Road Traffic Accident Claims

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Road Traffic Accident Claims

If you have been involved in a road traffic accident that was not your fault, either as a driver or passenger, you may be entitled to pursue a compensation claim. The expert solicitors at JMW will offer you an award-winning legal service that will let you get on with what is really important - making a full recovery from your accident - while we take the bulk of the legal responsibility on our shoulders.

Our team will guide you through the whole procedure of making a road traffic accident compensation claim in a straightforward way, aiming to make your claim as stress-free as possible. We operate on a no win, no fee basis, meaning that making a claim with us is a risk-free process.

For comprehensive yet easy-to-understand advice on this area of law, and to get your claim started, don't hesitate to get in touch. Call us on 0345 872 6666, or complete our online enquiry form and we will give you a call back.

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Motoring accidents and traffic collisions can take a variety of forms, from rear-end shunts to dramatic head-on collisions. This means that the possible injuries sustained can range from whiplash and slight bruising to serious, life-changing injuries, including damage to the head and spine. For those who are injured in incidents where a heavy goods vehicle (HGV) or motorbike was involved, the injuries sustained can be even more severe. 

If you have been injured in a road traffic accident that was not your fault, you should make a claim for compensation. Your claim will be made against the insurance company of whoever was responsible for the collision; if you were a passenger in a vehicle involved in a collision, this may even be the driver of your vehicle. If you were the driver, or if you were a cyclist, pedestrian or motorcyclist and were hit by another road user, it would be made against the insurance company of the individual driving the vehicle that hit you.

We will help you identify the financial losses you have experienced as part of your road traffic accident and ensure they are included as part of your claim. For example, this could be:

  • Loss of earnings
  • Policy excess or the value of your vehicle
  • Hire vehicle charges
  • Medical treatment, rehabilitation and medication costs
  • Property damage
  • Costs of care and nursing, and any necessary aids and appliances
  • Travel expenses

Our experts are knowledgeable and highly experienced in road traffic accident claims, so you can rest assured that making a claim with us after a traffic collision will mean that you stand the best chance of seeing the compensation you deserve.

What is the Difference Between Road Traffic Accident Claims and Car Accident Claims?

While car accident claims specifically deal with accidents involving cars, road accident claims deal with all sorts of road vehicles. Because of this, road traffic accidents can be more severe and have a more diverse range of injuries that may occur. For example, a road traffic collision involving a motorbike and a HGV will likely result in much more damage. Road traffic accident claims can cover car accidents too, so you should consult with your solicitor on which approach may be more appropriate to your situation.

Types of Road Traffic Accident Claims

Bus and coach accidents

If you have been involved in a bus or coach accident that wasn’t your fault, you are entitled to make a claim for compensation. For more information, visit our dedicated page.

Car accidents

If you are involved in a car accident that wasn’t your fault, you are entitled to make a claim for compensation. Any compensation claim will be made up of two types of funds:

  • General damages - this is a sum for the injuries you sustained during the car accident, the severity and your recovery time. The overall figure is determined using personal injury guidelines and previous similar cases. For an estimation of the compensation you could receive, take a look at our compensation calculator.
  • Special damages - this sum is for any financial losses that you have incurred as a result of the car accident. This can include:
    • Loss of earnings
    • Medical expenses, such as physiotherapy
    • Travel costs
    • Care and assistance
    • Damage to a vehicle or bicycle

As no two accidents are the same and no two sets of individual circumstances are the same, overall compensation sums will vary from claim to claim. The goal with any claim is to put you back in the position you would have been in were it not for the accident, so it is important that we are able to understand your circumstances before the accident, and how your injuries have impacted them. We would advise that you retain any receipts and other documents for purchases made as a direct result of the accident, as these can be used as evidence to strengthen your case.

Hit and run accidents

Visit our hit and run drivers page for more information on making a claim if you’ve been injured in this type of accident.

Motorcycle accidents

If you been injured in an accident involving a motorcycle that was caused by somebody else’s negligence, visit our motorcycle accidents page to make a claim for compensation.

Pedestrian accidents

If you’re a pedestrian that has been involved in a road traffic accident that wasn’t your fault, visit our dedicated page to make a claim for compensation.

