If you've been in an accident that wasn't your fault and suffered multiple injuries, you could be eligible to make a multiple injury compensation claim.
We are a trusted claims management company helping people make personal injury claims for over 15 years.
Multiple Injury Claims
Any injury can cause a lot of pain and suffering and substantially impact your work and daily activities. Unfortunately, almost any accident can result in more than one injury, which can significantly increase your recovery times and the long-lasting effects on you and your family.
Some examples of multiple injuries sustained in a severe accident include musculoskeletal, neurological and internal organ damage, which can be associated with psychological trauma. They are commonly sustained in road traffic accidents, accidents at work, falls from height and criminal assaults.
If another party caused your accident by acting negligently, you might be eligible to make a multiple injury claim. If your case is valid, your solicitor will offer you a no win no fee* agreement, so you will not incur any out-of-pocket expenses if you do not win compensation for the damages you incurred.
To find out if you have a valid claim for multiple injuries compensation, you can enter your details into our online claim form or call 0800 470 0472 to speak to an experienced legal adviser.
Key points about multiple injury claims
- Eligibility: You may be entitled to claim if you suffered multiple injuries in the same accident caused by someone else’s negligence.
- Accident Types: Multiple injuries often occur in road traffic accidents, falls from height, or serious workplace incidents.
- Time Limit: You usually have 3 years from the date of the accident to start your claim, although there are some exceptions.
- Compensation: Will depend on the types and severity of your injuries, and can include pain, suffering, care needs and financial losses.
- No Win, No Fee: Your solicitor will provide a no win, no fee service — you only pay a fee if your claim is successful.
Table of Contents
What is a multiple injury claim?
A multiple injury claim is a legal case made after a no-fault accident to recover compensation for a victim who suffered more than one injury. It usually covers the pain and suffering caused by the trauma and any related financial losses and expenses.
It is not uncommon to get away with a single injury after an accident, but more often than not, accidents cause at least two or three different types of trauma. While there is no strict legal definition of what classifies as a claim for multiple injuries, some examples include the following:
- Injuring more body parts in the same incident, such as the head and back;
- Sustaining an injury that causes permanent scarring;
- Suffering psychological or emotional harm such as PTSD, as well as physical trauma;
- An injury or illness that leads to long-term or permanent health complications.
Any type of injury can have a significant impact on your life, and suffering more than one injury due to someone else’s negligence can be particularly distressing. Fortunately, the law is on your side, and if someone else was entirely or partially responsible for your accident, you might be entitled to multiple injury compensation.
Am I eligible to claim multiple injury compensation?
The easiest way to find out whether you could make a multiple injury claim is through a free consultation with a legal adviser. They will ask you a few questions about the circumstances of your accident to verify whether:
- Another person was at least partially responsible for your injuries
- That person owed you a duty of care
- They breached their duty by acting negligently
- You suffered personal injuries and possibly financial losses as a result of this negligence
Usually, there is a three-year time limit to start a claim after an accident, but there are several exceptions to this rule. In certain circumstances, you could also claim multiple injury compensation on behalf of a loved one if they cannot handle their case. You can find more detailed information regarding these matters below.
If your personal injury lawyer believes you have valid grounds to take legal action, they will offer you free support and advice throughout the claims process. To build a strong case, you will also need relevant evidence about how the accident happened and how it affected you, such as:
- Medical records from your GP or the hospital where you were treated about the type and extent of your injuries, treatments received and recovery prospects;
- A report from an independent medical expert that your solicitor will arrange on your behalf;
- Photographs from the accident scene before anything is moved or repaired;
- Photos of any visible injuries and your recovery process;
- CCTV or dashcam footage, if available;
- Accident report forms if you were injured at work or in a public place to prove where and when you suffered multiple injuries;
- Contact details of witnesses that your solicitor could contact later for a statement;
- If you were involved in a road traffic accident, the license plate and insurance details of the other driver;
- Police reports and a crime reference number when necessary;
- Your statement about how the accident occurred and how it affected your life;
- Evidence of all your financial losses, such as payslips, invoices, receipts or bank statements.
