You were hurt in an accident that wasn’t your fault. Now you’re dealing with pain, time off work, and mounting bills. You didn’t ask for any of this, and you shouldn’t have to carry the cost alone.
Whether it happened on the road, at work, in a public place, or because of someone else’s negligence, you have the right to claim compensation. But the process can feel daunting, especially when you’re still recovering.
At Hill and Company, our personal injury solicitors have been helping people across Cheshire and South Manchester get the compensation they deserve for over 170 years. We don’t operate like a claims factory. You won’t be passed to a call centre or left chasing updates. You’ll work with the same solicitor from your first conversation to the resolution of your claim.
We’re not a faceless city firm. We’re your local high street solicitors, based in Altrincham town centre. If getting to us isn’t easy, we’ll come to you. We offer home visits across Cheshire and South Manchester, including visits to hospitals and care homes.
We handle most personal injury claims on a No Win, No Fee basis, so there’s no financial risk to you if your claim is unsuccessful.
Road traffic accidents are one of the most common causes of personal injury claims. Even low-speed collisions can cause injuries that take weeks or months to recover from, and the impact on your daily life can be far greater than the visible damage to a vehicle.
What we handle:
- Car, van and motorcycle accidents
- Cyclist and pedestrian injuries
- Passengers injured in any vehicle: As a passenger, you’re almost never at fault. You can claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance, even if that driver was the person giving you a lift.
- Hit and run accidents: If the driver left the scene or can’t be identified, you can still claim through the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB), which compensates victims of untraced and uninsured drivers.
- Accidents involving uninsured drivers: The MIB also covers these. The process differs from a standard insurance claim, and we manage it from start to finish.
If you’ve been injured in a road traffic accident that wasn’t your fault, we’ll handle the claim from beginning to end, including gathering evidence, instructing medical experts, dealing with the other party’s insurers, and negotiating your compensation.
A slip, trip or fall can happen anywhere: in a supermarket, on a pavement, in a restaurant, or at a friend’s workplace. If the accident was caused by someone else’s failure to maintain a safe environment, you may have a valid claim.
What we handle:
- Falls in shops, restaurants and public buildings
- Pavement and footpath injuries: Local authorities are responsible for maintaining public footpaths. If you’ve been injured by a pothole or raised paving slab, the council may be at fault if they knew about the defect and failed to repair it.
- Wet floors, uneven surfaces, and poor lighting
- Falls at visitor attractions or leisure facilities
- Accidents on someone else’s property
These claims often come down to whether the property owner or occupier took reasonable steps to prevent the hazard. We’ll investigate the circumstances, secure evidence before it disappears, and pursue your claim.
Your employer has a legal duty to provide a safe working environment. When that duty is breached and you’re injured as a result, you’re entitled to claim compensation. Making a claim against your employer’s liability insurance is your legal right, and it should not affect your employment.
What we handle:
- Falls from height and scaffolding accidents
- Manual handling injuries
- Injuries caused by defective equipment or machinery: Under the Employer’s Liability (Defective Equipment) Act 1969, your employer is liable even if the defect was the manufacturer’s fault.
- Repetitive strain injuries and industrial disease: This includes conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome, vibration white finger, and noise-induced hearing loss that develop through repetitive tasks or prolonged exposure.
- Exposure to hazardous substances: Employers must comply with the COSHH Regulations. If you’ve developed a condition through exposure to chemicals, dust, or fumes without proper protective equipment, you may have a claim.
- Construction site accidents
We understand that people worry about claiming against their employer. Your employer is legally required to hold liability insurance for exactly this reason. We’ll handle the process with sensitivity and discretion.
When the medical care you receive falls below an acceptable standard and you suffer harm as a result, that is clinical negligence. These are complex claims that require specialist knowledge, but the consequences of substandard medical treatment can be life-changing.
What we handle:
- Surgical errors and misdiagnosis
- Delayed diagnosis leading to worse outcomes: If a condition such as cancer or sepsis was not diagnosed promptly and the delay caused your condition to worsen, you may have a claim.
