Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Preparing personal injury letters of claim: protocols, portals, content, ADR and consequences of non-compliance (England and Wales)

Published by a LexisNexis PI & Clinical Negligence expert

Practice notes

This Practice Note delivers high-level, practical guidance on preparing a personal injury letter of claim. For fuller material on specific categories of personal injury, consult the Topics page on the PI & Clinical Negligence practical guidance homepage beneath the ‘Types of claim’ section. By way of example, where a road traffic accident is involved, see: Road traffic accidents—overview. You will also find a suite of precedent letters of claim within the ‘Related Documents’ pod linked to this Practice Note.

What is a letter of claim?

A letter of claim—also known as a letter before action or a pre-action letter—constitutes the initial step in the litigation pathway. Its role is to notify the prospective defendant(s) that court proceedings will be issued if the dispute is not settled. In practical terms, it provides a clear statement of the basis on which the claimant says a claim arises and places the parties in a position to achieve a fair, early resolution without litigation. A carefully drafted letter of claim can lead a defendant to approach the case with greater seriousness and may...

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Web page updated on 21/05/2026

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