Scotland Personal Injury Statistics

Workplace Injuries and Ill Health — HSE

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) publishes annual Health and Safety at Work statistics for Great Britain, with some Scotland-specific breakdowns. The most recent figures (2023/24) show:

• 138 workers killed at work across Great Britain in 2023/24 — a rate of 0.43 per 100,000 workers.
• 604,000 workers sustained a non-fatal workplace injury (Labour Force Survey estimate) in 2023/24.
• 61,663 non-fatal injuries to employees were reported by employers under RIDDOR in 2023/24.
• 1.7 million workers suffered from work-related ill health (new or long-standing) in 2023/24.
• 33.7 million working days lost due to work-related illness and workplace injury in 2023/24.

The most common causes of fatal injuries to workers are falls from height, being struck by a moving vehicle, and being struck by a moving or flying object. The most frequently reported non-fatal injuries are handling, lifting or carrying injuries, slips, trips and falls, and being struck by an object.

Source: HSE — Health and Safety Statistics (2023/24). Figures are for Great Britain unless stated. Scotland accounts for approximately 9% of the GB workforce.

Road Casualties in Scotland — Transport Scotland

Transport Scotland publishes annual Scottish Road Safety Statistics. The most recent full-year data (2023) shows:

• 155 people killed in road accidents in Scotland in 2023.
• 1,706 people seriously injured on Scottish roads in 2023.
• 7,160 people slightly injured in reported road accidents in Scotland in 2023.
• 9,021 total casualties of all severities in Scotland in 2023.

Vulnerable road users — pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists — account for a disproportionate share of serious and fatal casualties. Rural roads in Scotland carry elevated risk per vehicle kilometre travelled compared with urban roads.

Source: Transport Scotland — Reported Road Casualties Scotland 2023.

Criminal Injury Compensation — CICA

The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) administers the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme across England, Scotland and Wales. Annual figures from the CICA Annual Report 2023/24:

• 29,958 applications received by the CICA in 2023/24.
• 27,218 decisions made by the CICA in 2023/24.
• £154.2 million paid in compensation during 2023/24.
• £9,600 average award (mean) across resolved applications in 2023/24.

Awards under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme are made according to a fixed tariff. The minimum award (Band 1) is £1,000; the maximum for a single injury is £250,000. Applicants may be refused or have awards reduced if they have relevant unspent criminal convictions or contributed to their injuries.

Source: CICA Annual Report and Accounts 2023/24. Figures cover England, Scotland and Wales.

Clinical Negligence in Scotland — NHS CLO

NHS Scotland clinical negligence claims are handled by the Central Legal Office (CLO) on behalf of NHS boards. Published CLO data for 2022/23:

• 1,175 new claims received by the CLO in 2022/23.
• £50.0 million paid in damages and costs in 2022/23.
• £42.6 million of that total was damages payments to claimants.
• The remaining £7.4 million was paid in legal costs and other expenses.

Clinical negligence claims in Scotland are governed by Scots law. The limitation period is generally three years from the date of the negligent act or from the date of knowledge. Fatal claims under the Damages (Scotland) Act 2011 have different relatives who may claim compared with England and Wales.

Source: NHS Central Legal Office — Annual Reports. Figures are Scotland-specific.

Industrial Disease — Mesothelioma and Asbestos

Scotland has a historically high rate of asbestos-related disease due to past industrial activity in shipbuilding, construction and heavy manufacturing. HSE mesothelioma figures for Scotland:

• Around 300 mesothelioma deaths per year in Scotland in recent years.
• Scotland has one of the highest mesothelioma rates per capita in the world, reflecting Scotland's industrial heritage — particularly Clydeside shipbuilding.
• The average latency period between asbestos exposure and mesothelioma diagnosis is typically 30 to 50 years.
• Vibration white finger (HAVS) and noise-induced hearing loss remain common industrial disease claims across Scotland's manufacturing, construction and oil sectors.

Source: HSE — Mesothelioma Statistics.

Key Time Limits for Claims in Scotland

Understanding time limits is essential. In Scotland, time limits are governed by the Prescription and Limitation (Scotland) Act 1973 and subsequent amendments.

• Personal injury (general): three years from the date of accident or date of knowledge.
• Medical negligence: three years from the date of negligence or date of knowledge — whichever is later.
• Industrial disease: three years from diagnosis or date of knowledge of the connection between the disease and past employment.
• Fatal accident claims (relatives): three years from death or date of knowledge — under the Damages (Scotland) Act 2011.
• Criminal injuries (CICA): two years from the incident in most cases, subject to discretion for late applications.
• Children: the three-year period does not begin until the child's eighteenth birthday, meaning claims may be brought up to age 21.

The courts retain a discretion to allow late claims in certain circumstances, but this should not be relied upon. If a time limit is approaching, seek independent legal advice without delay.

Read our full guide to personal injury time limits in Scotland →