Last Updated 23rd October 2025. Car crashes can have frightening, devastating consequences for those involved, especially when they occur on the motorway. Due to the high speeds involved, a car crash on the motorway may lead to serious, life-changing injuries. If you’ve experienced this through no fault of your own, one of our solicitors could use their expertise to help you seek compensation with a motorway accident claim.
We understand how difficult a time this must be for you and your loved ones right now. Let our specialist No Win No Fee road traffic accident solicitors give you the support you deserve. They have years of legal experience and will work hard to ensure that your motorway accident compensation is as fair as possible.
4.8 (466 reviews) Answering Commonly Asked Questions
- Can I claim motorway accident compensation? Yes, if you can prove that you were injured through the negligent actions of another road user.
- What will my motorway crash compensation cover? Your compensation can cover the ways your injuries have affected you physically, financially, and psychologically.
- How long does a motorway crash claim take to resolve? The length of the claims process varies depending on many factors, such as the negligent driver’s willingness to admit fault right away.
- Can I make a claim on behalf of someone else? Yes, if the injured person is under 18 or mentally incapacitated, then you can potentially step in and make a claim on their behalf.
- How long do I have to claim? You typically have 3 years from the date of the accident to start pursuing motorway compensation.
How To Claim For A Car Crash On The Motorway
To make a motorway accident claim, you need to prove that these injuries were the fault of another driver breaching their duty of care.
Everyone on the roads, including motorways, owes each other a duty of care. This duty of care requires road users to use roads safely and in a way that prevents anyone from becoming injured. For example, by not speeding or by not operating a car after drinking alcohol.
The Highway Code and the Road Traffic Act 1988 both provide rules and guidance for how each different type of road user should use the road to fulfil their duty of care.
As such, here is the eligibility criteria for road traffic accident claims:
- Another road user had a duty of care to you, such as a car driving in the lane next to you on the motorway.
- This duty was breached. For example, the car driving in the lane next to you on the motorway swerved into your vehicle’s side due to the driver being under the influence of alcohol.
- This breach consequently led to you sustaining physical and/or psychological injuries.
If you have been injured in a motorway crash and you can prove that each of the above criteria is applicable to you, then please have a chat with our team today.
Time Limits To Claim For A Car Crash On The Motorway
The Limitation Act 1980 sets out the time limits that apply when beginning a personal injury claim. Generally, you get 3 years from the accident date to start legal proceedings.
There are certain exceptions to these time limits for those under 18 or who lack the mental capacity to initiate their own claim. To find out more about this in connection with your potential motorway accident claim, speak with an advisor for more information.
What Is The Whiplash Reform Programme?
The introduction of the Whiplash Reform Programme on the 31st of May 2021 altered the way in which whiplash injury claims are brought forward. Compensation for injuries in the case of adult drivers and passengers, which is valued at £5,000 or less, must now be pursued via a different avenue.
The fixed tariff in the Whiplash Injury Regulations 2021 is used to value whiplash injuries.
You would claim traditionally in the case that you have injuries which raise the compensation value above £5,000. However, the whiplash tariff will still be used to value whiplash injuries.
To find out if you have a valid claim for whiplash injury compensation after being involved in a car crash on the motorway, please speak with our team.
Causes Of Car Crashes On Motorways
A car crash on the motorway could occur due to various reasons. Below, we will provide some examples:
- Merging traffic – A driver may not carry out the appropriate checks when merging into a different lane and crash into another vehicle’s side.
- Distractions – A driver may be using their phone while driving and not paying attention to the road. They fail to see that you have come to a stop in front of them and they crash into your vehicle from the rear.
- Drink driving – If a person is intoxicated or under the influence of drugs when operating a vehicle on the motorway, it could lead to dangerous driving and result in an accident.
To discuss the circumstances of your injury and enquire about your motorway accident claim eligibility, please contact us today.
What Should I Do After A Car Crash On The Motorway?
Following a car crash on the motorway, there are some things you can do to both protect yourself, any passengers and other road users. We should emphasise that all of these steps should only be undertaken if you can do so. Do not put yourself or others at risk.
Steps to take following a motorway accident include:
- Stop as soon as possible, and activate your hazard lights. If you can, pull over on the hard shoulder.
- Check yourself and passengers for injuries.
- Get everyone out of the vehicle and onto the verge well away from the motorway if it is safe to do so.
- Call the emergency services, ideally using an SOS phone. Should you be far from an emergency phone, tell the operator which junction you have just passed.
- Exchange insurance information and other details with any other drivers involved. If other drivers fail to stop or have no insurance, inform the emergency services of this.
