By Mark Ainsdale. Last Updated 21st May 2021. Welcome to our guide on car accident claims. When we take our driving test, we are making an agreement to abide by the rules of the road and take steps to ensure that we keep safe, and do not endanger anyone else. Of course, accidents do happen that are not anyone’s fault as such, but in the main, they are due to the negligent or dangerous actions of another person. This is why car accident claims are some of the most common Advice.co.uk see, as a claims management company that can help victims of such incidents.
Whether you’re reading this page because you’ve had an accident and become injured or because a loved one or friend has been, then calling our advice line on 0161 696 9685 could be the best decision you make today. However, you may want to have a look in more depth into car accident claims before you call us. You can do so by clicking on the sections below to easily navigate to the information you’re seeking.
Select A Section
- A Guide To Making A Car Accident Claim
- Car Accident Compensation Amount Calculator
- What Is Involved With Making A Car Accident Claim?
- Claims For Serious Injuries Caused By A Car Accident
- Who Will Pay My Car Crash Compensation?
- What Happens If The Other Driver Was Uninsured?
- What Happens If My Accident Was Caused By A Poorly Maintained Road?
- Can I Claim Compensation On Behalf Of A Passenger?
- How Long Do I Have To Make A Car Accident Claim?
- How Do I Claim Compensation For My Accident?
- No Win No Fee Car Accident Claims
- Why Choose Advice.co.uk?
- Contact Us
- Where Can I Find Our More?
A Guide To Making A Car Accident Claim
Car Accident Guide
Car accidents in the UK happen often, as do car accident claims. The numbers, quite frankly, are alarming. According to national statistics, provided by the UK government, there were 1793 deaths on British roads in 2017, and 24,831 people seriously injured in the same year. Add to that the 144,369 ‘slightly injured’ casualties (which includes cases of whiplash and shock, as well as cuts and bruises) and it is no wonder there are a lot of people looking into making car accident claims, which is why we have produced this guide.
It is imperative that readers understand that it is not only people within a vehicle that can look into making car accident claims. Whilst those injured in a car obviously make up a large proportion of claimants we hear from, there are also motorcyclists, pedestrians and cyclists that are injured on UK roads too. There are also a huge number of different types of accidents, from accidents on public roads and private roads, at junctions, on motorways and more. And, you can imagine, a multitude of different injuries that can be sustained as a result. This is why making a personal injury claim is complex, and why you need a personal injury solicitor to help you through the maze of legal complexities. Here, we explain how no win no fee car accident claims work, how do you settle a car accident claim, how do insurance companies calculate pain and suffering and more.
Click Here To Learn More About Claiming Personal Injury Compensation
Car Accident Compensation Amount Calculator
When it comes to making car accident claims, one of the first things people look for is a personal injury claims calculator to help them work out how much they would be eligible for. However, this can give false expectations, and as a claims management company that cares about our clients, we feel it is important to clarify that there are a lot of things to consider when asking questions like how much money do you get for a whiplash claim, or how much should I ask for pain and suffering from a car accident? Some cases are obviously more serious than others, but things that also need to be taken into account are the effects on a person’s life.
For example, a small scar might not have much of an effect on a person who does an office job, but if they work in an industry where this would cost them work, such as modelling, then it might have a real impact. What we can provide you with is an illustration of what is conserved an average bracket for certain types of injury. To gain more perspective on these figures, please do not hesitate to call our car accident claim experts for guidance.
| Injury Area | Severity | Bracket |
|---|---|---|
| Foot | Very Severe | £78,800 to £102,890 |
| Foot | Severe | £39,390 to £65,710 |
| Foot | Serious | £23,460 to £36,790 |
| Foot | Moderate | £12,900 to £23,460 |
| Foot | Minor | Up to £12,900 |
| Hand | Serious | £52,310 to £79,360 |
| Hand | Less Serious | £13,570 to £27,220 |
| Hand | Moderate | £5,260 to £12,460 |
| Hand | Minor | Up to £4,461 |
| Back | Severe | £85,470 to £151,070 |
| Back | Moderate | £26,050 to £36,390 |
| Back | Minor | £7,410 to £11,730 |
| Neck | Severe | In the region of £139,210 |
| Neck | Moderate | £23,460 to £36,120 |
| Neck | Minor | £4,080 to £7,410 |
What Damages And Compensation Can I Claim For After An Accident?
