How A Car Accident Claim Solicitor Could Help You

How A Car Accident Claim Solicitor Could Help You

How A Car Accident Claim Solicitor Could Help You

By Cat Reeves. Last Updated 27th July 2023. This guide will explain how a car accident claim solicitor can help you claim injury compensation.

A car accident can be a distressing experience. Moreover, you may have suffered painful or debilitating injuries because of the incident. You may wonder if you can claim after a car accident. If another party was responsible for causing your car accident, you could claim compensation for your injuries, including special damage costs that can cover your expenses.

Please call our helpline to see if you can claim road traffic accident compensation. UK Law works with a panel of experienced personal injury lawyers. So, if you have the right evidence, a solicitor from our panel can help you claim the car accident compensation you deserve. You can even make a No Win No Fee claim, so you won’t have to pay any fees before you claim.

Please get in touch to see if you can claim for a car accident:

On the other hand, keep reading this guide to learn more about making a car accident claim.

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What Is A Car Accident Claim Solicitor?

A car accident claim solicitor is a legal representative that handles compensation claims for injuries caused by road traffic accidents. If a person is injured in a car accident that was not their fault, they could claim compensation from the party that caused the accident. The claim can include a payment for their injuries and a payment to reimburse them for the expenses.

Under the Road Traffic Act 1988, all road users owe other road users a duty of care, not to cause avoidable accidents. In real terms, this involves driving carefully, following the rules of the road, and maintaining their vehicle to a safe standard.

If a driver or another party acts negligently, they breach their duty of care. So, if a party acts negligently and causes a road traffic accident, they could be liable for any injuries the accident causes. Please get in touch with UK Law to see if you can claim.

Car Accident Statistics

According to Reported road casualties Great Britain annual report: 2021, 1,216 car occupants suffered fatal injuries in 2021. It accounted for 44% of total fatalities on the roads. Moreover, the total number of car occupants injured on the roads during the same year was 70,755. Therefore there were 10% more car accident casualties in 2021 than in 2020.

Call our advisors to learn about claiming compensation for a fatal car accident.

Can A Car Accident Claim Solicitor Handle Whiplash Claims?

Whiplash happens when the head is forced beyond its normal range of motion, forcing the soft tissues in the neck to overstretch. Whiplash can cause neck pain, muscle spasms, and stiffness. Rear-end collision car accidents can often cause whiplash injuries because they can push the head forward, injuring the neck.

The Whiplash Injury Regulations 2021 has changed the way drivers and passengers can make a claim for whiplash injuries. Under the Whiplash Reform Programme, whiplash injuries or other soft tissue injuries valued at £5,000 or less must be made through the Official Injury Claim portal. This way of claiming means that whiplash injuries are valued using the tariffs below.

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Injury Duration Amount Of Settlement Under
Regulation 2(1)(a)		 Amount Of Settlement Under
Regulation 2(1)(b)
Over 12 months, but not more than 15 months £2,040 £2,125
Over 15 months, but not more than 18 months £3,005 £3,100
Over 18 months, but not more than 24 months £4,215 £4,345

If you are unsure which method of claiming applies to you, you can call our helpline for free legal advice. Please note the rules of the Whiplash Reform Programme do not apply to pedestrians, cyclists, motorbike riders, and sidecar passengers.

Can You Claim If You Are Partially At Fault?

When a car accident occurs, more than one party may have contributed to the accident. If you and the other party admit partial liability for the accident, you can make a split liability claim. Therefore you can claim compensation for your car accident injury at a rate that is proportionate to the rate you are at fault.

For example, if it is determined that you are 20% at fault for causing the accident, you can receive 80% of the compensation. Your car accident solicitor could present evidence to support you and negotiate on your behalf if you pursue a split liability claim.

How Do I Claim Compensation After A Car Accident?

