Two-fifths of individuals do not know how to make an injury claim

Research by medical negligence and personal injury practice Fletchers Serious Injury has revealed that 19% of respondents would not make a claim if they experienced a serious injury through no fault of their own – a further 41% said they would not even know where to start when attempting to make a claim.

The firm’s research, which surveyed 1,000 UK adults, also found that 33% of respondents would not pursue an injury claim because they are concerned about how it would affect them financially - Fletchers Serious Injury said that as many as 22 million Brits could, therefore, think that a lack of financial resources excludes them from making this type of claim.

In particular, 43% of respondents aged 65 and over think they would be financially affected by making a claim.

Other reasons cited for not making an injury claim include not wanting to potentially take money from local businesses or authorities (19%), not wanting to be a burden on loved ones (17%) – this rises for those aged 65 or over (28%) – and not wanting to be judged by friends and family (3%).

The most common injury experienced by respondents came from slips, trips and falls, affecting 52%. Around 32% of respondents had suffered road traffic accidents, 30% had gained sports-related injuries and 28% had experienced an accident at work.

Adrian Denson, chief legal officer at Fletchers Serious Injury, said: “The findings of this research reveal that millions may be struggling without the justice that is their legal right. Particularly nowadays, there is a real concern that those who need support the most may simply opt to ‘suffer in silence’ and not seek the support they need.

“The varied reasons for this reluctance only highlight the need for those with the power to instigate positive change, such as the legal profession and the government, to do more to educate the public about their rights and the options available to them. Only then will we see more accessible, wide-ranging solutions to help improve access to justice for those who need it most.”