Your solicitor will help you gather everything you need to claim and then contact the other party to inform them of your intentions to claim multiple injuries compensation. If the defendant admits liability, you can start negotiating a suitable settlement. Otherwise, you may have to issue court proceedings and argue your case before a judge. However, negotiations continue even if court proceedings are issued, with around 95% of all claims being settled before going to court.
If you feel you may have a valid multiple injury claim, call 0800 470 0472 or enter your details into our simple online claim form to receive a free consultation with a legal adviser.
What are the most common causes of multiple injuries?
Almost any accident could lead to a multiple injury claim, but the most common causes of multiple injuries include:
Road traffic accidents
Sadly, road traffic accidents are a common cause of multiple injuries, especially for vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists and motorbike riders. The sudden impact of a collision involving a vehicle can cause a wide range of injuries, including:
- Damage to internal organs
- Cuts, bruises and lacerations
- Crush injuries and traumatic amputations
- Head, neck and brain injuries
- Severe sprains, strains and fractures
- Fatalities
All road users have a duty to exercise reasonable care for their safety and that of other road users. According to the Road Traffic Act 1988, if another person caused your accident by speeding, careless driving or other negligent behaviour, you might be due multiple injury compensation.
Accidents at work
Many different types of accidents at work can lead to a huge variety of multiple injuries, including:
- Manual handling accidents
- Machinery-related accidents
- Electric shocks
- Burn injuries
- Accidents involving hazardous substances
- Forklift truck accidents
- Repetitive strain injuries
All employers are legally obliged to take reasonable steps to ensure the health, safety and welfare of their employees at work, as set out in the legislation. This includes carrying out regular risk assessments, providing adequate training and personal protective equipment, and ensuring that all machinery and equipment are safe for use and well-maintained.
Military accidents
Accidents in the military are sometimes unavoidable, especially in direct combat. However, as Ministry of Defence employees, military personnel have the right to a safe working environment, proper training and equipment, and reasonable precautions against injuries.
The Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) is a government scheme that pays compensation to military personnel injured on duty, regardless of liability disputes. All current or former UK military personnel, including reservists, can make a personal injury claim through the AFCS if they meet the criteria.
Sporting injuries
Almost all sports carry some risk of injury, and most sporting accidents are nobody’s fault. However, some accidents can be prevented, and you may be able to make a multiple injury claim if you were injured during a sporting activity due to a variety of causes, such as:
- Lack of adequate protective equipment
- Faulty equipment
- Dangerous ground conditions
- Lack of proper safety procedures
- Inadequate training or instructions
- Bad advice from a coach or trainer
- Poorly maintained gyms, venues or stadiums
You can suffer multiple injuries in any sport, but most claims are related to horse riding, motorsports, winter sports, football and other team sports accidents.
Accidents in public
Under the Highways Act 1980 and the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957, local authorities and private business owners have a legal duty to take reasonable care to ensure that highways and public premises for which they are responsible are reasonably safe for use. If they fail in that duty and you are injured as a result, you may be able to claim multiple injuries compensation.
Accidents in public may take many forms and cause a wide range of injuries. Some of the most common incidents leading to a claim include slips, trips and falls, being hit by falling objects, electric shocks, dog attacks and falls from a height.
Most accidents that occur in public places are due to preventable hazards such as slippery surfaces, pavement defects, poorly stacked shelves and objects left in walkways.
Falls from height
Falls from height are the leading cause of fatal injuries in the workplace and a common cause of multiple injury claims. They may also occur in public places or at home due to hazards such as missing handrails, faulty ladders, fragile elevated surfaces, lack of safety nets, or uneven stairs.
If you were injured due to the negligence of another party or a manufacturing defect, you might be entitled to multiple injuries compensation for your pain, suffering and financial losses.
