Serious injuries can have a devastating long term impact on the person involved and their family. If you’ve been injured in this way and it wasn’t fully your fault then you may be able to make a claim for compensation.

Beacon Law’s personal injury solicitors have spent more than 20 years fighting claims on behalf of clients who are entitled to compensation. We understand how traumatic and life-changing a serious injury can be and the difference that a successful compensation claim can make.

We know that no amount of money can completely make up for the distress of a serious injury. It could help to pay for things like medical treatment, however, as well as specialist care that might be needed and any adaptations you have to make to your home.

If you’ve been seriously injured and think you might be entitled to compensation then contact Beacon Law today. We’ll do our best to win the compensation that could help you put your life back together again.

What is the legal definition of a serious injury?

There is no official legal definition of a serious injury. If you’re wondering whether an injury counts as serious, however, there is general agreement that a serious injury is:

• An injury which leaves a person unable to lead an independent life
• An injury which makes it difficult if not impossible to return to work
• An injury which requires some form of surgical intervention
• An injury which needs hospital treatment and medical care over the longer term

When a compensation claim is being made the main difference between a serious injury and a ‘normal’ injury is that the scale and complexity of the problems caused is likely to be reflected in the medical evidence needed and the amount of compensation that could be awarded.

The experts at Beacon Law will guide you through this process in an empathetic and supportive manner, making sure that the claim covers all the ways in which a serious injury has impacted your life.

Can I claim compensation for a serious injury?

You may be able to claim compensation if you’ve suffered a serious injury through the negligence of another party at some point in the past 3 years.

A free 30 minute consultation with a member of the Beacon Law team should be enough to establish whether you’re entitled to make a claim, and if you are, we’ll work on a no win no fee basis to get things moving.

Serious injury claims are driven by the life-changing and catastrophic impact which a serious injury could have on your personal, working and family life. Serious injuries of this kind can happen as the result of one-off incidents, such as a fall from height, or could take the form of chronic illnesses caused over the longer term by unsafe working conditions.

Our team is used to handling serious injury compensation claims against parties like employers, local authorities, medical professionals, public bodies and individuals.

For any compensation claim to be successful you need to be able to prove that another party was negligent in some way, and that your injury was the result of the failure in their duty of care to you.

What types of serious injuries can you claim compensation for?

As long as your serious injury was caused by the negligence of another party you may be in a position to seek compensation. The types of serious injuries we have experience of claiming compensation for, include the following:

• Broken and Fractured Bones
• Burns and Scarring Injuries
• Accidents in the Workplace
• Back and Spine Injuries
• Head Injuries
• Brain Injuries
• Dog Bites
• Slips, Trips and Falls
• Amputation, Loss of Limbs and Loss of Limb Functions
• Chronic Illnesses

It’s also possible to make a serious injury claim on behalf of a loved one who is killed in an accident. The claim in question would cover the loss of financial support for any dependents of the deceased, and an amount for any pain and suffering caused by their serious injuries.

How much compensation can I claim for a serious injury?

Serious injury compensation is meant to reflect the long term and life-changing nature of the injury and so could range from tens of thousands of pounds to more than a million. The exact figure will vary, depending upon the severity of your injuries and the impact on your life now and in the future.

The final amount of any compensation awarded is made up of general damages and special damages:

General Damages

The amount of general damages awarded is meant to reflect the pain and distress caused by your serious injury as well as any loss of amenity. Loss of amenity means the degree to which your injuries stop you living your life to the full – i.e. engaging in hobbies, pastimes and even everyday activities such as playing with your children.

The figure is reached with reference to a publication called the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). This sets out a range of possible payments for every type of serious or personal injury.

The latest edition of the JCG includes the following recommendations:

• Severe back injury with spinal cord damage – £85,470 to £151,070
• Moderately severe brain injury – £186,890 to £240,590

Special Damages

Special damages relate to the financial impact of a serious injury, and are meant to return you to the financial state you would have been in if the accident had never happened. They are intended to cover any earnings or pension provision you’ve lost because the serious injury stops you working as you used to, as well as expenses like the following:

• Money you have to spend on medical treatment now and in the future
• Money you have to spend on care now and in the future
• Money you have to spend on specialised equipment needed because of your serious injuries, such as mobility aids
• Money you have to spend on adapting your home or vehicle to maintain accessibility – or the cost of having to rehouse
• Money you have to spend travelling to and from medical appointments
• Money you spend on any therapy or counselling needed

If friends or family members provide any care you should note down the time spent doing so as this could be factored into the special damages.

