Everything You Need To Know About Road Traffic Accident Compensation Claims
Are you looking to claim for an injury sustained in a road traffic accident? Are you also wondering how much compensation you could receive? If so, please read this guide to learn about your eligibility for road traffic accident compensation claims.
Key Takeaways For Road Traffic Accident Compensation Claims
- You could make a personal injury claim if negligence took place.
- You could still claim even if you were partially responsible for the accident.
- Compensation could be awarded for your injuries and financial losses.
- The Whiplash Reform Programme has changed how certain claims are made.
- You will have 3 years to start your claim.
- A No Win No Fee solicitor from our panel could help you claim.
You can further discuss your claim with one of our advisors who will kindly answer any of your questions:
- Call 020 3870 4868
- Use our free live chat
- Contact us online
Browse Our Guide
- Who Can Claim Road Traffic Accident Compensation?
- Common Examples Of Road Traffic Accidents
- How Often Do Road Traffic Accidents Occur
- What Evidence Do I Need To Claim For A Road Accident?
- What Kinds Of Road Traffic Accident Compensation Claims Does UKLaw Take On?
- How Much Compensation Could I Get?
- What Are The Whiplash Reforms?
- Can I Make A No Win No Fee Road Traffic Accident Claim?
- Learn More
Who Can Claim Road Traffic Accident Compensation?
Anyone who has been injured in an accident on the road due to another road user breaching their duty of care could claim road traffic accident compensation.
All road users owe each other a duty of care to navigate the roads safely and to avoid causing injury to others. Road users must also comply with the rules of the Highway Code and the Road Traffic Act 1988. The term ‘road users’ is not only limited to drivers, and therefore you can claim if you were:
- A passenger in a vehicle or on public transport
- A pedestrian
- A motorcyclist
- A horse rider
- A cyclist
Therefore, the eligibility requirements for all road traffic accident compensation claims are:
- You were owed a duty of care
- This duty of care was breached by another road user
- You suffered injuries as a result of this breach.
Can I Claim If I Was Involved In A Hit And Run?
Yes, you can still claim if you were involved in a hit and run through the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB).
The MIB aims to provide compensation to those injured in accidents by uninsured or untraceable drivers. To be able to claim through the MIB for a hit and run, you will still need to prove that your case meets the eligibility requirements set out above.
What If I Wasn’t Wearing A Seatbelt?
You are still able to claim compensation even if you weren’t wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident. However, your compensation amount will likely be reduced as it may be considered that you contributed to your own injuries.
This would be referred to as a contributory negligence claim, and the amount your compensation is reduced by will depend on how much you were deemed to have contributed to your injuries due to not wearing a seatbelt. For example, if you were considered to have contributed to your injuries by 50%, you will receive 50% of the toal compensation award had you not contributed to them at all.
If you wish to discuss road traffic accident compensation claims in more detail, please contact one of our advisors today.
Common Examples Of Road Traffic Accidents
Common examples of road traffic accidents include:
- Rear-end collisions. These types of accidents usually occur when a vehicle fails to maintain a safe distance and fails to stop in time. These collisions typically occur in areas with heavy traffic and persistent braking.
- Side-impact collisions. These are often known as ‘T-bone accidents’ and often occur at junctions and side roads.
- Cyclist and pedestrian collisions. These collisions often occur due to a driver’s failure to negotiate the presence of other non-vehicle users around them. These types of accidents may cause severe injuries for those who do not have the protection of a car.
- Head-on car accident. These types of collisions usually occur when a vehicle fails to turn correctly or veers into the opposite lane, causing a head-on impact.
How Many Casualties Are Suffered In Road Traffic Accidents?
It is reported that a total of 128,920 road accidents that ended in various casualties took place in 2024. Of these casualties:
- 1,607 resulted in death
- 27,933 were seriously injured
- 99,380 were slightly injured
If you have been injured and would like to learn more about the road traffic accident compensation claims process, you can contact our advisors.
What Evidence Do I Need To Claim For A Road Accident?
Examples of evidence you may need to claim for a road accident include:
- Any possible CCTV or dashcam footage which shows the accident occurring. You have the legal right to request CCTV footage of yourself, and this can be a written or verbal request.
- Any photographs or videos you may have of the offending driver’s vehicle registration, location of vehicle damage or identity.
- Contact details of any witnesses to the accident who may be able to provide a statement at a later date.
- Medical records which detail your injury and subsequent treatment.
- Any possible police or crime report, if one was obtained at the scene.
Please feel free to contact one of our advisors to start your car accident injury claim. They may also connect you with one of the solicitors on our panel who could assist you with gathering evidence for your case.
What Kinds Of Road Traffic Accident Compensation Claims Does UKLaw Take On?
Kinds of road traffic accident compensation claims UKLaw takes on include:
- Car accident claims such as rear-end collision claims, side-impact collisions, head-on collisions, single-car collisions, multi-vehicle collisions, and much more
- HGV accident claims
- Motorcycle accident claims
- Pedestrian accident claims
- Cycle accident claims
- Cyclist hit by a car claims
If you want to find out more about what kinds of claims UKLaw could help with, please contact one of our advisors today.
Can I Claim As A Car Accident Passenger?
Yes, you are able to make a road traffic accident claim even if you were a passenger in a vehicle at the time.
You’re able to claim for your injuries sustained as a result of a breach of duty of care by the offending motorist. Therefore, you are able to make a claim against another vehicle, or even the driver of the vehicle you were in.
