Personal Injury Solicitors West Sussex
Injury Law Specialists provides access to personal injury solicitors acting for clients across West Sussex, from the cathedral city at Chichester and the promenades of Worthing and Bognor Regis to the commuter towns of the Weald and the industrial north around Gatwick. 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.
West Sussex is unusually varied for a single county. Its coastal towns, its Wealden commuter belt and the aviation and logistics economy around Crawley have almost nothing in common with each other when it comes to how accidents happen. This page explains that division, and we have a separate page for each of the nine towns below.
- Free initial claim assessment
- No Win No Fee may be available
- Clients throughout England & Wales
- 30+ years' collective legal experience
A county of three very different belts
- The coastal belt5 towns covered
- The Weald and commuter belt3 towns covered
- The Gatwick industrial north1 town covered
We help clients in West Sussex. We do not have an office in the county and we do not claim to.
Can I make a personal injury claim in West Sussex?
Yes, if you were injured in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence anywhere in West Sussex. Personal injury solicitors acting for West Sussex clients assess whether there are grounds to claim, investigate the evidence, arrange medical evidence and negotiate with the insurer. Whether a claim can be taken on depends on the circumstances, the evidence and when the accident happened, not on where you live.
How claims differ across West Sussex
A single page cannot describe West Sussex accurately, because the county does not have one accident profile. It has three, and they sit side by side within a few miles of each other.
The coastal belt
A continuous stretch of seaside towns from Chichester Harbour to Shoreham, each with a promenade used daily by a large older population.
Worthing, Littlehampton, Bognor Regis and Shoreham-by-Sea all sit on the same coastline, and the promenades there function as everyday infrastructure rather than visitor attractions. They are walked daily by a substantial older population, and the surfaces are exposed to salt, storm damage, shingle and heavy weathering in a way inland paving never is. Seafront falls are therefore routine in this belt rather than occasional. Shoreham adds a working port, an airport and the marine trades, giving it an industrial accident profile the other coastal towns do not have.
Towns in this belt
The Weald and commuter belt
The market towns and commuter settlements between the Downs and the Surrey border, where a large share of the working population travels out each day.
Horsham, Haywards Heath and East Grinstead are all substantial commuter towns with large professional services, healthcare and care sectors serving settled populations. Because so many residents travel out to work, a meaningful proportion of claims here arise from collisions on the A24, A272 and A22 corridors rather than from incidents in the towns themselves. Haywards Heath also has a major hospital, so healthcare manual handling claims feature heavily, and East Grinstead brings a long engineering and manufacturing history that the other two do not have.
Towns in this belt
The Gatwick industrial north
Crawley and the M23 corridor, built around aviation, logistics, warehousing and manufacturing rather than around a historic town centre.
Crawley is unlike anywhere else in the county. It is a new town built deliberately around industry, and its economy is dominated by Gatwick Airport, Manor Royal and a very large logistics, distribution and manufacturing base. That produces an accident profile closer to an industrial estate than to a market town: manual handling and lifting injuries in warehousing, machinery injuries in manufacturing, vehicle movement accidents in yards and depots, and slips on industrial floors. In these claims the employer's risk assessments, training records and equipment condition usually become the decisive evidence.
Town in this belt
When can I claim against my employer in West Sussex?
This is the question we are asked most often, and it is genuinely misunderstood. In West Sussex, where so much of the work is in care, warehousing, logistics and the marine trades, it is worth being clear about it.
| Situation | Employers' liability | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Injured at your workplace doing your normal job | Likely covered | Covered. The employer owes a duty to provide a safe place of work, safe equipment, adequate training and a safe system of work. |
| Injured while driving between sites or to a client as part of your duties | Likely covered | Usually covered, because this is a work related journey rather than an ordinary commute. |
| Injured by a defective machine or unguarded equipment | Likely covered | Covered, and the employer's maintenance records and risk assessments often become the central evidence. |
| Injured on a site run by a different contractor to your own employer | Likely covered | Covered, but establishing who controlled the area and what insurance arrangements applied takes investigation. Contractors and agency workers may have more than one route. |
| Injured on an ordinary commute to your usual place of work | Usually not | Generally not covered by employers' liability. If another road user caused the collision, the claim is against their insurer instead. |
| Injured by your own carelessness with no fault on the employer's part | Usually not | Usually difficult to claim, though it depends on whether the employer should have foreseen and prevented the risk. Worth taking advice rather than assuming. |
This is general guidance rather than advice on your circumstances. You can read more on our accidents at work claims page, or see how the time limits apply.
Four things people wrongly believe about claiming
Most people who contact us about an accident in West Sussex have hesitated for one of these four reasons. None of them stands up.
“I cannot claim if I was partly at fault.”
You can. Contributory negligence reduces the compensation in proportion to your share of responsibility rather than barring the claim entirely. Deductions are commonly in the region of 10 to 25 per cent, and the principle is well established in England and Wales.
“My employer will be out of pocket and I will lose my job.”
Workplace claims are met by the employer's compulsory employers' liability insurance, not paid from the business directly. It is unlawful to dismiss someone because they have brought a claim, and doing so would itself give grounds for a separate complaint.
“I have to pay a fee before anything can start.”
Suitable cases may be accepted under a Conditional Fee Agreement, commonly called No Win No Fee. Acceptance depends on an assessment of liability, the evidence, the prospects of success and proportionality. If the claim does not succeed you generally do not pay the basic legal fees.