Medical negligence
We all trust healthcare professionals to treat an injury or illness and expect them to provide knowledgeable and skilful medical assistance. They are expected to carry out all necessary tests and investigations and obtain informed consent from the patient before undergoing any major treatment or surgical intervention.
Unfortunately, medical mistakes happen and are sometimes due to negligence. These include misdiagnosis and delayed diagnosis, medication errors, birth injuries, surgical negligence and anaesthesia complications.
The consequences of medical negligence can be devastating and include amputations, cerebral palsy, nerve damage, chronic pain and permanent scarring. If your doctor provided substandard care, you might be able to make a multiple injury claim against the NHS or private healthcare provider.
Criminal assaults
Besides multiple physical injuries, a violent crime can cause severe emotional and psychological distress that could change your life forever. Violent crimes include assaults, physical and sexual abuse and intentional hit-and-run accidents.
More often than not, the offender is unidentified, uninsured or cannot afford to pay you injury compensation. However, blameless victims of violent crimes could still claim through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA).
Unlike other personal injury claims, you have two years to make a CICA claim, and you must have previously reported the incident to the police to be eligible to make a claim.
How is compensation calculated for multiple injuries?
As a general rule, the compensation in a multiple injury claim is calculated on a case-by-case basis. The general damages for multiple injuries are not, however, calculated by adding the values of each individual injury.
Based on your unique circumstances and how the multiple injuries affect you, the actual award may be:
- Greater than the total awarded for the individual injuries if the multiple injuries caused you more significant pain and suffering than a single injury;
- Smaller than the total awarded for the individual injuries, if their combined effect caused no greater pain than a single injury.
Usually, the most severe injury is calculated first, and an additional amount is added to the figure in respect of each further injury. For example, if you suffer a severe brain injury, a serious shoulder injury and a minor back injury, your solicitor will consider the individual amounts for each one to calculate your compensation:
- A severe brain injury causing moderately severe damage to intellect – £57,000 - £289,000;
- A serious shoulder injury causing permanent symptoms – £17,000 - £25,000;
- A minor back injury with recovery within two years – £5,800 - £10,000.
Using the above scenario, your solicitor could take into account the upper figure of £289,000 and then add a smaller percentage of the amount calculated for the shoulder injury (£20,000) and the back injury (£6,000). Therefore, the compensation for your injuries could be settled at £315,000.
Regardless of your injuries, you can rest assured that your solicitor will work hard to secure the maximum multiple injury compensation you deserve.
How much compensation could I claim?
The number of injuries and their severity can vary considerably from person to person in a multiple injury claim, so it is hard to say precisely how much compensation you will receive. Your solicitor will consider each of your injuries and their overall impact on your life and family to work out a fair settlement.
The final multiple injuries compensation award will take into account the following:
Special damages cover the financial losses and expenses that have resulted directly from your accident and injuries, such as:
- Medical costs like treatments, therapies and medications
- Medical aids like prostheses and wheelchairs
- Costs of adaptations to your home or vehicle to accommodate a disability
- Lost wages, including overtime, bonuses and loss of future earnings
- Travel costs to the hospital and other settings
- Costs of care and assistance, even if provided by a friend or family member
- Counselling and physical therapy to aid with your recovery
- Any other financial losses and expenses for which you should keep documentation, such as pay slips, receipts or invoices
General damages are awarded to compensate you for the physical injuries and how they affected your life, taking into account the following:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Mental trauma and psychological distress
- Loss of consortium
- Reduced quality of life and life expectancy
- Loss of prospects and enjoyment of life
- Loss of a unique career
- Inability to pursue a hobby or social event
As seen above, your solicitor will take into account the awards for each injury to calculate your final multiple injury compensation.
