Edinburgh is Scotland's capital and the centre of Scotland's legal and financial establishment - Parliament House (the Court of Session), the Scottish Parliament, Royal Bank of Scotland's HQ, and one of Europe's largest asset-management centres. It's also a major tourist destination, with the Edinburgh Festival alone drawing millions of visitors each summer. Personal injury claims in Edinburgh are governed by Scots law - the Prescription and Limitation (Scotland) Act 1973 framework rather than the English Limitation Act 1980. Scotland has different courts, different terminology, and does not apply the English whiplash tariff.
Casibus connects injured people across Edinburgh and the East of Scotland with Law Society of Scotland-regulated specialists. Every case runs on a no win, no fee basis.
Scots law - the critical framework
Edinburgh personal injury claims follow Scottish procedure:
- Three-year prescription period - Prescription and Limitation (Scotland) Act 1973 s.17. Section 19A court discretion to extend in equitable cases.
Who we help across Edinburgh and the East of Scotland
- Edinburgh - city centre, New Town, Old Town, Leith, Morningside, Stockbridge, Bruntsfield, Corstorphine, Dalry, Portobello, South Queensferry.
The types of Edinburgh personal injury claim we handle
Road traffic accidents across Edinburgh and the East of Scotland
A1, M8 (Edinburgh–Glasgow), M9 (to Stirling), the Edinburgh City Bypass (A720), and the Forth Road Bridge / Queensferry Crossing. Scottish RTA claims use Scottish procedure throughout - no OIC portal, no whiplash tariff. RTA coverage across car accident claims, cycle accident claims (Edinburgh has extensive cycle-lane infrastructure), motorcycle accident claims, pedestrian accident claims.
Edinburgh Trams and Lothian Buses
Edinburgh Trams operates the line between Newhaven and Edinburgh Airport via the city centre (extended to Newhaven in 2023). Lothian Buses is the UK's largest municipal bus operator. Passenger injury claims against both operators follow the common-carrier duty framework - see bus and coach accident claims.
Financial services and office work
Edinburgh is Europe's second-largest asset management centre after London. Major employers - RBS / NatWest Group (Gogarburn), Standard Life Aberdeen (abrdn), Scottish Widows, Lloyds Banking Group, Baillie Gifford, Tesco Bank, Franklin Templeton, M&G, Aegon. Office-based DSE, RSI and stress claims are a meaningful category in this sector. See office accident claims.
Hospitality and tourism - the Festival context
Edinburgh receives around 5 million visitors a year, with the Fringe, International, Book, Jazz and Military Tattoo Festivals concentrated in August. The city's hospitality sector is disproportionately large. Assault-at-work claims, slip-and-trip claims at festival venues, food poisoning claims, and hotel / short-stay incidents follow. See assault at work claims, slips, trips and falls, food poisoning claims.
Construction and regeneration
Ongoing major projects - St James Quarter (completed 2021), Haymarket regeneration, Edinburgh BioQuarter expansion, Granton waterfront regeneration. See construction site accident claims.
Medical negligence in Edinburgh
NHS Lothian - Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, St John's (Livingston), Royal Hospital for Children and Young People, Royal Edinburgh Hospital (mental health), Leith Community Treatment Centre. Scottish clinical negligence claims are handled by the Central Legal Office (CLO) of the Scottish Government, not NHS Resolution. See medical negligence.
Industrial disease
Traditional industries in East Lothian / Fife (coal mining, shipbuilding at Rosyth, Grangemouth chemical refining) and parallel West-Scotland-linked exposure (many workers commuted). Mesothelioma, NIHL, HAVS and occupational dermatitis claims continue. See asbestos claims and the broader industrial disease pillar.
Where your claim could end up - Scottish courts in Edinburgh
- Edinburgh Sheriff Court (27 Chambers Street) - the main Sheriff Court for Edinburgh; also hosts the All-Scotland Personal Injury Court for claims £5,000 and above.
Most claims settle without a hearing.
East of Scotland Major Trauma Network
The Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh (RIE) is the East of Scotland's major trauma centre, operated by NHS Lothian and part of the Scottish Trauma Network. Paediatric major trauma is delivered at Royal Hospital for Children and Young People (Little France campus, co-located with RIE). Air transfers come via Scotland's Charity Air Ambulance; road transfers via the Scottish Ambulance Service. Records from RIE, RHCYP and NHS Lothian are foundational to serious Edinburgh-area claims.
Funding - no win, no fee / speculative fee / DBA
Scottish funding structures (Damages-Based Agreement / Speculative Fee Agreement) operate similarly to English CFAs from the claimant's perspective - no upfront fee, success-fee deduction only if the claim wins. Your Scottish solicitor details the specific structure before you sign. For background see no win no fee explained.
