The Money Daily logo

Road Traffic Accidents: How To Claim Compensation For Injuries

If you've been involved in a road traffic accident during the past 3 years, you may be entitled to claim compensation for any personal injuries received. Personal injuries include both physical and psychological harm caused by the actions of others. Read our quick guide below to find out if you should make a claim.

Road traffic accidents include those injured in car, bus and taxi accidents. They affect not only drivers, but also passengers, cyclists and pedestrians - resulting in various injury types including muscular damage, broken bones and whiplash. These injuries are caused due to violent impact on the body as a result of a sudden halt. Hundreds of millions of pounds of compensation claims are paid out every year in the UK to victims of road traffic accidents. Here's what you should do if this should happen to you.

  road-traffic-accident  

What To Do

In the immediate aftermath of a road traffic accident you should do the following;

 

  • Do not admit any liability for the accident.

Even if you believe you were at fault, do not admit this to the other party. You may later realise that the accident could have been prevented if the 3rd party had acted in a different manner.

 

  • Get the contact details of the 3rd party.

As well as name and contact number, you should ask for the 3rd party's insurance details and their car registration number.

 

  • Notify the police and gather evidence.

If there is any dispute over the cause of the accident contact the police and use your mobile phone to take pictures of the scene of the accident and the damage to vehicles. The more information you can provide, the stronger your claim will be.

 

  • Take witnesses contact details.

If there are any witnesses to the accident, ask them for their contact details (name, number and address). Evidence from an independent 3rd party can have a strong bearing on the outcome of your claim.

 

  • Call your insurer.

Report the accident to your car insurance company as soon as possible. Most policies have certain conditions involving the reporting of accidents - if in doubt contact your insurer.

 

  • Visit a doctor.

If you have been injured in the accident, it is important to visit a doctor so there is a medical report than can be used in during the claims process.

 

  • Keep a record of expenses.

Make sure to keep a record of any and all expenses incurred as a direct result of the accident. If you want to claim these expenses receipts will be required.

  Road-Traffic-Accident-Claims Road-Traffic-Accident-Claims  

Next Steps

To make a personal injury claim against a road traffic accident you must be able to prove that a 3rd party was negligent and that the injury you received was as a result of this negligence.

You are entitled to claim against all expenses incurred as a result of the accident including the cost of vehicle repair or the market value of the vehicle in the event of a write-off. Other common expenses include car hire, loss or damage to personal effects, depreciation, inconvenience and loss of earnings. For the injuries you have suffered you can make a claim for pain and suffering, loss of amenity, treatment costs and potentially other items in the case of more serious injuries.

In order to find out what sort of compensation you may be entitled to, you should contact a reputable personal injury solicitor. Beware anyone who promises to gain you thousands of pounds of compensation before they have fully considered the facts of your case. Compensation vary’s significantly between cases but payouts can be anywhere from thousands of pounds to hundreds of thousands of pounds in more serious cases.