Novum Law recognised in prestigious Chambers & Partners Guide 2024
The team at Novum Law are delighted to be once again recognised as one of the best personal injury law firms in the South West by the leading, independent legal...
It is an unfortunate reality that accidents can happen at any time and in any place. If someone else’s negligence causes an accident, and you or a loved one is seriously injured, it can significantly impact your life.
Owners of private properties or land, such as private car parks, farms, or even people’s homes, have a duty to ensure they are safe places to visit.
You may be entitled to compensation if you or a loved one have been injured in a private location. This can help you secure all the support you need, including access to high-quality medical care and rehabilitation services, and replace any lost income caused by your personal injury on private property.
At Novum Law, our specialist personal injury lawyers are experts in supporting individuals to make compensation claims for accidents on private land. We can work alongside you to advise on whether you could be entitled to claim compensation and how much you could be entitled to.
Should you decide to make a claim, our team can guide you through the entire process from start to finish, ensuring that everything is as straightforward as possible. We support our clients on a No Win No Fee basis, so you do not need to worry about how you will fund your claim.
For a free, no-obligation chat with our experts, please call us on Freephone 0345 357 9645, complete our online form or email customersupport@simpsonmillar.co.uk.
Our expertise with accidents on private property claims
Types of private property accident claims we can help with
We can support clients in navigating private property accident laws, providing advice on making compensation claims for:
- Accidents in someone else’s home
- Accidents in a private property owned by a landlord
- Accidents in a private outdoor space
- Accidents in a private property or area owned by a business
Our experience
Our team has many years of experience helping clients with severe injuries in the most complicated and high-value cases.
We have successfully secured millions of pounds in compensation for our previous clients. We have a strong track record of securing the maximum compensation available, often without needing to go to court.
Independent recognition of our expertise
Our private accident solicitors have been recognised for their expertise in the following ways:
- Ranked as one of the leading personal injury law firms in the South West by independent legal guide Chambers & Partners
- Many of our team are members of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL)
- APIL Senior Litigator status is held by a number of our team
Our personal injury team have particular expertise in brain and head injuries, spinal injuries, limb loss and amputation and fatal injuries.
How claiming compensation for injuries on private property works
Free initial consultation with our team
We understand that taking the first steps towards claiming for an accident on private land can be daunting. Our team want to make the entire process as simple and stress-free as possible.
Our personal injury solicitors offer a free initial consultation if you believe you may have grounds to make an accident on a private property claim. This is where you will have the opportunity to discuss the details of your injury and give our team the information they need to advise you on the next steps.
If we think you have a good chance of a successful claim, we will explain the process, including how No Win No Fee works, with no hidden costs or financial risks to you.
Following the consultation, you do not have to take things further, but if you decide to make a claim, we will support you every step of the way.
Funding your claim
Most personal injury claims our team handles are funded on a No Win No Fee basis, which means our fees only apply if we successfully secure compensation for you. In the highly unlikely event we are unable to secure compensation for your injury on private property, you will not owe us anything.
Should your claim be successful, the defendant may cover some or all of the costs. This will allow you to keep a larger portion of your compensation.
Calculating the value of your claim
To ensure you access the maximum compensation available for your claim, our team will carefully assess the full impact of your injuries.
The compensation you can receive for accidents on private property claims falls under 2 broad categories:
- General damages – covers your pain, suffering and the impact on your lifestyle. This includes ‘loss of amenity’, which means no longer being able to carry out activities you previously could.
- Special damages – covers any specific financial costs you have incurred due to your injuries. This might include costs associated with medical treatment, care support, rehabilitation services, buying special equipment and lost income. Special damages also include expected future costs.
Working out how much compensation you are entitled to is known as ‘assessing the quantum of damages’ or ‘assessing quantum’.
Time limits to claim
Under normal circumstances, you will have 3 years to make a claim for personal injuries on private property. This time limit is counted from the ‘date of knowledge’. The date of knowledge refers to when you were first aware that you were injured and that someone else’s negligence was to blame.
There are exceptions where you may have longer to bring accidents on private property claims. This includes if the injured person is under 18 or lacks the mental capacity to make a claim.
Given the strict legal time limits, we strongly encourage you to speak to our specialist accident lawyers as soon as possible.
Please book your free initial consultation with our claims team
If you or a loved one have been injured on private property, our experts in Bristol, Cardiff, the Isle of Wight, Plymouth, Salisbury, Southampton and Swindon are here to help.
To start making your compensation claim, call us on Freephone 0345 357 9645, complete our online form or email customersupport@simpsonmillar.co.uk.
Frequently Asked Questions
A private property is solely owned by an individual or organisation. While the landowner may permit it to be used by others, it will not be freely accessible to the public.
If your accident occurred on private property owned by someone else, you might be eligible to make a claim. Our specialist solicitors for accidents on private property claims can advise you on the next steps.
If you have been injured in a private place and you have reason to believe it was the result of someone else’s negligence, the first step is to speak to our team to arrange a free consultation. We can then assess the circumstances surrounding your case and advise you on whether it would be possible to make a compensation claim.
If an accident occurs on private property, the owner will typically be responsible. Often, accidents on private land are caused by the property owner failing to make the area safe, for example, by failing to address specific hazards.
Even where you have been injured on private property, this does not automatically entitle you to make a compensation claim. To have a valid claim, we need to prove that someone else’s negligence was responsible for your injuries. Our expert team will discuss this in detail during your free initial consultation.
Yes. It is often possible for you to make a compensation claim on behalf of someone else if they cannot do it themselves.
If the injured person was under 18 at the time of the accident, their parent or guardian could bring a claim on their behalf. If no claim is made, once the child turns 18, they have a further 3 years until they are 21 to make a personal injury claim themselves.
If the injured person lacks the mental capacity to make a claim, a parent or guardian can act as a ‘litigation friend’ to pursue the claim on their behalf. We can advise on who can act as a litigation friend. There are no time limits when there is a lack of mental capacity.
Family members can still make a compensation claim if someone sadly dies following an accident on private land. They usually have 3 years from the date of death to claim.
We frequently hear from clients who have started a personal injury claim with another law firm, only to be disappointed with the outcome. Often, we hear that another firm is failing to make progress or has negotiated a settlement that the client feels is too low.
Our private accident solicitors are always willing to give you a second opinion on your case. If we think we could do better, we can take over your claim. We will always be upfront about your claim and will not move forwards unless we genuinely believe we could secure a better outcome.
We have found that when our specialist team take over claims from other firms, we can often secure compensation faster and negotiate higher settlements.
If you have a question that is not listed above, please visit our FAQs page. Alternatively, please call our specialist team on Freephone 0345 357 9645 or contact us online for a free, no-obligation chat.
