Car Accident Compensation Claim Solicitors

Making a claim isn't limited to drivers, you can also claim if you are:

• Injured as a passenger
• A cyclist
• A Pedestrian
• A motorcyclist
• Passenger on a bus

Most car accidents are caused by human error, with some of the most common contributing factors including:

• Speeding
• Travelling too fast for road or weather conditions
• Distracted or careless driving (such as using a phone)
• Loss of control of the car

Car accident injuries can range from minor to life-changing, depending on the severity of the collision. In the UK, many police constabularies classify road traffic accident injuries into five severity categories, ranging from slight injuries to fatalities. The four categories other than fatal include:

Slight injuries: These are the most common injuries in road traffic accidents and include, whiplash or neck strain, soft tissue sprains and strains and minor cuts or abrasions.

Less serious injuries: These injuries are more significant and may require medical treatment, such as minor head injuries, deep cuts, fractures to bones including arms legs, hands and collarbones.

Moderately serious injuries: These injuries can have longer recovery times and may involve hospital care. Injuries can include fractures to the thigh or pelvis, chest injuries and deeply penetrating wounds.

Very serious injuries: The most severe non-fatal injuries often involve major trauma, such as a broken neck or spine, severe head injury, a chest or crush injury and internal injuries.

For most people, a life-changing car accident injury means a long recovery and in more severe cases, can permanently affect mobility, independence and the ability to return to work.
If you suffer a serious injury that wasn't your fault, a car crash injury claim can help cover the long-term effects of the injury, not just the initial accident. This can include the cost of medical treatment and rehabilitation, care or support from family or professionals, loss of earnings or future income and adaptations needed to your home or car.

Visit our serious injuries claims guide for more information on what compensation can cover.

After a car crash, it's important to gather as much evidence as possible to support your claim and prove that the other party was at fault. This includes:

Visual evidence: If it's safe to do so, take clear photos of the scene of the accident, including photos that clearly show damage to all vehicles, any road markings, signs or traffic lights and skid marks or debris in the road. All of these details help paint a clear picture of what happened.

A note of conditions: As well as the date and time of the accident, you should make a note of important conditions at the scene, such as the:

• Weather conditions - was it raining or bright?
• Road surface conditions - was the road worn or newly tarmacked? 
• Lighting and visibility - was it foggy or hard to see?

Video footage: Look for CCTV cameras nearby, as they may have captured the car accident. If any vehicles involved have dashcam footage, be sure it's saved and kept safely as this is often the strongest evidence in a claim for car accidents.

Medical evidence: Medical evidence is important for showing the injuries you suffered and the treatment you received after the car crash. This can include records from your GP, hospital or other healthcare professionals who treated you following the accident.

Personal diary: Keeping a personal diary after your car accident can also support your claim. This type of record means you can describe your injuries in your own words and explain how they affect your everyday life. For example, you may notice the small ways your injuries have impacted your ability to work or carry out daily tasks.

The time it takes to reach a settlement in successful car accident claims can vary significantly. In straightforward cases, where injuries are minor and recovery is relatively quick, claims can take as little as six to 24 months to settle. However, in more complex cases involving serious or multiple injuries, a claim can take over three years.

The timeframe may also be affected by factors such as the number of medical experts required and the rate of recovery. In some cases, where the claim is likely to take longer, interim payments can be arranged to help cover ongoing expenses along the way.

No two car crash claims are the same. How long your claim many take depend on several factors, including:

The severity of your injuries

The complexity of the circumstances of the accident

If the other party accepts or disputes liability

If it is necessary to start court proceedings

Your legal team or car accident solicitor will usually be able to give you a clearer timeframe once they have reviewed the evidence, assessed your injuries and started negotiations with the other party.

In most cases, you must either settle your claim or start court proceedings within three years of the car accident. This is known as the limitation period. However, the three-year timescale can differ in circumstances, including if you're claiming on behalf of a child, where the limitation period runs until their 21st birthday, or in the case of a fatal car accident, which is reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

We'd always recommend starting your claim right away, whilst the details of the accident are still fresh in your mind, as this can help make the process much smoother.

Need help with your car accident compensation claim? Call our Helpline Advisors on today to see if you can still make a claim.

Up to £5,000:Small claims now cover most minor road traffic injury cases. This includes whiplash and other minor injuries like soft tissue damage or simple fractures. These claims are usually handled without recovering legal costs, and theoretically people can make them online without using a solicitor as the portal is designed for use by claimants. 
It's important to note that you would still have to value your claim, which is a complex process. Once you start the claims process yourself, you may also struggle to find a solicitor to take it on or advise you on offers.

