Personal Injury

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Personal Injury

Leading personal injury solicitors in the South West

Our specialist personal injury solicitors are here to help you get your life back on track.

Our lawyers are leading experts in the South West, with over 40 years’ experience in winning personal injury claims. Our personal injury solicitors are APIL (Association of Personal Injury Lawyers) accredited specialists, which demonstrates our knowledge and experience in this complex area of the law. We have strong relationships with leading medical professionals and experts, so we can give you the very best advice.

The team is regularly ranked highly in Legal 500.

We understand that recovering from an injury or illness can be a very difficult and emotional time for you. Based across Cornwall and Devon, we pride ourselves on providing a sensitive and supportive service, and promise not to bombard you with legal jargon.

We are experts in personal injury claims, but understand that winning compensation is often just part of the journey. We are also committed to helping you get the medical treatment, rehabilitation and support you need to put past difficulties behind you and move on.

With offices in St Austell, Truro, Falmouth, Newquay, Launceston, Liskeard, Penzance and Holsworthy, we are committed to handling personal injury claims across the region. We can provide a personal face-to-face service, in a location near to your work or home.

How can I claim for a personal injury?

If you have suffered an injury or illness as a result of someone else’s wrongdoing or negligence, you may be able to claim compensation from those responsible. Our personal injury solicitors are here to advise if you could claim compensation, helping you get back to the position you were in before the injury.

Our specialist personal injury lawyers can talk through your situation with you over the phone, or face to face if you prefer. We can provide you with some initial free advice to help you decide if you wish to proceed with making a claim. We will guide you through every step of the legal process and ensure that you get the medical assessments you need to obtain the best outcome for you.

No win no fee

Most of the claims we handle are on a no win no fee basis, which means:

If you win your case your opponent will pay the majority of your legal costs. Any legal costs not paid by your opponent and the lawyer’s success fee will be deducted from the compensation that you receive.
If you lose your case, you won’t pay anything.

Find out more about how no win no fee claims work.

What kinds of injuries could you help me claim for?

We can help you to claim compensation for a range of personal injuries, including:

How long do I have to make a personal injury claim?

You usually have three years from the date of the accident or knowing about your injury, to pursue a claim. There are some exceptions, which we can advise you on.

Speak to us as soon as you can, so our personal injury lawyers can start helping you through the process of claiming compensation and getting any other support you need.

How much compensation could I receive from a personal injury claim?

Every injury is different, so it is important to get expert advice from lawyers who really understand the unique nature of each personal injury claim. The amount you can claim will depend on a number of factors, such as the severity of your injury, as well as any financial losses you have suffered or lifestyle changes you have made as a result. Our specialist personal injury solicitors have the experience to ensure you get the compensation you deserve.

Public liability claims

If you have been injured in an accident in a public place and it was not your fault, you may well be entitled to compensation. Maybe you have slipped in a supermarket or tripped over an uneven paving slab or fallen down a staircase. Usually someone has a duty to keep a place safe for the public and if you have sustained an injury because of a breach of such a duty, we will fight tirelessly on your behalf to secure the compensation you deserve.

Our specialist team of personal injury lawyers is happy to give you professional and confidential advice and wherever possible, should you wish to pursue a claim, you will be offered a “no win no fee” agreement. No two claims are ever the same and our team will tailor its advice to your individual case without obligation.

For more information contact Sharon Parsons on 01326 213033 email clinical@coodes.co.uk or contact your local office today.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have a claim?

If your accident was not your fault but someone else’s you may have grounds to claim compensation for your injury and financial losses. You should take legal advice at the earliest opportunity.

Do I have to make my claim within a certain period of time?

Yes. If your claim has not been settled you must issue court proceedings by the third anniversary of your accident or the third anniversary of the date on which you became aware that you had suffered an injury. If not, you will be (subject to limited and specific exceptions) out of time for making a claim and recovering compensation.

How difficult is it to make a claim and how long will it take?

Most straightforward claims can be settled within 12 to 18 months or less. However, some injury claims can be complicated and may take sometime to conclude. For instance responsibility for your accident and injury may be in dispute or your injury may be so serious that it requires ongoing treatment which will delay settlement of your claim. It is important therefore to obtain early legal advice to ensure that your claim can be dealt with in an appropriate and timely fashion.

Will I have to go to court?

Most claims are settled long before court proceedings are necessary. The majority are settled without a hearing and only if your claim cannot be settled by negotiation will you have to attend court.

My opponent’s insurance company have said they will deal with me direct.

It is still important to get legal advice regarding your claim. If not, you may end up recovering a lower amount of compensation than you are entitled to since it is not in the opponents insurers interest to advise you of what you can claim.

Who will know I am claiming?

Your claim is a private matter. Nobody needs to know except you, the party that you are claiming against and the legal and medical team assisting in your claim.

However, if Court proceedings are issued, anyone can apply to the Court for copies of Court documents by paying a fee.

Can claiming against my employer lose my job?

You are protected by employment legislation from being dismissed for no good reason. Making a personal injury claim following an accident at work is not a good reason to dismiss you. Whilst it is unlikely that an employer is likely to be pleased if a claim is made against them, employers are required to hold appropriate insurance to cover workplace accidents so you would not be claiming directly from your employer.

When will I know how much compensation I will receive?

You will only get the amount of compensation that you are entitled to. A claim should not be seen as an easy way to make money. In assessing the amount of compensation you are entitled to there are many issues that must be considered. An independent assessment of the injuries will need to be carried out by a medical practitioner. Your financial losses and expenses will also need to be ascertained to ensure that you are fully compensated. Such losses could include for instance loss of income, travel expenses, prescription or over the counter medicine costs. Once medical evidence and full details of your financial losses are known, it should be possible to calculate the amount of compensation you are entitled to.