Road traffic accidents abroad

If you've been involved in a road traffic accident while abroad, find out here how you can make a claim.

Road traffic accidents involving animals

If you've been involved in a road traffic accident where the cause of the incident was an animal, find out how you can make a claim for compensation here.

Taxi accidents

If you've been involved in a road traffic accident while in a taxi, find out how to make a claim for compensation here.

Uninsured drivers

If you've been involved in a road traffic accident that was caused by an uninsured driver, you are still entitled to make a claim for compensation. Visit our dedicated page for more information.

Dealing with Insurance Companies After a Road Traffic Accident

Insurance companies are often keen to offer injured parties an out-of-court settlement straight away. This could happen once they have been contacted by a person needing to get their vehicle repaired, or once they are informed that a claim is being made against the party they represent. 

Insurance companies often make this decision because it saves them money both in legal fees and in paying higher compensation amounts to the victims of accidents who choose to ask for a higher amount. Many road traffic collision victims feel relieved that the insurance company has admitted liability without a lengthy legal process and will accept the offer without thinking of the implications of settling. Without fully understanding the long-term impact of their injuries, this can be a mistake. Read our useful article on what happens once liability has been accepted to find out more about this process.

Accepting an offer before an injury claim has been fully investigated can lead to problems further down the line, as what might seem like an appealing settlement at first, might not be enough to cover your medical expenses, lost earnings or care for your family should your injuries worsen. Once you accept an offer to settle an injury claim, you cannot reopen your case - that is why it is important you seek legal advice before accepting any offer from an insurance company. 

A solicitor will advise you how much you should rightfully receive as compensation for your accident and help you to make informed decisions about your claim every step of the way. They will ensure that you get medical advice if your injury requires it, and diligently gather evidence that supports your claim.

According to data obtained by the Law Society, victims of accidents who take legal advice from a solicitor get up to three times more compensation than those who accept the first offer from an insurance company.

FAQs About Road Traffic Accident Claims

Q
What should I do following a road traffic accident?
A

In the immediate aftermath of a collision and once you are safe and any immediate medical needs you have are seen to, there are certain steps you should take to support a potential compensation claim. These measures can help to prove that another person was responsible for the incident and help to ensure your claim is a success. You should take down the following information from anyone who witnessed the incident:

  • Names
  • Addresses
  • Telephone number/email address

If the witnesses consent to provide one, a statement of their version of events can be hugely supportive in any claim you make. Remember to also take photographs of the scene of the incident if you are able to. You should contact the police and report the incident immediately if the other driver:

  • Has no valid insurance
  • Flees the scene
Q
Can I get access to physiotherapy immediately?
A

We understand the importance of helping people get back to normal quickly following injury, and this is why we can offer those individuals injured in a road traffic accident the opportunity to access immediate physiotherapy; a service aimed at speeding up the recovery process. 

We pride ourselves on the speed at which the process from assessment to the start of the first session is completed. Although this varies depending on our client’s circumstances, it can be as little as a matter of days before your first visit to a qualified physiotherapist. This means you can get your recovery underway as soon as possible.

Physiotherapy can be key to helping an individual get their life back on track following injury, and is a reasonable requirement in many instances. This is because compensation claims are designed to return the injured party to the position they were in prior to their injury, and the therapy can promote a more rapid recovery in many instances of injuries associated with road traffic accidents.

Q
How do I arrange a vehicle inspection?
A

If your vehicle has been damaged, we can make the necessary arrangements for it to be inspected by a qualified vehicle engineer with a view to either getting the insurers to pay for your repairs, or pay you for the written-off value of the car.

Q
How do I arrange a like-for-like replacement?
A

We can also arrange for you to be provided with a like-for-like replacement courtesy car to ensure that while your own vehicle is off the road, your inconvenience is minimised.

Talk to Us

To get in touch with our specialist team of solicitors, please don't hesitate to call us on 0345 872 6666. Alternatively, complete our online enquiry form and we will give you a call back as soon as we can to discuss your situation in greater detail and provide more guidance on what happens next.

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