You may wonder how to get the most from a car accident claim. To make a successful road traffic accident claim, you will need adequate evidence to prove you are not at fault. You can collect evidence at the scene of the accident and after the event by doing the following:

  • Go to a GP surgery, hospital or walk-in centre as appropriate to have a doctor diagnose and treat your injuries. So, your medical records can be taken as supporting evidence.
  • Collect names and contact details from people who witnessed the accident, as they could make a witness statement to support you.
  • Collect dashcam footage of the accident and photograph any damage your vehicle sustained.
  • Similarly, you can photograph any visible injuries caused by the accident.
  • And if you make any purchases relating to your injury, such as taking a taxi to the hospital, please keep your receipt.

Many claimants want to know how long after an accident they can claim compensation. Normally there is a three-year time limit for starting a personal injury claim under Limitation Act 1980. So please contact UK Law today to avoid falling outside the limitation period.

How Much Are Compensation Payouts For Car Accident Claims?

As we mentioned, you could claim compensation if you are injured in a road traffic accident that another party caused by acting negligently. You can receive up to two heads of claim:

  • General damage payment: Compensates you for the pain and suffering your physical and mental injuries caused.
  • Special damage payment: Compensates you for the unavoidable financial losses experienced after your injuries. Such as care costs or travel expenses.

Please use the table below to estimate how much your accident claim is worth in general damages. Just look up your injuries to see what your compensation payment could be. We referenced the Judicial College guidelines 2022 for the compensation brackets. But please remember that the table is advisory, and the outcome of your claim may differ.

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Type Of Physical Injury Notes On This Injury JC Guidelines Brackets
Back Injuries (a) (i) Severe – Spinal back injuries which give rise to disability and pain. The injury leads to some level of paralysis. £91,090 to £160,980
Leg Injuries (a) (iii) Amputation – The (surgical) amputation of one leg above the knee joint. £104,830 to £137,470
Arm Injuries Severe – Extremely serious arm injuries. Though they fall short of being as serious as being amputated, the person is not much better off. £96,160 to £130,930
Neck Injuries Severe (ii) – Damage and fractures of the spinal discs. The injury is serious enough to result in severe disabilities. £65,740 to £130,930
Ankle Injuries (b) Severe – Ankle injuries limiting the ability to walk. They will need extensive medical treatment. £31,310 to £50,060
Wrist Injuries (c) Less severe injuries to the wrist. The person could be left with a permanent level of disability. £12,590 to £24,500
Toe Injuries (d) The great toe suffers a serious injury or crush and multiple fractures of other toes. £9,600 to £13,740
Hand Injuries (h) Moderate – lacerations that are deep, penetrating wounds and soft tissue injuries. £5,720 to £13,280

The table does not estimate what you could claim in special damages. So you can call our helpline, and an advisor can estimate how much you can claim.

How Could A No Win No Fee Car Accident Claim Solicitor Help You?

Starting a road traffic accident claim alone might seem complicated, and you might be unsure of where to start. But, with the help of a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), a solicitor from our panel may be able to help.

A CFA is a kind of No Win No Fee contract that allows you to work with an expert solicitor without paying any upfront or ongoing service fees. Similarly, if your claim fails, then your solicitor will not take a fee for their work on your case.

If your claim is successful, then your solicitor will be due a success fee. They take this directly from your compensation as a small percentage, which has a legal cap to ensure that you keep the larger share of your award.

Working with a solicitor on your car accident compensation claim means that they can help identify which channel to make your claim through and whether or not it is affected by the whiplash reforms. A car accident claim solicitor can also help you strengthen your case by collecting evidence and talking to witnesses.

If you’re interested in working with a solicitor from our panel, our team of advisors are here to help. Get in touch today to start your free consultation, and a member of our team may connect you with a solicitor. To get started:

Guides To Working With A Car Accident Claim Solicitor

These guides may be helpful if you want to claim compensation for injuries caused by a car accident.

How To Claim Compensation For A Back Injury After A Car Accident

Car Accident Insurance Excess Fee Compensation

When And How To Report A Car Accident

A government guide to speed limits

A government guide to using a phone, sat nav or another device when driving.

NHS guide to whiplash injuries

Please get in touch with UK Law today to enquire about working with a car accident claim solicitor.