Last Updated 27th August 2025. Welcome to our guide to ice accident claims and snow accident claims. In poor weather conditions such as snow and ice or below zero temperatures, car accidents on the road can often be very serious, and sometimes injuries can be extremely debilitating and life-altering. In addition, a fatal car accident could occur due to someone else’s negligence.
What we have found is that the people who have experienced such a car accident are not only left with the physical pain and suffering that it can entail, but also the trauma of the memory of their accident. Also, people who were not directly involved, but instead their loved one/s, can be left with dealing with the aftermath, such as a loved one needing care, or in very unfortunate circumstances, coping with their death.
We can help you to claim compensation that reflects the impact that your snow or ice car accident has had on your life, and so cover the costs and any financial losses incurred as a direct result of your accident. This guide will give you lots of information on how to make a compensation claim and more.
If you’d like more information after reading this guide or would like to start your claim today, you can:
- Call us on 0800 073 8804
- Fill out our contact us page
- Message us through our 24/7 live chat support
Select a Section:
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- What Are Ice Or Snow Car Accident Claims?
- Who Is Eligible To Make Ice Or Snow Accident Claims?
- How To Begin An Ice or Snow Accident Claim
- Gathering Evidence When Claiming For A Car Accident On The Ice
- The Most Common Types Of Ice Or Snow Car Accident Claims
- How Much Compensation Will I Get After An Ice Or Snow Car Accident Causing Injury?
- How To Stay Safe When Driving In Ice Or Snow
- No Win No Fee Ice or Snow Accident Claims
What Are Ice Or Snow Car Accident Claims?
This refers to a situation where someone has been involved in a car accident that occurred due to ice or snow, which wasn’t their fault. It’s not only the drivers who are eligible to make a claim; passengers and pedestrians can also claim compensation if they have been injured due to an icy road crash.
All drivers are required to take extra care when driving in hazardous weather conditions, and highway authorities have a duty of care to ensure that measures are put in place to improve road safety.
If you have been involved in an accident that wasn’t your fault and suffered an injury as a result, then you will be able to make ice or snow accident claims.
Who Is Eligible To Make Ice Or Snow Car Accident Claims?
Anyone is eligible to make ice or snow car accident claims, provided that they meet the conditions for pursuing compensation. Those conditions can be summarised as follows:
- You were owed a duty of care
- Another driver breached this duty of care
- You suffered injuries as a result of the breach
Everyone on the road has a responsibility to ensure the safety of others and, by extension, themselves. This is referred to as a duty of care, which requires road users to travel in a manner that avoids injury or damage. They must also comply with the rules set out in the Highway Code and the Road Traffic Act 1988.
Therefore, if you’ve suffered an injury due to another driver’s breach of their duty of care, you could make a road traffic accident claim. For example, you may have suffered severe neck and back injuries in a rear-shunt accident caused by a speeding driver who failed to brake in icy conditions.
Additionally, relevant authorities have a responsibility under the Highways Act 1980 to ensure that highways are maintained in a state that keeps them reasonably passable for ordinary traffic. If, say, a highways authority failed to take appropriate measures to grit a busy junction despite having advance notice of icy conditions, you may have a valid claim if you consequently suffer physical or psychological injuries, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, in an accident.
To find out your eligibility to claim for ice or snow accident compensation, please contact one of our friendly advisors today.
How Long Do I Have To Claim For An Ice Or Snow Car Accident?
If you have a valid personal injury claim following a car accident on ice or snow, then you’ll need to make sure you start proceedings within the relevant time limit. The Limitation Act 1980 establishes a three-year time limit for commencing this type of claim. This typically begins on the date of the accident that caused your injury.
Under some circumstances, the time limit can work differently. For example, if a child has been injured in a car accident, then the time limit is paused until their 18th birthday. Before that day arrives, a claim could be made on the child’s behalf by a court-appointed litigation friend. If, however, a claim is not made before the child turns 18, then the injured party will have three years to start their own claim from their 18th birthday.
Should the injured party lack the mental capacity to make a personal injury claim for themselves, then the three-year time limit is indefinitely suspended. A litigation friend could claim on the injured party’s behalf. However, if they later regain this mental capacity, and a claim hasn’t been made for them, then the three-year time limit will begin from the date of recovery.
Get in touch with our advisors today if you would like to ask questions about the time limits or other aspects of claiming for a road traffic accident.
How To Begin An Ice Or Snow Accident Claim
Starting car accident claims due to ice on the road will not seem as difficult if you have our help and take advantage of our service. All you would need to do is call us, and we will sort out everything else and support you every step of the way through the claiming process.
When you call us, we will offer you a free consultancy session where you can ask as many questions as you need to with regard to making a claim. We will then also ask you some questions as well just so that we have the necessary facts and understanding of your situation.
Once you are satisfied that we have answered all of your questions and we are certain that you have a case, we will begin to launch your compensation claim. You’ll be pleased to know that all of our specialist claims solicitors work on a No Win No Fee basis, and so there is absolutely no financial outlay for you and no unexpected bills. You won’t be required to pay any legal fees until your case is successful.
Sometimes a local medical appointment needs to be arranged. It is nothing to worry about. We would arrange this for you at a clinic local to you, and it wouldn’t cost you anything, but of course, we can discuss this during your free consultation.
Read on to find out more about ice accident claims or snow car accident claims made against your employer.
Gathering Evidence When Claiming For A Car Accident On The Ice
Evidence is very important when claiming for ice and snow car crashes. Evidence can be very beneficial, as it can help support a number of areas of your claim. For example, evidence can help establish who is liable for your injuries, how severe they are, and how the accident occurred.