When car accident claims are calculated, they don’t just take into account the actual injury, but also consider what is known as monetary losses that come directly from the injuries from the accident you’ve had. This is why car accident claims are often split into two separately considered sections. They are general damages and special damages and we explain the two below:
General Damages
These concern the injury you’ve suffered and the pain/suffering you’ve had to endure because of it. You will usually be assessed by a medical professional who will report on the nature of your injuries, how severe they are, the impact that this is likely to have on you and the level of pain it is thought you would have experienced.
Special Damages
As we mentioned, this covers costs you will have to prove you’ve incurred. These costs have to have arisen due to the injuries caused by your accident. The different costs you might have had to pay are listed below.
Medical Expenses
Costs such as prescriptions, medical aids such as a wheelchair, physiotherapy etc. could be part of any car accident claims.
Travel Costs
Getting yourself to appointments to do with your accident can cost. Whether it’s petrol, bus fare, taxi rides or train fare, if you can provide evidence then this should be included.
Care Costs
Whether you have had to have someone come in to help you out with daily tasks that you can’t do while you recover, or you’ve had to have someone mind your children while you recover, then there can be an element of care claim. If it is someone caring for you, then they will likely need to apply for these costs.
Loss of Income
Time off sick is not always paid, and if it is, not always at the rate you’re used to. If your wages are down as a direct result, then this should form part of any car accident claims. A future potential loss of earnings of this type can also be calculated as part of your claim.
What Is Involved With Making A Car Accident Claim?
As long as you are within the personal injury claims time limit, your personal injury lawyer should be able to help you make a car accident claim. The car accident claims process UK can be summed up as follows:
- Call a claims management service such as Advice.co.uk – we will be able to help ascertain whether or not your claim is likely to results in car accident claim payouts or not.
- We will put you in touch with a personal injury solicitor experienced in car accident claims who can advise you on how you can proceed, the service they will offer you, and the no win no fee service and how it works. If you are then happy to move forward with making your claim, then they will start to move on your behalf.
- The solicitor will take care of arrangement of medical assessment for you, and will make contact with the person/s at fault for the accident to advise them on the action you’re taking.
- The solicitor will then remain your primary contact for your claim, keeping you up to date with your road traffic accident claims developments and advising you on what offer/s you receive as far as compensation is concerned.
Claims For Serious Injuries Caused By A Car Accident
Sadly, not everyone recovers from an accident completely. As we mentioned before, there are a few different categories that injuries fall into. Serious injuries can be life changing, and heartbreaking because of this. The way in which an injury is classed as serious is as follows:
- If you have had to have treatment that has been lengthy, or even still on-going into the future
- If you have continually, or still are continually having to have appointments at the hospital or doctors
- If significant amount of working time has been lost as you have been to ill/injured to attend work.
Compensation in serious injury cases will take all of this into account. Issues such as loss of future earnings due to you not being able to return to the same job, or progress as was expected in your job, any adaptations that you need in your home to help you cope with your injuries, any loss on the enjoyment of things you did before the accident that you cannot do now, care costs as mentioned before will all be considered and your personal injury solicitor will do their upmost to fight for the highest level of compensation for each issue you face directly as a result of the accident. Speak to us about your potential car accident claims today.
Who Will Pay My Car Crash Compensation?
Once it has been established who was at fault for the accident, it is likely that the claim will be settled from the responsible party’s motor insurance. However, there can be exceptions to this. One exception is where the condition of the road and its disrepair caused your accident. In this case, you might have a claim against the Highways Agency or Local Authority, if they were aware of the issue and did not ensure it was as safe as they are required to do so. Another exception would be a motor vehicle manufacturing fault, if it were known about but not fixed before you were allowed to drive the car. If you are in any of the situations above, please do not hesitate to call us for specific advice.
What Happens If The Other Driver Was Uninsured?
Sadly, although many vehicles owners live by the letter of the law when it comes to vehicle tax and insurance, some do not. If you were to have been injured by a driver who did not have valid insurance, then you might be assuming there is no point in attempting to make car accident claims. However, this is not the case. An uninsured driver claim is covered by the Motor Insurance Bureau, a setup that was created from insurers and government, not just to help lower the numbers of uninsured drivers on the road, but to compensate those who are unfortunate enough to be affected by these criminals. The compensation pot that pays for these types of claims comes from the premiums paid by those that DO insure their vehicles.
What Happens If My Accident Was Caused By A Poorly Maintained Road?
