Personal Injury Legislation and Regulations

Personal injury claims in the UK are supported by a wide framework of legislation, regulations and legal principles. These laws help define the duties that employers, occupiers, road users, healthcare providers, manufacturers and other parties may owe to individuals.

When these duties are breached, and someone is injured as a result, it may give rise to a compensation claim. For example, an employer may fail to follow workplace safety regulations, a business may fail to keep its premises reasonably safe, or a driver may breach road traffic laws and cause an accident.

This legislation hub provides an overview of key Acts and regulations that are relevant to personal injury and medical negligence claims. It is designed as a starting point to help you understand how different areas of law may apply depending on the type of accident, injury or negligence involved.

How does legislation relate to personal injury claims?

Personal injury claims are usually based on negligence. This means you must generally prove that another person or organisation owed you a duty of care, breached that duty, and caused you to suffer injury or loss as a result.

Acts of Parliament, also known as primary legislation, set out broad legal duties and rules. Statutory regulations, also known as secondary legislation, often provide more detailed requirements in specific areas, such as workplace safety, road traffic, product safety or healthcare standards.

In many claims, legislation works alongside common law negligence. A breach of legislation does not always automatically mean you have a valid claim, but it can be important evidence when showing that a duty of care was owed and that reasonable standards were not met.

Workplace health and safety legislation

• Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
• Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
• Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992
• Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992
• Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992
• Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998
• Working at Height Regulations 2005
• Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002
• Confined Spaces Regulations 1997
• Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013

Public liability and occupiers’ liability legislation

• Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957
• Occupiers’ Liability Act 1984
• Defective Premises Act 1972

Road traffic legislation

• Road Traffic Act 1988
• Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984
• Highways Act 1980
• Motor Vehicles (Compulsory Insurance) Regulations

Medical negligence and healthcare legislation

• Mental Capacity Act 2005
• Human Rights Act 1998
• Health and Social Care Act 2008
• Data Protection Act 2018

Product liability and consumer safety legislation

• Consumer Protection Act 1987
• General Product Safety Regulations 2005
• Consumer Rights Act 2015

Compensation, limitation and claims law

• Limitation Act 1980
• Civil Liability Act 2018
• Fatal Accidents Act 1976
• Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1934

Need advice about a personal injury claim?

Understanding which law applies to your accident can be difficult, especially where several duties or regulations may be relevant. If you have been injured and believe someone else was at fault, a solicitor can assess your case and explain whether you may be entitled to compensation.

To find out how we can help, call 0800 470 0474 or use our online claim form to request a free consultation.

Last edited on 2nd Jun 2026

With over 15 years’ experience in the legal sector, Nicholas Tate (LLB Hons, LLM in Health Law) has extensive experience across all areas of personal injury and medical negligence claims.