The Judicial College publishes compensation guidelines for specific injuries, which solicitors, insurance companies and courts use to determine suitable compensation awards. Compensation brackets from the 18th Edition of these guidelines include the following:
| Injury Type | Description | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Brain Damage | Moderate brain damage likely to affect the senses, with some dependence on others | £57,000 - £289,000 |
| Arm Injuries | A serious fracture of one or both forearms causing permanent functional or cosmetic disability | £52,000 - £79,000 |
| Deafness Or Tinnitus | Severe tinnitus and noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) | £39,000 - £60,000 |
| Leg Injuries | Multiple or complicated fractures or severe crush injuries to one leg | £37,000 - £52,000 |
| Back Injuries | A moderate back injury causing constant pain, discomfort and substantial osteoarthritis risk | £37,000 - £51,000 |
| Digestive System | A penetrating stab wound, industrial laceration or serious seat-belt pressure injury | £8,700 - £17,000 |
| Hand Injuries | A minor hand injury recovering within six months, such as fractures | Up to £6,300 |
| Injuries Affecting Sight | A temporary eye injury with full recovery within a few weeks | £2,900 - £5,200 |
| Fractured Nose | A displaced nose fracture not requiring surgery, with complete recovery | £3,300 - £4,200 |
To find out more about how much you could be awarded for your multiple injury claim, call 0800 470 0472 or request a call back to receive a free consultation with an experienced legal adviser.
What is the time limit to make a multiple injury claim?
The Limitation Act 1980 generally sets the time limit for claiming multiple injury compensation at three years after the accident that caused your injuries. If you fail to meet this deadline, the court will usually no longer accept your case, even if it has merit.
In some situations, the three-year countdown begins on the date you first became aware (or should reasonably have been aware) that you had suffered a significant injury and that it was caused by someone else’s act or omission. This is referred to as the “date of knowledge”.
There are several exceptions to the three-year time limit to bring a multiple injury claim:
- If the victim is a child, a parent, guardian or another litigation friend could start legal proceedings at any time, regardless of when the accident happened. Once the victim turns 18, they will have another three years to take legal action themselves.
- If the victim lacks the mental capacity to handle their case due to the accident or a pre-existing medical condition, the time limit is paused. The three-year countdown starts only if they regain mental capacity.
- If you were injured while serving in the military, there is a seven-year time limit to claim compensation through the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS). You could also begin a multiple injury claim under civil law within the standard three-year time limit.
- If you suffered multiple injuries due to a violent crime, the CICA imposes a two-year time limit to claim compensation.
- If you were injured due to a faulty product, there is also a long-stop time limit of ten years from when the product was first put into circulation.
- If your accident happened abroad, the time limit to start legal proceedings might be much shorter. Your solicitor will be able to let you know what limitation date might apply to a particular foreign country.
As a general rule, you should seek legal advice as early as possible after becoming aware of your injuries. This will give your solicitor plenty of time to collect evidence, talk to witnesses, and prepare a strong multiple injury claim.
How long will a multiple injury claim take?
A multiple injury claim follows the same steps as any other personal injury claim, and there is no inherent reason why it should take longer. No two claims are the same, and how long it will take to receive your multiple injury compensation depends on several different factors, including:
- The type of accident that caused your injuries: a straightforward road traffic accident claim could be settled within a couple of months, while a complex medical negligence claim could take longer than five years to conclude.
- The type and severity of your injuries: if the full extent of your injuries, long-lasting effects and their impact on your life are not yet fully known, it may take years to assess the full extent of your pain and suffering.
- The time needed to gather evidence for your multiple injury claim: if you have little evidence regarding your accident and the injuries you suffered as a result, your solicitor might need several months to gather everything you need to start legal proceedings.
- Whether you know the defendant’s identity: if you were injured in a hit-and-run or criminal assault and you must claim through the CICA or Motor Insurers Bureau, it may take longer to receive multiple injuries compensation.
- The defendant’s position: if the other side admits liability for your injuries, you may begin to negotiate a settlement straight away. If they deny any responsibility for your accident, you may have to argue your case before a judge, which would add a substantial amount of time to your claim.