- Medication errors: Wrong medication, wrong dosage, or dangerous drug interactions. Dispensing errors by pharmacists also fall within this category.
- Negligent treatment in hospitals, GP surgeries, or dental practices
- Birth injuries: These claims often involve failures to monitor foetal distress, delays in performing emergency caesarean sections, or improper use of forceps or ventouse. They are among the most complex and highest-value clinical negligence cases.
Clinical negligence claims require expert medical evidence and detailed analysis of your treatment records. We work with independent medical experts to establish whether the care you received fell below the standard you were entitled to expect.
Discovering that a vulnerable family member has been neglected or harmed in a care home is distressing. Residents in care homes are entitled to a proper standard of care, and when that standard is not met, families have the right to seek accountability and compensation.
What we handle:
- Falls caused by inadequate supervision or staffing
- Pressure sores and malnutrition resulting from neglect: Serious pressure sores are largely preventable with proper care. Their presence often indicates systemic failures in repositioning, nutrition, or hydration.
- Medication errors in residential or nursing care
- Physical, emotional, or financial abuse
- Failure to follow care plans: When providers fail to follow their own care plans and a resident is harmed as a result, there may be grounds for a claim.
We have particular experience working with elderly clients and their families. We understand the sensitivity involved and the importance of acting quickly to protect evidence and safeguard the resident’s welfare.
Losing a family member because of someone else’s negligence is devastating. In these circumstances, certain dependants can bring a claim under the Fatal Accidents Act 1976 for the financial losses and suffering caused by the death.
What we handle:
- Claims by spouses, civil partners, children, and other dependants
- Bereavement damages: A fixed statutory award, currently £15,120, available to the spouse, civil partner, or cohabiting partner (of at least two years) of the deceased, or the parents of a deceased unmarried minor.
- Loss of financial dependency: Often the largest element of a fatal claim. We calculate the support the deceased would have provided over their remaining working life and beyond.
- Funeral expenses
- Claims on behalf of the deceased person’s estate: Under the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1934, the estate can claim separately for pain, suffering, and losses between injury and death.
These claims require careful handling at what is already an incredibly difficult time. We deal with the legal process so that families can focus on what matters.
No Win, No Fee Personal Injury Claims
We handle most personal injury claims on a No Win, No Fee basis, formally known as a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). This means:
- You pay nothing upfront to start your claim
- If your claim is unsuccessful, you don’t pay our legal fees
- If your claim succeeds, we take a success fee from your compensation, which is capped at 25% of your damages by law. We’ll agree the exact percentage with you before we start, so there are no surprises.
We also arrange After-the-Event (ATE) insurance where appropriate, which protects you from having to pay the other side’s costs if your claim doesn’t succeed.
We’ll explain the funding options clearly at the outset so you know exactly where you stand before committing to anything.
How Long Do I Have to Make a Personal Injury Claim?
In England and Wales, the general time limit for making a personal injury claim is three years from the date of the accident (or from the date you first became aware of your injury). This is known as the limitation period.
There are important exceptions:
- Children: the three-year period doesn’t start until their 18th birthday, giving them until age 21 to claim
- People who lack mental capacity: there is no time limit for as long as the person lacks capacity. If capacity is later regained, the three-year period starts from that point
- Fatal accidents: the limitation period runs from the date of death, not the date of the original accident
Even if you think you’re within the time limit, we’d always recommend getting in touch as early as possible. Evidence deteriorates, witnesses forget details, and CCTV is routinely overwritten. The sooner we act, the stronger your claim.
Why Choose Hill and Company for Personal Injury in Altrincham?
- One solicitor, start to finish. Your dedicated personal injury solicitor handles your claim from the first conversation to settlement. You won’t be passed between departments or left dealing with someone who doesn’t know your case.
- Experience with elderly and vulnerable clients. Many of our clients are older people or their families. We take our time, explain things clearly, and we’re experienced in handling claims that involve care homes, falls, and medical negligence affecting vulnerable people.
