At Thompsons - the UK's most experienced personal injury law firm - we only work for the victims of accidents and injuries. We never represent insurance companies or employers. 

Thompsons has led the way in creating new laws for working people and every year, we recover more than £200 million in compensation for people who don’t make legal history, but for whom we fight just as hard.

You can take a look through the ground-breaking cases we have won over our 100-year history.

We don't just deal with personal injury. We are also proud to help trade union members with issues such as dismissals, discrimination and equal pay through our specialist employment rights department. 

 

Our aim

We strive at all times to provide a high-quality service and a standard of care in which you can be completely confident. Our aim is to get the maximum compensation for you in the shortest possible time. 

That means we will: 

  • Use plain language 
  • Keep in touch regularly
  • Respond quickly
  • Keep you fully informed
  • Give independent advice.

 

Our lawyers

All of Thompsons' lawyers receive extensive training relating to personal injury law. If your lawyer wants to meet with you, rather than discuss the circumstances of your claim over the phone, they will arrange an appointment to meet you at a time and a place to suit you. They will also make any adjustments necessary to accommodate any disability you may have.

 

Our offices

Our network of UK offices are open during normal office hours (Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm). If you need to contact us outside these hours, just ring and leave a message and we will call you back. Remember to tell us your case reference number – you will find this on the letters we send you. Alternatively, we can be contacted by email if you would prefer this.

 

Our equality and diversity policy

As a trade union law firm, equality and diversity are at the heart of what we do. Thompsons is committed to promoting equality and diversity in all our dealings with you. Tell your lawyer about anything that will help us communicate with you or help you participate in mediation, meetings or court proceedings. 

 

Complaints

We are committed to providing the highest quality legal service to our clients. If you have any problems with the handling of your case we hope you will let us know straight away.

Thompsons has a procedure in place to help resolve any complaints promptly and fairly. This is available on request from the Managing Partner at your local office, or you can view a copy at here.

If any complaint cannot be resolved using this procedure, you can ask the Legal Ombudsman at P.O. Box 6806, Wolverhampton, WV1 9WJ, by emailing enquiries@legalombudsman.org.uk or by calling 0300 555 0333 to consider your complaint.

Normally, you need to bring a complaint to the Legal Ombudsman within six months of receiving a final written response from us about your complaint. From 1 April 2023 the Legal Ombudsman expects complaints to be made to them within a year of the date of the act or omission about which you are concerned or within a year from when you should reasonably have known there was cause for concern.

We are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. 

 

Responsibilities

 

We have certain responsibilities that we owe you.

These include an obligation to:

  • Review your case regularly
  • Advise you of any changes in the law
  • Advise you of any circumstances and risks we know about that could affect your case
  • Negotiate a settlement in your case if that is possible, but issue court proceedings if not.

We will always discuss with you any major steps you take in your case

We need you to:

  • Tell us what you want us to do clearly, accurately and within reasonable time limits
  • Provide us with all the documentation we need within the time we need it
  • Keep safe any documents that might be needed for a future court case
  • Tell us of any change in your address or contact details straight away
  • Tell us if you are considering declaring yourself bankrupt, are bankrupt, or have in the past been bankrupt. 

 

What do we have to do?

 

To receive compensation, you have to prove that someone else was to blame for your injuries. So the first thing we have to decide is whether your case is one that will succeed.

We will write to you with details of next steps at the outset of your claim. These might include obtaining medical evidence and gathering information from witnesses to support your claim. 

In cases where estimated damages are less than £25,000, there is a claims process which is meant to reduce the length of time it takes to recover compensation; however, much still depends on whether or not the other side admits they were to blame. 

The defendant normally has a period of up to three months from when they receive the claim to confirm whether or not they admit fault. 

We will ask for compensation for your pain and suffering (both in the past and possibly the future), as well as any expenses that you incur because of the accident or illness. Types of expenses could include travelling expenses to see a doctor and/or the cost of prescriptions or any loss of wages. It's really important to keep any relevant receipts. 

 

We will always try to settle your claim if possible, rather than issue court proceedings.

We may advise that it would be in your best interests to hold a joint settlement meeting with the defendant. This would involve all parties attending a meeting with a view to discussing any outstanding issues and reaching a settlement. This can take place either before or after court proceedings are issued.

If the defendant denies liability or fails to put forward a reasonable offer in settlement of your claim, so long as we think your claim has reasonable prospects of succeeding, we will recommend that court proceedings are started. If this happens, we will keep you closely informed about all steps in the court process.

Whatever we do, it will be with your consent. 

We know you are honest, but the insurers defending your claim may try to show you aren't telling the truth.

The insurance industry is keen to reduce claims and maintain profits.

Of course, it's never been acceptable to make up what's wrong with you or how badly affected you are by an injury, but the concept of 'fundamental dishonesty' has now been introduced in personal injury cases. If, through exaggeration of your condition or its impact (including any financial losses), the court finds that you have been fundamentally dishonest, your compensation can be taken away and you may even have to pay the other side's legal costs.

It's more important than ever that you:

  • Tell us anything that might affect the value of your claim
  • Are completely open with any doctor we ask to report on your injuries
  • Provide any expert you see in the course of your case with clear and truthful details about your symptoms and how they affect you at work and in your personal and social life. 

If you have any questions, you can email or call the lawyer working for you. You can find their details on the letters you get from us. We know you are honest, but the insurers defending your claim may try to show you aren't telling the truth.

We may ask you to undergo a medical examination to show the cause and extent of your injuries and their effect on you. The doctor is very likely to be someone you have not seen before as it is important they are independent.

This is nothing to be worried about and is a way of strengthening your case. The medical expert may wish to have sight of your medical records. If the expert does want to see them, we will send you forms of authority to sign for the release of your records from your GP or the hospital you attended.

If you are still experiencing symptoms as a result of the accident, we can look at ways to supporting you to have appropriate treatment to help you get better. This treatment is often referred to as ‘rehabilitation’. For example, you may need physiotherapy after your accident or you may require counselling if the accident has caused you psychological distress. 

As a result of your accident or injury, you may be entitled to protection from disability discrimination (for example, being passed over for a promotion or even being dismissed by your employer) under the Equality Act 2010.

This law defines disability as a physical or mental impairment, which has a substantial and long term adverse effect on your ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. ‘Long term’ means at least 12 months.

If you think you have been discriminated against, tell your union representative immediately. This is important because there is a time limit of three months in which to make a tribunal claim from the date of the discriminatory act.

 

Benefits

If you have an accident at work, on the roads or elsewhere, are the victim of an assault or develop an industrial disease which causes you to have time off your usual work, you may be entitled to state benefits.

Find out more about the benefits which may be available to you on our guide to state benefits. 

 

Terms and conditions

Please find our terms and conditions in full here. 

We're here to help

If you or a loved one have been injured, you may be entitled to make a compensation claim. Get in touch via our online enquiry form for free, no-obligation advice and to discuss your case.

Call us on 0800 0 224 224

Useful contacts and information