Snow And Ice Car Accidents – How To Claim Compensation

By Danielle Griffin. Last Updated November 2nd 2023. During the winter months, snow and ice on the road can cause a variety of hazards. Black ice is among the most dangerous. If you have been hurt in a snow and ice car accident, this guide will walk you through the best way to claim compensation for your injuries.

Accidents can happen on the UK’s road network in poor weather conditions and when the temperature dips below zero, accidents can be much worse with people suffering more severe injuries. Whilst claiming compensation cannot take back what happened to you, it can help you to get the financial help and support you need to get back to normality.

From our experience, we know that a lot of accident victims, whether struggling with the effects of whiplash or other serious injuries, worry about money. You or a loved one may have had to take time off from work, meaning you have the added difficulty of a reduced income on top of expenses related to your injury.

This is where we can help. Our team of advisors are able to assess your case and can use a personal injury claims calculator to work out how much you may be entitled to claim in damages. To find out if you can make a claim and what you are eligible to, talk to our experts today by:

snow and ice car accident claims guide

Snow and ice car accident claims guide

Select A Section

  1. When Could I Claim For A Snow Or Ice Car Accident?
  2. How Do I Prove A Snow Or Ice Car Accident Claim?
  3. How Much Can You Claim For Snow And Ice Car Accidents?
  4. Snow And Ice Car Accident Claims With A No Win No Fee Solicitor
  5. Advice For Victims Of Road Accidents

When Could I Claim For A Snow Or Ice Car Accident?

While using the roads, all road users owe each other a duty of care to navigate in a way that prevents injury and damage to themselves and others. To uphold this duty, road users must comply with the Road Traffic Act 1988 and the Highway Code. This includes rules intended to prevent snow accidents, which are covered by Rules 228 to 231. Some of these rules are found in legislation as well. They include:

  • Ensuring that all snow and ice is cleared from vehicle windows. 
  • Vehicles must have clean and clearly visible lights.
  • Ensuring that the mirrors and windows are demisted. 

If you suffer a road traffic injury due to an accident on ice, you may like to know whether you meet the eligibility criteria to make a road traffic accident claim. To make a snow or ice accident personal injury claim, you must be able to prove that:

  • You were owed a duty of care
  • This duty was breached
  • You suffered harm as a result

Direct any questions about seeking personal injury compensation to one of the advisors from our team. They can offer more information on the road traffic accident claims process and can help you identify whether you have a valid claim.

How Do I Prove A Snow Or Ice Car Accident Claim?

In the event of a snow and ice car accident, there are several steps you can take to help your personal injury lawyer to conduct your claim. These are;

  • If you can do so in a safe way, take pictures of the accident, the damage to vehicles and injuries people have suffered.
  • Exchange your own contact details and details of your insurance policy with other parties involved.
  • Contact your insurance company. Tell them what has happened and find out if your car insurance covers snow accidents.
  • Make sure you and other people injured get any medical care needed. Keep records of these treatments.
  • Record details of expenses you incur
  • Contact a personal injury solicitor.

Following these steps, you can make a snow and ice car crash claim.

How Much Can You Claim For Snow And Ice Car Accidents?

If you make a successful personal injury claim for an accident on ice, your settlement could consist of two parts. These are called general and special damages. 

General damages compensate for the physical pain and mental suffering you experienced as a result of the accident. For guidance when valuing this part of personal injury claims, those responsible for evaluating your claim may refer to the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). This text lists guideline compensation brackets for different types of injuries. 

In our table below, we look at a few figures for injuries relevant to snow and ice accident claims from the 16th edition of the JCG. As claims are valued on their individual merits, this table is only provided for guidance. 

Injury TypeDetailsCompensation Bracket
Very Severe Brain DamageIn this bracket, there will be very little evidence of the injured party showing any meaningful response to their environment. Additionally, they will have little or no language function, alongside double incontinence and require full-time nursing care. £282,010 to £403,990
Leg Amputation (ii)In this bracket, both of the claimant's legs have been amputated below the knee with the award considering the level of amputation, phantom pains, psychological problems from the injury, prosthetics, degenerative changes in remaining joints or risk of and other effects. £201,490 to £270,100
Severe Back Injuries (i)In this bracket, the damage to the nerve roots and spinal cord result in serious consequences including severe pain and disability, incomplete paralysis and/or impairments to the functioning of the bladder, bowels or sexual functioning. £91,090 to £160,980
Severe Neck Injuries (i)Cases in this bracket are associated with incomplete paralysis.In the region of £148,330
Severe Arm InjuriesCases found in this bracket involve injuries that are so severe that the injured person is little better off than if their arm had been amputated. £96,160 to £130,930
Severe Injuries to the Pelvis and Hips (i)The claimant has suffered extensive fractures resulting in substantial residual disabilities. £78,400 to £130,930
Very Severe Foot InjuriesCases in this bracket result in permanent sever pain and/or really serious permanent disability, such as the traumatic amputation of the forefoot.£83,960 to £109,650
Severe Knee Injuries (i)This bracket includes serious knee injuries with joint disruption, osteoarthritis development, gross ligament damage, extended treatment time, considerable pain and the loss of function.£69,730 to £96,210
Whiplash TariffTo claim this tariff, the injured party must suffer from whiplash symptoms alongside a psychological injury for 18-24 months.£4,345
Whiplash TariffThis tariff is for claimants who suffer with the symptoms of whiplash for 18-24 months.£4,215

You could also be awarded special damages to compensate for any financial losses you’ve incurred due to your injuries. Here are a few examples of what you could be compensated for under special damages:

  • Care and nursing costs. 
  • Travel expenses. 
  • Loss of earnings, including pension contributions. 
  • The cost of mobility aids. 
  • Expenses for home adaptations. 
  • Prescription costs.

You should submit proof of your expenses, such as bank statements, wage slips, and receipts. 

Whiplash Reform Programme 

Your claim might be impacted by the Whiplash Reform Programme. This brought in changes to how some personal injury claims for road traffic accidents are made in England and Wales. The reforms apply to those who are aged 18 and older, with injuries valued at £5,000 or less as a driver or passenger in a vehicle.

If you suffered a whiplash injury, it will be valued in accordance with the tariff set out in the Whiplash Injury Regulations 2021. These are fixed amounts. We’ve listed a few examples in the table above. Any additional injuries that are not covered by the tariff will be valued in the traditional manner. 

Direct any questions about claiming for snow accidents to an advisor from our team. They can also value your claim for free.

Snow And Ice Car Accident Claims With A No Win No Fee Solicitor

If you have a valid personal injury claim following a snow or ice car accident, then you could seek support from a solicitor who has experience with this type of case. Our team of advisors could review your claim, and they may connect you with a solicitor from our panel.

If they agree to take on your claim, they may offer to represent you on a No Win No Fee basis with a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). If you work with a solicitor under such an agreement, you will not be required to pay any upfront or ongoing fees for their services. Furthermore, if your claim is unsuccessful, then you won’t need to pay your solicitor for the work they have done on your claim.

If your claim is successful, then your solicitor will receive a payment known as a success fee. This is a small and legally capped percentage of the compensation that has been awarded to you.

To find out if you could be eligible to work with a solicitor from our panel, you can contact our advisors. They can also help answer any questions you may have about personal injury claims for car accidents.

There are several ways you can get in touch with our team;

Advice For Victims Of Road Accidents

We understand that you may still have questions. Below you can find additional and related guides which could be helpful after being involved in a snow and ice car crash.

Other Car Accident Claim Guides