Accident At A Zebra Crossing – How Much Can I Claim?

By Cat Grayson. Last Updated 5th July 2023. If you have been injured following an accident at a zebra crossing then you may be able to make a compensation claim. Vehicle drivers owe a duty of care to pedestrians and if they fail in that duty of care and you are injured as a result, they can be held liable for any harm that you suffer. Contact Advice.co.uk today get advice on how to begin proceedings to make a successful personal injury claim and receive the settlement you deserve. Our number is 0161 696 9685

Read on to find out more about accidents at pedestrian crossings and what you should do if you are involved in a pedestrian crossing accident.

Select A Section

A Guide To Zebra Crossing Injury Claims

Zebra crossing injury claims guide

Zebra crossing injury claims guide

In general, roads in the UK are safe and as a pedestrian you are protected by a number of rules and regulations designed to enhance your safety. However, accidents happen and if you are involved in an accident at a zebra crossing then you can sustain serious injuries that can have a severe impact on the quality of your life. Following an accident of this sort you may wish to claim compensation to recover any financial losses and to compensate you for the physical and psychological damage you have suffered. Advice.co.uk can help advise you on how to do this. We are a team of experienced advisors who can offer further information about how to begin your claim if you have been hit by a car. Call us today to find out more.

Rules Of A Zebra Crossing

A zebra crossing is an area of a road marked with black and white stripes where vehicles must stop so that pedestrians can cross. As outlined in the Highway Code (HC), there are rules of a zebra crossing that motorists should obey.

Rule H2 in the HC states that all motorists should give way to pedestrians waiting to cross a zebra crossing. Furthermore, they must stop if a pedestrian is already on the zebra crossing. Whilst using a zebra crossing as a pedestrian, you must give traffic plenty of time to see you and stop before you start crossing. Additionally, if there is any traffic, you must wait until the traffic in both directions has stopped before you stop crossing.

If you were to become injured due to a driver failing to stop at a zebra crossing whilst you were crossing it, you might be eligible to make a personal injury claim. However, you will need to prove that the driver breached their duty of care and that this is what caused you to become injured. For example, if a driver was speeding and failed to come to a stop whilst you were using a zebra crossing, and they hit you, causing you to suffer a broken leg, you might be eligible to make a claim.

Contact our advisors today to see whether you could make a personal injury claim if you were injured whilst using a zebra crossing.

Compensation For An Accident At A Zebra Crossing

If you make a successful claim for injuries caused by a driver failing to stop at a zebra crossing, your compensation could contain up to two heads. The first, general damages, is awarded to every successful claimant. This head of your award offers compensation for your injuries and the way they affect your daily life.

When solicitors and other legal professionals value this head of claim, they may reference the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). This document provides guideline settlement brackets for different injuries, some examples of which you can find in the table below.

InjuryDetailsCompensation payout
Very severe brain damageLittle response to external environment and nursing care required£282,010 to £403,990
Moderate brain damage (i)Personality change, impact on the senses, concentration and memory affected and an inability to work.£150,110 to £219,070
Less severe brain damageOn the whole can return to work and to normal life. There may not have been a restoration of all normal functions so there may still be persisting problems such as poor concentration and memory or disinhibition of mood.£15,320 to £43,060
Minor brain or head injuryMinimal damage and full recovery expected£2,210 to £12,770
Severe back injury (i)Causing damage to the nerve roots and spinal cord, can result in complete paralysis£91,090 to £160,980
Moderate back injury (i)Can include crush fractures, risk of osteoarthritis and ongoing pain£27,760 to £38,780
Minor back injury (i)Less serious sprains, disc prolapses and soft tissue injuries£7,890 to £12,510

You might also be entitled to special damages if your zebra crossing accident claim succeeds. This second head of claim aims to address the way your injuries affect your finances. For example, if you need to take time away from work in order to recover from your injuries, this could result in a loss of earnings. Under special damages, you could potentially claim these losses back. This heading could also help you to recover the cost of:

  • Essential travel
  • Childcare
  • Prescriptions
  • Domestic help

However, in order to recover these costs, you must be able to provide proof. Because of this, keeping any receipts, bank statements, or invoices related to your injuries can be helpful.

To learn more about claiming compensation for an accident at a zebra crossing, get in touch with our team of advisors today.

