Car Accident Claims – How To Claim Compensation In The UK

By Stephen Moreau. Last Updated 16th August 2024. Welcome to this guide on making a car crash claim. Below, we give essential advice on reporting a road traffic accident and recovering car accident compensation.

We also explain how car crash compensation payouts for UK claims are calculated. So if you’re in a minor car accident, knowing what to do next could be a pressing question. We answer this question and others, including explaining police hit and run procedures for UK incidents.

If you have been involved in an accident on the road and wish to make a car crash claim, doing so whilst still recovering either from physical or emotional trauma could be difficult or may even seem daunting.

That is why we recommend putting your claim in the hands of our panel of experienced car injury solicitors who can handle your claim for you.

Our team understands that getting your life back on track after an accident can be difficult, so are here to help ease the burden of claiming car accident compensation and hopefully restoring your financial position.

You can request a call back from our team by filling in the form or dialling 020 3870 4868 to talk to a member of our team.

Two cars which have sustained serious frontal damage after a road traffic accident.

Services And Information

Am I Eligible To Make A Car Crash Claim?

In order to claim for a car crash as either a passenger or a driver, you must first prove that you were owed a duty of care.

This duty involves navigating roads in a way that minimises the risk of harm coming to other road users. Anyone using the road is expected to do this.

To uphold their duty, road users are expected to follow the Road Traffic Act 1988 and the Highway Code.  If this duty of care is breached, this could lead to a car accident.

To have good grounds to claim car crash compensation, you must be able to prove that:

  • You were owed a duty of care.
  • This duty was breached.
  • As a result, you were injured .

Our team of advisors can help you identify whether or not you are eligible to make a claim when you get in touch. They can evaluate your claim for free, and provide more information on the claims process.

How Long Do I Have To Make A Car Crash Claim?

When seeking compensation for a car accident, it’s important to begin your claim within the limitation period, provided you have a valid case. The Limitation Act 1980 states that you get three years to start your claim from the date of the accident that caused your road traffic accident injuries.

However, certain cases could necessitate exceptions to the time limit.

To learn what these are, get in touch with our advisors. They can also help you if you have any additional questions about the time limits involved with car crash claims.

What Injuries Could You Sustain From A Car Accident?

Car accident claims could be made for all sort of different injuries. Examples of injuries you may claim for include:

  • Neck injuries such as whiplash, which is caused by a rapid and forceful back-and-forth movement of the neck. Whiplash can cause damage to various parts of the neck including ligaments, muscles, bones and nerves.
  • Cuts and lacerations could be caused by broken glass or other effects of a car accident. A severe cut could leave the injured party with permanent scarring.
  • Fractures could occur to various parts of the body such as the arms, wrists and legs due to the force of an impact.
  • A heavy impact in a car accident could also cause head injuries, ranging from a mild concussion to severe brain damage.
  • A car accident can also be traumatic enough to cause psychological injuries, such as PTSD and anxiety.

For advice on whether you are eligible to claim car accident injury compensation, contact our team of advisors for free today.

Car Accident Compensation Examples – How Payouts Are Calculated

If you have strong grounds to claim compensation for a car accident, you may ask just how much car accident compensation you could receive if your claim succeeds.

If you make a successful car crash claim, your compensation settlement could comprise of general and special damages. General damages are meant to compensate for the pain and injuries suffered have caused.

People figuring out general damages compensation might look at the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). It is a document that lists compensation guidelines related to various injuries. Some amounts from the JCG can be seen in the table below. Please only refer to it as general guidance. Also, take note that the first and last two entries in this  table are not based on the JCG.