We touched upon this a little earlier in the guide. It is not only motorists that cause road traffic accidents, and some car accident claims. Sometimes claims can be put forward on those responsible for the condition of the road that caused the accident. If an important sign was obscured, there was an unclear road layout, or a pothole was not taken care of, or the road had poor drainage and became dangerously slippy as a result, there could be a way for you to claim compensation for injuries you received as a result. Every road in the UK has someone responsible for it, whether a private landowner, Local Authority, or the Highways Agency, and if the road was not safe, then you should certainly speak to a claims management company such as ourselves, as we’ll be able to tell you if you’d be able to claim and who you’d be able to claim against.
Can I Claim Compensation On Behalf Of A Passenger?
Car Passenger Accident Claims
Sadly, not everyone is able to make a claim for themselves. Although it is usually the case that an adult is the injured party, if a child has been injured in the same accident, then the responsible parent/guardian may claim on their behalf. The way in which this works is by the parent acting as what is called a ‘litigation friend’. If you’re not sure whether you want to do this, then it may be of interest to know that the child can make the decision for themselves as to whether they make a claim and they have 3 years from the date they turn 18 to do so. However, it is important to remember that the earlier after an accident it is, the easier it is for evidence to be gathered and this may have an impact on the claim.
How Long Do I Have To Make A Car Accident Claim?
There has to be a limit on how long people have to make car accident claims, just as there is with any other accident claim. Here, we show what the UK time limits are. We hope this helps make things clear.
| Type of Situation | Personal Injury Claims Time Limit |
|---|---|
| Child Injured in Car Accident | 3 Years from Date of Accident if Adult Claims on their behalf. Otherwise, 3 years from date of car accident |
| Adult Injured in Car Accident | 3 years from accident date |
| Industrial Illness/Disease | 3 years from diagnosis/date of knowledge |
| Medical Negligence | 3 years from incident/date of knowledge of incident |
| Accidents on Flights that come under the Montreal Convention | 2 Years |
| Accidents on Package Holiday Flights | 3 Years |
| Criminal Injury Claims | Usually 3 years from incident but some exceptions. |
How Do I Claim Compensation For My Accident?
It is important that you get the right advice at the right time, so it would be best for you to contact someone with experience in the industry, who could ascertain the facts of what’s happened to you quickly and easily, and then can provide advice specific to your situation. If you call our claims management service, you’ll get all the help and advice you need, and we can quickly and easily put you in touch with a solicitor that can take your case forward. What is likely to happen when you call us is we’ll ask you some questions on what’s happened, listen to you carefully and then put you onto a solicitor that will be able to talk you through how they can help and the service they’ll then provide to you.
They will advise you on all aspects of the no win no fee service they offer, as well as advising whether or not you should need to take out any kind of insurance to cover any unexpected costs. Then, once you’ve signed a no win no fee agreement, they’ll take your case on, as your solicitor, and will take the necessary steps to gather evidence (which may mean you’ll have to attend a medical appointment) and contact the relevant parties to advise them of the action you want them to take on their behalf. Once the claims process is in motion, then you’ll be kept updated on your claim, and in most cases will not have to go to court, as most claims of this type are settled before a claim makes it to court.
No Win No Fee Car Accident Claims
Solicitors train for a long time before they are allowed to practice, and do so in order to ensure they fully understand the law. Whilst they can be expensive to use, the service they offer reflects the knowledge and expertise they have. However, in the field of personal injury claims, you need not necessarily be concerned with high hourly fees, as you can make claims on a conditional fee agreement, or no win no fee, which means that the legal fees will only be payable by you as percentage of your settlement amount. Speak to us to learn more about claims on a No Win No Fee basis.
How does it work?
When you sign one of these agreements with your solicitor, it will set out the percentage of your compensation that will be used to pay the legal fees. This is subject to a cap of 25% of your compensation, but fees between solicitors can vary.
What if I don’t end up being compensated?
It is unlikely for a solicitor to take on cases on this basis that don’t end up winning compensation but in the event that this does happen, there will be no large legal bill landing on your doormat. The solicitor knows the risks is theirs in these claims and if you don’t get any amount of compensation, then there is nothing for you to then pay out.
Why Choose Advice.co.uk?
Obviously, every claims management company will say that they are the best people to handle your claim, but here at Advice.co.uk, we think we have the edge. There are various reasons why we feel this way, which we’ll outline below:
Our staff – We invest in our employees, in terms of training and handpicking high quality candidates for every position. We pride ourselves on only taking on the people we would like to deal with if we were in your situation and needed to speak to someone about something traumatic that had happened to you, like a car accident. We then develop their skills still further, ensuring that they have all the knowledge needed to deal with every call.
