Frequently Asked Questions

A personal injury claim is a legal process that allows you to seek compensation if you've been injured due to someone else's negligence or wrongdoing. This covers a wide range of situations, including:

• Road traffic accidents (car, motorcycle, pedestrian, cyclist)
• Accidents at work
• Slips, trips, and falls in public places
• Medical negligence
• Criminal injuries

Compensation can cover your pain and suffering, medical expenses, lost earnings, and other financial losses resulting from the injury.

In most cases, you have 3 years from the date of the accident or injury to start court proceedings. However, there are important exceptions:

• Children: The 3-year limit doesn't start until their 18th birthday
• Industrial diseases: Time runs from when you first became aware of the condition
• Criminal injuries: CICA claims must be made within 2 years
• Military claims: Special time limits may apply

We strongly recommend contacting us as soon as possible after an accident, as evidence is easier to gather and witnesses' memories are fresher.

The duration of a personal injury claim varies depending on several factors:

• Straightforward claims: 6-9 months if liability is clear
• Complex cases: 12-24 months or longer
• Cases involving ongoing treatment: We may wait until you've recovered to assess final compensation

Factors that affect timing include the complexity of the case, whether liability is disputed, the severity of injuries, and how long it takes to gather medical evidence. We'll keep you informed throughout the process.

Compensation amounts depend on several factors:

• General damages: For pain, suffering, and loss of amenity
• Special damages: For financial losses including medical expenses, travel costs, lost earnings, and care costs

Use our Personal Injury Compensation Calculator to get an estimate, or contact us for a free case assessment where we can provide a more accurate indication based on your specific circumstances.

Yes, you may still be able to claim compensation even if you were partially at fault. This is known as "contributory negligence." Your compensation would be reduced by the percentage you're deemed responsible.

For example, if you're awarded £10,000 but found to be 25% at fault, you would receive £7,500. Contact us to discuss your specific circumstances – many clients are surprised to learn they can still claim.

We handle all types of road traffic accident claims, including:

• Car accident claims
• Motorcycle accident claims
• Cyclist accident claims
• Pedestrian accident claims
• E-scooter accident claims
• Bus and coach accident claims
• Train and rail accident claims
• Boat, ship, and ferry accident claims

Whether you were a driver, passenger, or innocent bystander, we can help you claim the compensation you deserve.

After an accident, if possible, you should:

1. Seek medical attention – Your health is the priority; get injuries documented
2. Report the incident – To the police (if a road accident) or record it in an accident book (if at work)
3. Gather evidence – Take photos, get witness details, note down what happened
4. Keep records – Save receipts for expenses, keep a diary of your symptoms
5. Don't admit fault – Be careful what you say to others or insurers
6. Contact us – The sooner you speak to a solicitor, the better we can protect your claim

A data breach occurs when personal information is accessed, disclosed, altered, or destroyed without authorisation. This can include:

• Cyber attacks and hacking incidents
• Accidentally sending data to the wrong person
• Lost or stolen devices containing personal data
• Employees accessing data without permission
• Inadequate security measures leading to data exposure

Under UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018, organisations must protect your personal data. If they fail to do so, you may be entitled to compensation.

Yes, you may be entitled to compensation if:

• Your personal data was compromised in a breach
• The organisation failed to adequately protect your data
• You suffered harm as a result (financial loss or emotional distress)

Importantly, you don't need to have suffered financial loss to claim. Under UK GDPR, you can claim for distress alone, including anxiety, stress, and inconvenience caused by the breach.

Data breach compensation varies depending on:

• Type of data exposed: Sensitive data (medical, financial) typically results in higher compensation
• Consequences of the breach: Identity theft, financial loss, or fraud
• Emotional impact: Anxiety, distress, and inconvenience suffered

Payouts in UK data breach cases have ranged from a few hundred pounds to several thousand pounds. Contact us for a free assessment of your potential claim.

We handle various types of data breach claims, including:

• NHS data breaches: Medical records and health information
• Workplace data breaches: Employee information exposed by employers
• Financial data breaches: Bank details, credit card information
• Sensitive data breaches: Criminal records, sexual orientation, religious beliefs

You may be notified of a data breach through:

• Direct communication from the organisation (they're legally required to notify you in serious cases)
• News reports about a company you've used
• Unexpected activity on your accounts
• ICO (Information Commissioner's Office) notifications

If you've received notification that your data has been compromised, contact us to discuss whether you have a claim.

A housing disrepair claim is a legal action against your landlord (private, council, or housing association) when they fail to maintain your property in a safe and habitable condition. Common issues include:

• Damp and mould
• Leaking roofs or pipes
• Broken heating or hot water systems
• Pest infestations
• Structural defects
• Faulty electrics

Under the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018, landlords must ensure your home is safe and free from serious disrepair.

Yes, absolutely. Council tenants and housing association tenants have the same rights as private tenants. Your landlord, whether it's a local authority, housing association, or private landlord, has a legal duty to maintain your property.

We've successfully helped many tenants claim against councils and housing associations for failing to address disrepair issues.

