Personal Injury
Leading Personal Injury Solicitors in London
If you have suffered a personal injury, our team of personal injury solicitors can help. Our experienced team are based in London and have a nationwide reach.
We’re recognised as some of the country’s leading injury accident claims and accident injury solicitors, with over 40 years’ experience helping clients and their families throughout the nation who have suffered personal injury through no fault of their own.
Our incredible track record of successful settlements of personal injury claims across the UK has garnered fantastic reviews from our clients as well as a number of awards and commendations, including consistently high rankings from trusted legal research firms such as The Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners. Our specialist personal injury claims team is accredited by APIL (Association of Personal Injury Lawyers) and many of our team are individual members of The Law Society Personal Injury Panel.
Our accident claim solicitors can help you get the compensation you deserve, should you fall victim to accident or personal injury. We cover a wide range of specialisms within personal injury, from workplace accidents to car accident claims, and because we work on a no win, no fee basis, our accident claims services carry no financial risk for you.
Call us today on 0808 252 5231 or request a call back.
Our Personal Injury team has been ranked in the Chambers & Partners 2022 legal directory. The team was described as “timely, transparent and responsive” and “willing to push through novel and important points and are also very resourceful.”
Personal Injury Services:
Specialist solicitors from our personal injury team explain how they work closely with you throughout the personal injury claims process to help get your life back on track.
The work we do
Our personal injury lawyers have obtained millions of pounds in settlements for our clients to cover lost income when they are unable to work, home adaptations they may need to make and other damages.
We place your rehabilitation and recovery at the centre of your case and claim. That’s why we can also help you to access private treatment and rehabilitation that may not be available on the NHS.
To make sure we can fully support our clients, we are committed to partnerships and working links with many charitable and support groups who work in this area, including:
- Headway
- Child Brain Injury Trust
- United Kingdom Acquired Brain Injury Forum
- Brake – the road safety charity
Our successful cases and the compensation we win for our clients show what our accident claim lawyers are able to do and the people they have helped.
Compensation is only part of the work we do in accident claims across the UK. Our personal injury solicitors also help access rehabilitation and medical care to help you make the best recovery possible.
Our personal injury claims work on a no win, no fee basis. This means that you’ll only pay us for our services if we win your case.
"HODGE JONES & ALLEN SOLICITORS HAS BEEN FANTASTIC PROCESSING AND SETTLING MY INJURY CLAIM. IN PARTICULAR CLAIRE SADLER, SHE HAS BEEN EXCELLENT THROUGHOUT MY CLAIM PROCESS."
What is a personal injury claim?
A personal injury claim is a claim for compensation for a physical injury, disease or illness, or a psychological injury/condition that has been caused through the fault or negligence of someone else. In cases where an accident results in death, the loved ones of the victim may also make a fatal accident claim.
Your personal injury claim may be the result of:
- Car or road traffic accident – as a driver, cyclist or pedestrian
A personal injury can be detrimental to the quality of life of the injured person, either temporarily throughout the healing process, or permanently in cases of severe, life-changing or catastrophic injuries. In either instance, there is often a basis for a claim for compensation as recompense for the damages caused by the incident.
To make a personal injury claim, there are steps to follow.
The London Legal Podcast
Instructing A Solicitor After An Accident
Hina Modha and Sarah Townsend, specialist lawyers in our Personal Injury team discuss the importance of instructing a solicitor after suffering injuries in an accident. They discuss important issues such as time limits, medical evidence, rehabilitation and what compensation you may be entitled to. Listen to the podcast below to hear their tips.
Whiplash Reforms
Leticia Williams & Karen Mann of our Personal Injury team explain the reforms to whiplash claims that took place in May 2021. The impact of these changes is that anyone injured in a Road Traffic Accident will not be able to instruct a solicitor if their claim is worth £5,000 or less. This means that time is quickly running out to make a compensation claim for whiplash injuries with an expert solicitor by your side.
Listen to our podcast below to learn more about the whiplash reforms and what they mean for you.
Specialist personal injury solicitors
Our London-based team of accident claims solicitors features leading legal specialists dealing with a wide range of cases across a number of areas of personal injury claim in the UK. Every day, we’re helping new people start their claim for personal injury compensation. Get in touch with our injury solicitor team and they will arrange a time to speak with you to find out more about your accident, your injuries and then advise on the best course of action.