How do I make a serious injury claim?

The process of making a serious injury claim can be complex and lengthy, but the team at Beacon Law will be by your side every step of the way. We understand that legal action could be the last thing you want to consider when you’re coming to terms with your injuries, so we provide one to one, tailored support to break the process down into smaller steps:

1. Seeking medical help for your serious injuries should be the first thing you do following any accident. As well as improving your chance of making the fullest possible recovery, medical attention will help to create an official record of your injuries and the impact they have had.

2. You should report the accident which caused your serious injury to the relevant body. This might be your employer, an NHS trust, a private medical facility or a local authority to give a few examples. Making an official report of the events which caused your injuries will help when you come to put your compensation claim together.

3. If you think that another party was negligent and caused your serious injuries then get in touch with Beacon Law. We treat every claimant as an individual, and we’ll listen to your account of what happened in a free, no obligation half hour consultation.

If we think you have strong grounds to claim compensation we’ll start the process of making a claim as quickly as possible. We’ll work on a no win no fee basis, so there’s nothing to pay as we bring together the evidence to prove negligence and demonstrate how your life has been impacted.

The evidence for a serious injury compensation claim could include the following:

• Your own detailed statement of the accident or conditions which caused your serious injury and the impact on your life
• The results of a medical evaluation carried out by an independent expert of our choosing
• Your wider medical records including any treatment your serious injuries have required
• The accounts of any eye-witnesses to the accident which caused your serious injury
• Photographic evidence of the scene of any accident
• If an accident was covered by a CCTV camera we will try to obtain the footage
• Any evidence of the other party being aware of the issues which caused your accident – i.e. previous incidents in a public space or workplace
• Receipts for any expenses directly linked to your injuries

4. We’ll contact the other party in the claim, informing them that you intend to claim compensation on the basis that their negligent actions caused your injuries. At this stage many parties admit liability.

5. If liability is admitted we’ll negotiate on your behalf to secure the maximum possible amount of compensation. We understand what represents fair compensation for a client with serious injuries, and won’t settle for anything less.

The complex nature of serious injuries means that this process could take some time, and if it does we’ll push for interim payments to cover the costs you have to deal with until the final compensation is agreed. We always work to settle claims as quickly as possible while ensuring a fair result, using our track record and skills in negotiation to reach a settlement out of court.

6. If the other party denies liability or refuses to make a fair offer of compensation then your serious injury claim will have to be settled in court. This doesn’t happen in the majority of cases, but when it does our experts will be by your side to provide support and highly effective representation.

Do I need a solicitor to make a serious injury claim?

No, there is nothing in the law that says you have to work with a solicitor or legal experts when making a serious injury claim. Handling your own claim, however, would be extremely risky.

Serious injury claims are more complex than most other compensation claims, involving detailed medical evidence and an understanding of the range of factors which can be claimed for.

Our experts have more than 200 years of combined expertise in personal injury and clinical negligence cases, and every bit of that knowledge will inform the service we provide for you.

We can bring together the kind of evidence needed to win a serious injury compensation claim while you concentrate on your recovery, and we can negotiate for the fairest possible result.

Why should I choose Beacon Law?

You should choose Beacon Law for your serious injury claim because of our track record of successful results and our emphasis on client care.

When we claim on your behalf you receive one-to-one attention and clear, jargon-free communication, from first consultation to pulling the relevant evidence together and negotiating a settlement.

We know how devastating a serious injury can be, especially if it happened because another party was negligent and failed in their duty of care to you.

We keep the process as simple as possible from your point of view, leaving you to concentrate on your recovery while we work to get the compensation you’re entitled to.

Our commitment to our clients is reflected in the fact that we work on a no win no fee basis. You pay nothing up front or while we build your claim, and even if you’re not successful there will be no costs to worry about.

The only money we take is a success fee from any compensation awarded, and this will never be more than 25%. If you’ve been seriously injured through neglect you can make a claim without worrying about costs and safe in the knowledge that you’ll get to keep most of any compensation awarded.

If you think you have the grounds for a serious injury compensation claim then contact us today. If we agree then we’ll get to work on your behalf, and as a family run law firm we won’t treat you as just another case, but as an individual who needs our help.