By Cat Way. Last Updated 15th July 2025. If you’re wondering ‘can I claim compensation for somebody else?’ then this guide can help.
If somebody you know is injured in an accident that is not their fault but they’re not able to claim compensation for their injuries themselves then it is possible, under certain circumstances, for you to make a claim on their behalf as well as being the person responsible for ensuring they get all of the treatment and care they require.
Legal Expert are personal injury solicitors that have the specialist skills required to help you to make a claim on behalf of a loved one. If you’d like to begin a claim today, then please call our team on 0800 073 8804 and we’ll offer you all of the advice you’ll need to begin your claim.
Starting A Claim For Someone Else
When you are considering ‘can I claim compensation for somebody else?’, it can help to speak with a personal injury lawyer regarding:
- The case for compensation
- The reasons why you are making the claim instead of the injured party
At Legal Expert we offer a free, no obligation, consultation where we’ll listen to the details of how the accident happened, the injuries sustained and why the other person may be responsible.
Then we’ll assess with you why you’re claiming on someone else’s behalf. There can be many reasons which we’ll cover in more detail and so long as we are in agreement then we could offer a no win no fee agreement to take the case forward.
How Long Would I Have To Claim?
As mentioned earlier, there are time limits when making a compensation claim for somebody else which must be adhered to.
Ordinarily, you’d have 3 years to make a personal injury claim but when considering making a claim for somebody else you need to follow these additional guidelines:
- In the case of children, you can make a claim for them anytime before their 18th Once they turn 18 then they have 3 years to make them claim themselves i.e. by time they turn age 21.
- If the injury or illness has only just been diagnosed, even though the accident happened some time ago, then the 3 year time limit begins when the diagnosis was provided.
If you’re unsure of how long you have to make the claim on behalf of somebody else, then please speak with one of our advisors who’ll be happy to check for you.
Because of the strict time limits we’d advise that you begin the claim process as soon as possible after an accident to allow your personal injury solicitor enough time to build a case and to gather all of the supporting evidence required to support the claims for compensation.
What Is A Litigation Friend?
If you’ve considering ‘can I claim compensation for somebody else?’, you would need to assume the role of a litigation friend in order to do so.
A “litigation friend” is somebody who’s been appointed by a court to represent a protected party. Once approved by a court (either by court order or by filling in a certificate of suitability), a litigation friend must:
- Be involved with the personal injury solicitor that has taken on the case, seeking advice from them and making decisions that are in the best interest of the injured person.
- Ensure, where possible, that the injured party is kept up to date with what is happening.
- At all stages, ensure that they are acting in the best interests of the injured party and not themselves.
Essentially, all correspondence and agreements are conducted between the solicitor and the litigation friend, ensuring that everything is done to properly and fairly and in the best interests of the actual claimant.
Who Can I Be A Litigation Friend To?
If you’re wondering ‘can I claim compensation for somebody else?’ by acting as a litigation friend, you’ll need to know what you can and can’t do.
There are two cases where courts will allow litigation friends to represent others:
- A child (before their 18th birthday)
- An adult who can manage their own court case due to lack of mental capacity. This could be due to brain damage, death or other conditions caused by or prior to the accident.
As well as dealing with the claimant’s solicitor, a litigation friend would be required to represent them if the compensation claim was to be heard in court. The solicitor would represent them legally, but the litigation friend would answer any questions on behalf of the claimant.
In all cases the court will be seeking clarification that the claimant is being represented by somebody who wants to help them, is legally allowed to and has their best interests at heart.
Who Can Be A Litigation Friend?
If you’re wondering ‘can I claim compensation for somebody else?’, you’ll need to know whether you could act as a litigation friend or not.
A court can decide to appoint anybody (who’s competent and their interests don’t conflict with the claimants) as a litigation friend.
People who might be considered as litigation friends include:
- A parent or guardian of a child.
- A friend or family member (not just a parent)
- A court provided deputy
- Somebody who has applied successfully for a lasting power of attorney
- A solicitor
The court will assess why the person wants to assist the claimant, that they are able to do so competently that everything will be done in the best interests of the injured person.
Can I Claim Compensation For Somebody Else After Their Death?
Similarly, you may be wondering ‘can I claim compensation for somebody else?’ if your loved one has passed away in a fatal accident that wasn’t their fault.
If a loved one has died during an accident or an illness caused by negligence you may not be comfortable with making a claim, but it is allowed and the person who has died can be represented by somebody else so that any compensation goes into their estate to support their loved ones after they’ve passed.
As an example, if the person who was fatally injured was the main financial provider in the family, then the compensation could include the future loss of their income which would’ve been used to pay for the mortgage, bills and support costs.