Some examples of evidence that you could use to support a claim for an accident on the ice or snow include:
- CCTV footage: CCTV or dashcam footage of the accident can help prove how it occurred and who is liable.
- Photographs: Taking photographs of your injuries can provide their severity, and pictures of the accident site, where safe, can further support your claim.
- Witness statements: While you cannot take these yourself, taking the contact details of anyone who witnessed the accident allows their statements to be taken by a professional at a later date.
- Medical records: Your medical records can help demonstrate the extent of your injuries and the level of treatment you received.
These are only some examples of what could be used to support claims for snow accidents. If you choose to work with a solicitor, they can help you collect further relevant evidence to help strengthen your claim. Contact our team today to learn more.
The Most Common Types Of Ice Or Snow Car Accident Claims
Some types of snow or ice accident claims could include:
- Accidents that cause whiplash
- Car accidents
- Accidents involving a bus
- Motorcycle accidents
- Cycling or bicycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
How Much Compensation Will I Get After An Ice Or Snow Car Accident Causing Injury?
One question we always get asked is how much compensation will I receive? Of course, we cannot give an exact answer to that question, as every accident is different and can have so many variables to it. However, we can explain how damages could be awarded for a successful ice or snow car accident claim.
When proceeding with making a snow or ice compensation claim, there are a number of things to take into account that you can include in your claim, such as:
- General Damages – This refers to the amount of compensation you will receive that reflects the pain and suffering you have experienced.
- Special Damages – Any costs that you have experienced as a result of your injury, you can claim for.
Those responsible for valuing general damages may refer to the results of an independent medical exam or your healthcare records alongside the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). The JCG provides guideline compensation brackets for different injuries. Additionally, for certain car accident claimants, the Whiplash Injury Regulations 2021 tariff may apply. This is due to the Whiplash Reforms.
In our table below, we have provided brackets from the JCG and examples of the tariffs from the Whiplash Injury Regulations. Additionally, we provide a figure in the first row that is neither from these regulations nor the JCG, to show you how compensation could be awarded for multiple injuries and special damages. Please be advised that the table does not guarantee compensation.
| Injury | Compensation |
|---|---|
| Multiple severe injuries plus special damages, such as medical bills | Up to £350,000+ |
| Severe back injury (i) | £111,150 to £196,450 |
| Moderate back injury (i) | £33,880 to £47,320 |
| Severe neck injury (i) | In the region of £181,020 |
| Moderate neck injury (i) | £30,500 to £46,970 |
| Traumatic chest injuries (b) | £80,240 to £122,850 |
| Severe shoulder injury | £23,430 to £58,610 |
| Moderate shoulder injury | £9,630 to £15,580 |
| Whiplash with minor psychological injuries, 18-24 months | £4,345 |
| Whiplash, 18-24 months | £4,215 |
If you’ve experienced losses that aren’t mentioned above, then contact us today to see if they could be included in a claim.
How To Stay Safe When Driving In Ice Or Snow
During the winter months, the snowy and icy road conditions can make driving difficult and dangerous. Therefore, it is even more important for road users to drive safely and maintain a duty of care to others, ensuring their safety.
Here are some examples of how you can drive safely in snow and ice:
- Plan your journey- ensure you check on traffic news and create a safe route so that your journey runs smoothly
- Ensure you have enough time to get to your destination- this means you can drive slowly and safely without rushing
- Check your vehicle is safe to drive- this includes checking your brake lights, brake fluid levels, your tyre tread and windscreen
- When driving, accelerate gently, maintain a safe stopping distance and keep your speed down.
Although you may be taking the necessary steps to ensure you are safe while driving, other road users may not be. If another driver failed to maintain a duty of care, resulting in your injuries, you may be eligible to start a snow car accident claim.
To learn more about snow and ice road safety or the steps you can take if you were injured in an accident caused by another road user, please get in touch with our helpful advisors today.
No Win No Fee Ice or Snow Accident Claims
If you have strong grounds to claim compensation for a car accident in ice or snow, then one of our No Win No Fee solicitors could help with your case. They could offer their expertise to you through a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). When claiming under a CFA:
- You won’t be asked to pay a solicitor’s fee to start your claim.
- There won’t be any ongoing solicitor fees to pay.
- Similarly, if your claim fails, you won’t be asked to pay any solicitor fees at all.
The only time you pay your solicitor for their work is if your claim succeeds. In this case, your solicitor will be paid a success fee. This fee is deducted directly from the compensation as a small, capped percentage, ensuring you retain the bulk.
Working with a solicitor on your ice accident claim can be helpful in several ways. For example, they could help you gather evidence to strengthen your case. A solicitor can also help you evaluate your car accident claim and identify whether it will be affected by the Whiplash Reforms.
Our solicitors are experienced in car accident claims, including ice and snow accidents, and may be able to help you.
If you have been involved in an ice or snow car accident, then compensation could potentially be gained under the guidance of one of our No Win No Fee solicitors. To learn more about working with a solicitor or other aspects of the claiming process, please contact our advisors today. You can get in touch by:
- Calling us on 0800 073 8804
- Writing to us through our contact us page
- Or by messaging us through our 24/7 live chat support
Useful Links
Below, you can find some useful links on personal injury claims
- Road safety guidance from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
- Government guidance on what to do if you’re involved in a road accident
- NHS information about whiplash
We also have some other guides on car accident claims that you may find useful:
- Check out our frequently asked questions (FAQ) page on car accidents
- A guide to serious injury car accident claims
- Learn what to do if you suffer from tinnitus after a car accident
- See our whiplash compensation calculator
Thank you for reading our guide on ice accident claims and snow accident claims.
