Personal Injury · Malta
Find a personal injury lawyer in Malta who handles your claim
An injury in Malta raises two questions straight away: how a claim is built in a mixed civil-law and common-law system, and how quickly the two-year limitation period for damages claims can run. We match you with a warranted Maltese advocate who works on personal injury matters — free, and with no obligation to instruct.
- Free matching with warranted advocates
- Malta-specific guidance on limitation
- One clear introduction, no directory browsing
Free · No obligation · Independent, warranted advocates
Get matched with a lawyer
Tell us about your situation and receive a free, confidential case review.
Before you instruct anyone
How matching works for injury claims in Malta
An injury in Malta raises practical questions fast: who is responsible, which court hears the case, and how long you have before a claim becomes time-barred. Maltese private law is codified, but the procedure is adversarial, and a damages claim that does not arise from a criminal offence is subject to a two-year limitation period under the Civil Code. You do not have to work through that alone. We are a free matching service, not a law firm: you tell us what happened, we compare your situation with advocates who handle personal injury work in Malta, and we introduce you to the one whose practice fits. Nothing to pay for the introduction, no obligation to proceed.
Malta in practice
How injury claims work under Maltese law
Malta is one of the recognised mixed jurisdictions: codified private law in the continental tradition, applied through an adversarial procedure. For anyone injured here, that combination has practical consequences for deadlines, court allocation, who may represent you and how costs are calculated.
A two-year period for damages claims
Under the Maltese Civil Code (Chapter 16 of the Laws of Malta), a tort or damages claim that does not arise from a criminal offence is subject to a two-year limitation period. That is far shorter than the thirty-year general limitation for real, personal and mixed actions, so the incident date matters from day one. An advocate will assess how the period applies to your facts.
Which court will hear your claim
Civil claims in Malta are allocated by value rather than by subject matter. The Small Claims Tribunal hears monetary claims up to EUR 5,000; the Court of Magistrates hears claims above EUR 5,000 up to EUR 15,000; and the Civil Court, in its superior jurisdiction, hears claims above EUR 15,000 or of unquantifiable value. Appeals from the Civil Court go to the Court of Appeal.
Advocates, warrants and legal procurators
Malta has a single, unified legal profession: ‘lawyer’ and ‘advocate’ are used interchangeably, with no barrister/solicitor split. To practise, an advocate must hold a warrant issued by the President of the Republic and take the prescribed oaths before the Court of Appeal. A separate ancillary profession, the legal procurator, handles procedural acts such as service and filings. Representation by an advocate is required in contentious proceedings before the Superior Courts.
Fees, tariffs and the ban on contingency fees
Advocates’ and legal procurators’ fees are governed by statutory tariffs contained in the schedules to the Code of Organisation and Civil Procedure, which also guide the quantum of costs awarded against the losing party. Contingency-fee and other conditional-fee arrangements are ethically prohibited in Malta. Where cost is the obstacle, Legal Aid Malta administers aid: in civil cases an applicant must pass both a means test and a merits test.
A mixed civil-law and common-law jurisdiction
Maltese private law follows the continental tradition: the Civil Code of 1868 derives from the French Code Napoléon. Public, procedural, administrative, commercial and company law bear strong English common-law influence, so the system is codified yet adversarial, and the doctrine of binding precedent is absent. EU law has exerted strong influence since Malta’s accession in 2004. This dual foundation shapes how an injury claim is pleaded and proved.
Language, courts and notarial form
Maltese and English are both official languages and legislation is enacted in both, with the Maltese text prevailing in case of conflict (Constitution, art. 74). Maltese has been the language of the courts and of notarial deeds since 1934, while legal education at the University of Malta is taught in English. Court rulings are drafted in Maltese, even though English is widely used in legal practice and commercial matters.
The country information on this page comes from official sources only — the European e-Justice Portal, the Laws of Malta legislation portal, the Judiciary of Malta and Legal Aid Malta — consulted in 2025. No deadline, fee or court name has been added beyond those sources.
What people face
The three things that make an injury claim harder than it should be
None of these are reasons to give up on a claim. They are the reasons a structured introduction to the right advocate helps.