We can help if you’re looking to claim in this way and will work with you at a pace that suits you as we understand how difficult it can be for some people. We won’t rush you, but we will still work hard to ensure the compensation claim is made correctly.
We are dedicated in trying to get the full amount of compensation that you’re entitled to so will always try to gather as much information from you as possible but we’ll do it in a compassionate and sympathetic way so as to not make you feel under any pressure in what we understand will be a difficult time for you.
How Much Can Compensation Claims Be Worth?
The settlement for successful compensation claims may consist of general and special damages.
General damages compensate for the physical pain and mental suffering caused by the injury. Legal professionals use the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) to help them value claims. This document provides a list of guideline compensation brackets for various types of injuries.
In our table below, we’ve listed some of the compensation brackets from the JCG. Please only use it as guidance. Also, the first entry has not come from the JCG.
| Injury | Compensation Bracket |
|---|---|
| Multiple Serious Injuries Plus Special Damages for financial losses | Up to £500,000+ |
| Moderate Brain Injury (i) | £183,190 to £267,340 |
| Severe Knee Injury (ii) | £63,610 to £85,100 |
| Severe Pelvis and Hips Injuries (iii) | £47,810 to £64,070 |
| Severe Ankle Injury | £38,210 to £61,090 |
| Moderate Back Injury (i) | £33,880 to £47,320 |
| Less Severe Arm Injury (c) | £23,430 to £47,810 |
| Moderate Neck Injury (i) | £30,500 to £46,970 |
| Less Severe Elbow Injury (b) | £19,100 to £39,070 |
| Serious Shoulder Injury | £15,580 to £23,430 |
Special Damages
In addition to general damages, you could also claim compensation for somebody else via special damages as part of their settlement. Ultimately, special damages aims to compensate you or a loved one for any financial losses suffered due to an injury. For instance, you may have paid out-of-pocket expenses for your child’s wheelchair and physiotherapy sessions after they suffered severe broken hip injuries.
Please see the following examples of special damages you could include in a claim:
- Loss of earnings. For example, you may have taken time off work to look after a loved one recovering from their injuries.
- Childcare costs
- Travel expenses
- Prescription costs
- Medical expenses
- Mobility aid costs
- Home modification costs
Moreover, it’s essential that any special damages are supported with evidence. Please see the following examples of the formats that evidence can be provided:
- Payslips. For example, this could support your claim for loss of earnings by comparing month-to-month income.
- Receipts. This may include receipts for prescriptions and travel expenses such as bus and train tickets
- Bank statements
- Invoices
You could also be entitled to receiving interim payments if a solicitor agrees you would benefit from receiving ongoing installments. To find out more about interim payments and how to claim on behalf of someone else, please contact our friendly team today.
No Win No Fee Compensation Claims For Somebody Else
Now that you have more information on whether or not you can claim compensation for somebody else, you may be interested in getting started. Our solicitors can help you make a personal injury compensation claim as a litigation friend, meaning they will help you claim on behalf of your loved one.
Our solicitors offer their services on a No Win No Fee basis under a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). When making a claim with a solicitor under a CFA, you don’t need to pay any upfront or ongoing fees to them in order for them to work on your claim. Furthermore, if your claim fails, then you won’t pay a fee for your solicitor’s services.
If your claim succeeds, your solicitor will deduct a legally capped success fee from your compensation settlement.
To learn more about how our solicitors could help you make a claim on behalf of somebody else, contact our team of advisors today.
Contact Us
- Telephone: Call 0800 073 8804 straight away and one of our specialists will be able to help
- Live Chat: You can speak online with one of our advisors 7 days a week, straight from the website
- Online Claim: Fill in this online form to begin the claim
Whichever message you choose, one of our specialists will begin to understand your claim with a free initial consultation. We’ll listen to your explanation of the accident and how it occurred, and we’ll get a personal injury solicitor to let you know if there is a good chance of successfully claiming compensation.
Additional Resources
This guide was designed to answer questions like “can I claim compensation for somebody else?” but you may still have more questions that need answering. The following resources may be useful to you when considering your next steps:
Child Car Accidents – a guide to claiming compensation on behalf of a child injured in a car accident, including possible settlement amounts.
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- Our guide on Injury In Ibiza Claims could help if you sustained an injury while on holiday.
- You may be wondering, What Is The Pavement Slab Trip Height For A Claim? Our guide offers more information on this topic and the compensation claims process.
- Nut Allergy Compensation Claims
- How To Get More Money From A Personal Injury Claim
- Boat Accident Claims
- Different Types Of Personal Injury Claims
Thanks for reading our guide on ‘can I claim compensation for somebody else?’.