CARDIFF, UK. June 3rd, 2026 – Personal injury claims have fallen dramatically over recent years, despite large numbers of people continuing to suffer injuries caused by negligence, according to new industry research highlighted by Mooneerams Solicitors.
The findings, published in the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers’ (APIL) Industry Report 2026, reveal that the total number of personal injury claims has more than halved since 2019 and dropped by around 60% over the past decade.
The report also points to a growing gap between the number of people injured and those prepared to seek legal advice or pursue compensation.
APIL’s research found that nearly a third of UK adults said they had suffered an injury or illness caused by someone else’s negligence. However, only one in five approached a personal injury lawyer, 22% said their insurer helped them submit a claim and 44% made no claim.
According to Mooneerams, the figures suggest that fears around so-called “compensation culture” may still be discouraging genuinely injured people from seeking help.
Alistair Worth, Managing Director at Mooneerams, said: “For years, personal injury lawyers have faced accusations of fuelling a ‘compensation culture’, but the latest figures paint a very different picture.
“What we are actually seeing is many injured people deciding not to seek legal advice at all, even where they may have suffered serious financial, physical, or emotional consequences through no fault of their own.”
The report highlights several reasons why injured people choose not to approach a personal injury lawyer, including concerns about legal costs, mistrust of solicitors, fear of employer reactions, and discomfort about appearing motivated by compensation.
Mooneerams says these concerns are understandable but believes many misconceptions remain about what compensation claims are really intended to achieve.
“Compensation is not about greed or getting something for nothing,” Alistair added. “At its best, it recognises the pain and suffering someone has been through, while also helping them recover financially by replacing lost earnings, funding rehabilitation and treatment, covering care costs, and easing pressure on families during difficult times.”
The firm also acknowledged that the legal profession itself has work to do in rebuilding public trust and improving understanding around how personal injury claims work, particularly around No Win No Fee agreements.
“Many people still wrongly assume that making a claim will cost them money they cannot afford. In reality, most personal injury claims are handled on a No Win No Fee basis, meaning people can usually seek legal advice without upfront costs.”
Mooneerams says the latest APIL research should encourage a broader conversation about whether the phrase “compensation culture” still reflects reality in modern Britain.