All our personal injury solicitors will be open and transparent with you. Our number one priority is to listen to and understand your situation and to offer the optimal solution. We’re experts at fighting for what’s right and gaining the compensation you deserve, but we’ll always be honest around your case and whether you have legitimate grounds to make a claim.
Our accident claims services are independently accredited by external organisations that recognise specialist personal injury skills. We are proud to be accredited by APIL (a not-for-profit organisation that represents victims of personal injury) and to work with and support national charities, including the Child Brain Injury Trust (CBIT) and the Sudden Bereavement Helpline.
Our personal injury claims specialisms
Our personal injury solicitors deal with a wide range of personal injuries and life-changing situations, including:
Brain injury
Our specialist accident injury solicitors have extensive experience of acting on behalf of both children and adults that have suffered brain injuries. We understand that the nature of every brain injury and its impact on quality of life is different and offer a tailored and highly considered approach to each case.
Accident at work claims
If you have been injured in an accident at work within the last three years and believe it wasn’t your fault, our accident claims lawyers may be able to help you claim for compensation.
Accidents abroad or on holiday
When going abroad, regardless of whether you’re travelling for a holiday or for business, few people think about the implications of suffering an accident in a foreign country. We have helped thousands of people make successful personal injury claims outside of the UK, guiding them through what can often be a stressful and complex process.
Amputation & limb loss claims
Undergoing an amputation can undoubtedly be a traumatic and life-changing experience for both you and your loved ones. Our team of highly experienced, specialist personal injury solicitors will support you at every stage of your recovery.
Asbestos & mesothelioma
Our London-based team of accident claim solicitors have the specialist skills and knowledge needed to help clients seek compensation for asbestos exposure and mesothelioma – an aggressive form of cancer, of which up to 9 out of 10 cases result from asbestos inhalation.
Sports injury claims
Whatever sport you play and no matter what age you are, there’s always the risk of suffering an injury. If you have suffered a sporting injury within the last three years due to an incident that could have been prevented or where someone else was knowingly at fault, our accident claim lawyers can help you claim for a settlement.
Fatal accident & injury
We know the death of a loved one can leave you struggling to cope, both financially and emotionally. Although no amount of money can make up for the physical loss, we’ll work with you to claim fatal injury compensation to help you adjust and manage in both the short and long term.
Car & road accident claims
Our expert team deals with many different types of car injury claims in the UK every year, from temporary injuries such as broken legs to those with more serious issues, including spinal injuries, amputation, and brain injuries.
Slips & trips claims
Whether your slip or trip was an accident at work, in a shop or out on the street, you may be able to make a personal injury claim. A claim for compensation could help you overcome the loss of earnings as well as cover any future medical costs resulting from the incident.
Burns, scalding & scarring injuries
Our specialist personal injury solicitors have over 40 years’ experience in dealing with burns and scalding injuries. We have helped countless clients get the compensation they deserve for burns, as well as any necessary treatment for their injury alongside.
Dental injuries
Whether your dental injury occurred while at work, during a trip or in a car accident, you may be entitled to compensation. Our specialist team can take on your case and get you the compensation you deserve.
Product liability claims
In cases where a potentially faulty product is responsible for your injury, it may be possible to bring a claim for compensation against the manufacturer, suppliers, distributors, or retailers. Our specialist injury solicitors team will assist you throughout your claim.
Spinal injury claims
We understand the impact a spinal injury will have on almost every aspect of day-to-day life. If you suffer from a spinal injury that was outside of your control, we can assist and support you in adapting to the changes and challenges you will face as well as chasing compensation for your injury.
Loss of sight
Around two million people in the UK live with some degree of sight loss. At Hodge Jones & Allen, our personal injury specialists are here to support you and your family following sight loss caused by injury.
Personal injury claims process
1. Carry out a free initial consultation.
Get in touch with the personal injury claims team. We will speak to you to get a full understanding of your accident, the injury in question and assess the best way to help you.
