Free guides · England & Wales

Legal claims guidesin plain English

Clear, jargon-free guides to making a claim in England and Wales — written and reviewed by our specialist solicitors.

Start your claim

Free, no obligation, No Win No Fee.

No Win No Fee: The law limits our success fee to 25% of the compensation for pain, suffering and loss of amenity and for past financial losses, after any state benefits are repaid. Compensation for future losses is not counted. If you win, our success fee is deducted from your compensation. It is a percentage of our basic charges, and the law limits it as set out above. Any After the Event insurance premium is payable only if you win, and is never charged upfront. Your letter of engagement sets out exactly what you will pay for your type of claim, and we explain it before you sign. If you lose, you pay us nothing. This applies as long as you keep to your responsibilities under the agreement. You may have to pay costs if you end your claim early, fail to beat an offer the other side made, or a court finds your claim dishonest or exaggerated; where we have arranged After the Event insurance, it covers some of these costs if you keep to the policy's terms. See exactly what you pay.

A UK number. With a mobile we can also text you.

A few lines is enough. Tell us only what you are comfortable sharing.

If you leave this unticked, we may send you occasional news about our services, and reminders if you have not finished signing up. Every message tells you how to stop.

When you send this form, your details go to our enquiry system: Zapier passes them on to Pipedrive, the system we use to handle enquiries. The form itself sets no cookie. Our chat is Pipedrive's: it loads from Pipedrive only when you open it (or if you allow functional cookies), and Pipedrive then sets a cookie to protect against spam: see our cookies policy. We use your details to deal with your enquiry and, unless you tick the box above, to send you occasional news and reminders by email or text: see our privacy notice.

In short

Choose the guide that matches how you were harmed — at work, on the road, or through medical or dental treatment. Most claims must be started within three years, with exceptions for children and people who lack capacity. Every guide is free to read online, and a guide with a PDF version can also be sent to you.

Reviewed by Leanne Henton, Head of Personal Injury and Medical Negligence, NJS LawLast reviewed: September 2026 · England & Wales

Figures verified with NJS Law on 9 November 2026.

How to use these guides

Find the right guide in three steps

1

Pick the guide that fits

Choose by how you were harmed — at work, on the road, or through medical or dental care. Not sure? Ask us.

2

Check your time limit

Most claims must be started within three years of the injury, or of when you first knew about it. Children, and people who lacked mental capacity when they were injured, have longer.

3

Talk to a specialist

Our guides give general information, not legal advice. For advice on your own situation, get a free, no-obligation assessment.

FAQ

Questions about making a claim

How long do I have to make a claim?
Claim typeUsual time limit
Personal injury3 years from the accident or date of knowledge
Medical / dental negligence3 years from the negligence or when you became aware of the harm
ChildrenUntil their 21st birthday
Always seek advice as early as possible to protect your rights.
How much compensation could I receive?
There is no fixed amount. It depends on how serious your injury is, its lasting effects and your financial losses, usually valued against the Judicial College Guidelines, 18th edition (2026).
Will I have to pay anything upfront?
No. Most claims are No Win No Fee — no upfront legal fees, and nothing to pay if your claim is unsuccessful.
Do I have to go to court?
Most claims settle without a hearing. A final hearing is only likely if liability or value cannot be agreed.
How do I know which guide applies to me?
Choose the guide that matches how you were harmed, or contact our team for a free assessment.

Our guides give general information for England and Wales and do not constitute legal advice.

Legal insights

More ways to learn about your rights

Injured and not sure where to start?

Send us your details and our team will be in touch. Free, no obligation, No Win No Fee.

Start my claim Call us 0333 057 7075