Personal Injury Solicitors Somerset
Injury Law Specialists provides access to personal injury solicitors acting for clients across Somerset, from the medieval cities of the east and the industrial towns on the M5 to the aerospace works of the south and the Bristol Channel coast. 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.
Somerset is the most varied county in the South West, and its claim profile shows it. Bath and Wells contain some of the best preserved historic fabric in England, Yeovil is one of the largest aerospace and defence centres in the country, Bridgwater has an industrial and construction base of real scale, and Weston-super-Mare has one of the largest tidal ranges in the world. Few counties ask a solicitor to understand so many different kinds of workplace and so many different kinds of street.
- Free initial claim assessment
- No Win No Fee may be available
- Clients throughout England & Wales
- 30+ years' collective legal experience
Three parts of Somerset, three claim profiles
- The historic cities and the eastBath, Wells, Frome and Glastonbury
- The M5 corridor and the industrial centreTaunton, Bridgwater and Weston-super-Mare
- The aerospace and engineering southYeovil and Chard
We help clients in Somerset. We do not have an office in the county and we do not claim to.
Can I make a personal injury claim in Somerset?
Yes, if you were injured in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence anywhere in Somerset. Personal injury solicitors acting for Somerset 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 in the county.
What makes Somerset claims different
Four things account for a large share of the cases we see from Somerset clients, and each of them arises here more than it does in most counties.
Historic surfaces in four separate towns
Bath, Wells, Frome and Glastonbury between them contain some of the best preserved historic fabric in England, and a great deal of their public paving, steps and pathways is genuinely old stone rather than modern surfacing. Falls on those surfaces turn on the inspection and repair records of whichever authority or body is responsible for that stretch, and on whether the specific defect had been allowed to persist.
Aerospace, defence and precision engineering
Yeovil is one of the largest centres of aerospace and defence employment in the country, with a supply chain of smaller engineering firms around it, and Chard and Bridgwater add substantial manufacturing of their own. Claims from this work involve machinery, tooling, large component handling and controlled environments, and they turn on procedures, equipment records and training documentation rather than on anything visible at the scene.
The Bristol Channel coast and its tides
Weston-super-Mare has one of the largest tidal ranges in the world, so its beach, mudflats and water's edge move dramatically through the day, and its promenade, sea wall and slipways are affected by salt, storms and tidal water. With an older population concentrated along the seafront, falls on exposed coastal surfaces make up a larger share of local claims than in a comparable inland town.
Trunk roads running through the county
Somerset is crossed by the M5, the A303, the A30, the A38 and the A39, and several of those pass directly through towns rather than around them. The A30 runs straight through Chard, and the A303 and A37 carry heavy freight and holiday traffic on largely single carriageway routes. Road claims here frequently involve drivers who were passing through rather than residents, along with agricultural vehicles on lanes that carry far more traffic than their design suggests.
How claims differ across Somerset
The county divides into three recognisably different areas when it comes to how accidents happen.
The historic cities and the east
Bath, Wells, Frome and Glastonbury
The most historic corner of the county, where medieval and Georgian fabric, hillside streets and a very heavy visitor economy combine.
Bath, Wells, Frome and Glastonbury are four of the most historic towns in England and they share a claim profile built on their fabric rather than their industry. Bath is a World Heritage city built almost entirely on Georgian and earlier architecture, with extensive areas of paving, setts and stone flagstones that are centuries old, steep streets climbing away from the river and a dense network of narrow pavements and steps. Wells is England's smallest city, with one of the best preserved medieval centres in the country around its cathedral, market place and Bishop's Palace. Frome is built on a hillside, so genuine gradients and flights of stone steps are part of everyday routes, and Glastonbury has a small historic centre beneath the tor. Between them they mean falls on ageing and uneven public surfaces make up a much larger share of local claims than in a comparable modern town, and because all four are major visitor destinations, a high proportion of claimants are visitors rather than residents.
Towns in this area
The M5 corridor and the industrial centre
Taunton, Bridgwater and Weston-super-Mare
Where the motorway meets manufacturing, distribution and the coast, and where heavy goods movement is part of daily life.
Taunton, Bridgwater and Weston-super-Mare sit along the M5 and share a much more industrial and road-focused claim profile than the east of the county. Taunton is the county town, with Musgrove Park Hospital and the county council among the largest employers, so healthcare and institutional injuries feature heavily alongside a substantial food and drink sector that brings risks around machinery guarding, wet floors and hot liquids. Bridgwater is the county's industrial centre, with a large manufacturing and distribution base and a very substantial construction workforce connected to major infrastructure projects in the area, so claims there frequently involve agency labour and several employers on the same site. Weston-super-Mare adds the coast, with a long promenade, a pier and one of the largest tidal ranges in the world, and an older population concentrated along the seafront. All three are served by the M5, and all three carry heavy goods vehicle movement as a result.
Towns in this area
The aerospace and engineering south
Yeovil and Chard
Where aerospace, defence and precision engineering dominate employment, and where a trunk road runs straight through a small town.
Yeovil and Chard sit in the south of the county and share a claim profile built on manufacturing. Yeovil is one of the largest centres of aerospace and defence employment in the country, with a substantial supply chain of smaller engineering firms around it, so local workplace claims involve machinery, tooling, large component handling, composite materials and controlled environments. Those claims turn on the employer's procedures, risk assessments, tooling and equipment maintenance records and training documentation rather than on anything visible at the scene, which is why preserving records early matters. Chard is a smaller town that retains a genuine manufacturing, engineering and specialist production sector for its size, producing similar claims on a smaller scale. Both sit on the A303 and A30 respectively, which carry heavy through traffic on largely single carriageway routes, so a significant share of local road claims involve drivers who were passing through rather than residents.
