Personal Injury Claims in Aberdeen

Last reviewed August 2026

Injured in Aberdeen, onshore or offshore

Aberdeen has always been a working city. The granite streets, the harbour and the offshore energy industry all revolve around physical, often hazardous work — and that shapes the kinds of injuries people here suffer. If an accident that was not your fault has left you hurt, on land, at sea or on the roads between, it is worth finding out whether you can claim under Scots law.

An industrial city, on and offshore

Aberdeen’s harbour is a major working port. The expansion into the South Harbour at Nigg Bay has added to the movement of vessels, cargo and heavy plant along the waterfront. From the heliports at Dyce, workers are flown out to platforms and support vessels across the North Sea. Offshore and energy work — rigging, lifting, working at height, handling equipment in difficult conditions — carries real risk. An accident at work in this sector can be severe, and head, spinal and other serious injuries are among the possible consequences. Where an offshore incident happens, more than one legal system can be in play, so which law applies is not always obvious and is worth checking early.

The city also carries the legacy of its industrial past. Older shipbuilding, fabrication and maintenance work exposed many people to asbestos, and to prolonged vibration and noise. Conditions such as asbestos-related disease, hand-arm vibration syndrome and hearing loss can take decades to appear. These industrial disease claims are treated differently from a one-off accident, because the three-year period often starts from when you first linked your illness to your work rather than from the exposure itself. Where such an illness proves fatal, close family members may be able to bring a fatal accident claim of their own.

Everyday life brings its own accidents. The A90 north and south, the A96 towards Inverness and the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route around the city carry heavy commuter and freight traffic, and road traffic collisions are common. So too are slips, trips and falls on Union Street, around the harbour and in shops and public buildings. Serious injuries are usually treated at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary on the large Foresterhill health campus. The letters, scans and reports from that treatment become important medical evidence, so keep them safe.

Claiming under Scots law from Aberdeen

Wherever in or around Aberdeen your accident happened, your claim is governed by Scots law. The usual limit for starting a claim is three years, under the Prescription and Limitation (Scotland) Act 1973, with the special position for industrial disease noted above. Because evidence — witnesses, records, site conditions — is easier to secure sooner rather than later, it pays not to wait.

Most claims are settled through negotiation and never reach a hearing. A straightforward case that does proceed might be raised at Aberdeen Sheriff Court, while higher-value or complex matters, including many serious offshore and industrial cases, can be dealt with by the All-Scotland Personal Injury Court in Edinburgh or the Court of Session. Funding is normally through a speculative fee agreement — the Scots law form of no win, no fee — usually with QOCS costs protection, so most pursuers are shielded from the other side’s expenses if the claim is unsuccessful.

If you are thinking about a claim, report the accident and get it recorded, seek medical attention, and hold on to anything that documents what happened and how it has affected you. Our guide on no win, no fee explained sets out how the costs side works in Scotland.

The simplest way to find out where you stand is a free claim check. Share a few details about your accident and we can put you in touch with specialist Scottish solicitors working under Scots law — start your free claim check.