“I need to know the law before I can ask.”
You do not. The initial assessment exists precisely so that someone else can tell you whether there are grounds to claim. A short account of what happened, when, where and what injury you suffered is enough to begin.
All the West Sussex towns we cover
Each page below covers the local accident mix, the roads and stations that shape it, and how a claim works in that area. Every one includes a map of the area covered.
The West Sussex area we cover
We help clients across the whole of West Sussex. 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 West Sussex. We do not have a physical office in West Sussex and we do not claim to. Our registered address is Unit 16, Titan Court, Laporte Way, Luton, England, LU4 8EF.
How does a personal injury claim work in West Sussex?
Every claim is different, and not every case goes through every stage. In outline, though, a claim usually follows this course.
- 1Tell us what happenedA short account of the accident, the injury and the date is enough to begin.
- 2Initial assessmentThe circumstances, the injuries, who may have been responsible and whether the claim is still in time are considered, free of charge.
- 3Investigation and evidenceAccident reports, photographs, CCTV where it still exists, witness accounts and occupier or employer records may be gathered.
- 4Medical evidenceIndependent medical evidence establishes the injuries, the treatment required and the likely prognosis.
- 5Assessing financial lossPast and possible future losses are considered, including lost earnings, treatment, care and travel.
- 6NegotiationThe claim is presented to the defendant or their insurer and negotiated, with interim payments considered where appropriate.
- 7Settlement or proceedingsMany claims settle through negotiation, while some require court proceedings. The reasons are explained before proceedings are issued.
You can read more about each stage on our how our personal injury solicitors can help page.
Where to find out more
Frequently asked questions about personal injury claims in West Sussex
Do you have an office in West Sussex?
No. We do not have a physical office anywhere in West Sussex, 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 the whole county. 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. Nothing on this page should be read as suggesting we have premises in West Sussex.
Can I make a personal injury claim if I live in West Sussex?
Yes, if you were injured in an accident caused by someone else's negligence anywhere in West Sussex. Whether a claim can be taken on depends on the circumstances, the evidence and when the accident happened, not on where you live. Personal injury solicitors acting for West Sussex clients assess the merits, investigate the evidence, instruct medical experts where needed and negotiate with the insurer on your behalf. There is no requirement to attend a solicitor's office in person.
How long do I have to make a personal injury claim in West Sussex?
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 such as CCTV and witness recollection is easier to gather early, it is worth taking advice well before any deadline feels close.
What types of accident are most common in West Sussex?
It depends where in the county you are. Along the coastal belt, seafront falls and care sector manual handling dominate. In the Weald and commuter towns, collisions on the A24, A272 and A22 and healthcare manual handling feature most heavily. In the north around Crawley, the picture is industrial: warehouse and logistics injuries, machinery incidents and vehicle movement accidents on the estates around Gatwick and Manor Royal.
Can I claim if I was injured in a warehouse or depot in Crawley?
Yes, where the injury was caused by unsafe working conditions, inadequate training, defective equipment or a failure to provide a safe system of work. Crawley has a very large logistics, warehousing and distribution base, and manual handling, lifting and vehicle movement injuries are the most common claims from those workplaces. Report the accident in the accident book at the time and ask for a copy of the entry, because the employer's own records often become the most important evidence in the case.
Can I claim for a fall on a promenade in Worthing or Bognor Regis?
Yes, where the council or the occupier failed to maintain the surface to a reasonable standard and there is evidence of how long the defect had existed. These promenades are walked daily by a large older population and are exposed to salt, storm damage and shingle, so council inspection and repair records matter. Photographs taken at the time with something for scale, and a precise note of the location and date, are the most valuable evidence you can gather.
Can I claim if I was injured working in a care home in West Sussex?
Yes, where the injury was caused by unsafe working conditions, inadequate training, insufficient equipment or a failure to provide a safe system of work. Manual handling is the most common source of injury in care work, and back, shoulder and knee injuries from lifting and supporting residents fall into this category. Employers' liability insurers usually meet these claims, and the duty applies equally to private providers, charities, councils and NHS trusts.
I was injured travelling to work. Can I claim?
It depends whether the journey was an ordinary commute or a work related journey. Travelling to and from your usual place of work is generally not covered by employers' liability. Travelling between sites, to a client, or as part of your duties usually is. Company vehicle arrangements and whether you were on call can also affect the position. If another road user caused the collision, a claim against their insurer may be possible regardless of the employment position.
How much compensation could I receive for an injury in West Sussex?
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 rather than from a table of averages.
Can I claim on a No Win No Fee basis in West Sussex?
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.
Will I have to attend court in West Sussex?
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 county court convenient for where you live, and West Sussex has county courts at Chichester, Crawley, Worthing and Horsham. Where a hearing is needed, we explain what is involved well in advance.
Which parts of West Sussex do you cover?
We provide access to personal injury solicitors acting for clients across the whole county. We have written separate pages for Chichester, Crawley, Worthing, Horsham, Bognor Regis, Littlehampton, Haywards Heath, East Grinstead and Shoreham-by-Sea, covering the local accident mix, the roads and stations that shape it and how claims work in each area. Each of those pages includes a map of the area covered.
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 West Sussex?
You do not need to understand the law before contacting us. 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.