Towns in this area
Who we help in Somerset
The claimants we act for most often in this county, with the page that explains each in more detail.
All the Somerset towns we cover
Each page below covers the local accident mix, the roads and the connections that shape it, and how a claim works in that area. Every one includes a map of the area covered.
The Somerset area we cover
We help clients across the whole of Somerset. The map below shows the county, and you can open it in Google Maps to explore the towns and roads mentioned on this page.
We help clients in Somerset. We do not have a physical office in Somerset and we do not claim to. Our registered address is Unit 16, Titan Court, Laporte Way, Luton, England, LU4 8EF.
Where to find out more
Frequently asked questions about personal injury claims in Somerset
Do you have an office in Somerset?
No. We do not have a physical office anywhere in Somerset, and we do not claim to. Injury Law Specialists is a marketing and advertising platform rather than a law firm, and our registered address is in Luton. We provide access to personal injury solicitors who act for clients across the whole county, and cases are handled by telephone, email, WhatsApp and video call. Where a meeting is genuinely needed, a client can be seen at a convenient location rather than being asked to travel to us.
How long do I have to make a personal injury claim in Somerset?
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 and CCTV and dash camera footage in particular can be overwritten within days, it is worth taking advice well before any deadline feels close.
Can I claim for a fall on historic paving in Bath, Wells or Frome?
Yes, where the authority or body responsible for that surface failed to maintain it to a reasonable standard, or failed to provide a handrail where one was reasonably required, and that caused your fall. Bath is a World Heritage city built on Georgian and earlier fabric, Wells has one of the best preserved medieval centres in England, and Frome is built on a hillside with flights of stone steps. A great deal of the public paving in all three is genuinely historic stone rather than modern surfacing, so claims turn on the inspection and repair records and on whether the defect had been allowed to persist. Photographs with something for scale, and a precise note of the location and date, are the most valuable evidence.
Can I claim if I was injured working in aerospace or manufacturing in Somerset?
Yes, where the injury was caused by unsafe working conditions, inadequate training, defective equipment or tooling, unguarded machinery or a failure to provide a safe system of work. Yeovil is one of the largest centres of aerospace and defence employment in the country, and Bridgwater, Chard and Taunton all have substantial manufacturing of their own. Claims from this work involve machinery, tooling, large component handling, composite materials and controlled environments, and they turn on the employer's procedures, risk assessments, equipment maintenance records and training documentation rather than on anything visible at the scene. It is worth preserving those records early. Where an agency or contractor supplied you, establishing who controlled the task is the first step.
Can I claim if I was injured on a construction site near Bridgwater?
Yes, where the injury was caused by unsafe working conditions, inadequate training, defective equipment, a failure to control plant or vehicle movements, or a failure to provide a safe system of work. Bridgwater sits close to one of the largest construction projects in the country and has a substantial construction workforce of its own. Claims from large sites frequently involve agency labour, subcontracted workers and several employers on the same site, so establishing who controlled the particular area or task, who supplied the equipment and what insurance applied is the first question rather than an afterthought. It is worth taking advice early on those points.
Can I claim for a fall on Weston-super-Mare promenade or sea wall?
Yes, where the council or the occupier failed to maintain the surface to a reasonable standard and that caused your fall. Weston has a long promenade, a sea wall and several beach access points that are heavily used through the season and by local residents year round, and the exposed coastal location means surfaces deteriorate faster than inland paving and are affected by salt and storms. Falls on the beach itself and near the water need individual advice, because responsibility depends on who owns or manages the particular stretch, and Weston's very large tidal range means the risks change through the day. Making a note of the time and the tide state can matter.
What evidence should I keep after an accident in Somerset?
Keep anything that records what happened and what it cost you, and gather it early. Photographs of the scene, the defect, the surface, the machinery or the vehicles, 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. If you were working, report the accident in the accident book immediately and ask for a copy of the entry, and keep any training, risk assessment, maintenance or equipment records you have. On a construction or industrial site, note who employed you and who gave you instructions. CCTV and dash camera footage is the most time sensitive item.
Can I claim if the other driver was uninsured or I could not identify them?
It may still be possible. Where the driver responsible was uninsured, or where the accident was a hit and run and the driver cannot be traced, a claim can often be pursued through the Motor Insurers' Bureau, which exists specifically to deal with those situations. The rules and the evidence required differ from an ordinary claim against an identified insurer, and there are particular requirements for reporting to the police in untraced driver cases. This comes up more often on Somerset's trunk roads than people expect, so it is worth asking about.
How much compensation could I receive for an injury in Somerset?
There is no figure that can be applied to an injury by name, and anyone offering one without seeing your medical evidence is guessing. 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 in more detail.
Will I have to attend court in Somerset?
Most personal injury claims settle through negotiation without any 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 Somerset has combined court centres at Taunton and Yeovil with county courts at Bath, Weston-super-Mare, Wells, Frome, Bridgwater and Chard. Where a hearing is needed, we explain what is involved and what to expect well in advance.
Can I claim on a No Win No Fee basis in Somerset?
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, although the actual deduction and funding arrangements depend on the agreement and your circumstances. These terms are explained in full before you decide whether to proceed.
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.
Not sure whether you have a personal injury claim in Somerset?
You do not need to understand the law before contacting us, and you do not need to travel. Tell us briefly what happened and a member of our team can review the information and explain the possible next steps. There is no charge for an initial assessment and no obligation to proceed.
Free initial assessment. No Win No Fee may be available, subject to assessment.