Working With Car Accident Claim Solicitors

This guide will explore the benefits of working with car accident claim solicitors. It will also discuss the eligibility requirements for seeking personal injury compensation following a road traffic accident, including how long you have to begin your claim.

car accident claim solicitors

A guide on working with car accident claim solicitors

We will also discuss the duty of care that road users, including drivers, owe one another. Additionally, we will look at how a breach of this duty could lead to a car accident.

Furthermore, this guide will explore the different aspects of the personal injury claims process, including gathering evidence after an accident has caused you harm.

You can also find information on the settlement that could be awarded to you following a successful claim and how this may be calculated.

For further information on the claims process, get in touch with an advisor. They can answer any questions you might have pertaining to your potential claim. To reach them, you can:

Jump To A Section or Browse Our Guide

  1. Why Use Car Accident Claim Solicitors To Help You Claim?
  2. When Are You Eligible To Make A Car Accident Claim?
  3. What Amount Of Road Accident Compensation Could You Receive?
  4. Evidence That Could Help You In The Road Traffic Accident Claims Process
  5. Use Our Panel Of No Win No Fee Car Accident Claim Solicitors
  6. Learn More About How To Claim For A Road Traffic Accident

Why Use Car Accident Claim Solicitors To Help You Claim?

Though it is not necessary to work with a solicitor in order to make a claim, seeking legal representation can benefit you in several ways. For example, car accident claim solicitors can help:

  • Collect evidence to strengthen your case
  • Gather statements from witnesses
  • Estimate what your claim is worth
  • Inform you of how long the claims process will take
  • Negotiate a settlement offer on your behalf
  • Build and present your case in full
  • Liaise with the MIB if you were hit by an uninsured driver

The solicitors on our panel can offer these types of services. If you would like to find out more about working with them, get in touch on the number above.

When Are You Eligible To Make A Car Accident Claim?

The Road Traffic Act 1988 outlines the duty of care that road users owe to each other. They must navigate the roads in a way that prevents harm to themselves and others. Alongside this, different road users can refer to the Highway Code for guidance on their responsibilities.

If a road user fails to uphold their duty of care, it could lead to someone else experiencing harm in a road accident. This is known as negligence. If you have evidence that negligence occurred, you could be eligible to make a personal injury claim.

Examples of driver negligence can include:

  • A lorry driver fails to check their mirrors before merging into another lane. As a result, they crash into the driver of a car causing them to sustain severe brain damage and a neck injury.
  • A drunk driver speeds through a red light at a junction and collides with the side of your vehicle. This causes injuries to the driver and passenger in the car.
  • A driver uses their phone while operating their vehicle causing them to hit a pedestrian with their car in a hit and run accident. This causes the pedestrian life-changing injuries, such as paralysis from a spinal injury.

Is There A Time Limit To Make A Road Traffic Accident Claim?

There is a general time limit in place to start a personal injury claim after a road traffic accident. The Limitation Act 1980 states that there are generally three years from the date you sustained harm.

However, some exceptions do apply, depending on the circumstances of the claim. You can learn more about these by calling an advisor. They can also provide further guidance on when you could be eligible to seek compensation and how car accident solicitors could help.

What Amount Of Road Accident Compensation Could You Receive?

Generally, if you make a successful claim, you could be awarded a payout that consists of general and special damages. Each of these heads of claim addresses the different ways your injuries have affected you.

Firstly, compensation for the pain and suffering caused by your injuries can be awarded under general damages. Car accident claim solicitors can use the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) to help them calculate the value of this head. The JCG is a publication containing a list of guideline award brackets.

The table below contains some of these figures, which you can use as a guide. The whiplash entries in the table are from the Whiplash Injury Regulations 2021 which includes a tariff of fixed amounts. However, the JCG figures are not reflective of what you will receive because settlement amounts vary depending on your specific circumstances.

InjuryCompensation Figures
Very Severe Head Injury (a)£282,010 to £403,990
Less Severe Head Injury (d)£15,320 to £43,060
Severe Back injury (a) (i)£91,090 to £160,980
Arm Amputation (a)£240,790 to £300,000
Severe Neck Injury (a) (i)In the region of £148,330
Serious Shoulder Injury (b)£12,770 to £19,200
Severe Leg Injury (b) (ii)£54,830 to £87,890
Less Serious Leg Injury (c) (i)£17,960 to £27,760
Multiple Or One Whiplash Injury£4,215
Multiple Or One Whiplash Injury With Multiple Or One Minor Psychological Injury£4,345

Secondly, you can receive compensation for the monetary losses you have experienced under special damages. As such, you could claim back:

  • Loss of earnings
  • Care costs
  • Medical expenses

It is helpful to keep any records of financial losses, such as receipts and bank statements.

How Do You Claim For Whiplash And Other Minor Injuries?

Since the Whiplash Reform Programme was implemented, the process for making certain road traffic accident claims has changed. This means adult drivers and passengers who have sustained injuries valued under £5,000 have to claim in a different way. Additionally, any whiplash injuries they have sustained will be valued using the Whiplash Injury Regulations 2021 which sets out a tariff. If they have other injuries not included in this tariff, they will be valued in the traditional way.

Furthermore, if additional injuries take the total claim value is over £5,000, the claim will be made in the traditional way. However, whiplash injuries will still be valued using the tariff.

For more information on the avenue you can take to seek road traffic accident compensation and how much you could be owed, get in touch on the number above.

Evidence That Could Help You In The Road Traffic Accident Claims Process

As part of the personal injury claims process, you should gather evidence to demonstrate that negligence occurred. For example, you can collect:

  • CCTV or dashcam footage
  • Photographs of the accident and your injuries
  • A diary detailing your symptoms
  • The contact information of witnesses

The car accident claim solicitors from our panel could assist you in gathering evidence for your claim, if you are finding it difficult. Call our team to learn whether they could represent your case.

Use Our Panel Of No Win No Fee Car Accident Claim Solicitors

If you are eligible to work with the car accident claim solicitors from our panel, they could offer you a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). This is a type of No Win No Fee agreement that generally gives you access to a solicitor’s services without the requirement of paying upfront or ongoing fees. Additionally, if your claim ends unsuccessfully, you won’t have to pay your solicitor for their work. You will be expected to pay a success fee at the end of a successful claim. This success fee will be deducted from your compensation award with a legal cap in place to avoid overcharging.

For more information on No Win No Fee contracts, connect with our team today. If an advisor finds your claim is valid and could succeed they could connect you with a solicitor from our panel who has experience handling different types of road accident claims. Alternatively, they can answer any questions regarding your potential claim for free. To get in touch, you can:

Learn More About How To Claim For A Road Traffic Accident

More of our guides can be found through the following links.

Additionally, you can find further information through these external sources.

Thank you for reading this guide on the benefits of working with car accident claim solicitors. If you have any other questions, please get in touch using the number provided above.

Article by ALL

Edited by MIT