General damages
The award for the injury itself and the effect on your life, known as pain, suffering and loss of amenity. It is measured against the ranges used for injuries of comparable severity and adjusted for your circumstances.
West Sussex
Personal Injury Solicitors Chichester
Injury Law Specialists provides access to personal injury solicitors acting for clients across Chichester and the surrounding part of West Sussex. If you have been injured in an accident that may have been caused by someone else's negligence, we can review what happened and explain whether you may have grounds to pursue compensation.
Chichester is the county town of West Sussex, a small cathedral city with a largely intact Roman street plan, a pedestrianised centre and the A27 passing close by. That produces a distinctive mix of claims, which we set out below.
- Free initial claim assessment
- No Win, No Fee may be available
- Clients throughout Chichester and Greater London
- 30+ years' collective legal experience
Can I make a personal injury claim in Chichester?
Yes, if you were injured in an accident caused by someone else's negligence in Chichester or the surrounding area. Personal injury solicitors acting for Chichester clients assess whether there are grounds to claim, investigate the evidence, instruct medical experts and negotiate with the insurer on your behalf. Whether a claim can be taken on depends on the circumstances, the evidence and when the accident happened, not on where you live.
The A27 runs past Chichester as the south coast trunk road, and the A286, A259 and A285 carry traffic into the city and toward the harbour villages and the Witterings. The junctions on the A27, particularly at Chichester and Fishbourne, and the one-way system around the city centre see a steady volume of collisions, and seasonal traffic toward the coast adds to the pressure in summer.
Chichester's economy is built on tourism, retail, professional services, agriculture and a substantial care and retirement sector, with the cathedral and the Festival Theatre drawing visitors through the year. Accidents at work reflect that, with manual handling injuries in care settings, slips and trips in shops and hospitality, and injuries connected with farming and horticulture on the surrounding estates.
The pedestrianised city centre and the older streets produce the usual public place claims, and the condition of the paving matters here. Chichester has a great deal of historic surface treatment, with cobbles, setts and paving of different ages around the Cross and the cathedral, and falls on uneven or badly repaired surfaces are common, as are trips at changes of level where old and new paving meet.
Key takeaways
- Injury Law Specialists provides access to personal injury solicitors acting for clients across Chichester and West Sussex.
- We help clients in Chichester. We do not have an office in Chichester and we do not claim to. Our registered address is in Luton, and cases are handled by telephone, video call, email and WhatsApp.
- Whether a claim can be taken on depends on its merits and evidence, not on where you live.
- Compensation has two parts: general damages for the injury itself, and special damages for the financial losses it caused.
- Most personal injury claims in England and Wales are subject to a three year limitation period.
- Legal services are provided by MB Solicitors, trading name of MB Legal Solicitors Ltd, regulated by the SRA under SRA ID 8000764.
Where we help clients in Chichester
We provide access to personal injury solicitors acting for clients across Chichester and the surrounding part of West Sussex. The map shows the area we cover, which takes in the main roads, stations and neighbourhoods where accidents most often happen.
Being clear about this matters. We help clients in Chichester. We do not have an office in Chichester and we do not claim to. Our registered address is in Luton, and cases are handled by telephone, email, WhatsApp and video call, so there is no need to travel to us and no part of the area we cannot reach.
Roads, stations and landmarks nearby
- A27
- A286
- A259
- A285
- Chichester station
- The Cross and the pedestrianised centre
- Chichester Cathedral
- Fishbourne and the harbour villages
What types of accident are most common in Chichester?
What stands out in Chichester claims is the age and variety of the paving. The city centre is pedestrianised and heavily used, but the surfaces are a patchwork of different materials laid at different times, with level changes, worn setts and repairs that sit proud of the surrounding stone. A fall there turns on whether the specific defect had been allowed to persist, and because the whole centre is a conservation area, the maintenance history becomes important evidence.
Slips, trips and falls
Chichester's pedestrianised centre is heavily used and its paving is a patchwork of materials and ages, with level changes and proud repairs that make falls common.
Accidents at work
Tourism, retail, agriculture and a substantial care and retirement sector produce manual handling injuries in care and slips in shops and hospitality.
