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Road traffic accident claims

Making a road traffic accident claim

Unfortunately, road accidents are increasingly common. With more and more vehicles on the road each year, the numbers of injuries and fatalities are on the rise. Although everybody accepts some level of risk when they get in a car or vehicle, a lot of accidents can be avoided by driving safely and following the rules of the road.

If you’ve been injured in a road accident which was caused by somebody else’s negligence or dangerous driving, it’s likely an expert injury solicitor will be able to help you make a compensation claim. To make a claim, your road accident needs to be someone else’s fault. We know it can sometimes be difficult to tell who’s at fault, but a trained legal adviser will let you know whether you’re likely to be able to make a successful claim. You can reach them for free on 0800 234 6438.

No win no fee road traffic accident claims

Nearly all claims with UK injury solicitors are made on a no win no fee basis. This means you won’t have to pay your solicitor any money if your claim isn’t successful. The benefit of no win no fee is that there’s no financial risk involved – if you don’t’ receive any compensation, then you won’t have to pay out of your own pocket.

If your claim is successful, then your solicitor will charge a ‘success fee’ out of your compensation. This amount will have been agreed before starting your case, but you can feel sure that this will be a relatively small portion of the money you receive.

In most cases your compensation will be paid by the other driver’s insurance company, as all drivers are legally required to take out insurance before they’re allowed to drive a vehicle. This means you won’t be putting anyone under financial pressure by making a compensation claim. Simply put, everyone who’s been unfairly injured in a road accident deserves to receive the support they need to move on with their life.

If you have any questions, or are interested in starting a claim and want to find out whether you might have a case, you can speak to a trained legal adviser for free on 0800 234 6438.

Who can claim for traffic accident injuries?

The consequences of road accidents can be devastating – you might be facing a long recovery time, or your injuries might even be permanently life-changing. Car accidents can cause serious injuries to passengers and drivers.

But all road users are at risk – especially cyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians, who have very little protection from the traffic around them. Anyone injured in a road accident can claim for compensation.

What can I claim compensation for?

Road accidents can be very serious. Some accidents can lead to amputation, internal injuries, or crush injuries. In some cases, they can even be fatal. Whiplash is very common after a road accident. Although it usually heals on its own, it can be extremely painful and can limit your movement, affecting your quality of life and ability to go to work. Other neck injuries, such as fractures, can happen at the same time as a whiplash injury.

No matter what type of injury you’ve suffered, a specialist road accident solicitor will look at the effects it’s had on your life and make sure you receive the right amount of compensation to cover this. For example, they’ll take into consideration:

  • any costs or expenses, such as private medical treatment, lost earnings, and the costs of travel while your car is being fixed
  • your physical pain and the emotional impacts on you and your family
  • any physiotherapy or other rehabilitation measures you might need
  • travel expenses to medical appointments
  • any equipment or adaptations to your home you might need as a result of your injuries
  • any interim payments you may need to cover living expenses while you wait for your final compensation package

How much compensation can I claim?

Generally, the more serious your injuries, the more compensation you can claim. For a guideline figure of how much compensation you might be able to receive for your type of injury, you can visit our compensation calculator.

Road Accident Claims Video
This video gives a basic over of the claims process for road traffic accidents, and information on the fast-track system.

What do I do after a road accident?

Being in a road accident is shocking, so it can be difficult to remember the best steps to take. But if it’s possible for you to do so, collecting some details and evidence can make things easier when it comes to making a compensation claim.

If possible, you should try to gather:

  • Witness accounts and details as proof of what happened
  • Photographs of the scene of the accident and damage to the vehicles. If it helps you remember what happened, draw a sketch of the position of the vehicles and direction of travel
  • The name, address, insurance details and registration numbers of everyone involved

It might also be necessary for you to notify the police. Under Section 170 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, you need to report an accident to the police if:

  • Someone has been injured
  • Damage has been caused but the other party didn’t stop
  • Damage has been done and the other driver stopped but names and addresses weren’t exchanged

Can I claim against uninsured or untraced drivers?

If you’ve been involved in a hit and run accident, you might be worried that you won’t be able to make a claim because you don’t have the other driver’s insurance details. Or maybe the other driver has been identified but doesn’t have any insurance. If you’re involved in a hit and run accident, it might sometimes be possible to track the driver down using their registration number. But if they’re completely untraceable or if the driver is uninsured, you can still make a claim – in these cases, your compensation will be paid by the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) under the Untraced Drivers Agreement or the Uninsured Drivers agreement.

All insurance companies have to pay money into the MIB each year so that victims of car accidents (such as hit and runs) can receive the compensation they need.

If you’re involved in an accident with a hit and run driver try to follow these steps:

The steps are similar if you’re involved in an accident with an uninsured driver, but you should also take a note of the driver’s name and address. If the driver claims they were driving a company car, take down the name of the employer.

Can I claim against the council or Highways Agency?

All roads and pavements should be properly maintained and safe for vehicles and pedestrians to use. Potholes, cracks in road surfaces or poorly planned junctions and road markings can be dangerous for road users.

If your accident was caused by poor road conditions or by hazards such as diesel spills, drain covers or debris, then your claim will be made against whoever is responsible for that stretch of road – usually the local council or Highways Agency.

How long do I have to make a claim?

In most cases, you need to start a personal injury claim within three years of your accident happening. It’s always best to talk to a specialist solicitor as soon as possible after your accident while everything’s still fresh in your mind. This also often makes it easier to gather evidence. If you’re claiming on behalf of your child, they have until they turn 21 to make a claim; and if you’re claiming on behalf of someone under a mental disability, the three-year period doesn’t start to run until they’ve regained their mental capacity.

How long will a road traffic accident claim take?

If the ‘value’ of your RTA claim is between £1,000 and £25,000, your personal injury solicitor will usually use the Claims Portal, a UK Government procedure set up to fast-track claims for personal injury. Most RTA claims brought through the Claims Portal are resolved within four to nine months. For higher value claims, your solicitor will need to go through the traditional claims process which will take longer and can be delayed if, for example, the other party denies liability or if there’s a delay in getting expert medical reports.

If your injuries are more severe, your solicitor will want to wait until you have a final prognosis for your recovery. This is so they have a better idea of how your injury will affect you in the future, which means they’ll be able to make sure you receive all the compensation you’re entitled to.

Pre-Action Protocol for Low Value Personal Injury Claims in Road Traffic Accidents

For claims below £25,000, the Pre-Action Protocol for Low Value Personal Injury Claims in Road Traffic Accidents applies.

This sets certain standards which the people involved in an RTA claim are expected to follow.

The aim of this Protocol is to make sure that:

  • the defendant pays damages and costs using the process set out in the Protocol without the need for the claimant to start legal proceedings
  • compensation is paid within a reasonable time
  • the claimant’s solicitor receives the fixed costs at each appropriate stage

It sets guidelines on how medical reports should be used in your case and also gives time limits for when information (such as the claim notification form and the defendant’s response) must be sent, as well as for when interim payments should be made.

About the Author

Lucy Trevelyan LLB

Lucy is a NCTJ trained journalist who studied law at the University of Greenwich. She is a legal journalist and editor with more than 20 years experience writing about the law.

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If you win your case, your solicitor's success fee will be taken from the compensation you are awarded - up to a maximum of 25%. Your solicitor will discuss any fees before starting your case.