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Last updated 1st December 2025. To start a serious injury claim after a car accident, you must show how another road user was at fault for the harm you suffered. This involves obtaining evidence showing how they negligently caused your injuries, such as medical records, accident scene photographs, and contact details for eyewitnesses. You can get assistance with this by connecting with a specialist car accident solicitor, who can help you pursue compensation for your pain, suffering, and financial losses.
Key Takeaways About Car Accident Claims
- According to government statistics, there were 70,089 reported road casualties on British roads involving car occupants in 2024, including 27,865 seriously injured.
- Rollovers, head-on collisions, and side impacts are most likely to cause serious injuries due to the high forces involved.
- Head trauma, paralysis, spinal damage, and limb amputations are among the most serious car accident injuries.
- Impaired driving, speeding, running red lights, and using a phone while behind the wheel are some common causes for serious car accidents.
- You can get tailored support throughout the road traffic accident claims process by connecting with one of our expert solicitors.
Serious injuries can be deeply traumatic, causing profound psychological, physical, and financial challenges. As you focus on your recovery, you shouldn’t face pursuing compensation alone. Here at Advice, our solicitors offer a comprehensive, empathetic service that builds a support system from start to finish, prioritising the needs of clients navigating the claims process.
Our advisors are on hand 24/7 to answer any questions you might have about starting a serious injury claim. To reach out, you can:
- Phone 0161 509 2856.
- Contact us on our website.
- Use the live chat feature below.
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Jump To A Section
- Can You Make A Serious Injury Claim After A Car Accident?
- How Could A Car Accident Cause A Serious Injury?
- Before You Start Your Serious Injury Claim After A Car Accident
- Car Accident Compensation Examples – What Could You Receive?
- Make A No Win No Fee Serious Injury Claim
- Frequently Asked Questions About Serious Injury Claims After A Car Accident
- Learn More About Making A Serious Injury Claim After A Car Accident
Can You Make A Serious Injury Claim After A Car Accident?
Road users have a duty of care when using the roads. This duty involves making sure they prevent damage or injury to themselves and others. The Road Traffic Act 1988 and the Highway Code contain the rules that road users must adhere to in order to uphold their duty of care.
For a serious injury claim after a car accident to be valid, it must prove:
- A third party owed a duty of care.
- They breached this duty.
- The breach led to your injury.
These three criteria form the basis of negligence in claims for a personal injury. This needs to be proven in order for you to have valid grounds to proceed with your case.
You must also start a claim within three years of the accident, as set out by the Limitation Act 1980. There are some exceptions that could apply to your specific circumstances, however.
To learn more about the criteria and time limits for a car accident, please contact an advisor at the number above.
How Could A Car Accident Cause A Serious Injury?
A car accident could cause a serious injury through the force of a high-intensity collision caused by drivers speeding, being under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or failing to pay attention to their surroundings. According to the government’s provisional reported road casualties for 2024, there were 128,272 casualties in Great Britain, with 29,467 being killed or seriously injured. For this period, 55% of all casualties were car occupants.
Below, we have provided examples of car accidents that could occur if a road user breaches their duty of care.
- A driver goes the wrong way down a one-way street and hits another car in a head-on collision. The other driver suffers a severe neck injury with nerve damage to the spinal cord.
- A speeding driver causes a rear-end accident by crashing into a car waiting at traffic lights. The stationary car’s driver suffers a serious back injury and partial paralysis due to the force of impact.
- A drunk driver is driving carelessly when they hit a motorcycle rider, who is thrown from the vehicle. They suffer a serious brain injury.
Case Study: £1.5 Million Payout For A Serious Injury Caused By A Car Accident
This figurative case study has been included to help you understand the steps involved in seeking compensation for a serious injury caused by a car accident.
Mr. Moss was driving down a rural road when they were hit head on by another driver who had overtaken on a sharp bend. The heavy impact of the collision meant Mr. Moss suffered a traumatic arm amputation and a serious brain injury.
The family of Mr. Moss decided to take legal action and had a solicitor assist them through the claims process. The solicitor presented evidence proving the other driver was responsible for the crash and the case was settled in Mr. Moss’ favour.
Mr. Moss received compensation accounting for the pain and suffering caused by his injuries. He received further damages for financial losses as he was not able to return to his job and needed full-time care for the remainder of his life. Because of the significant physical, psychological and monetary impact, Mr. Moss received £1.5 million in compensation.
Speak to an advisor about your specific case today and you can find out whether you have grounds to seek serious injury compensation.
Before You Start Your Serious Injury Claim After A Car Accident
Before you start a serious injury claim after a car accident, you can prepare by gathering evidence that supports your account, including copies of medical records, CCTV footage, and police reports. This proof should show how another road user acted negligently, causing you to suffer a serious injury. Below, we’ll look at what evidence can prove useful:
- Dashcam or traffic camera footage can show the circumstances of your car accident.
- Medical records, including A&E notes, diagnoses, test results, and treatment details, can highlight the extent of your injuries and their long-term impact.
- Contact details for potential eyewitnesses can be given to your solicitor, who can reach out to them to collect statements on your behalf.
- Additionally, you’ll need the contact information of the other road users involved in the car accident, together with their vehicle registration and insurance details.
- A copy of the police report, if one was made, can provide further official insight into the accident that led to your serious injury.
- Before-and-after photographs can document the injuries you sustained, the scene of the accident, and any damage to your vehicle.
We understand the idea of gathering such evidence can sound daunting, especially when all you want to do is focus on rebuilding your life and recovering from your injuries. That is why our solicitors always take an active role in collecting evidence for their clients. You can find out more about this service by chatting with one of our helpful advisors anytime during the week.
Car Accident Compensation Examples – What Could You Receive?
Following a successful serious injury claim after a car accident, you could be awarded a settlement comprising up to two heads of loss. The first is general damages compensating for the pain and suffering caused by your injuries.
Solicitors can use medical evidence and the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) to help them assign value to any injuries. The JCG contains guideline compensation brackets for different physical and psychological injuries. Whilst we have included a selection of these in the table below, you should only use them as a guide because the outcome of each individual serious injury claim will differ. The initial entry isn’t from the document.
Compensation Table
| INJURY | COMPENSATION | NOTES |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple Very Severe Injuries + Financial Losses | Up to £1 million and above | Compensation for more than one serious injury, plus compensation for financial losses. |
| Paralysis - Quadriplegia | £396,140 to £493,000 | Paralysis of both the lower and upper body. |
| Head - Very Severe | £344,150 to £493,000 | Full-time care is needed. |
| Back - Severe (i) | £111,150 to £196,450 | Spinal cord and nerve root damage that causes severe disability and pain with a combination of other issues. |
| Neck - Severe (i) | In the region of £181,020 | Incomplete paraplegia from an associated neck injury. |
| Arm - Amputation (i) | Not Less Than £167,380 | One arm is amputated at the shoulder. |
| Severe Leg (i) The Most Serious Injuries Short of Amputation | £117,460 to £165,860 | Injuries such as an extensive degloving of the leg. |
| Pelvis And Hips - Severe (i) | £95,680 to £159,770 | Injuries featuring extensive pelvic fractures. |
Claiming Special Damages In A Serious Injury Claim
The second potential head of claim that could be awarded is special damages. This compensates for the financial losses resulting from injuries. Among the losses you could claim for are:
- A loss of earnings if you cannot work due to injury.
- Travel costs.
- Medical fees, such as prescription costs.
- The cost of home or vehicle adaptation.
You must collect evidence of your financial losses. This could be receipts, bank statements, payslips or invoices.
Talk to our advisors today to learn what you can claim for and how settlements are calculated in successful personal injury claims.
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Make A No Win No Fee Serious Injury Claim
Our personal injury solicitors has years of experience in helping claimants with seeking road traffic accident compensation. They could help you if you have valid grounds to start legal action.
All of our solicitors work under an arrangement known as a Conditional Fee Agreement, which is a type of No Win No Fee contract. Under the terms of this contract, they typically would not charge you for their work:
- Upfront
- During your claim
- If the claim loses
Your solicitor will take a success fee, which is a percentage of the compensation received in a winning claim. The Conditional Fee Agreements Order 2013 applies a cap to the percentage they can collect.
Our advisors can help you understand if you have a valid claim and connect you to one of our solicitors if you do. They can also offer further guidance on serious injury claims. To reach them, you can:
- Call 0161 509 2856.
- Contact us online.
- Send a message in the live chat tab below.
Frequently Asked Questions About Serious Injury Claims After A Car Accident
Here are 4 of the most frequently asked questions about making serious injury claims after a car accident.
How Do I Start A Serious Injury Claim After A Car Accident?
To start a serious injury claim after a car accident, you should gather the contact details of all involved parties, notify your insurer, compile evidence of what happened, and connect with a solicitor.
Do I Need A Solicitor For A Serious Injury Claim?
While you aren’t required to use a solicitor for a serious injury claim, working with one can help you navigate the process of gathering evidence, filing paperwork, and negotiating a fair compensation settlement.
What Compensation Can I Claim For A Serious Injury After A Car Accident?
The compensation you can claim for a serious injury after a car accident can be divided into general damages for your pain and suffering, and special damages for the financial impact (e.g. lost earnings, care costs, and the expense of private medical treatment).
How Long Do I Have To Claim After A Car Accident?
Typically, you have 3 years from the date of the car accident itself to start a claim for compensation. However, exceptions may apply; you can learn more by speaking with our advisory team.
Learn More About Making A Serious Injury Claim After A Car Accident
You can learn more about making a serious injury after a car accident by reading our guides on:
- How to report a car accident.
- Claiming for anxiety after a car crash.
- Figuring out who is liable in a multi-car pile-up.
For more external resources:
- Think! – Road safety laws.
- GOV.UK – Statutory Sick Pay.
- National Highways – Request traffic camera footage.
Please call our advisors today if you need any other support regarding making a serious injury claim after a car accident.