Road traffic accidents
The A27 passes close to Chichester and the A286 and A259 serve the coast, and the junctions and one-way system see a steady volume of collisions.
Responsibility is not always obvious. What matters legally is whether someone owed you a duty of care, whether they breached it, and whether that breach caused your injury. Our pages on road traffic accident claims, accidents at work claims and public place accident claims explain how that is established.
How do I make a personal injury claim in Chichester?
The process is the same whether you are in Chichester or anywhere else in England and Wales. Individual claims vary, and not every case goes through every step, but this is how a personal injury claim usually progresses.
- 1Tell us what happenedComplete the free assessment form, telephone the team, or message on WhatsApp. A short description is enough to begin.
- 2Free initial assessmentA solicitor considers the circumstances, the injuries and who may have been responsible, and explains whether there may be grounds to claim.
- 3Investigation and evidenceWhere a case is accepted, the available evidence is gathered, including accident reports, photographs, witness details and CCTV where it exists.
- 4Medical evidenceAn independent medical expert assesses the injuries and gives an opinion on severity and prognosis.
- 5Assessing financial lossPast and future losses are calculated, including lost earnings, treatment, care, travel and equipment where relevant.
- 6NegotiationThe claim is presented to the defendant or their insurer and negotiated on your behalf.
- 7Settlement or court proceedingsMany cases settle through negotiation. Where agreement is not possible, court proceedings may be issued and the case decided by the court.
For a stage by stage account of what the solicitor does at each point, see our page on how our personal injury solicitors help.
How much compensation could I receive?
There is no figure that can be applied to an injury by name. Compensation is assessed on the medical evidence, the effect the injury has on your life, your age and circumstances, and the financial losses it has caused. Two people with the same diagnosis can receive very different awards.
Special damages
The award for the money the injury has cost you, proved with documents. It can include lost earnings, treatment and rehabilitation, care and assistance, travel, equipment and future losses where the injury has lasting effects.
Our page on personal injury compensation explains both parts in detail, including the losses that can be recovered and how claims are valued.
Other areas of West Sussex we help clients from
We act for clients across the whole of West Sussex. These are the other areas close to Chichester, and you can see every part of the county on the West Sussex page.
Personal Injury Solicitors West SussexPersonal Injury Solicitors CrawleyPersonal Injury Solicitors WorthingPersonal Injury Solicitors HorshamPersonal Injury Solicitors Bognor RegisPersonal Injury Solicitors LittlehamptonPersonal Injury Solicitors Haywards HeathPersonal Injury Solicitors East GrinsteadPersonal Injury Solicitors Shoreham-by-Sea
Personal injury claims in Chichester: frequently asked questions
Do you have an office in Chichester?
No. We do not have a physical office in Chichester, and we do not claim to. Our registered address is in Luton, and we provide access to personal injury solicitors who act for clients across Chichester and the whole of West Sussex. Cases are handled by telephone, email, WhatsApp and video call, and a client can be seen at a convenient location where a meeting is genuinely needed.
How long do I have to make a personal injury claim in Chichester?
For many claims the general limitation period is three years from the date of the accident, or from your later date of knowledge where that applies. Different rules can apply to children, to people who lack mental capacity, and to fatal accident and criminal injury claims. Because evidence is easier to gather early, it is worth taking advice well before any deadline feels close.
Can I claim for a fall on the paving in Chichester city centre?
Yes, where the highway authority or the occupier failed to maintain the surface to a reasonable standard and that caused your fall. The pedestrianised centre is heavily used and the paving is a patchwork of different materials and ages, with level changes and repairs that sit proud of the surrounding stone. Photographs of the specific defect with something for scale, and a precise note of the location, are the most valuable evidence. Our page on public place accident claims explains the process.
Can I claim if I was injured in a collision on the A27 near Chichester?
Yes, if another road user's negligence caused your injuries. The A27 is the south coast trunk road and the junctions at Chichester and Fishbourne carry heavy traffic, including a great deal of seasonal visitor traffic heading for the coast. Evidence usually comes from the police report, the vehicle damage and your medical records, along with any dash camera footage. Where the other driver was uninsured or untraced, a claim through the Motor Insurers' Bureau may be possible.
