm, guiding you through the legal process with sensitivity and discretion.

6. Industrial Disease

What it is: Illnesses caused by working conditions — asbestos-related illness, hearing loss, or lung disease from exposure to harmful substances — common in construction, manufacturing, or mining. How it can affect you: These diseases often take years to develop and can result in chronic illness or disability by the time they’re diagnosed. How we can help: If your employer failed to protect you from harmful exposure, you may be entitled to compensation for your illness, medical costs, and lost income.

7. Faulty Goods

What it is: Injuries caused by defective or dangerous products — a faulty electrical appliance, a malfunctioning car part, or unsafe food or drink. How it can affect you: Faulty goods can cause anything from burns to serious injuries. How we can help: We can help you claim compensation from the manufacturer, retailer, or supplier, including medical treatment and repair costs.

8. Property Damage

What it is: Damage to your home, vehicle, or belongings caused by someone else’s negligence. How it can affect you: Beyond repair costs, property damage disrupts daily life and creates financial strain. How we can help: We can help you recover repair or replacement costs, plus compensation for the inconvenience caused.

Working with medical experts

To secure the compensation you deserve, it’s vital to have input from an expert medical professional who understands the details of your claim. At Adam Bernard, we work with an established network of medical experts across the professional spectrum to help build your case. Where your health is at risk, we’ll ensure your rehabilitation needs are met, including:

• Physiotherapy
• Chiropractic services
• Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT)
• EMDR (eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing)
• Occupational therapy

What can you claim compensation for?

If you’ve suffered a personal injury that wasn’t your fault, you may be entitled to compensation across several categories of loss:

1. Personal injury — physical harm from the accident, covering pain and suffering plus medical expenses.
2. Loss of income — earnings lost while you’re unable to work or working reduced hours during recovery.
3. Loss of business — for business owners, lost profits or opportunities caused by your injury.
4. Disadvantage on the labour market — where long-term effects make it harder to find or retain work.
5. Loss of congenial employment — losing a role or career you were particularly suited to or enjoyed.
6. Future losses — anticipated long-term impact on earning capacity or quality of life.
7. Care and services — the cost of help with daily tasks, or the value of care previously provided by others.
8. Loss of earnings for employer — where a self-employed claimant’s injury affects their ability to fulfil contracts.
9. Damaged clothing or belongings — replacement or repair of items damaged in the accident.
10. Vehicle damage — repair costs or replacement value if your vehicle was written off.
11. Loss of use — costs of alternative transport while your vehicle is off the road.
12. Vehicle repair costs — restoring your vehicle to its pre-accident condition.
13. Policy excess — recovering any excess you paid on your insurance policy.
14. Car hire losses — the cost of hiring a replacement vehicle during repairs.
15. Other relevant losses — travel expenses for medical appointments, psychological support, or other related costs.
     Claiming compensation for a personal injury
    

No win, no fee

We can deal with your personal injury claim on a no win, no fee basis. You only pay our basic charges, expenses, disbursements, and a success fee (plus any insurance premium) if you win. You’re entitled to seek recovery of some or all of our basic charges and expenses from your opponent — but not the success fee or insurance premium.

What is a no win, no fee agreement? It’s a contract between a solicitor and client for a civil claim, under which you pay no legal fees if the claim is unsuccessful. We draft transparent, easy-to-understand agreements and make sure every term is explained clearly before you sign anything.

Why choose Adam Bernard Solicitors?

• Our solicitors are experts in personal injury claims with years of experience across road traffic accidents, workplace injuries, clinical negligence, and more.
• We’ve achieved strong outcomes for clients, as reflected in our client testimonials.
• We may be able to take on your case on a no win no fee basis — you only pay once we’ve secured your compensation.
• We’re authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), and listed on the Law Society’s Find a Solicitor directory.

Frequently Asked Questions