2. No Win No Fee agreement. This means you won’t have to pay anything upfront, and there are no financial risks or obligations to you if your claim is unsuccessful – provided you have taken out After the Event Insurance (ATE).
3. Contact the insurers of the party who was at fault. We will contact the insurers of the party at fault for your accident to seek their agreement to fund early rehabilitation and an admission of liability.
4. Seek an early interim payment. This is to help relieve any immediate financial pressure and to fund medical and rehabilitation treatment as well as expenses while we finalise your claim.
5. If they do not accept responsibility, we will gather additional evidence to prove their fault. Evidence will also be needed to support your claim for damage. This can include independent expert medical evidence, witness statements and a number of other evidence sources that can potentially support your case.
6. If your claim is successful, we will fight to get the best possible compensation. You’ll then receive your settlement upon agreement of a final figure.
No Win No Fee personal injury claims
Whether you’re making a work accident claim, or claiming for another form of personal injury, all our cases are offered on a no win, no fee basis.
This means you’ll only pay us for our help if we win your case.
Successful cases
Do I qualify to make a personal injury claim?
If you have suffered an injury as a result of another person’s negligence, you have a legal right to make a claim for compensation.
The amount of compensation you receive will reflect the seriousness of the injury. Compensation may be awarded for ongoing medical care, lost earnings and other expenses that can make a massive difference to your life at a difficult time.
Of course, it can be difficult to know when you have a valid case. If you think you might have grounds to make a personal injury or accident claim, get in touch with our specialist team of accident injury solicitors and we’ll be able to offer you an honest analysis of where you stand.
How do I start a personal injury claim?
We follow a simple, easy-to-follow personal injury claims process as detailed above under “Our personal injury claims process” section.
As far as you’re concerned, your claim starts by getting in touch with our team. From there, we’ll look to get a full understanding of your case, advise on whether we think you have grounds to make a claim and offer the best course of action.
As for the rest of the legal process, we’ll be there to guide you through the whole thing and take care of all of the complexities involved.
Who pays the compensation?
If your personal injury claim is successful, the party who is at fault will pay. In most cases, that party in question will have an insurance provider who we will negotiate with on the compensation number.
How much will a claim cost me?
Under a ‘no win, no fee’ agreement, you will only pay for our services if you win your case and receive damages. If you lose your case, your accident claim will not cost you any money in legal fees. Alternative funding options are also available to you depending on the circumstances of your case. We can explore these with you when you call.
Hodge Jones & Allen will arrange an insurance policy for you. The policy covers any liability to pay for disbursements and the costs of your opponents. The premium for the policy is self-insured, which means you do not have to pay for the policy in advance.
How long does a personal injury claim take?
A personal injury compensation claim can vary in terms of how long it will take to complete. Generally speaking, the length of your case will depend on a number of factors. These include:
- The extent of the injuries faced
- The length of time you have been in hospital and/or at home and off work
- Care required
- Whether the other side denies responsibility
For a very simple claim, where there is an admission of liability and the injury is relatively minor, this can be a matter of weeks.
If there is no admission of liability and the injuries are more serious, cases can take considerably longer. This is because the case will involve more in-depth evidence gathering and consultation with experts. It may also be necessary to issue court proceedings.
Our personal injury solicitors will be able to give you a better idea of timescales once you have told them more about your case and we will keep you updated throughout the process.
Is there a time limit for making a claim?
With any personal injury claim, there are strict time limits that need to be adhered to. You have three years after the injury occurred, which is usually the date of the accident, to make your claim.
There are some exceptions to this rule for claims for medical accidents (known as medical negligence), where the injury or condition may not become apparent for years. In these circumstances, the time limit period may begin on the date that you became aware.
What makes a successful claim?
To make a successful personal injury claim, you need to provide clear and compelling evidence that establishes the fault of the other party in the incident beyond all reasonable doubt.
We can advise you on how likely your claim is to be successful when we first talk to you, but a typical personal injury case will rely on the strength of evidence sources, such as independent expert medical opinions and witness statements. It’s essential that the evidence you provide is fully honest in its nature, as cases where one side has been found to be ‘fundamentally dishonest’ can lead to you being personally financially liable in defeat or being embroiled in contempt of court proceedings.
