When you or a loved one suffer a personal injury, it can have a major impact on your life, including your ability to work and live independently. Our personal injury lawyers can assist you with claiming compensation which can be essential for helping you to rebuild your life.
Bird & Co’s personal injury claims team, led by David-James Stott, deal with a wide range of claims, with particular expertise in catastrophic injury claims and employers’ liability claims resulting from serious workplace accidents. We have a strong track record of success in these cases, securing settlements ranging from thousands to millions of pounds.
We also have strong expertise in other areas of personal injury especially criminal injuries.
An increasing number of clients are also referring cases to us involving professional negligence claims arising out of failed personal injury litigation before the Courts. This includes where personal injury claims have been lost due to other firms failing to issue or serve within limitation periods, or where claims have been under settled or the opportunity for a claim has been missed altogether.
We understand that making a claim for personal injury compensation can be confusing and intimidating, our goal is to make the process as simple and stress-free as possible. We have a strong focus on communication meaning our personal injury lawyers will make sure we get a clear understanding of your situation and then explain your options in plain English. We will then keep you regularly updated about the progress of your case and always be available to answer your questions, allowing you to have complete confidence in the way we are handling your claim.
For a free, no obligation initial consultation, speak to one of our personal injury solicitors today by calling 01476 404103 or use the contact form on the right and we will get back to you promptly.
Our personal injury claims services
Our personal injury lawyers, based in Grantham, Lincoln and Newark, help clients across Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and the rest of the UK to claim personal injury compensation in relation to a wide range of accidents and injuries.
Our personal injury claims expertise includes:
- Accidents at work
- Road traffic accidents
- Slips, trips, falls and injuries on public and private land
- Medical negligence;
- Uninsured or untraceable road traffic accidents
- Injuries while on holiday
- Criminal injuries
- Inquests and fatal accident claims
- Obscure or complex cases
- Prison incidents
- Taking over cases from other solicitors/insurers
- Solicitors/ insurers negligent treatment of claims
- Under-settlement of claims
- Stress at work and psychiatric injury claims
No win, no fee personal injury claims
We believe your financial situation should not be a barrier to your ability to claim compensation you are entitled to, so we assist many of our clients on a no win, no fee basis. Also known as a ‘conditional fee arrangement’, this means that you only pay us based on how much compensation we secure for you.
If we do win a settlement for you, our fee will be based on a pre-agreed percentage of the settlement and if we are unable to secure compensation, you won’t owe us a penny. That means you don’t have to pay anything up front to start a claim.
Alternatively, you may be able to fund the cost of your claim through a pre-existing insurance policy you have – for example, many home insurance policies include legal expenses insurance as an optional extra. It is therefore worth checking this with your insurer when considering making a claim.
Please contact us to find out more about the cost of making a personal injury compensation claim.
Frequently asked questions about personal injury claims
What is the time limit for making a personal injury claim?
For most types of personal injuries, you will need to start a claim within 3 years. Depending on the circumstances, this could be 3 years from when the injury occurred or 3 years from when you became aware of the injury if this happens at a later point. In relation to Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority claims the time limit is 2 years.
However, there are exceptions to this 3-year time limit. If the injury occurs to someone under the age of 18, they will normally have until their 21st birthday to start a claim.
The courts can also extend the time limit to bring a claim under certain circumstances, although this is rare, so it is important to take action as soon as possible when considering starting a personal injury claim.
How much compensation can you claim for a personal injury?
This will depend on various factors, including the seriousness of the injury and how responsible the defendant was for the injury occurring. You can normally claim two types of damages for a personal injury – special damages and general damages.
Special damages cover specific financial losses, such as lost income, the cost of treatment, specialist equipment etc. General damages covers non-financial losses, such as pain and suffering and loss of function e.g. no longer being able to carry out activities you previously enjoyed.
We will provide an estimate of what level of settlement we believe you may be able to secure at the outset, but the final settlement will depend on how the case progresses, including whether the defendant is willing to offer an early settlement or if the case goes to court.
How long does it take to claim personal injury compensation?
This entirely depends on the circumstances. Some simple, lower value claims can be resolved in a matter of months, while it is not unknown for more complex, high value claims to take more than two years to settle.
Commonly, personal injury claims will take in the region of 12-18 months to reach a resolution, with those claims that can be settled out of court generally being faster to deal with.
Who can claim compensation for a personal injury?
In order to claim personal injury compensation you will normally need to prove two things:
- That someone else’s negligence or deliberate action caused or contributed to your injury
- That the injury has caused long-term damage with a measurable impact on your life
Our personal injury lawyers will be happy to review the details of any potential claim with you and provide a realistic assessment of whether we think you are likely to be able to claim compensation. We can then discuss all of the evidence you are likely to need, including witness accounts and independent medical examination, to help you build a strong case.
Do you need to go to court for a personal injury claim?
The majority of claims can be resolved outside of a court, either through informal negotiations with the defendant or more formal pre-trial negotiations. Agreeing a settlement in this way is normally faster, less expensive and less stressful for you.
However, if the defendant denies liability or a suitable settlement cannot be agreed, court action may be needed to resolve the matter. In such cases, we will ensure you have the skilled advocacy you need to achieve a fair settlement for your claim.
Our expertise in personal injury claims
With decades of experience successfully handling even the most complicated and contentious personal injury claims, we are highly motivated and work tirelessly to achieve maximum compensation for each client. Our strong track record of success includes securing compensation ranging from thousands to millions of pounds.
We offer a compassionate but highly practical service with the aim of ensuring everyone who is entitled to claim personal injury compensation is able to do so. In most cases we are able to resolve claims without the need for you to attend a court hearing, through early conciliation and pre-trial settlements. However, where court proceedings are required, we have the expertise to ensure you have the very best representation to help you achieve a fair outcome.
We are able to meet clients at all of our offices in Lincoln, Grantham and Newark and can arrange home visits where required.
Bird & Co has achieved the Law Society’s Lexcel accreditation for our excellent legal and professional standards and we are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).
Contact our personal injury lawyers
Speak to one of our personal injury lawyers in Lincoln, Grantham or Newark today by calling 01476 404103 or use the contact form at the top of the page to ask a question.
For full details of our team please look at the "Our People" section of the website.