£5,000 to £25,000: Car accident injury claims valued over £5,000 and up to £25,000 are fast track claims, usually handled through the Claims Portal, an online system overseen by the Ministry of Justice. The system is designed to handle claims for injuries such as whiplash, cuts and minor fractures. The process is usually like this:

• Your solicitor firm will submit the claim through the Claims Portal
• If the other side admits liability, your claim continues through the portal until it's resolved
• Your solicitor firm negotiates a compensation figure that both sides agree on
• Once an agreement is reached, you will receive your compensation

If the other party does not admit liability or disputes the claim:

• The claim leaves the Claims Portal
• Your solicitor firm will investigate the claim further and gather additional evidence
• Your legal team ay begin court proceedings against the other party
• The claim follows a fixed court procedure with deadlines set by the court
• Negotiations continue throughout the process, however most car accident compensation claims settle before a court hearing is needed
• If a hearing does take place, it usually only lasts a day, and a judge will decide the outcome
• You may need to attend the hearing, but your solicitor firm will handle the legal process
• If your claim succeeds, you will be awarded compensation

Car accident claims above £25,000 are handled under different court tracks depending on their value.

£25,000 to £100,000: These are known as intermediate track claims. They follow a structured court process and usually involve fixed legal costs paid by the losing party.

Over £100,000: These are known as multi-track claims. They are typically more complex and may involve:

• Serious or life-changing injuries
• Complicated accident circumstances that require further investigation
• Higher levels of compensation

Cases like this are handled outside the Claims Portal and usually take longer to resolve, although negotiations with the other party continue throughout the process.

Your legal team will always advise you which track your car accident compensation claim is likely to be at the start of your case and will handle the claim on your behalf.

In most successful car accident compensation is paid by the at-fault driver's insurance company. Where the other side is uninsured or cannot be traced, the Motor Insurers' Bureau (MIB)  may pay compensation instead.

Be cautious and accept nothing until you have taken independent legal advice. Insurance companies will often make an early offer to settle a car accident claim quickly and at the least cost. As a result, the claim may be undervalued.

Talk to one of our Helpline Advisors on before accepting any offers, and they will connect you to free legal counsel who will be able to assess your situation.

If you were injured by an uninsured or untraceable driver, including in a hit and run accident, you may still be able to make a claim. In these situations, compensation is usually paid by the Motor Insurers' Bureau (MIB). If the other party does drive off, you must report the accident to the police or the MIB may refuse to accept your claim.

The MIB was set up to compensate people injured by drivers who are uninsured or cannot be identified. All UK motor insurers are legally required to contribute to this scheme, helping make sure that everyone can claim the compensation they deserve.

Most car accident claims are settled without going to court. In fact, only about 5% of claims reach a court hearing. Even when your solicitor firm begins legal proceedings against the other party should they dispute or deny liability, negotiations are often settled before the court date.

If your claim does go before a judge at a court hearing, you might not have to be present. Remember, no two claims are the same and your car accident lawyer will be on hand to guide you through the process.

Yes, in most car crash claims, an independent medical assessment is required to confirm your injuries and provide evidence for your compensation claim. Your legal team will arrange a medical assessment with an independent, government-approved medical expert, usually located near you. The assessment usually takes around 30 minutes and can involve:

• Reviewing your medical records or treatment notes
• Asking questions about your injury and its impact
• Asking you to perform simple movements to assess how the injury has affected you

Please note that this assessment is not for treatment or medical advice and its purpose is to provide medical evidence for your claim. If you need treatment, please see a medical provider, such as your GP, without any delay.

If you were entirely at fault for the car accident in which you were injured, then you can't claim for car crash compensation.

However, you might still be able to make a claim if you were only partly responsible for the car accident. This is known as split liability. Let's work through an example:

• In a car accident injury claim for £10,000, blame may be agreed upon and shared evenly between you and the other side. That's a ratio of 50:50
• That means that if the claim were to succeed, the compensation payment before a solicitor firm's deductions would be £5,000
• Split liability ratios may be agreed at 60:40, 70:30, 80:20 and so on - either in favour of you or the other side

Your legal team will be able to advise you on what this might look like for your personal situation. 

Yes, you may still be able to claim car accident compensation even if you were not wearing a seatbelt. However, you still need to prove that the other party was responsible for causing the car accident. If it's found that your injuries were more severe because you weren't wearing a seatbelt, the amount of compensation you receive may be reduced due to contributory negligence.

If you are unsure about starting the claims process, you can speak to our Helpline Advisors on , who can discuss your situation and help connect you with a car accident solicitor if you decide to make a claim.