Damages You Can Be Compensated For

When you make a personal injury claim, the damages that you claim for are broken down into different sections. There are damages that compensate you for non-financial losses such as pain and suffering as well as financial losses which compensates you for any out-of-pocket expenses you have been required to pay as a result of your accident. The categories are as follows

General damages

General damages compensation for the non-financial losses. This covers both physical and psychological damage caused by the accident that was not your fault. Larger payouts are normally given where the injuries are more serious and the long-term impact more severe.

Special damages

Special damages compensate you for specific financial losses that have left you out of pocket following an injury.

Medical expenses

You can claim back any medical expenses that you have paid which are directly related to injuries caused by your accident at a zebra crossing. This can include private medical fees, rehabilitation therapy and prescription costs.

Travel expenses

As long as you have kept your receipts, you can claim back any travel expenses you have incurred as a result of your accident. This can include trips to and from hospital appointments or therapy appointments for example.

Care costs

If you have been unable to look after yourself at home following the severe injuries you sustained after being knocked down on a pedestrian crossing then you can claim back the expense you have incurred in paying a carer to assist you.

Loss of earnings

If you have been unable to work and have lost out on your wages due to an accident that was not your fault then this is unfair. Therefore, you are able to claim compensation for loss of earnings to compensate you for any money that you would otherwise have been able to earn. If you have sustained a particularly serious injury which will have a long-term impact on your health then you may be unable to return to work, or return to your previous duties. If this is the case then you may be able to claim for loss of future earnings as well.

Staying Safe At A Zebra Crossing

In order to avoid a pedestrian crossing accident, pedestrians are advised always to check that cars or other vehicles are able to stop before beginning to cross a crossing, or before pushing a pram out onto a crossing. A pedestrian has a responsibility to walk across the stripes of a zebra crossing and not at the side or on the zigzag lines. Pedestrians should walk straight across and should not loiter. It is in fact against the law for a pedestrian to loiter on a crossing.

Although vehicles have a duty to stop when a pedestrian is using a crossing, a pedestrian should use common sense in deciding whether or not a vehicle has noticed them and will be able to stop in time. The traffic needs to have stopped in both directions in order for it to be safe to cross. Legally, the traffic is not required to stop until you have stepped out onto the crossing but you can at the very least ensure that cars have identified you and are slowing down. Remain aware whilst crossing the road that approaching cars have seen you.

If you have been injured by somebody failing to stop at a zebra crossing then contact Advice.co.uk today to talk about a settlement.

General Pedestrian Safety Tips

In order to remain safe whilst walking near a road or a crossing a road, here are some tips to bear in mind:

  • Use a pavement or footpath wherever possible. If it is necessary to walk on the road then choose the right hand side so that you are facing oncoming traffic.
  • Put away electronic devices before crossing the road in order to fully use your senses whilst doing so.
  • Wherever possible use a pedestrian crossing when you need to cross the road.
  • If it is dark try carrying a small torch or wearing fluorescent or bright clothing so that you can be seen more easily by drivers.
  • Ensure that children are accompanied by an adult.
  • Exercise extra caution when walking up or across driveways as cars may be reversing out or pulling in.

How Common Are Accidents At Zebra Crossings?

Although roads in the UK are very safe on the whole, accidents do occur due to unsafe driving or lapses in concentration. Statistics show that over 25,000 people were seriously injured or killed on roads in 2016. Overall there were 181,384 casualties. This is a significant number of people being injured on the roads every year.

The implications for pedestrians are serious. If you have been involved in an accident at a zebra crossing then you may have a claim. Contact Advice.co.uk today to find out if you may be able to seek a settlement.

Common Injuries From Pedestrian Crossing Accidents

If a pedestrian is hit on a zebra crossing they can sustain some serious injuries. Here are some of the most common injuries that are suffered as a result of accidents at a zebra crossing:

  • Injuries to the head including serious brain damage
  • Injuries to the back, neck and shoulders
  • Injuries to the legs including breaks and fractures
  • Injuries to the arm including fractures sprains and breaks
  • Wrist and hand injuries

Remember, if you are a pedestrian who was hit by a car then you may be able to receive a settlement as a result of your injuries. The more serious your injuries, the larger your settlement is likely to be.

Who Is Liable For An Accident At A Zebra Crossing?

