Personal Injury statistics in the UK

If you have suffered a personal injury, there is a chance that you might be eligible for compensation. The money that is sometimes paid out is to compensate you for the physical or psychological harm that has been suffered, including money to make up for the loss of earnings and medical expenses.

To be able to make a personal injury claim, you need to be able to prove that a third party had a duty of care and that they were responsible for the injury. If you have suffered a personal injury and think that you could be eligible for a personal injury claim, you should speak to a solicitor for more information.

Personal injury case statistics

Personal injury cases can relate to a range of different situations, from accidents at work to injuries suffered as a result of a road traffic accident. It can be difficult to compare personal injury case statistics in the UK in recent years due to the effect that COVID has had on both our everyday lives as well as the court system.

It is also the case that many personal injury cases are settled before they get to court, with one side accepting responsibility and negating the need to actually go to court.

It is estimated that in the UK, about three million people are injured in a range of accidents each year – or about 5% of the entire population. Whilst it is that case that not all of these injuries were someone’s fault, if you are entitled to compensation for the injury that you have sustained and the impact that it has had on your life, it can make a massive difference to you.

Most common personal injury cases

The three most common types of personal injury cases are road traffic accidents, accidents in public spaces, and accidents at work.

Road traffic accidents account for about half of all of the personal injury claims that are made in the UK. These include accidents that not only happen to people in cars and on motorbikes but also pedestrians or cyclists when their accident occurs on the road. We have about 31.7 million cars on the road in Britain, so it is not surprising that there are such a high number of personal injury claims made in this area.

Typical road traffic accident injuries can include whiplash, broken bones, and concussion.

Accidents in public spaces account for about 21% of the personal injury claims that are made in the UK. Accidents in public spaces relate to accidents that have happened in a space that is run by a public or private organisation. They have a responsibility to ensure that visitors to their sites are safe and properly looked after. These spaces can range from shops to libraries, to pathways with potholes.

Accidents at work account for about 16% of all of the personal injury claims that are made in the UK and make up the third most common type of claim. The most common kind of claim that is made as a result of an accident at work is for a back injury.

Employers have a legal responsibility to ensure that their employees are safe whilst they are at work, meeting the current health and safety regulation standards, and making sure that the working environment is a safe place for them to be.

Personal injury case success rates

It is estimated that about 75% of personal injury claims never actually go to court – in that, the third party that is responsible for the accident settles before it gets to that stage in the process.

When you are looking to claim for a personal injury, it is recommended that you do this through a solicitor. A personal injury solicitor not only has the skills and knowledge to get the best result for you, but they can also act as a way for you to gauge whether you have a strong case or not.

A ‘no win no fee’ solicitor clearly only earns their money if they win the case. This means that they will be pretty confident when deciding whether to take on a case, that they will win. So, if you find a ‘no win no fee’ solicitor who is happy to take on your case, it shows that you have a good chance of winning it.

What is the compensation for different cases?

The amount of compensation that you are granted can vary according to a number of different aspects of your case. To start off with, two different kinds of damages can be awarded – general damages – damages that are awarded for pain, suffering, and loss of amenity – and special damages – awarded for costs and any financial losses.

Following this, different amounts are awarded according to the nature of the injury. For example, someone who is suffering from severe post-traumatic stress disorder can be granted between £51,070 and £85,880, or severe paid disorders generally can be granted between £35,930 and £53,740.

Personal injury facts

If you are considering claiming a personal injury, it can be good to have a few facts at hand.

  • If you suffer a personal injury, generally you have three years from the date of the accident to when you notice the injury to make the claim. If you are a child, these three years starts from when the child turns 18 years old, and there are no time restraints if you are left without the mental capacity to make a claim.
  • Statistics suggest that only about 20% of people who suffer a personal injury claim for it
  • The national average for road traffic accidents is that about 30% of people claim for them.

Motor Vehicle Accidents

  • Total motor vehicle accident casualties dropped in 2020
  • Most common injuries include back damage, internal damage, facial injuries, neck injuries, spine injuries, and psychological damage
  • 2020 saw a drop in the number of people injured and killed in road traffic accidents

Personal injuries at work

Most common injuries include slips, trips, and falls, muscle strains, being hit by falling objects, repetitive strain injury, and crashes and collisions. 2020-2021 saw about 693,000 people suffer from an accident at work.

  • 142 died in a workplace accident
  • 0.4 million workers suffered a work-related injury
  • 0.6 million workers suffered a work-related illness

Slips & Falls

Slips, trips, and falls account for the highest number of workplace accidents. Common injuries include sprained ankles, cuts and bruises, broken or fractured bones, and back, neck, or head injuries.

Speak to one of our experts

If you have suffered a personal injury that was not your fault, you may be eligible to make a personal injury claim. To find out more, get in touch with Waldrons expert team today.

More information on Personal Injury

Back to all Insights

HOME

Last reviewed on 11/07/23 by Joseph Norton who is an Associate Director and Head of Compensation