Responsibility is disputed
Insurers and other parties seldom accept responsibility at the first letter. You may face conflicting accounts and correspondence that assumes you will give up. A warranted advocate can frame your position in the form Maltese proceedings expect, well before any court hearing.
Time runs from the incident
A damages claim that does not arise from a criminal offence is limited to two years under the Civil Code. That clock is easy to overlook while you are recovering. Once the period expires, the strongest facts may no longer help you.
Fees feel unpredictable
Maltese advocates’ fees follow statutory tariffs in the schedules to the Code of Organisation and Civil Procedure, and contingency-fee arrangements are prohibited. That can make the first conversation feel uncertain. Being matched with the right advocate makes the cost structure clearer from the outset.
Why use our matching
A free route to an advocate who already works in this field
We do not practise law and we do not decide your case. We shorten the search and put you in front of someone qualified to advise you.
Matched to injury work, not a generalist
We look at what happened and introduce you to advocates whose practice includes personal injury matters in Malta. You are not browsing a list and guessing — you receive one introduction that reflects your situation.
Advocates who appear before Maltese courts
Warranted advocates have rights of audience before all courts, and representation by an advocate is required in contentious proceedings before the Superior Courts. Your claim is prepared by someone who works inside that system.
Guidance on the two-year period
A damages claim that does not arise from a criminal offence is subject to a two-year limitation period under the Civil Code. We make sure that timing is on the table at the first conversation, not months later.
Free to use, with no obligation
Matching costs you nothing and does not commit you to instruct anyone. If legal aid is the better route, Legal Aid Malta administers aid for civil cases, subject to a means test and a merits test.
Cross-border situations
Injured in Malta but living elsewhere?
Malta receives visitors, workers and residents from across Europe, and an injury claim does not have to be run from Valletta. If you are already back home, matching works the same way: you describe the incident, we find an advocate in Malta, and you keep a single point of contact.
Frequently asked
Questions people ask before contacting a personal injury lawyer in Malta
How long do I have to claim for a personal injury in Malta?
Under the Maltese Civil Code, a tort or damages claim that does not arise from a criminal offence is subject to a two-year limitation period. Because the starting point and the effect of any related criminal proceedings are fact-specific, the sensible approach is to have a warranted advocate review the timeline as early as possible.
Which Maltese court will deal with my claim?
Civil claims in Malta are allocated by value. The Small Claims Tribunal hears monetary claims up to EUR 5,000; the Court of Magistrates hears claims above EUR 5,000 up to EUR 15,000; and the Civil Court in its superior jurisdiction hears claims above EUR 15,000 or of unquantifiable value. Appeals from the Civil Court go to the Court of Appeal.
Do I need an advocate, or can I handle it myself?
Malta has a single unified legal profession: ‘lawyer’ and ‘advocate’ mean the same thing, and there is no barrister/solicitor split. Representation by an advocate is required in contentious proceedings before the Superior Courts. Before the Small Claims Tribunal, a party may appear in person or be assisted by any person.
How are advocates’ fees set in Malta?
Fees of advocates and legal procurators are governed by statutory tariffs contained in the schedules to the Code of Organisation and Civil Procedure, which also guide the quantum of costs awarded against the losing party. Contingency-fee and other conditional-fee arrangements are ethically prohibited, so the basis of the fee should be discussed openly at the outset.
Can I get legal aid for an injury claim in Malta?
Legal aid is administered by Legal Aid Malta. In criminal cases all persons are eligible and no means test is required by law. In civil cases the applicant must pass both a means test and a merits test; under the means test, property including disposable money must not exceed EUR 13,000 in net value for the preceding twelve months.
Why does Malta’s mixed legal system matter for my claim?
Maltese private law follows the continental civil-law tradition: the Civil Code of 1868 derives from the French Code Napoléon. Public, procedural, administrative, commercial and company law carry strong English common-law influence, so the system is codified yet adversarial and the doctrine of binding precedent is absent. That shapes how evidence and argument are presented.
Next step
Tell us what happened, and we will find the right advocate
Two minutes is enough to describe your situation. We compare it with advocates who practise in Malta and come back with a single, relevant introduction. There is no charge for the matching and no pressure to proceed with anyone.