Can I Claim For A Road Rage Attack In The UK?

Driving in traffic can sometimes be frustrating, but it should never lead to aggression on the road. Such aggressive behaviour, including physical or verbal abuse, is known as road rage and can leave those affected experiencing serious injuries and psychological trauma. If you have endured this yourself, you may be able to claim for a road rage attack if you can show that you have been injured in a violent crime.

Key Takeaways

• Road rage attacks can involve physical assaults, intentional collisions, damage to vehicles or other property, and threats of violence.
• A road rage attack can lead to physical injuries like fractures, head trauma, and scarring, as well as psychological harm.
• According to the Department for Transport, being dangerous, reckless, or aggressive was the second most commonly recorded road safety factor for reported casualties on British roads in 2024.
• You need to report road rage attacks to the police, which can also be helpful if you decide to claim compensation.
• Our criminal injury solicitors have helped clients seek compensation for the injuries they’ve suffered due to road rage incidents. 

Here at Advice, our solicitors understand how harrowing a road rage attack can be, and how the impact of such incidents can be long-lasting. So, if you decide to claim with one of them, you can expect that they will provide compassionate, dependable support as you navigate the criminal injury compensation claims process. You can get in touch with our advisors now by:

• Calling on 0161 509 2856.
• Contact us online.
• Seek advice through our live chat.

Jump To A Section

1. Can I Claim For A Road Rage Attack?
2. Should Road Rage Attacks Be Reported To The Police?
3. Examples Of Attacks Caused By Road Rage
4. What Can I Do If I Was A Victim Of A Road Rage Attack?
5. Road Rage Attack Compensation Amounts
6. How Can Advice Help Me Claim For A Road Rage Attack?
7. Learn More

Can I Claim For A Road Rage Attack?

Yes, you can claim for a road rage attack if you’ve been injured due to an incident of criminal violence on the road. You can make a claim through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA), a government body established to compensate victims of violent crime in Great Britain, if:

• There is no vicariously liable third party to claim against.
• The perpetrator doesn’t have the means to compensate you, or they are untraceable/unidentified.

To make a CICA road rage claim, you will need to meet the following eligibility criteria:

• You were a victim of a violent crime, as defined by the CICA.
• This violent crime occurred in Great Britain (or another applicable location).
• You’ve reported the incident to the police.
• The road rage claim is being made within 2 years of the incident.

Contact our advisors now for more information on when you can claim through the CICA.

Should Road Rage Attacks Be Reported To The Police?

Yes, road rage attacks should be reported to the police, as those responsible are often committing a criminal offence under several UK laws. Also, as discussed in the section above, a police report is also necessary if you wish to pursue compensation through the CICA. We will now discuss some laws which may be relevant to road rage incidents:

• The Road Traffic Act 1988 makes it an offence to drive carelessly or without paying attention under Section 3. Additionally, reckless driving and dangerous driving have also been deemed offences under this law.
• It is an offence to threaten another person with violence under the Public Order Act 1986.
• Under the Criminal Damage Act 1971, it is an offence to destroy or damage somebody else’s property, such as a car.
• If a road rage attack involves any grievous bodily harm (GBH), actual bodily harm (ABH), or any other kind of assault, it could fall under the Offences against the Person Act 1861.

For further guidance, please reach out to our team of friendly advisors for the answers you’re seeking.

Examples Of Attacks Caused By Road Rage

Aggressive driving, physical assaults, targeted collisions, and violent threats are some examples of attacks caused by road rage. This might involve: 

• Tailgating a car to intimidate a driver.
• Blocking a car from the front can be an act of aggression.
• Yelling, gesturing, and flashing lights in an aggressive manner.
• Honking aggressively and making threats of violence.

What Can I Do If I Was A Victim Of A Road Rage Attack?

If you were a victim of a road rage attack, you must seek medical attention and report the incident to the police when it is safe to do so. Taking these steps will create an official record of the incident and can be valuable evidence when making a claim.

We will now list certain steps you could take after a violent road rage crime:

• Seeking safety: Try to avoid engaging in the conflict and de-escalate whenever possible. You can seek help from passersby or a police constable nearby to ease the situation.
• Medical attention: This step can be necessary even if you feel fine, since certain injuries may take time to show up. Moreover, the treatment you receive can be used as evidence for your claim.
• Reporting the incident to the police: As discussed above, it is essential to report the road rage incident to the police so that some action can be taken.
• Collecting evidence: In addition to your medical reports, you must start collecting other kinds of evidence to claim for a road rage attack. This can include dashcam or CCTV footage, photographs, and contact details of potential witnesses to take down statements later.
• Seeking advice: If you’re interested in making a road rage compensation claim, it is recommended to consult a criminal injury solicitor at the earliest. You can get in touch with our advisory team to determine the eligibility of your claim and to be connected to one of our solicitors.