Type of InjuryLevel of HarmCompensation Guidelines
Multiple Serious Injuries With Special DamagesSevereUp to £1,000,000+
Brain DamageVery Severe£344,150 to £493,000
Brain DamageModerate (iii)£52,550 to £110,720
BackSevere (i)£111,150 to £196,450
BackModerate (ii)£15,260 to £33,880
NeckSevere (ii)£80,240 to £159,770
NeckModerate (i)£30,500 to £46,970
Severe Leg InjuriesSerious£47,840 to £66,920
Whiplash TariffWhiplash with a psychological injury lasting between 18-24 months. £4,345
Whiplash TariffA whiplash injury lasting between 18-24 months.£4,215

Whiplash Reforms

Your car accident claim might be impacted by the Whiplash Reform Programme. These reforms brought in changes to how certain claims for road traffic accidents are made in England and Wales. They apply to those aged 18 and older, who suffered injuries valued at £5,000 or less as a driver or passenger in a vehicle.

Any whiplash injuries you suffered will be assigned value in accordance with the tariff set out in the Whiplash Injury Regulations 2021. A few examples of the figures listed in the tariff, which are fixed amounts, are provided in the table above. Additional injuries that are not covered by this tariff will be valued in the traditional manner.

If you have any questions about your claim or if you would like a free valuation, please contact one of the advisors from our team.

Car Accident Compensation – What Else Could Be Included?

Compensation for a car accident does not have to solely account for your pain and suffering. In fact, many people find that the financial impact of a road traffic accident is particularly significant. The special damages head of loss exists to reflect this, and it is not unheard of for a special damages payment to far exceed the amount awarded under general damages.

Your car accident payout could include special damages compensation if you provide relevant evidence. This includes payslips, bank statements, invoices or receipts.

The following losses could all potentially be accounted for if you make a successful car accident claim:

  • Payments to replace or repair damaged property. As well as your car, this could include items that were in the car when the collision happened.
  • Lost earnings, should you miss work or working opportunities while recovering.
  • Medical fees or prescription charges.
  • Travel costs.
  • Home healthcare assistance bills.

Talk to an advisor today for a more in-depth look at how much car accident compensation you may be able to receive if you have a valid case.

Do I Need Evidence To Make A Car Crash Claim?

Your case needs evidence that supports your argument that someone else’s negligence led to the accident. You should also include proof of the injuries that you’re claiming for.

The evidence you could gather for your car accident claim could include:

  • Video footage of the car accident. This can include dashcam footage or CCTV footage that shows the incident.
  • Photographs of the scene, plus any noticeable injuries.
  • Contact information for any witnesses to the car accident.
  • Medical reports and any other medical evidence that confirms the injuries you’re claiming for and what treatment you’ve received for them.

If a solicitor is supporting your car crash claim, they could assist with gathering evidence that can strengthen your case. Contact our advisors for free today, and they can answer any questions you have about car accident claims. They could also review your potential claim and connect you with a solicitor from our panel who can assist.

Make Car Accident Claims With A No Win No Fee Lawyer

If you suffered minor and/or serious injuries in a car crash accident, you may want to claim compensation with the support of a lawyer. A No Win No Fee lawyer could provide their services under a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). This is a type of No Win No Fee agreement.

No Win No Fee means that your lawyer usually won’t charge upfront for their services. They typically don’t ask for payments to cover ongoing fees either. If your lawyer successfully recovers compensation, a success fee is deducted from your award. The amount they can take is limited by the CFA. However, if they don’t succeed, you usually won’t be asked to pay for their services.

Our advisors are here 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to talk about potential car accident compensation claims. In addition to the free advice, they can assess the potential of your claim. If it seems eligible, they could connect you to one of the lawyers on our panel. The personal injury solicitors on our panel can offer their services for No Win No Fee car accident claims.

To speak about car accident claims:

Resources Related To Car Accident Compensation Claims

In addition to information on this guide on car accident claims, below we also include external resources where you can learn more about drivers’ responsibilities under current law, and how our panel of solicitors can help you.

  • Further information from the Government about what you should do (relating to vehicle insurance and car crash claims) if involved in a road accident.
  • Road safety data published by the Department for Transport.

You may also be interested in some of our other guides:

If you have any further queries about how to make a car crash claim, please don’t hesitate to get in touch at any time.