Can I make a head injury claim?
If you have suffered a head injury because of an accident which was not your fault, you may be able to make a head injury compensation claim.
Our head injury solicitors can help you claim for head injuries sustained in accidents at work, traffic accidents, slips and falls, or being hit by falling objects. We can also help you claim for medical negligence if your head injury wasn’t treated properly.
We represent clients with head injuries ranging in type and severity – from bruising and lacerations to concussion and fractured skulls.
Even a minor head injury can cause long-lasting symptoms such as headaches, vision problems and dizziness, so you still may be able to claim.
We are also experienced at representing clients with serious head injuries, such as acquired brain injuries and brain damage. You can find more information about brain injury compensation claims here.
To find out if we can help you with your head injury claim, call us on 0800 0 224 224 or complete our online enquiry form to receive free, no-obligation legal advice about your case.
Is there a time limit for head injury claims?
In most cases, you have three years to make a claim starting from the date you sustained a head injury.
There are some exceptions to this rule – for example, if a child is injured, or if the injured person no longer has the capacity to manage their legal affairs because of their injury.
If you’re unsure if you can still make a claim, get in touch as soon as possible and we’ll be able to advise you.
Choosing head injury solicitors
Choosing the right personal injury solicitor is always important, but even more so when claiming for head injuries.
Experience really counts when dealing with claims for complex or high value cases. Not only does hiring an experienced head injury lawyer increase your chances of winning your case, it can also make a big difference to the amount of compensation you receive.
We have more than 100 years’ experience dealing with head injury claims at our network of offices throughout the UK.
Our head injury solicitors are experienced at instructing medical experts who can accurately assess how long your head injury is likely to last, and if there will be any permanent damage. They can also assess whether any ongoing medical treatment, therapy or care will be required. These are all important factors to consider before a final compensation settlement is agreed.
How much do head injury lawyers cost?
If you are a member of a trade union, you may be able to make a head injury compensation claim through your union’s legal service. This is free of charge, and you’ll keep 100% of your compensation. If you aren’t a member of a union, but your spouse is, you may be able to make a claim through their union. To find out if you can make a claim in this way, contact the union to discuss your case.
If you can’t claim through a union, you can make a claim privately. Most of our private head injury clients choose to pursue their claim on a no win, no fee basis.
With a no win, no fee arrangement, you won’t pay any legal fees unless your claim is successful. If your claim is successful, most of the legal fees are paid for by the party who is found responsible for causing your injury, usually through an insurer. The remainder of your fees will be deducted from your compensation in the form of a ‘success fee’. Unlike other law firms, we guarantee that our success fees will never be more than 25% of your compensation, so you will always keep at least 75% of any compensation awarded.
How much head injury compensation could I receive?
Potential claimants often ask us, ‘how much is a head injury claim worth?’.
The answer is that head injury compensation amounts depend on the severity of your injury and the impact it has had on your life.
We cannot provide an average pay-out for head injuries, as each case is so different. But generally, the most severe head injuries with long term effects secure the highest compensation awards. No matter the situation, our head injury lawyers will always fight for you to receive the highest amount of compensation possible.
To find out how much your head injury claim is worth, get in touch with our head injury lawyers to discuss your case. We have also listed some of our cases below with examples of head injury compensation amounts, to give you a better idea of how much your claim could be worth.
Head injury compensation claim examples
Head injury at work claim
Mr Prince was employed as a reception assistant at a secure hospital and had to inspect delivery wagons entering and leaving the premises when he was injured while at work.
The driver of a delivery wagon pulled aside the curtains on the wagon, but as Mr Prince was inspecting the contents, the driver let go of the curtain and a heavy iron bar which was attached hit him in the head.
He immediately suffered dizziness, blurred vision and severe pain, as well as extreme tiredness and nausea.
He returned to work but had to cut his hours back sharply as he continued to suffer from chronic headaches, an inability to concentrate and out of character behaviour.
Over the next two years, Mr Prince was shifted around departments and tried a variety of tasks, but was unable to cope with the work due to the effects of his head injury. His employer eventually agreed to retire him on the grounds of ill health.
Mr Prince still suffers from severe headaches, anxiety symptoms, poor sleep, poor appetite, lack of concentration, mood swings and quick loss of temper. He finds it impossible to socialise, leave the house, or answer the phone without the assistance of his wife, and is reliant on anti-depressants.
We recovered £210,000 compensation, which based on the initial injury and the ongoing problems which stemmed from it.
This case highlights the importance of assessing the full injury and long-term prognosis before settling a claim. Mr Prince’s claim could have initially appeared to have been a minor head injury, which would mean his compensation award would have been much lower.
Car accident head injury compensation claim
The injured client in this case was a 16-year-old boy, who was a rear seat passenger in a car which collided with a lamppost. He wasn't wearing his seatbelt and the force of the impact threw him out of the rear window of the vehicle and onto the ground.
His injuries were immediately severe, including an epileptic seizure, multiple fractures of the skull, and a brain haemorrhage which led to him being in intensive care for 10 days. There have also been long-term consequences, the most severe of which was that he was no longer able to manage his own affairs due to his injuries.
Although he tried to return to work four months after the accident, it became clear after only a few weeks he could not continue due to his inability to concentrate. After a series of seizures, he was readmitted to hospital, experiencing memory loss, concentration impairment, loss of confidence, travel anxiety, anger, frustration, and depression. All of these were symptoms of a severe head injury, which had affected his brain.
The final settlement of £950,000 reflected his long-term need for care, a reduction in life expectancy of 14 years and a lifelong dependency on anti-epilepsy medication.
Cyclist minor head injury claim
We recovered £4,000 in compensation for Mr Jones, who suffered a head injury at work.
Mr Jones was cycling through the main entrance of his workplace when the barrier unexpectedly came down. The barrier impacted his helmet and caused him to suffer from severe headaches.
Mr Jones said: “I am extremely satisfied with the legal services provided by Thompsons Solicitors (on a scale from 1 to 10 - 10 would describe my satisfaction). The compensation awarded to me is only as a result of your expertise and professionalism in pursuing this matter. I definitely would recommend your law firm to anyone I know that needs legal help in personal injury. I shall always be grateful to Thompsons Solicitors and my union, PCS, for their support.”
How to make a claim
To make a head injury compensation claim, the first thing you need to do is get in touch with our head injury experts for free, no-obligation legal advice.
We will discuss your case in detail and let you know if we think you have a claim. We will also outline the claims process, including a full explanation of any fees you may have to pay, and we may be able to give an estimate of potential damages.
If you have a claim and choose to progress your claim with us, we will put you in touch with medical experts to assess your injury and its impact on you. This will form the basis of our case. We can also refer you to specialists in providing treatment and rehabilitation for head injuries, to ensure you receive the best possible care and support while you await the outcome of your claim.
To find out more, get in touch by submitting our online enquiry form or calling us on 0800 0 224 224.