In many accidents, another person or entity may be responsible for causing injury to the victim, who has the right to claim compensation. Every year, numerous people suffer injuries in accidents due to the negligence of others, whether at home, on the road, at work, or in public spaces.
Most individuals pursue personal injury claims to help them rebuild their lives and receive compensation for the unnecessary pain and suffering they have endured. Filing a personal injury claim can also help prevent similar accidents from happening to others.
There are various types of personal injury claims that people could raise in the UK and UK personal injury lawyers could help you.
Personal injury claims are not only limited to accidents. Official statistics show a significant rise in the number of claims related to dangerous dog attacks, with approximately 4,000 claims being filed each year due to such incidents. The unexpected behaviour of animals, particularly dogs, horses, or exotic pets, poses a risk to vulnerable groups such as young children and the elderly. According to NHS reports, about 40% of people receiving treatment for dog bites and other injuries are victims of dog attacks.
Most personal injury claims in Scotland are handled by the Court of Session, which costly and time-consuming. In response to concerns about the efficiency of the process, the government has proposed new laws to limit the amount that law firms can earn from ‘no win, no fee’ cases. A new court, specialising solely in personal injury claims, is being established in Edinburgh. The aim is to transfer these cases to the sheriff court, where lawyers would no longer be able to claim success fees from the losing side, but instead be compensated for damages alone.
This specialist court is part of the Scottish Government’s legislative agenda and is expected to be operational next year. Staffed by expert sheriffs, the court will handle cases from across Scotland, providing faster and more cost-effective compensation for victims of workplace accidents, road traffic incidents, or other injuries. Experts believe this initiative will ensure fairer judgments with potentially broad societal impact.
Recent developments in the US indicate that many women who have used the Mirena intrauterine device (IUD), a birth control method, are filing product liability claims against the manufacturer. Some women have reported complications, including ectopic pregnancies, and the manufacturer has already paid out more than $400 million in compensation. UK personal injury solicitors advise any women who have suffered illness or injury due to the Mirena IUD to seek immediate legal advice to claim compensation.
In another case involving personal injury, a British couple has filed a compensation claim after their home in Spain was illegally demolished by the Andalusian government in 2008, despite them having the correct planning paperwork. Spain’s Constitutional Court later ruled the demolition unlawful, and the couple, who have since lived in a shed, are pursuing damages.
In a recent business acquisition, Quindell has announced its purchase of Pinto Potts Solicitors, a firm specialising in high-value personal injury claims, pending approval from the Solicitors Regulation Authority and the Financial Services Authority.
Additionally, schools in Lancashire have paid out over £1.2 million in compensation to pupils injured on school grounds over the past six years.
Data suggests that younger individuals are more likely to be eligible for personal injury claims than older people, although eligibility depends on the nature and severity of the injury.