Our accident injury solicitors will take care of compiling all the relevant evidence for you to ensure your case is as strong as it possibly can be.
What’s the difference between general and special damages?
Personal injury compensation is assessed by looking at two types of settlement.
- General damages – the actual injury element of the settlement
- Special damages – the financial losses that flow from the injury
General damages
This covers damages for the physical and/or mental pain and suffering, disfigurement or impairment, and lowered quality of life (due to physical and mental limitations, such as no longer being able to undertake previous favourite sports or hobbies).
Special damages
Special damages take into account the financial losses that are a direct result of your injury. The most obvious instance of special damages is the loss of earnings due to incapacity to work. This also includes remuneration if the medical evidence indicates that you are unlikely to work in the future. A pension loss calculation may also be appropriate.
Additionally, the time a loved one spends looking after you in the immediate aftermath of the accident can be recovered. Treatment expenses, such as physiotherapy, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), prescription costs, unused gym membership, travel expenses to and from the hospital and damaged items of clothing also fall into this category.
This is not an exhaustive list as every case is different. We will discuss this with you and make sure that all financial losses that can be recovered are included.
What are disbursements?
Disbursements are costs that our solicitors will have to pay to third parties to help prepare for your case, such as hiring a medical expert or court fees. Disbursement fees are covered by the losing side or insurance, meaning you won’t be liable for them when represented by us.
What compensation do I receive if I win my case?
- You will receive damages awarded, plus fixed or assessed costs
- You will not recover the insurance premium, our success fee and some basic charges
- We aim to keep deductions to a minimum, these will include any unrecovered costs
What do I have to pay if my claim is unsuccessful?
- With a self-insured premium, you do not have to pay the cost of insurance
- All costs are waived (‘no win, no fee’)
- Your disbursements will be paid by insurance
Under the rules of the court, your opponent’s costs are not payable by you unless:
- Proceedings have been struck out
- Your claim is found to be fundamentally dishonest
- Your claim includes a claim for the financial benefit of someone else
NOTE: You will not have to pay any expenses as your case proceeds, Hodge Jones & Allen will pay them on your behalf.
Can I make a claim if I was injured while abroad?
Yes, you can make a personal injury claim if you were negligently injured while abroad on holiday or for work. As your injury occurred outside England and Wales, the law of the country where you were injured may apply. Our specialist solicitors will be able to advise you directly when you call us, and we have extensive experience in working on accident claims outside of the UK.
What types of personal injury can I claim for?
If the accident was not your fault but rather through the negligence of someone else, we can make a claim against them directly or against their insurance company.
You can claim compensation for different types of physical and mental injury. Broadly speaking, most personal injury claims fall into the following areas:
However, there are many more specific personal injury types that can be claimed for. Take a look at our section above on personal injury claim specialisms to get a more detailed understanding of the areas our accident injury solicitors cover.
How much compensation from a personal injury claim can I expect to receive?
The compensation awarded to you will be dependent on the type and seriousness of your injury, as well as the circumstances around the incident. How compensation from personal injury cases is calculated depends on the individual case and includes loss of earnings and medical expenses.
Take a look at our successful case studies above to get an idea of the compensation amounts we have successfully earned our clients for varying types of personal injury.
What is a ‘no win, no fee’ personal injury claim?
A ‘no win, no fee’ or Conditional Fee Agreement are needed in the vast majority of personal injury cases. This type of agreement means you will not be required to pay legal fees if your claim is unsuccessful.
Will I need to have a medical examination?
Yes, we will need to see your medical records and you will need to undergo a medical examination. This isn’t something to worry about, however, as all necessary procedures will be arranged for you and will be conducted by a medical expert.
Our personal injury solicitors will always want to achieve the best possible outcome for you and they will spend time gaining all the relevant details from you regarding the incident and your injuries. They will wish to understand early on the injuries you have sustained, any complexities and how long it is likely to take for you to recover and whether there will be any lasting injuries or effects that you will need to deal with.
A thorough medical examination can help our accident claims solicitors attain this understanding and pursue your claim accordingly. Give the team a call and they will discuss the procedure in more detail with you. We want to make sure all our clients completely understand the process and are clear on every step they will need to take.
