If you’ve been injured and someone else was to blame, you might be entitled to claim compensation. This type of legal action is called a personal injury claim. But personal injury doesn’t only mean car crashes or workplace accidents — it covers a wide range of situations where someone’s negligence caused harm.
In this guide, we’ll break down the main types of personal injury claims in the UK, explain how they work, and help you understand whether you might be able to make a claim.
What Is a Personal Injury Claim?
A personal injury claim is a legal process you can start if you’ve been injured — physically or psychologically — due to someone else’s negligence, carelessness, or wrongdoing.
If successful, you may receive compensation to cover:
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of earnings
- Medical expenses
- Travel costs
- Long-term care and support
To succeed, you’ll need to show:
- Someone owed you a duty of care.
- They breached that duty.
- You suffered injury or loss as a result.
Now let’s look at the different types of personal injury claims you can make in the UK.
Road Traffic Accident Claims
One of the most common personal injury claims involves road traffic accidents. If you’ve been injured as a:
- Driver
- Passenger
- Pedestrian
- Cyclist
- Motorcyclist
…and someone else was at fault (for example, by speeding or not paying attention), you could make a claim.
Even if you were partially to blame, you may still receive compensation under what’s called contributory negligence — though the amount might be reduced.
Accidents at Work
Employers have a legal responsibility to keep the workplace safe under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. If you’re injured due to unsafe conditions, lack of training, faulty equipment, or overwork, you may be able to claim against your employer.
Common examples include:
- Slips, trips or falls at work
- Manual handling injuries
- Machinery accidents
- Construction site incidents
- Repetitive strain injuries
You’re legally protected when making a claim — your employer cannot sack you just for claiming compensation.
Public Place Accidents (Occupiers’ Liability)
If you’re injured in a public place like a supermarket, restaurant, park, or pavement, you may have a claim under the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957. The law states that those responsible for public spaces must keep them reasonably safe for visitors.
Examples of public place claims include:
- Slipping on wet floors in shops
- Tripping over uneven paving stones
- Falling in poorly lit stairwells
- Accidents in car parks or shopping centres
The local council, private business, or property owner could all be held liable depending on where it happened.
Medical Negligence Claims
Also known as clinical negligence, these claims arise when a medical professional or institution provides substandard care that causes injury, illness or worsens your condition.
Examples include:
- Misdiagnosis or late diagnosis
- Surgical errors
- Medication mistakes
- Poor aftercare
- Birth injuries
Claims can be made against NHS or private hospitals, GPs, dentists, or care homes. Medical negligence cases can be complex, so it’s wise to consult a solicitor experienced in this area.
Product Liability Claims
If you’ve been injured by a faulty or dangerous product, you could be entitled to make a claim against the manufacturer or retailer. Under the Consumer Protection Act 1987, producers must ensure their products are safe when used correctly.
Examples include:
- Electrical appliances causing burns or shocks
- Defective car parts causing crashes
- Faulty children’s toys causing injury
- Contaminated food causing illness
- Hair dye or cosmetic products causing allergic reactions
Make sure you keep the product, packaging, and receipts where possible, as this can help your case.
Holiday Accident Claims
Accidents don’t only happen at home — if you were injured on holiday due to someone else’s fault, you may still be able to claim.
You could claim for:
- Food poisoning from hotel restaurants
- Slips and falls in hotel premises
- Swimming pool accidents
- Road traffic accidents abroad
- Excursion-related injuries
If you booked a package holiday with a UK tour operator, your claim might fall under Package Travel Regulations, making it easier to pursue.
Animal Injury Claims
Injuries caused by animals may also give rise to personal injury claims. These are often made under the Animals Act 1971.
You could claim if:
- A dog bites you due to the owner’s failure to control it
- A horse throws you due to poor instructions during a riding lesson
- A dangerous animal was not properly fenced or restrained
The key is proving that the owner was negligent in how they managed the animal.
Criminal Injury Claims
If you’ve been the victim of a violent crime, you might be able to claim compensation from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA).
Examples include:
- Assaults
- Sexual violence
- Mugging injuries
- Psychological trauma caused by a crime
You don’t need to know who the attacker was, but the crime must be reported to the police, and you’ll usually have 2 years to make a claim through the CICA scheme.
Fatal Accident Claims
If a loved one has died due to someone else’s negligence — for example, in a car accident or as a result of medical negligence — you may be able to make a fatal accident claim.
Family members can claim for:
- Funeral expenses
- Loss of financial support
- Emotional distress
- Loss of companionship (under the Bereavement Award)
These claims can be difficult emotionally, so many families choose to work with a compassionate solicitor experienced in this area.
Beauty and Cosmetic Treatment Injuries
Treatments such as hair dyeing, botox, waxing, laser treatments, and dermal fillers can go wrong if not carried out properly. If you’ve suffered:
- Allergic reactions to hair dye
- Burns from laser or waxing
- Infections from unhygienic tools
- Poor results from cosmetic surgery
…you may be able to claim compensation against the beauty salon, technician, or product manufacturer.
These claims are often based on lack of patch testing, poor training, or using unlicensed products.
What Can You Claim Compensation For?
In most personal injury claims, you can seek compensation for both:
General Damages
This covers your:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment in life
- Ongoing symptoms or disability
Special Damages
This covers financial losses, including:
- Medical bills
- Lost earnings
- Travel to appointments
- Costs of care or support
- Adaptations to your home or car
Every claim is unique, so compensation amounts can vary depending on the severity of your injuries and the impact on your life.
How Long Do You Have to Make a Claim?
In most cases, you have three years from the date of the injury to start a claim. This is set out in the Limitation Act 1980.
Exceptions include:
- Children: The time limit starts from their 18th birthday.
- Mental capacity: If the injured person lacks capacity, the time limit is paused.
It’s always best to seek legal advice as early as possible, so evidence can be collected while it’s fresh.
Can I Make a No Win No Fee Claim?
Yes — many personal injury solicitors offer a No Win No Fee arrangement. This means:
- No upfront fees
- No legal bills if your case is unsuccessful
- You only pay a success fee if you win
This makes claiming much more accessible, especially if you’ve been financially affected by the injury.
Final Thoughts
Personal injury claims are designed to help you recover and rebuild your life after suffering harm due to someone else’s negligence. Whether it’s a slip in a shop, a hair dye reaction, or a road accident, you have the right to seek compensation for your pain, loss, and inconvenience.
If you believe you have a personal injury claim, don’t wait. Speak to a qualified solicitor today to find out where you stand and start your journey to justice.