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.
Hampshire
Personal Injury Solicitors Portsmouth
Injury Law Specialists provides access to personal injury solicitors acting for clients across Portsmouth and the surrounding part of Hampshire. 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.
Portsmouth is a densely built island city with a naval heritage, a working port and ferry terminal, and one of the highest population densities in the country outside London. That produces a very particular mix of claims, which we set out below.
- Free initial claim assessment
- No Win, No Fee may be available
- Clients throughout Portsmouth and Greater London
- 30+ years' collective legal experience
Can I make a personal injury claim in Portsmouth?
Yes, if you were injured in an accident caused by someone else's negligence in Portsmouth or the surrounding area. Personal injury solicitors acting for Portsmouth 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.
Portsmouth is served by the M275 and the A3, with the M27 a short distance to the north, and the city's road network is constrained by the island geography and the sea. The M275 approach, the roundabouts serving the naval base and the ferry port, and the one-way system through the city centre carry heavy traffic in a confined space, and the sea crossings and bridges connecting Portsea Island are regular congestion points.
Portsmouth's economy is built on the naval base, defence and marine engineering, the ferry port, logistics, retail, healthcare and a substantial hospitality sector. Accidents at work reflect that mix strongly: dock and naval base related injuries, machinery and manual handling in defence and marine engineering, vehicle movement accidents around the port, and slips in retail and hospitality settings.
The seafront, the historic dockyard and the city centre produce the usual public place claims, and Portsmouth has a great deal of older paving and seafront infrastructure. The promenade at Southsea, the common and the waterfront walkways are heavily used, and falls on those surfaces and on the sea defences are common, as are trips at changes of level around the historic dockyard and the older parts of the city.
Key takeaways
- Injury Law Specialists provides access to personal injury solicitors acting for clients across Portsmouth and Hampshire.
- We help clients in Portsmouth. We do not have an office in Portsmouth 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 Portsmouth
We provide access to personal injury solicitors acting for clients across Portsmouth and the surrounding part of Hampshire. 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 Portsmouth. We do not have an office in Portsmouth 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
- M275
- M27
- A3
- Portsmouth Harbour station
- Portsmouth Naval Base
- The ferry port
- Southsea seafront and common
- The Historic Dockyard
What types of accident are most common in Portsmouth?
What stands out in Portsmouth claims is the island geography. There is very little room in the city, the roads are hemmed in by the sea and the built environment is dense, so collisions and pedestrian incidents happen in confined conditions with little margin for error. The naval base and the port also mean a high proportion of local work involves machinery, heavy lifting and vehicle movements, so workplace claims tend to be serious when they occur.
Accidents at work
The naval base, defence and marine engineering, the ferry port and logistics concentrate machinery, lifting and vehicle movement risks in a small city.
Road traffic accidents
Portsmouth's island geography constrains its roads, and the M275 approach, the port roundabouts and the city's one-way system carry heavy traffic in a confined space.
Slips, trips and falls
The Southsea promenade, the common and the waterfront are heavily used, and falls on older paving, sea defences and the historic dockyard surfaces are common.
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 Portsmouth?
The process is the same whether you are in Portsmouth 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 Hampshire we help clients from
We act for clients across the whole of Hampshire. These are the other areas close to Portsmouth, and you can see every part of the county on the Hampshire page.
Personal Injury Solicitors HampshirePersonal Injury Solicitors SouthamptonPersonal Injury Solicitors WinchesterPersonal Injury Solicitors BasingstokePersonal Injury Solicitors FarehamPersonal Injury Solicitors GosportPersonal Injury Solicitors HavantPersonal Injury Solicitors AndoverPersonal Injury Solicitors EastleighPersonal Injury Solicitors Aldershot
Personal injury claims in Portsmouth: frequently asked questions
Do you have an office in Portsmouth?
No. We do not have a physical office in Portsmouth, 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 Portsmouth and the whole of Hampshire. 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 Portsmouth?
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 at the naval base or in marine engineering in Portsmouth?
Yes, where the injury was caused by unsafe working conditions, inadequate training, defective equipment, a failure to control lifting or vehicle movements, or a failure to provide a safe system of work. The naval base and the surrounding defence and marine engineering businesses involve heavy machinery and confined working conditions. Where several contractors and agencies share a site, establishing who controlled the particular area or task is a necessary first step.
Can I claim for a fall on Southsea seafront?
Yes, where the council or the occupier failed to maintain the surface to a reasonable standard and that caused your fall. The promenade, the common and the sea defences are heavily used and exposed to salt, storm damage and heavy weathering, so surfaces deterioriate faster than inland paving. Photographs of the defect with something for scale, and a precise note of the location and date, are the most valuable evidence.
How much compensation could I receive for an injury in Portsmouth?
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 Portsmouth?
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 Portsmouth 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 Portsmouth?
Keep anything that records what happened and what it cost you. Photographs of the scene, the machinery, 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 Portsmouth?
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 Hampshire?
Yes. We act for clients across the whole of Hampshire, including Gosport, Havant, Fareham, Southampton 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 Hampshire.
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 Portsmouth?
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.