Personal injury

The RCN prides itself on having assisted its members in recovering millions of pounds in compensation each year.

As an RCN member you’re eligible for legal advice and representation for injuries sustained due to the fault of someone else. Whether a workplace injury or not, we can help you obtain 100% of your compensation. The service is completely free to members, regardless of whether the claim is successful.

We can also help your family and friends if they’ve suffered injury through no fault of their own.

Personal injury claims for RCN members

Accidents happen every day and a serious injury could be life changing. People depend on their wellbeing to provide for their families, support their lifestyle and secure the future of their loved ones. 

If you’ve been injured in an accident or incident that wasn’t your fault, then you shouldn’t have to suffer the costs. As part of your membership we can help you claim compensation for your injuries, medical expenses, and loss of income whatever the cause or nature of your accident.

You will need legal advice if you are considering making a claim and it is vital that you access advice as soon as possible after the incident. You have three years from the date of the injury/accident to begin court proceedings. If you are making a claim for work related stress, you have three years from the date that the stress began. Please be aware it can take six months of preparatory work before a solicitor can start court proceedings on your behalf. It is important to seek advice as soon as possible after the incident to ensure there is sufficient time to prepare your case before the deadline. Find out more about making a claim below and contact us without delay.

Alongside progressing your claim, we can also offer members emotional support and counselling to help during this difficult time. Find out more about our member support services here.

Personal injury claims for friends and family

Do you have friends or family who have been injured through the fault or negligence of another and wish to make a claim for compensation? We can also provide them with expert tailored legal advice, assistance and representation to bring a claim.

Claims will be underwritten by highly competitive experts after the event insurance policy, meaning your loved ones will have peace of mind that they will receive at least 75% of the compensation awarded.

You will also have peace of mind that they are receiving a quality service and one which gives back to the RCN, as any profits made (as a result of costs being paid by the defendant in the case) will come back to the RCN to further support its members. 

• The claim must be in excess of the Small Claims Limit as set by the Courts (£1,500 for non-road traffic accidents and £5,000 for claims arising out of road traffic accidents in England and Wales)
• The prospects of success must be at least 51%
• The injury must have occurred within the past three years
• For membership cover, members must have been in membership at the time of the incident (n.b. members not in membership at the time of the incident can use the Friends and Family service instead) 

Personal injury claims are supported by RCNLaw. RCNLaw is an Alternative Business Structure. The information you provide will be stored by the RCN and shared with RCNLaw, who will also retain your information.

*Update as of 7 June 2024* NewLaw who provide Personal Injury and Wills services to members via RCNLaw have informed us of a cyber incident which may affect the data security of our members who have used their services. Those potentially affected will be contacted directly by NewLaw. The RCN is working closely with NewLaw to understand the impact of the incident and to secure our members' data. 

Protecting your privacy is very important to us. Please view our privacy policy to find out more about the information we collect and how it is used.

Here are some real-life experiences where member have been supported through compensation claims by RCNLaw.

Road traffic accidents happen every day, many of which result in injuries to the driver and/or passenger(s), ranging from whiplash and broken bones to serious head and spinal injuries.

Our expert team have a wealth of experience in road traffic accident claims, ensuring you are fully compensated for:

• Injuries sustained;
• Loss of income;
• Medical expenses;
• Rehabilitation.

Please see our section above on eligibility for road traffic accidents. 

If you’ve been injured in a road traffic accident that wasn’t your fault, contact our team of personal injury specialists who are dedicated to getting the best results for you. 

Tip: Before you purchase (or when renewing) your car insurance with any provider, check if you are paying extra for a BTE (Before The Event) legal cover product. It may be that you can save money by utilising the RCN’s personal injury claims service provided by RCNLaw (subject to small claims limits and being in membership at the time of the accident).

All employers have a duty of care to protect their employees against injury or accidents at work.

Some of the most common injuries in the workplace results from:

• Slips or trips;
• Falls from a height;
• Heavy lifting;
• Defective equipment.

If you have suffered an injury through an accident in the workplace that wasn’t your fault, our expert legal team can help you to get the compensation that you deserve.

Owners have a duty of care to ensure their premises are in a reasonable, safe condition to prevent injuries, however accidents in public places are common.

Our personal injury team deal with a range of public liability claims such as:

• Slips or trips in restaurants, supermarkets, shopping centres and car parks;
• Falls resulting from defective pavements, untreated ice or potholes;
• Injuries following beauty treatments.

Contact us today if you have been injured in a public place as you may be entitled to receive compensation.

There are many forms of criminal injury which can be devastating and effect many areas of your life.

If you have been a victim of crime which has resulted in injury, our professional team can expertly and patiently guide you through the process of claiming for compensation.

Alongside progressing your claim, we can also offer you support and counselling to help during this difficult time. 

Employers have a duty to protect all employees from any risks and to provide a safe place in which to work.
We have dealt with a number of workplace illness and disease claims such as:

• Work related cancer;
• Asbestos related illnesses;
• Noise injuries;
• Vibration injuries. 

Our experienced team will investigate your claim thoroughly and with care, in order to establish a breach of duty. We will guide and help you to get the right financial and emotional support that you need and deserve.

Members who sustained their injury in England (whilst at work or otherwise) should contact us for further advice and onwards referral to our specialist team. Your case will be handled by RCNLaw.

Friends or family who sustained their injury in England should complete this online form or call 0333 2341 372. Your case will be handled by RCNLaw.

Members who sustained their injury whilst at work in Northern Ireland should contact us for further advice and onwards referral to our specialist team. Your case will be handled by your RCN regional office.

The friends and family service is not available in Northern Ireland.

Members who sustained their injury in Scotland (whether at work or otherwise) should contact us for further advice and onwards referral to our specialist team. Your case will be handled by your RCN regional office.

Friends or family who sustained their injury in Scotland should complete this online form. You case will be handled by Anderson Strathern.

Members who sustained their injury in Wales (whilst at work or otherwise) should contact us for further advice and onwards referral to our specialist team. Your case will be handled by RCNLaw.

Friends or family who sustained their injury in Wales should complete this online form or call 0333 2341 372. Your case will be handled by RCNLaw.

Members who sustained their injury whilst at work in the Channel Islands or Isle of Man should contact us for further advice and onwards referral to our specialist team. Your case will be handled by your RCN regional office.

The friends and family service is not available in the Channel Islands or Isle of Man.

Alongside processing your claim, we can also offer RCN members emotional support and counselling to help during difficult times. Find out more about our member support services here.

If you have just been hurt, you can access our extensive advice about personal injury and accidents at work here including practical steps to take in the aftermath of an injury.