To discuss claiming as a passenger, please contact one of our friendly advisors today, and they will assist you.
How Much Compensation Could I Get?
How much compensation you could get for your claim will depend on the specific factors of your case. For example, per the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG), between £85,100 to £117,410 could potentially be awarded for a Severe (i) Knee Injury.
Other factors taken into consideration may include:
- If you suffered multiple injuries.
- The effect these injuries have had on your daily life.
- Whether you also suffered financial losses.
In successful road traffic accident compensation claims, you could receive two types of damages known as general and special damages.
General damages is the compensation that you could receive for any physical and psychological injury as a result of the accident. The JCG may be referred to when this head of claim is being calculated, as it contains compensation guidelines for different injuries.
We have used some of these figures in the table below, aside from the first and last two entries.
| Injury | Compensation |
|---|---|
| Multiple severe injuries and special damages (eg, loss of earnings) | Up to £1,000,000+ |
| Very severe brain damage | £344,150 to £493,000 |
| Moderate brain damage (i) | £183,190 to £267,340 |
| Less severe brain damage | £18,700 to £52,550 |
| Severe back injuries (i) | £111,150 to £196,450 |
| Moderate back injuries (i) | £33,880 to £47,320 |
| Minor back injuries (i) | £9,630 to £15,260 |
| Severe arm injuries | £117,36 to £159,770 |
| Moderate arm injuries resulting in permanent and substantial disablement | £47,810 to £73,050 |
| Less severe arm injuries | £23,430 to £47,810 |
| Severe hip/pelvis injuries (i) | £95,680 to £159,770 |
| Moderate hip/pelvis injuries (i) | £32,450 to £47,810 |
| Lesser hip/pelvis injuries (i) | £4,820 to £15,370 |
| Severe neck injuries (ii) | £80,240 to £159,770 |
| Moderate neck injuries (i) | £30,500 to £46,970 |
| Minor neck injuries (i) | £5,310 to £9,630 |
| Severe foot injuries | £51,220 to £85,460 |
| Moderate foot injuries | £16,770 to £30,500 |
| Modest foot injuries | Up to £16,770 |
| Severe leg injuries (iii) Serious | £47,840 to £66,920 |
| Severe leg injuries (iv) Moderate | £33,880 to £47,840 |
| Less serious leg injuries (ii) | £11,120 to £17,180 |
| Severe shoulder injuries | £23,430 to £58,610 |
| Moderate shoulder injuries | £9,630 to £15,580 |
| Minor shoulder injuries (i) | £5,310 to £9,630 |
| Whiplash injuries (more than 18 months, but not more than 24 months) | £4,215 |
| Whiplash injuries with psychological injury (more than 18 months, but not more than 24 months) | £4,345 |
Special Damages In Road Traffic Accident Claims
Special damages in road traffic accident compensation claims are awarded for any financial losses you have incurred due to your injuries.
Some examples of special damages you could claim for may include:
- Loss of earnings
- Childcare costs
- Medical costs
- Home modification costs
- Travel costs
It is important that you provide evidence of your financial losses to claim for special damages. Evidence may include:
- Receipts or invoices of what you are claiming for
- Wage slips or bank statements to claim for lost earnings
If you have any questions about claiming for special damages after an accident, please contact one of our advisers today.
What Are The Whiplash Reforms?
The Whiplash Reform Programme affected how certain road traffic accident compensation claims are made. If the following criteria applies, you must make your claim through a separate route if:
- You were injured as a driver or passenger of a vehicle
- The accident took place in England or Wales
- You are 18 years old or above
- Your injuries, such as whiplash, are valued below £5,000
Additionally, the Whiplash Injury Regulations 2021 introduced a fixed tariff to value whiplash injuries.
If you suffered any additional injuries that cause the overall value of your claim to exceed £5,000, your claim will be made via the traditional route, but the whiplash tariffs will still apply for your whiplash injuries. Furthermore, any additional injuries suffered, even when claiming via the new avenue, will be valued traditionally.
If you have any questions about claiming for whiplash injuries sustained in an accident, please contact our team today.
Can I Make A No Win No Fee Road Traffic Accident Claim?
Yes, you may be able to make a No Win No Fee road traffic accident claim following an eligibility assessment by one of our advisors. If they deem you to have a strong case, they could connect you with a No Win No Fee solicitor on our panel. By offering you a Conditional Fee Agreement, you will enjoy the following benefits:
- You will not pay for any service fees at the start of your claim or as it progresses
- If your claim is unsuccessful, you will not be required to pay for the work your solicitor provided
- If your claim is successful, you will pay a small success fee, which is deducted from your compensation. Additionally, the law caps the percentage of this fee, so you will be awarded the bulk of the compensation.
Contact Us
Contact us today if you have any questions regarding road traffic accident compensation claims, or if you would like to discuss your particular case. Our friendly advisors will answer any questions you may have:
- Call on 020 3870 4868
- Use our free live chat
- Contact us online
Learn More
To learn more about making a personal injury claim, please see our other guides:
- See the following advice on how to claim for fractured and broken jaw injury compensation
- Learn about how compensation is calculated for MIB claims
- Get help with making a neck injury claim
Additional external resources:
- Information on how to treat whiplash injuries from the NHS
- Guidance on how to find urgent and emergency services from the NHS
- Further advice for road users from Think!
Thank you for reading our guide about road traffic accident compensation claims.
