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.
Cornwall
Personal Injury Solicitors Falmouth
Injury Law Specialists provides access to personal injury solicitors acting for clients across Falmouth and the surrounding part of Cornwall. 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.
Falmouth sits on one of the deepest natural harbours in the world, with a substantial maritime, boatbuilding and marine engineering sector, a university campus, a working dockyard and a strong tourism economy. 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 Falmouth and Greater London
- 30+ years' collective legal experience
Can I make a personal injury claim in Falmouth?
Yes, if you were injured in an accident caused by someone else's negligence in Falmouth or the surrounding area. Personal injury solicitors acting for Falmouth 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.
Falmouth is served by the A39 linking the town to Truro and the A30, with the A394 serving the routes west toward Helston, and the town sits on a hilly peninsula around the harbour with steep streets and steps throughout. Traffic into Falmouth is funnelled along a small number of routes, and the seasonal visitor economy increases volumes considerably through the summer months on roads that were never designed for it.
Falmouth's economy is built on maritime and marine engineering work, the docks and boatyards, higher education through the university campus, tourism, hospitality and a substantial marine leisure sector. Accidents at work reflect that mix unusually strongly: marine engineering, boatbuilding and dockyard work involves heavy machinery, lifting, working at height and confined spaces on vessels, while hospitality and the marine leisure sector produce the familiar kitchen, manual handling and slip injuries.
The town centre, the quays and the waterfront produce the usual public place claims, and Falmouth is built on steep hills around its harbour. There are genuine gradients, steps and narrow historic streets throughout the town, and the older parts have cobbles, setts and uneven paving, so falls on those routes are common. The waterfront, the beaches and the castle headland add their own set of claims, and the exposed harbour location means surfaces near the water deteriorate faster than inland paving.
Key takeaways
- Injury Law Specialists provides access to personal injury solicitors acting for clients across Falmouth and Cornwall.
- We help clients in Falmouth. We do not have an office in Falmouth 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 Falmouth
We provide access to personal injury solicitors acting for clients across Falmouth and the surrounding part of Cornwall. 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 Falmouth. We do not have an office in Falmouth 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
- A39
- A394
- Falmouth Docks station
- The docks and boatyards
- The harbour and quays
- The university campus
- The steep town streets
- The castle headland
What types of accident are most common in Falmouth?
What stands out in Falmouth claims is the depth of its marine industry. Falmouth has one of the world's largest natural harbours and a genuine concentration of boatbuilding, marine engineering and dockyard work alongside a working port and a university campus with a maritime and engineering focus. Claims from that sector involve heavy machinery, lifting operations, working at height on vessels, confined spaces and the water itself, and they turn on risk assessments, safe systems of work and equipment records. Where contractors and agencies share a yard, establishing who controlled the task is the first step.
Accidents at work
Boatbuilding, marine engineering and dockyard work involves heavy machinery, lifting, working at height and confined spaces on vessels, and turns on risk assessments and equipment records.
Slips, trips and falls
Falmouth is built on steep hills around its harbour with genuine gradients, steps and historic cobbled streets, making falls on those routes common.
Road traffic accidents
Traffic into Falmouth is funnelled along a small number of routes on a hilly peninsula, with volumes rising considerably through the visitor season.
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 Falmouth?
The process is the same whether you are in Falmouth 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 Cornwall we help clients from
We act for clients across the whole of Cornwall. These are the other areas close to Falmouth, and you can see every part of the county on the Cornwall page.
Personal Injury Solicitors CornwallPersonal Injury Solicitors TruroPersonal Injury Solicitors PenzancePersonal Injury Solicitors NewquayPersonal Injury Solicitors St AustellPersonal Injury Solicitors BodminPersonal Injury Solicitors CambornePersonal Injury Solicitors RedruthPersonal Injury Solicitors Helston
Personal injury claims in Falmouth: frequently asked questions
Do you have an office in Falmouth?
No. We do not have a physical office in Falmouth, 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 Falmouth and the whole of Cornwall. 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 Falmouth?
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 if I was injured working in a boatyard or on the docks in Falmouth?
Yes, where the injury was caused by unsafe working conditions, inadequate training, defective equipment, a failure to control lifting or working at height, or a failure to provide a safe system of work. Falmouth has a genuine concentration of boatbuilding, marine engineering and dockyard work, and claims from that sector commonly involve heavy machinery, lifting operations, working at height on vessels, confined spaces and the water. Where contractors and agencies share a yard, establishing who controlled the particular task is a necessary first step, and the employer's risk assessments and safe systems of work usually become the central evidence.
Can I claim for a fall on the steep streets or steps in Falmouth?
Yes, where the highway authority or the occupier failed to maintain the surface to a reasonable standard, or failed to provide a handrail where one was reasonably required, and that caused your fall. Falmouth is built on steep hills around its harbour with genuine gradients, steps and narrow historic streets, and the older parts have cobbles and uneven paving. Photographs that show the gradient, the step and the surface condition, with something for scale, are the most valuable evidence.
How much compensation could I receive for an injury in Falmouth?
There is no figure that can be applied to an injury by name. Compensation has two parts: general damages for the pain, suffering and loss of amenity the injury itself has caused, and special damages for the financial losses it has produced, such as lost earnings, treatment, rehabilitation, care and travel. The total depends on the medical evidence, the effect on your life, your age and circumstances and the losses you have suffered. Our page on personal injury compensation explains how both parts are assessed.
Will I have to attend court in Falmouth?
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 the Truro court centre serves the area. Where a hearing is needed, we explain what is involved in advance.
What evidence should I keep after an accident in Falmouth?
Keep anything that records what happened and what it cost you, and gather it early. Photographs of the scene, the machinery, the vessel, the defect or the equipment, details of any 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 Falmouth?
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 applicable legal cap is 25% of the relevant categories of damages including VAT.
Do you help clients elsewhere in Cornwall?
Yes. We act for clients across the whole of Cornwall, including Truro, Helston, Redruth, Penryn 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 Cornwall.
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 Falmouth?
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.