- Whether you can reach a settlement: if you and the defendant cannot agree on a compensation award, you will need to continue negotiations until you can reach an understanding or take your case to court. If you can agree on a settlement, this will be the last step of the claims process, and you should receive your compensation within four weeks.
The earlier you seek legal advice, the sooner your solicitor can start working on your claim to secure the multiple injury compensation you deserve. To find out if your claim has merit, call 0800 470 0472 for a free consultation with an experienced legal adviser. Alternatively, please enter your details into our online claim form to receive a call back and discuss your situation.
Can I claim multiple injury compensation on behalf of a family member?
Usually, it is the victim of an accident who will make the personal injury claim. However, in certain circumstances, it is possible to claim compensation on behalf of someone else, acting as their litigation friend. UK law allows you to claim on behalf of a family member if they are:
A child under 18
Victims under the age of 18 are not considered to have well-formed judgements, so they cannot hire a solicitor to pursue multiple injury compensation. Instead, a parent or another family member will usually claim on their behalf.
Although you can claim compensation for a minor, you cannot access their award. Instead, the money will be transferred to a court bank account, where it will gain interest until the victim turns 18. Your solicitor could also help you set up a personal injury trust in their name.
A protected party
According to the Mental Capacity Act 2005, an adult is a protected party who cannot handle their case with or without a solicitor because of the following:
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- A neurodegenerative disorder such as Alzheimer’s disease
- An intellectual disability such as Down syndrome
- A mental health condition like schizophrenia
- A traumatic brain or spine injury
If you secure multiple injuries compensation for your loved one out of court, you might also need to attend an Approval Hearing before a judge. They will consider the available evidence to ensure that the settlement agreed between the two parties is fair.
To become a litigation friend on behalf of a loved one, you must fill in and file a certificate of suitability with the court. Before appointing you, the court will ensure that you:
- Can conduct legal proceedings on behalf of the victim in a fair and competent manner
- There is no conflict of interest between you and the victim
As a litigation friend, you will have several responsibilities, including:
- Pay any fees requested by the court
- Attend court hearings
- Make decisions regarding the claim
- Sign legal documents
- Instruct solicitors and take legal advice
- Consider any settlement offers from the defendant
Becoming a litigation friend in a multiple injury claim can be a long-lasting responsibility. Your role will usually end when a child turns 18, a protected party regains mental capacity, or the claim comes to an end.
How much will it cost to make a multiple injuries claim?
If you have solid grounds to claim multiple injury compensation, it will not usually cost you anything upfront to start your claim. If your solicitor decides to represent you, they will offer you a no win no fee agreement, which means that:
- You can take legal action regardless of your financial situation
- You do not have to pay any upfront fees to your solicitor
- They will offer you advice and support throughout the claims process
- If your case fails, you do not have to pay your solicitor’s legal fees
If you make a multiple injury claim on a no win no fee basis, you only have to pay your solicitor if and after you receive compensation for your pain, suffering and financial losses.
If you win, a success fee is paid to your solicitor for the risk they took by offering you a conditional fee agreement, meaning they would be unable to recoup their costs if you lost. The success fee cannot, under current regulations, exceed 25% of your award for general damages and past financial losses.
Friendly legal advisors are available to discuss your personal injury claim today.
- Find out if you have a valid claim
- A risk free, no win no fee service
- We are available 7 days a week
- Experienced personal injury lawyers
*Personal injury claims are provided on a no win no fee basis. If your claim is successful, your solicitor will receive a success fee of up to 25% of your compensation. If any additional costs could be payable, such as taking out legal protection insurance, these would be fully explained upfront by your solicitor before you decide to proceed with your claim. Termination fees may apply based on time spent on your case, or in situations such as: lack of cooperation, deliberately misleading your solicitor, failing to attend scheduled medical or expert examinations, or not appearing at a required court hearing. Please visit our guide to no win no fee claims page for further information.