- Ensure you get prompt medical attention.
- Contact Legal Expert for free legal advice.
You can see what evidence you might use to prove a motorway accident claim in the next section. Our advisors are available 24/7 to provide more information and assess your eligibility for free. Talk to us today via the contact information given below.
Proving Liability For A Car Crash On The Motorway
Your motorway accident claim must have evidence that proves another road user was liable for your injuries. Examples of this evidence include:
- Dashcam or CCTV footage – This can show how your accident happened.
- Witness contact information – Other road users may have seen the crash occur and could provide a supporting statement for your claim.
- Copies of medical records – Detailing the injuries you sustained and any required treatment.
- A diary of your symptoms – Depicting the progression of your injuries and any psychological damage.
You could instruct a car accident solicitor to help you collect and compile evidence.
To learn more about the evidence that can strengthen a road traffic accident claim, just reach out to chat with an advisor.
Estimating Payouts For Motorway Accident Claims
Compensation you may receive for a successful personal injury claim can comprise up to two types of damages. The main head of loss is called general damages. This can compensate you for your physical and psychological suffering.
To help in the process of valuing general damages, legal professionals may refer to the compensation brackets provided by the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). Some of these guideline compensation brackets can be found in a table that you can see below, as well as figures taken from a tariff located in the Whiplash Injury Regulations 2021.
We’ve also included a figure in the top row that is not from the JCG or Whiplash Regulations.
Please remember this table is a guide. Compensation depends on the individual details of a claim.
| Injury Type | Severity | Compensation Guidelines |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple injuries that are very severe plus special damages (such as loss of earnings, travel expenses, and medical bills) | Very severe | Up to £1,000,000+ |
| Paralysis | Tetraplegia (a) | £396,140 to £493,000 |
| Paraplegia (b) | £267,340 to £346,890 | |
| Brain damage | Very severe (a) | £344,150 to £493,000 |
| Moderately severe (b) | £267,340 to £344,150 | |
| Neck injuries | Severe (a) (i) | In the region of £181,020 |
| Moderate (b) (i) | £30,500 to £46,970 | |
| Whiplash injuries | Lasting between 18-24 months | £4,345 |
| Whiplash injuries and one or more minor psychological injuries | Lasting between 18-24 months | £4,215 |
How Special Damages Could Also Compensate You
Special damages could also be awarded as part of your settlement. This head of loss is awarded to compensate for expenses incurred because of your injuries.
Some examples of financial losses that you could be compensated for after being injured in a car accident on the motorway include:
- Travel expenses – for example, your injuries may prevent you from being able to drive, causing you to take taxis to medical appointments. Keeping a receipt of these fares could be used to prove your travel expenses.
- Wage losses – your injuries may leave you unable to work for a long period of time. Therefore, you could experience a loss of earnings. Retain your wage slips as they can be used to prove your lost earnings.
- Medical expenses – you may pay for private treatment for your injuries, or have to pay for medication to alleviate symptoms of your injuries. You can use receipts for these expenses as evidence.
For a completely free valuation of your potential car crash claim, you can chat with our friendly team of advisors today. They may also connect you with one of our No Win No Fee solicitors.
4.8 (466 reviews) Start A No Win No Fee Claim For A Car Crash On The Motorway
We understand that making a motorway accident claim can seem stressful, but it doesn’t have to be. When you claim through our specialist personal injury solicitors, they can use their years of legal experience to guide you through the claims process with as little hassle as possible. They could help you:
- Collect evidence and prove your claim
- Negotiate the settlement that you deserve
- Communicate with both the Courts and the defendant
- Understand legal jargon and technical terminology
Our specialist car accident on the motorway solicitors work under a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). This means that you can access their services without paying any upfront or ongoing fees for their work.
If the claim fails, your solicitor won’t take payment for their services. If it succeeds, then they’ll take a small, capped percentage of the compensation as their success fee.
Contact Us
Our team of friendly advisors are here to help. If you’d like to learn more about making a personal injury claim on a No Win No Fee basis, chat with our team today by:
- Calling 0800 073 8804
- Contact us online
- Using live chat
Learn More About Road Traffic Accident And Injury Claims
Some further guides sharing information on road traffic accident claims:
- The car accident claim time limit explained
- How to prove an injury from a car accident
- Use our whiplash compensation calculator to estimate the potential value of your injuries.
External sources to explore:
- Road Safety Data – GOV.UK
- Road Safety Laws – THINK!
- Whiplash – NHS
Thank you for reading our guide on when you could be eligible to make a motorway accident claim.
