Serious Injuries

What Is a Serious Injury Claim?

A serious injury claim is a legal claim for compensation following a catastrophic or life-altering injury caused by someone else’s negligence. These claims are distinct from straightforward personal injury cases in both complexity and value, they require specialist advice, expert medical evidence, and a thorough understanding of the long-term financial and care needs of the person affected.

Serious injury claims often arise from road traffic accidents, workplace incidents, medical negligence, and criminal assaults. They may involve injuries that result in permanent disability, the need for ongoing care, cognitive impairment, and a significant and lasting reduction in quality of life.

Our serious injury solicitors advise on the full spectrum of catastrophic and life-changing injuries, including:

Traumatic Brain Injuries

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs when a sudden impact or penetrating injury disrupts normal brain function, and can result in cognitive, physical, and emotional impairment that persists for years or permanently. TBI claims require careful assessment of long-term neurological impact, rehabilitation needs, and loss of future earnings. Our team works closely with leading neurological experts to build evidence-based claims that reflect the true extent of your injury.

Spinal Cord Injuries

A spinal cord injury can cause partial or complete paralysis, permanently altering every aspect of a person’s life. Compensation in these cases must provide for immediate and ongoing medical care, home adaptations, specialist equipment, and lifetime loss of earnings. We have extensive experience handling high-value spinal injury claims, and we pursue early interim payments to fund rehabilitation and care before the final settlement is agreed.

Amputations

Losing a limb, whether traumatically or as the result of surgical negligence, is one of the most profound injuries a person can experience. Compensation for amputation claims covers prosthetic limbs, rehabilitation, home and vehicle adaptations, psychological support, and loss of earnings. Our solicitors understand the long-term financial and personal impact of amputation and pursue settlements that reflect the full extent of your needs.

Severe Burns

Severe burn injuries frequently result in permanent scarring, nerve damage, and the need for multiple surgical procedures including skin grafts. They also carry significant psychological consequences. Our team secures compensation covering medical treatment, reconstructive surgery, ongoing therapy, and the emotional impact of life-changing disfigurement.

Acquired Brain Injuries

An acquired brain injury (ABI) results from causes other than direct trauma, including strokes, hypoxia, infections, and medical negligence. ABIs can affect memory, communication, behaviour, and independent living. We handle both personal injury and clinical negligence claims arising from acquired brain injuries, with particular experience in cases involving delayed diagnosis or failure to treat.

Orthopaedic and Poly-Trauma Injuries

Complex orthopaedic injuries, including multiple fractures, crushed limbs, and joint damage, often require extensive surgery, long-term physiotherapy, and may result in permanent mobility limitations. Where a client has sustained multiple injuries our serious injury solicitors coordinate with multi-disciplinary medical and rehabilitation teams to build a comprehensive picture and to ensure compex needs are met through treatment, rehabilitation and compensation.

Fatal Accidents and Inquests

Where a serious injury proves fatal, we provide compassionate support to bereaved families pursuing wrongful death and fatal accident claims. We also advise on inquests where the circumstances of a death require investigation. Our priority is to secure answers as well as financial security for the families left behind.

How Our Serious Injury Claims Process Works

1. Free initial consultation: We start with a no-obligation conversation to understand your situation and give you a clear assessment of whether you have a viable claim. We’ll explain the process, timelines, and funding options, including no win, no fee arrangements.

2. Establishing liability: We gather evidence promptly,  reports from police and other agencies such as the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), medical records, witness accounts, and expert opinions, to establish who was responsible for your injury. Quick action matters here, particularly in preserving evidence and meeting limitation deadlines.

3. Securing interim payments: In serious injury cases, waiting for a final settlement can take time. We work to obtain early admissions of liability where possible and secure interim payments as quickly as we can, so you can access rehabilitation, care, and specialist equipment without delay.

4. Building your long-term needs case: We work with medical experts, care specialists, occupational therapists, and financial experts to quantify not just your immediate losses, but your lifetime care needs, future loss of earnings and pension, and the cost of long-term support. This is where specialist expertise makes the biggest difference to the value of your claim.

5. Negotiation and settlement: The majority of serious injury claims are settled without going to court. We negotiate assertively on your behalf and will only recommend a settlement that genuinely reflects your needs. Where we cannot secure a fair settlement by negotiation, we will take your case to trial.

6. Post-settlement support: Once your case is resolved, we can connect you with our Personal Injury Trusts team to ensure compensation is structured in a way that protects your benefits and financial security long-term.

Typical timescales: Complex catastrophic injury cases can take some time to resolve, but we work to secure your needs are met during the case where possible via interim payments to fund rehabilitation and immediate needs. We keep you informed at every stage.

Why Choose Nelsons for Serious Injury Claims?

• Recognised specialists – Recommended by both The Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners for personal injury work, with particular recognition for severe and catastrophic injury cases and is Commended in The Times Best Law Firms 2025.
• Accredited expertise – Accredited by the Law Society for both Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence. Members of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) and the Motor Accident Solicitors Society (MASS). We are also featured on the Headway approved solicitors list and the Spinal Injuries Association (SIA) approved solicitor panel — memberships that require demonstrated expertise in complex brain and spinal injury cases specifically.
• Interim Payments to Fund Your Recovery Now: We prioritise securing early admissions of liability so we can apply for interim payments, advance compensation to fund rehabilitation, specialist equipment, home adaptations, or care while your case is ongoing. In our experience, early access to rehabilitation significantly improves long-term recovery outcomes, and securing interim funding is a priority from the moment we take on your case.
• No Win, No Fee, With Full Transparency: Most serious injury claims at Nelsons are handled under a conditional fee agreement, meaning you pay nothing if your case is unsuccessful. We explain exactly how the funding arrangement works at your first consultation, so there are no surprises. Access to specialist legal representation should not depend on your financial position.
• Offices across the East Midlands: Our personal injury solicitors are based in Derby, Leicester, and Nottingham, with face-to-face appointments available at all three offices.

Speak to Our Serious Injury Solicitors Today

Serious injury claims are complex, high-value, and often time-sensitive. The sooner you get specialist legal advice, the better placed you are to protect your position.

Call us free: 0800 024 1976 or contact us via our online enquiry form.