- Home visits across Cheshire and South Manchester. If you can’t travel to our Altrincham office because of your injuries, mobility issues, or any other reason, we’ll come to you. We visit clients at home, in hospital, and in care homes.
- We’re not a claims factory. We’re a local Altrincham firm that takes the time to understand what happened to you and how it’s affected your life. That matters when it comes to getting the right level of compensation.
- 170+ years in the community. Hill and Company have been helping families in Altrincham and the surrounding areas since 1850. We’re still here because people trust us to do the job properly.
- Regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Personal Injury FAQ
What does No Win, No Fee actually mean?
No Win, No Fee means you don’t pay our legal fees unless your claim succeeds. It’s formally called a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). If your claim is unsuccessful, you owe us nothing. If you win, we take a success fee from your compensation, which is capped by law at 25% of your damages.
We agree the exact percentage with you before we start. We also arrange insurance to protect you from the other side’s costs if the claim doesn’t succeed.
Can I claim if the accident was partly my fault?
Yes. In England and Wales, you can still claim compensation even if you were partly at fault for the accident. This is called contributory negligence. The court will assess the degree to which each party was responsible, and your compensation will be reduced by a percentage that reflects your share of the blame.
For example, if you were found 20% at fault, your compensation would be reduced by 20%. We’ll advise you on how this is likely to affect your claim.
Can I make a personal injury claim on behalf of a family member?
Yes. If a family member lacks the mental capacity to manage their own claim, a litigation friend can bring the claim on their behalf. This is particularly relevant for elderly or vulnerable clients, including those in care homes.
If the person has a Lasting Power of Attorney or a Court-appointed Deputy, that person may be able to act as litigation friend. We regularly handle claims on behalf of people who cannot act for themselves and can guide you through the process.
What should I do immediately after an accident?
Seek medical attention first, even if you think your injuries are minor. Then, if possible, take photographs of the scene and your injuries, get the contact details of any witnesses, and keep records of everything: medical appointments, prescriptions, time off work, travel costs, and any expenses related to your injury.
Report the accident to the relevant authority, whether that’s your employer, the local council, or the police. Contact us as soon as you’re able, and we’ll advise on the next steps.
How long does a personal injury claim take?
Straightforward claims where the other party accepts responsibility can settle within a few months. More complex cases, particularly clinical negligence or claims where liability is disputed, can take one to three years or longer.
We’ll give you a realistic timescale once we’ve assessed your case, and we’ll keep you informed throughout. Where you have urgent financial needs, we may be able to secure interim payments before the claim is fully settled.
How much compensation will I receive for a personal injury?
The amount depends on the nature and severity of your injury, how long your recovery takes, and the financial losses you’ve suffered as a result. Compensation is made up of two parts:
- General damages cover the injury itself, i.e. your pain, the impact on your day-to-day life, and your recovery.
- Special damages cover the financial cost, i.e. lost earnings, medical treatment, travel to appointments, and any care you’ve needed.
Minor soft tissue injuries may result in awards of a few thousand pounds, while serious or life-changing injuries can lead to six- or seven-figure settlements. We’ll give you an honest assessment of the likely range once we understand your case.
Do I have to go to court for a personal injury claim?
No. The vast majority of personal injury claims settle through negotiation without ever reaching a courtroom. Your solicitor will negotiate directly with the other party’s insurers, and most claims are resolved this way.
If the other side disputes liability or offers an unacceptably low settlement, court proceedings may be necessary. If that happens, your solicitor will prepare your case and guide you through every step.
Contact Our Personal Injury Solicitors in Altrincham
If you’ve been injured in an accident that wasn’t your fault, or if a family member has been harmed through someone else’s negligence, we’re here to help.
We’re based in Altrincham town centre and offer home visits across Cheshire and South Manchester for clients who cannot attend our office.
We’re the law firm for life – here when something goes wrong, and here to make sure you’re properly compensated.
