Personal Injury Claims Scotland
If you’ve suffered a Personal Injury claim in Scotland, you may be entitled to claim compensation. Your claim may be more effective if you make it through the Scottish courts. However, it’s important to know that the Scottish legal system is subtly different from the system for England & Wales, when it comes to Personal Injury claims.
We can explain the differences to you in clear, simple terms and even advise you which legal system to claim under, given the circumstances of your claim. Our experienced Personal Injury specialists will discuss the incident and your injuries with you thoroughly and advise the best course of action. They operate on a No Win No Fee basis, meaning that you won’t pay any fees unless your case is successful.
Our specialist team provides expert legal advice in different languages to help clients with a wide variety of injuries to plan for the future and claim the compensation they need.
How can a Personal Injury arise?
There are many ways that you might suffer an injury. If the injury was someone else’s fault, then you may be able to claim for compensation. In this respect, the Scottish legal system is much like the system for England & Wales. The types of injury that you may be able to claim for include:
- Road Accidents (including car, motorcycle, bicycle and pedestrian claims)
- Work Accidents (including construction sites, farms, factories and more)
- Slips, Trips & Falls (including incidents in shops, shopping centres and other public places)
- Medical Negligence (including misdiagnosis, GP negligence and more)
- Holiday Injuries (including excursions, hotel and swimming pool incidents)
- Criminal Injuries (such as assaults and dog bites)
If you’ve suffered an injury that’s not listed above, contact us to discuss your circumstances. We’ve helped claimants with a wide range of different injuries and can advise the bet course of action for you.
How is the Scottish legal system different?
The differences are very subtle, but it’s important that you get things absolutely right. A compensation claim can hinge on small, important details and we will ensure that your claim is prepared and handled effectively in line with the Scottish legal system.
The key differences are:
- Both systems are subject to a three-year time limit from the date of the injury or accident. In England you must issue court proceedings within that time. However, in Scotland you must also serve those proceedings on the defendant within that three-year period.
- In Scotland, the serving of proceedings must be directly to the defendant (as opposed to the system in England & Wales where they can be served on them via their solicitors, or via their last known address).
- In England & Wales, a child affected by injury can make a claim in their own name when they reach 18 (and they have three years to do so). However, in Scotland this period begins when they turn 16.
How much compensation might I receive?
The amount of compensation you receive for your injuries very much depends on your specific circumstances. That’s why we recommend that you get in touch with us promptly so that we can discuss the causes of your injuries in more detail.
You may be able to claim for the following if they are a direct result of your injuries:
- Compensation for distress and upheaval
- Loss of earnings and financial losses incurred
- Medical costs and prescription fees
- Adaptations to your home or vehicle
- Damage to your property, such as your vehicle
- Travel expenses incurred as a result of the incident, such as hire cars or taxis
- Private care and rehabilitation costs
Do I have a valid claim for compensation?
If you can answer yes to all three of the following questions, we recommend that you contact us to discuss your circumstances further:
- Was the incident within the last three years?
- Was someone else to blame for the incident?
- Were you injured as a result of the incident?
Answering ‘yes’ to all three doesn’t mean that a successful claim is certain. However, these questions are key to the claims process. Answering yes to all three does indicate that you have a greater chance of being entitled to claims. Getting prompt, specialist legal advice could be beneficial.
Because of the three-year time limit, it’s important that you contact us promptly so that we can start the process for you.
How do I begin a compensation claim?
Call us on 0208 1111 911 or contact us through the website and we’ll discuss your circumstances with you. The first call usually takes about 15 minutes and in that time we can usually determine whether or not it’s realistic to pursue a claim for compensation.
