People accidentally injure each other every day. But when one individual injures another, a period begins in which recovering from the injuring that was incurred is perhaps all that the injured person or persons can think about.

Indeed, they may be learning to adapt to a life with severe personal limitations, or they may be learning to live with what the injury limitations have done to their professional or personal potential. But if the situation is one in which the injured party wants to take some form of legal claim for compensation, then they need to remain aware of the time constraints within which they must initiate the action according to United Kingdom personal injury law.

So, even before the decision is made to take legal action, the potential future claimant would be wise to seek legal advice as soon as it is possible. A solicitor can help by a victim to understand what chances they have of winning the case based on the personals of their particular situation. Then if legal action is chosen, a solicitor can personalise the approach to arguing the case that will result in the best possible settlement according to U.K. law. Different claim types are limited by different time frames, but for injuries caused by another's negligence, then the court proceedings must begin within three years of the injury, or of when the extent of the personal limitation due to the injuries is understood. For example, there are times when the just how severe the injuries limitation actually is does not become clear until years after the damage is done, such as in a case of asbestos exposure.

There are exceptions to the three year time requirement, both those that require a shorter time frame and those that allow for a longer one. Certain kinds of accidents that involve vehicles will have different time frames. Aircraft and boats have special time limits that depend on the nature of the incident, but that are less than three years. Specialist advice will be necessary if someone wants to pursue a claim for injuries related to this kind of accident.

The limiting is not quite as severe if the injuries received were due to an assault or attack. In those cases, the allowed period is six years instead of three. However, there is one exception to this extended time frame. Victims who were injured while assisting in the capture of a criminal, or who were injured as the result of the police's attempt to capture a criminal, then the victim can file for Criminal Injuries Compensation (CIC). However, the victim has only two years to make the claim.

Another exception to the three year time period is when the injured party is a child. In these cases, the three year time clock doesn't start until the child turns eighteen. This does not mean that a case cannot be brought before the child is eighteen; it simply means that there is the option to wait. A case can be brought on behalf of the child by a close relative or advocate, but not by the minor himself.