Compensation for housing disrepair depends on several factors:

• Severity of the disrepair: More serious issues result in higher compensation
• Duration: How long the problems have persisted
• Impact on your health: Respiratory problems from damp, injuries from hazards
• Damage to belongings: Personal items affected by leaks, mould, etc.
• Inconvenience: Loss of use of rooms, disruption to daily life

As well as compensation, a successful claim will require your landlord to carry out the necessary repairs.

Yes, before making a claim, you should have reported the issue to your landlord in writing (email, letter, or through their portal). Your landlord must be given reasonable time to carry out repairs once notified.

Keep copies of all communications and note the dates you reported issues. If your landlord has failed to act despite being notified, you may have a claim. Contact us even if you're not sure – we can advise based on your circumstances.

Useful evidence for housing disrepair claims includes:

• Photographs and videos: Showing the condition of your property
• Written reports: Copies of letters or emails to your landlord reporting issues
• Medical records: If your health has been affected (e.g., respiratory issues from mould)
• Receipts: For damaged belongings or any costs you've incurred
• Diary: Noting dates and impact of the disrepair on your daily life

Don't worry if you don't have all of this – we can arrange for an independent surveyor to inspect your property and gather evidence.

Debt recovery is the process of pursuing payment of debts owed to you or your business. As solicitors, we can take legal action that debt collection agencies cannot, including:

• Sending formal Letters Before Action (LBA)
• Issuing County Court claims
• Obtaining County Court Judgments (CCJs)
• Instructing enforcement officers (bailiffs)
• Applying for charging orders on property
• Pursuing insolvency proceedings if appropriate

Unlike a standard debt recovery agency, our solicitors can:

• Issue formal legal proceedings in court
• Provide legal advice on complex debt matters
• Represent you in court hearings
• Apply for enforcement measures (CCJs, charging orders, bankruptcy proceedings)
• Add legitimacy and urgency to your demands – a solicitor's letter carries more weight

Often, a formal Letter Before Action from a solicitor is enough to prompt payment without needing to go to court.

A Letter Before Action (LBA), also known as a Letter of Claim, is a formal letter sent to a debtor demanding payment before legal action is taken. It:

• Sets out the amount owed and why
• Gives the debtor a deadline to pay (usually 14-30 days)
• Warns that court proceedings will follow if payment isn't made
• Is a required step before most court claims (under the Pre-Action Protocol)

Many debts are settled at this stage, as debtors take the threat of legal action seriously when it comes from solicitors.

Timescales vary depending on the debtor's response:

• If debtor pays after LBA: 2-4 weeks
• Undefended court claim: 6-8 weeks to obtain judgment
• Defended claim: Several months if it goes to hearing
• Enforcement: Additional weeks/months depending on method

We work efficiently to recover your money as quickly as possible while following proper legal procedures.

Yes, in many cases you can claim:

• Contractual interest: If your contract allows for it
• Statutory interest: Under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts Act, businesses can claim 8% above the Bank of England base rate on late B2B payments
• Fixed compensation: £40-£100 per invoice under the same Act
• Court fees and legal costs: Often recoverable from the debtor if you win

We'll advise you on what you can legitimately claim to maximise your recovery.

No Win No Fee (also called a Conditional Fee Agreement or CFA) means:

• No upfront costs: You don't pay anything to start your claim
• No risk: If your case is unsuccessful, you don't pay our legal fees
• Success fee: If we win, a percentage of your compensation (capped by law) covers our fee

This arrangement makes legal representation accessible to everyone, regardless of their financial situation. We take on the risk so you don't have to.

We offer No Win No Fee arrangements for:

• Personal injury claims (all types)
• Road traffic accident claims
• Criminal injury claims
• Housing disrepair claims
• Data breach compensation claims
• Medical negligence claims
• Military personnel claims

For debt recovery, we typically work on fixed fees or success-based fees – contact us to discuss the best arrangement for your situation.

Under our No Win No Fee agreements, you won't pay our legal fees if your case is unsuccessful. However, there are some things to be aware of:

• Our fees: You pay nothing if we lose
• Insurance: We can arrange After The Event (ATE) insurance to protect you against the other side's costs if you lose
• Disbursements: Some agreements may require you to pay certain expenses (like medical report fees) if unsuccessful, but we'll explain this clearly upfront

We'll explain all potential costs and risks before you proceed, so there are no surprises.

Yes, we offer a free initial consultation for all our services. During this consultation, we will:

• Listen to your situation and understand your case
• Provide an honest assessment of whether you have a valid claim
• Explain the likely process and timescales
• Outline our fees and any costs involved
• Answer any questions you have

There's no obligation to proceed after the consultation. Call us on 0161 771 2432 or complete our online form to arrange yours.

Under a No Win No Fee agreement, you keep the majority of your compensation. The success fee (our fee for taking the risk) is capped by law at 25% of compensation for most personal injury cases.

We'll always be transparent about what you can expect to receive. In many cases, our costs are recovered from the losing party, meaning you keep more of your compensation.