Legal Lingolegal jargon, decoded
Every week, one of our solicitors takes a term you might see in a letter, a form or a court document — and explains it in plain English.
Legal Lingo is a weekly series from NJS Law that explains one legal term at a time, in under a minute. Watch the video or read the written explanation — no jargon, no confusion.
Liability is who is legally responsible. Causation is whether their failure caused your injury. Quantum is how much your claim is worth.
Watch the video on YouTube (opens in a new tab)Read the full explanation- SRA regulatedNo. 8006550
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Figures verified with NJS Law on 9 November 2026.
Every term, explained simply
General damages, special damages and the guidelines courts use to value an injury.
With Leanne Henton · Under 60 secondsWatch on YouTube : How is personal injury compensation calculated? (opens in a new tab)Read moreThe three-year rule, the date of knowledge and the exceptions for children.
With Leanne Henton · Under 60 secondsWatch on YouTube : What are the time limits for making a claim? (opens in a new tab)Why no solicitor can promise a result — and what affects your chances.
With Leanne Henton · Under 60 secondsWatch on YouTube : Can the outcome of a personal injury claim be guaranteed? (opens in a new tab)Read moreFrom the first call to settlement, the stages of a claim in plain English.
With Leanne Henton · Under 60 secondsWatch on YouTube : What happens during a personal injury claim? (opens in a new tab)Read moreWhat a specialist solicitor does that you can't easily do alone.
With Leanne Henton · Under 60 secondsWatch on YouTube : Why use a solicitor for a personal injury claim? (opens in a new tab)Read moreThe three things every claim turns on: who is responsible, what harm it caused and what it is worth.
With Leanne Henton · Under 60 secondsWatch on YouTube : Liability, causation and quantum explained (opens in a new tab)Pain and suffering, lost earnings, care, travel and treatment costs.
With Leanne Henton · Under 60 secondsWatch on YouTube : What can you claim compensation for? (opens in a new tab)Why a denial doesn't end your claim, and how evidence proves fault.
With Leanne Henton · Under 60 secondsWatch on YouTube : Can I claim if my employer denies responsibility? (opens in a new tab)Ask NJS Law
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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.
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More ways to learn about your rights
All episodes
- Can I Claim if My Employer Denies Responsibility?
- Can the Outcome of a Personal Injury Claim Be Guaranteed?
- How Is Personal Injury Compensation Calculated?
- Liability, Causation and Quantum Explained
- What Are the Time Limits for Making a Claim?
- What Can You Claim Compensation For?
- What Happens During a Personal Injury Claim?
- Why Use a Solicitor for a Personal Injury Claim?
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