It is always tricky to prove liability but this is where a personal injury solicitor is invaluable. Their expertise and experience will allow them to find out who should be held liable following an accident at a zebra crossing. It is worth bearing in mind that you are not automatically to blame if you collide with a pedestrian whilst driving your car. A driver will usually be held liable where the pedestrian had right of way but there are some situations in which a solicitor could prove the pedestrian to be liable. Some situations in which a pedestrian could found to be to blame include:

  • Where the pedestrian failed to make an accurate judgement about how quickly a vehicle was travelling.
  • Where a pedestrian failed to use a pedestrian crossing correctly.
  • Where a pedestrians judgement was impaired due to drugs or alcohol.
  • Where a pedestrian failed to check the road properly before crossing.
  • Where a pedestrian behaved in a reckless manner because they were in a hurry.
  • Where the pedestrian was clothed in dark items that an oncoming vehicle was unable to see.

What Happens If I Carelessly Used The Crossing?

Pedestrians must follow the rules of the highway code and cross the road carefully using reasonable judgement. If you have failed to use the crossing properly or have carelessly run out in front of a vehicle, a court may find that a driver is not entirely to blame. It could be agreed that both parties share the blame as they both behaved negligently. In this scenario, you may still receive a compensation payout but the amount could be reduced to account for your own negligence and the part that you played in the accident. Drivers should always approach pedestrian crossings with care and apply extra caution when driving around schools and urban areas.

I Was Injured In An Accident At A Zebra Crossing, What Should I Do?

If you are a pedestrian who was hit on a zebra crossing then there are a number of things that you should do, both to protect yourself and to enhance your chances of a successful settlement in the future.

  • You should seek urgent medical attention. This will enable you to get the treatment you need to ensure the best chance of a recovery. This will also allow your injuries to be documented in your medical record. This medical record may be used for evidence in a later personal injury claim.
  • Take photographs of the scene of the accident using your smartphone. It can be helpful to build a picture of liability at a later date if you take photographs.
  • Road traffic accidents should always be reported to the police, so call the police to ensure that an official report is created.
  • Write down the details of the accident while they are fresh in your mind. You may be surprised how important the smallest of details become later in your case.
  • If you incur any out-of-pocket expenses then be sure to keep receipts as you may be able to claim his back as part of your compensation claim.

How Much Time Do I Have To Claim Compensation?

If you are concerned that you may have missed the claims time limit go and speak to Advice.co.uk for more information as it is possible that in exceptional circumstances, the courts may be willing to extend the time limit.

Personal injury claim time limit
Road traffic accident3 years from the accident
Slips, trips and falls3 years from the injury
A child's injuryA claimant has 3 years from the date of their 18th birthday to launch a claim if their parents have not already done so.

Steps You Can Take To Start A Personal Injury Claim

After you have collected your evidence, taken pictures and been seen by a healthcare professional, contact a personal injury lawyer at your earliest convenience. The sooner you launch your case, the easier it will be for your representative to collect evidence and build the strongest case they can.

No Win No Fee Claims For An Accident At A Zebra Crossing

Zebra crossing injury claim

Zebra crossing injury claim

Advice.co.uk can connect you with solicitors that take on personal injury claims on a no win, no fee basis. We find that this is of great benefit to our clients who can launch a compensation claim without any of the worry about how to finance it. No win no fee, or a conditional fee agreement means that no money is payable upfront. On completion of a successful compensation claim, the legal fee will be taken from the final payout. If your claim is unsuccessful however you won’t owe them a penny. This means that you can concentrate on getting the best deal for your injury without any financial stress or burden.

How Our Advisors Can Help Pedestrian Accident Victims

Choosing Advice.co.uk is highly recommended if you are seeking a company who will put your needs first and do everything in their power to get you connected with the legal representation to help get the maximum possible compensation for your injuries after your pedestrian crossing accident. Our team of experts at Advice.co.uk are always on hand to offer advice and information and will ensure that you are matched with a personal injury solicitor who has plenty of knowledge and experience in the field of zebra crossing accident claims. Our team understands that you are experiencing a difficult time following your injuries and will do everything they can to make your claim as stress-free as possible, whilst always keeping you updated about any developments. Call us today to find out more about how we can help you.

Contact our team by email, phone, or post. Our team will assess your claim.Once you are ready, we can then start your claim.

Contact Us

Wherever you are in the UK Advice.co.uk can help you with your personal injury claim on a no win, no fee basis. Please contact us today on 0161 696 9685
to find out more.

Road Safety Advice And Accident Guides

Rules for crossings – This link is for the Highway code

Road Safety Information – Risks to pedestrians on the roads.

Read more of our road traffic accident guides below: