BBK Manifesto: Appoint an Independent Commissioner for seriously injured people

It is time the UK established an Independent Commissioner for seriously injured people to ensure justice, support and policy reform for those who suffer life-changing injuries – this is a call in our latest Manifesto for Injured People.

Whether caused by accidents, systemic failures or criminal acts, people who suffer life-changing injuries face immense challenges. From navigating complex legal systems to securing rehabilitation and long-term support, victims and survivors, along with their families, often fall through the cracks without clear advocacy.

A missing champion for the seriously injured

The UK currently has no official role dedicated solely to addressing the needs of seriously injured individuals. Victims and survivors must often deal with multiple agencies such as the NHS, the benefits system and the courts without a central, impartial authority to speak up for them.

There are effective models overseas and within specialist areas of the UK. Northern Ireland’s Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery, established in 2023, supports victims of conflict-related harm with investigative oversight while remaining independent of the Government and bound by human rights standards. Similarly, the Independent Road Victim Advocate in North Wales provides practical, trauma-informed support for people seriously injured in road collisions, helping them access rehabilitation, navigate legal processes and manage emotional recovery.

Building on the role of the Victims’ Commissioner

England and Wales already have a Victims’ Commissioner whose remit includes promoting the interests of victims of crime, monitoring the Victims’ Code, and ensuring their voices are heard at the highest levels. While this is an essential role, it is not designed to provide ongoing advocacy or coordination of services for those living with serious injury, especially where the harm has not resulted from a criminal offence.

An Independent Commissioner for Seriously Injured People would complement, not duplicate, the work of the Victims’ Commissioner by focusing specifically on the long-term needs, rights and representation of people with life-changing injuries, regardless of the cause.

The human and systemic toll of inaction

Serious injuries devastate lives and families. Victims and survivors often live with long-term disability, psychological trauma and financial insecurity. Evidence from victims’ groups shows many face delays in rehabilitation, loss of income and complex administrative hurdles. Without coordinated advocacy, care is often fragmented, delayed or insufficient. Public systems also miss opportunities to collect meaningful data that could improve safety and support services.

A role to deliver real change

An Independent Commissioner for Seriously Injured People would have three essential functions:

• They would advocate for individuals navigating state systems including legal, social and health services, ensuring people receive timely, compassionate support and a voice in policymaking.
• They would monitor systemic failures, track outcomes, publish findings and recommend legislative or service improvements to remove barriers and prevent future harm.
• They would drive transparency and accountability across agencies so that no victim or survivor is left unrepresented because the system is unclear or overly bureaucratic.

This role would provide consistency, clarity and dignity, with the power to gather evidence, consult victims and survivors, issue public reports and work with Parliament, government departments and regulators to raise standards in safety and care.

Why now?

Independent oversight roles are gaining traction. There have recently been new calls for a Road Safety Investigation Branch to investigate serious road traffic incidents which reflects a growing appetite for independent scrutiny in areas where rights and safety are at stake.

The Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner has also shown how an independent body with a statutory mandate can improve accountability and systemic change.

These examples demonstrate similar powers, and independence could be applied to protect the rights of seriously injured people.

A call to action

The health, dignity and rights of victims and survivors should not depend on luck, geography or bureaucracy. The UK should establish an Independent Commissioner for Seriously Injured People with statutory independence, clear powers and the authority to advocate, monitor and reform.

Without such a role, too many people will remain lost in the system and too many preventable tragedies will go unaddressed. Now is the time to deliver justice, support and prevention on a national scale.

This blog is part of our 2025/26 Manifesto for Injured People. At Bolt Burdon Kemp, we support injured people not only by winning their cases but by driving change. Guided by our clients’ experiences and partnerships with charities across the UK, we are raising awareness of the change we need to see to better support injured people. We will continue working with politicians from all parties to ensure injured people’s needs are not overlooked in Westminster or beyond. You can read our full manifesto here.