What is a Personal Injury?

A personal injury is a term that is used for an injury to ones body, mind or even emotions. You cannot class an injury to personal property as a personal injury. The term has become more widespread during the last 15 or so years. The most common use for the term is involving one persons injury that has been caused by another’s negligence.

Common types of personal injury are accidents at work, in the home, common assault and road traffic accidents. The term personal injury can also be used to cover accidents or illnesses that result from improper or negligent medical or dental care.

Industrial working diseases and accidents are also covered by the term personal injury. You may have heard of asbestos being a hazardous material that was used in manufacturing for many years. Inhaling asbestos fibres results in diseases such as mesothelioma and asbestosis, these can be claimed for under personal injury compensation laws. Similarly, miners suffering from vibration white finger can also claim compensation from former employers.

If you are able to prove that your illness or accident was a result of someone else’s negligence then you may be able to claim compensation for your suffering. In the UK there are a lot of solicitors who will fight your case on a ‘no win, no fee’ basis. This means that you have no legal costs to pay up front. The majority of personal injury compensation claims are fought in this way as it allows people who have suffered loss of earnings to start a personal injury claim without having to pay any money up front.