How much compensation could I receive for an injury in Chichester?
There is no figure that can be applied to an injury by name. Compensation is assessed on the medical evidence, the effect the injury has on your life, your age and circumstances, and the financial losses it has caused. Our page on personal injury compensation explains how both the general damages and the financial losses are worked out, and why a reliable figure has to come from the evidence in your own case.
Will I have to attend court in Chichester?
Most personal injury claims settle through negotiation without a hearing, so attending court is uncommon. Where proceedings are issued, the case is usually dealt with at a court convenient for where you live, and Chichester has its own county court. Where a hearing is needed, we explain what is involved in advance.
What evidence should I keep after an accident in Chichester?
Keep anything that records what happened and what it cost you. Photographs of the scene, the defect or the vehicles, details of witnesses, the police reference if one was given, medical records, receipts for treatment and travel, and a note of the days you could not work are all useful. Report a workplace accident in the accident book immediately and ask for a copy of the entry.
Can I claim on a No Win No Fee basis in Chichester?
Suitable cases may be accepted under a Conditional Fee Agreement, commonly called No Win No Fee, subject to an assessment of liability, the evidence, the prospects of success and proportionality. If the claim does not succeed you generally do not pay our basic legal fees, and if it does a success fee may be payable. In many personal injury claims the legal cap is 25% of the relevant categories of damages including VAT.
Do you help clients elsewhere in West Sussex?
Yes. We act for clients across the whole of West Sussex, including Bognor Regis, Littlehampton, Worthing, Horsham and the surrounding areas. You can see the full list on our areas we cover page, or read more about how personal injury claims work across West Sussex.
Who provides the legal services?
Injury Law Specialists is a marketing and advertising platform and is not a law firm or a provider of regulated legal services. All personal injury legal advice, casework and representation arranged through Injury Law Specialists are provided by MB Solicitors, a trading name of MB Legal Solicitors Ltd, regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority under SRA ID 8000764. Any solicitor-client relationship will be directly between the client and MB Legal Solicitors Ltd.
The answers above explain the position generally. Every claim turns on its own facts, and the applicable rules are those in force at the relevant time. For advice on deadlines, see our page on personal injury claim time limits.
Who provides the legal services
Injury Law Specialists is a marketing and advertising platform and is not a law firm or a provider of regulated legal services. All personal injury legal advice, legal services, casework, representation, legal support, and any free initial assessment or consultation promoted or arranged through Injury Law Specialists are provided by MB Solicitors, a trading name of MB Legal Solicitors Ltd.
MB Legal Solicitors Ltd is a company registered in England and Wales under Company Number 12281731. The firm is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) under SRA ID 8000764 and is a member of The Law Society. Injury Law Specialists does not itself provide legal advice or carry out reserved legal activities. Any solicitor-client relationship arising from an enquiry will be directly between the client and MB Legal Solicitors Ltd.
Read our Regulatory InformationRelated information
Personal Injury Solicitors LondonHow personal injury claims work across Greater London.Solicitors for Road Traffic Accident ClaimsClaims for drivers, passengers, riders, cyclists and pedestrians.Solicitors for Accidents at Work ClaimsWhere an employer failed to keep you safe at work.Solicitors for Public Place Accident ClaimsSlips, trips and falls in shops, stations and other public places.Personal Injury CompensationWhat compensation can cover and how claims are valued.No Win No Fee Personal Injury SolicitorsHow a Conditional Fee Agreement works and what the success fee means.Medical & Rehabilitation CostsRecovering the cost of treatment needed after an injury.Areas We CoverThe full list of areas we help clients from across England and Wales.Free Claim AssessmentTell us what happened and we will explain whether there may be grounds to claim.
Injured in an accident in Chichester?
Tell us what happened and a member of our team can explain whether you may have grounds to claim, what evidence would be needed and how the process would work in practice. The assessment is free, and there is no obligation to proceed.
Prefer to write it down? You can also tell us what happened and we will come back to you.