Our service – Through experience, we have developed a service that we commit to continuously improving. We are always looking for better ways to service our clients and our commitment to consistently providing a top class level of service means that our customers consistently recommend us to others for their car accident claims.
Our feedback – We ask for feedback from customers simply because we like to know what we can improve on, but we’ve also found it can reassure prospective clients that our service is exactly what we say it is – top class.
Our simple three step process means clients always know where they are up to with their claim, as you can see below:
| Get in touch with the Advice.co.uk | We will ask relevant questions to assess your situation | Should you have a claim, and be ready to take it forward, we will start the ball rolling for you. |
Contact Us
As personal injury specialists, we know only too well that you want a service that is swift, stress free and seamless. We pride ourselves on offering just that, and all you’ll have to do to begin is call 0161 696 9685. Alternatively, why not complete the contact form on our site and our specialists will get back to you. Our panel of solicitors are authorised and regulated by the solicitors regulation authority. And they can cover claims all over the UK, and even if your claim has happened on holiday or on business abroad, we are in the perfect position to help you. There’s never a bad time to get in touch, so why not call us for more advice about car accident claims so we can help begin your claim.
Where Can I Find Our More?
Want to know more about car accident statistics? – The Government’s 2017 figures and statistics can be found here.
NHS Whiplash – Guidance on Whiplash can be found here
MIB – More details on who and what the MIB can do
Other Car Accident Claim Guides
- Claim Compensation As A Passenger In A Car Accident
- HGV Accident Compensation
- Snow And Ice Car Accidents
- Taxi And Minicab Accident Claim
- Learner Driver Car Accident
- What To Do After A Car Accident?
- Time Limit For A Car Accident Claim
- Proving A Car Accident Wasn’t Your Fault
- Time Limit On Car Accident Claims
- How To Report A Car Accident
- Car Insurance Excess Fees After An Accident
- Rights In A Car Accident
- What Should I Do If I’m Injured In A Car Accident?
- Who Pays The Excess Fees In A Rear End Car Accident?
- How Long Do You Have To Report A Car Accident?
- How Do You Prove Injuries Sustained In A Car Accident?
- Symptoms To Watch Out For After A Car Accident
- Can You Sue For A Car Accident With No Injuries?
- What Happens If You Get Injured In A Car Accident?
- Car Accident Injury Payouts
- Who Is Liable In A Multi Car Pile Up?
- Emergency Braking Bus Accident
- Can I Claim If A Car Accident Aggravated A Pre-existing Condition?
- Claim For Anxiety After A Car Accident
- Mud On The Road Car Accident
- How To Claim For An Accident During A Driving Lesson
- Car Accident Claim Solicitors – How To Claim
- How To Make A Taxi Passenger Accident Claim
- Fatal Car Accident Claims
- How To Claim For A Hit And Run Car Accident
- How Long Do Car Accident Personal Injury Claims Take?
- How To Claim For A Back Injury In A Car Accident
- How Are MIB Claim Amounts Calculated?
- How To Claim For Whiplash As A Passenger
- How Are MIB Claim Amounts Calculated?
- Pedestrian Hit By Bus Injury Claims Guide
- Could I Use A Car Accident Claims Calculator?
- What Is The Average Settlement For A Taxi Cab Accident?
- What Evidence Do I Need For A Cyclist Accident Claim?
Car Accident Claims FAQs
What can I claim after a car accident?
You could claim regarding your pain and suffering, lack of earnings and also a loss of future earnings.
What is the average payout for a minor car accident?
A typical payout for the impact of a car accident lies between £,000 and £2,300 for short-term injuries. But for long-term injuries, this could rise as high as £4,000.
Can I claim for anxiety after a car accident?
You can make such a claim, providing that there is sufficient strong evidence in your favour to support your anxiety.
Should I accept the first offer of compensation?
You shouldn’t accept the opening offer because it almost always leads to a higher offer further down the line.
How could I receive maximum compensation?
You should stay at the scene, gather information and witness testimonials, receive medical treatment and report everything to your insurers.
Can you get PTSD from a minor car accident?
It is possible to develop PTSD in the aftermath of a minor car accident due to the trauma of a near-miss.
What happens if I reject a settlement offer?
You won’t receive that offer again, though you should receive another offer if you declined the very first offer.
How long does it take to receive an offer of compensation?
The victim generally receives the agreed-upon compensation settlement figure inside 14-to-28 days.
Thank you for reading our guide about car accident claims.