Reach out for free and sensitive guidance on applying for criminal injury compensation.

Road Rage Attack Compensation Amounts

Various factors can influence road rage attack compensation amounts, such as the severity and number of injuries suffered, as well as any resulting financial consequences. When claiming through the CICA, payouts are determined by tariffs set out in the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2012. Additionally, the CICA follows a multiple injuries formula that can compensate claimants for up to 3 forms of harm. This formula means you would receive:

• 100% of the highest valued injury.
• 30% of the second-highest valued injury.
• 15% of the least-valued injury.

Our list below features several CICA figures. Please keep in mind that the top bullet point is the maximum that the CICA can award to a successful claimant.

Road Rage Compensation List

• Multiple Injuries and Special Expenses – Very Serious – There can be more than one serious injury, along with the cost of physical aids, administrative and supervision costs – Up to £500,000
• Brain Damage – Very Serious Brain Injury – There is a severe impact on the senses and hardly any response to the environment – £175,000
• Brain Damage – Moderately Severe Brain Injury – The disability in faculties is such that it requires a significant dependence on a professional, and there is abnormal behaviour – £110,000
• Loss of Leg – Loss of entire leg or loss of function in the leg – 1 entire leg is either lost or has no function – £82,000
• Arm loss – Loss of a dominant arm – The dominant arm is lost – £55,000
• Hand injury – 1 non-dominant hand – Loss/equivalent loss of the hand – £33,000
• Damage to cartilage, ligament or tendon – Severe damage to both legs – There is continuing disability of a significant nature – £16,500
• Ankle Injury – Both ankles fractured – There is significant and continuing disability – £16,500
• Neck Strain or Whiplash injury – Seriously disabling – It is a permanent injury – £11,000
• Hip Injury – Fracture or dislocation of 1 hip – There is significant and continuing disability – £11,000
• Wrist Injury – Both wrists fractured – Significant, ongoing disability – £11,000

Can Compensation Cover Special Expenses?

Yes, compensation can cover special expenses if your road rage injury has had a financial impact on you, such as home adaptations, professional care, and supervision costs. These special expenses can encompass:

• Cost of hiring a professional caretaker to assist with the preparation of food or with bodily functions.
• Home adaptations, such as a ramp, elevator, or special kitchen equipment.
• Administrative costs arising from an impact on mental capacity.
• Supervision costs to prevent serious danger to oneself or others.

These and other costs claimed under special expenses must be reasonable, not otherwise freely available, and necessary. Additionally, you can seek compensation for a loss of earnings, subject to certain eligibility criteria.

Our advisors are available now to provide you with more information on seeking special expenses in a criminal injury compensation claim.

How Can Advice Help Me Claim For A Road Rage Attack?

The advisory team at Advice can help you claim for a road rage attack by offering guidance tailored to your unique situation. They recognise how distressing such incidents can be, so they will make sure to prioritise your well-being throughout the free consultation service they provide. 

If you decide to make a road rage claim with one of our criminal injury solicitors, you can expect:

• Active help with collecting and organising the evidence needed for your claim.
• A thorough assessment of your injuries and losses to ensure your road rage compensation claim reflects the extent of their impact on you.
• Assistance with navigating the CICA process, together with clear explanations of any terms you may encounter. 
• Regular updates backed up by transparent communication that keeps you at the centre of the claims process. 

Our No Win No Fee solicitors offer their services through a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), meaning that:

• There will be no upfront service fee for your solicitor’s work.
• You won’t be charged any service fees as the claim moves forward.
• If you lose, you won’t have to pay your solicitor a service fee for the work done on your case.

Here at Advice, our solicitors only charge a success fee when a claim wins. This fee would be taken from your road rage compensation as a legally capped percentage, so you’ll keep the largest share. 

Contact Our Team Of Advisors

You can contact our team of advisors 24/7 if you have any questions about making a CICA claim or would like to find out if you can pursue compensation with our expert solicitors:

• Calling on 0161 509 2856.
• Contact us online.
• Seek advice through our live chat.

Learn More

You can learn more about claiming for a criminal injury by reading some of our other guides:

• Information on how long a CICA claim takes.
• Our guide on making a CICA claim with a criminal record.
• Details on stab victim compensation claims.

We have also compiled some external links for your perusal:

• Advice from the Police on driving offences.
• Government guidance on minor motoring offences.
• Details from the government on driving disqualifications.

If you’d like to find out whether you can claim for a road rage attack, please get in touch today.