How To Claim For Car Accident Injuries

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London Car Accident Claims Guide – How To Claim Compensation

By Danielle Jordan. Last Updated 4th August 2023. Have you been injured in a car accident, or road traffic accident that was not your fault in London. If you were injured because of someone else’s dangerous driving, or negligent behaviour on the roads? In such cases, you could be entitled to make a claim for your car accident in London. Legal Expert are a top personal injury solicitors firm with and excellent track record of winning car accident claims in the UK. If you have legitimate grounds to claim compensation then call Legal Expert today on 0800 073 8804 to see if you are entitled to a car accident claim payout.

Legal Expert offers a free legal consultation to anyone looking to make a personal injury claim for a car accident or road traffic accident which they experienced in London. Call today and explain, “I wish to make a car accident claim, for an accident that was not my fault”. We will assess whether or not there are reasonable grounds to make a claim. If there are, we will talk you through the car accident claims process in the UK, and will find the best personal injury lawyer with the right skills and experience to handle your claim from our team. Whoever the claim is made against, your personal injury solicitor will fight to win you the maximum amount of road traffic accident compensation that you are entitled to claim. Many road traffic accident claims can be worth thousands of pounds (or even higher in extreme cases), so call today to see if you are entitled to claim.

Select A Section

  1. A Guide To Car Accident Claims In London
  2. How Long Do I Have To Claim For Car Accident Injuries?
  3. Getting Medical Treatment After being Hurt In A Road Traffic Accident
  4. What Should I Do After A Road Traffic Accident In London?
  5. London Car Crash – How To Report A Road Traffic Accident In London
  6. Car Accident Claims For Whiplash
  7. What Can My Car Accident Claim In London Include?
  8. How Much Compensation Can You Claim For A Car Accident In London?
  9. No WIn No Fee Car Accident Claims In London
  10. How Legal Expert Can Help You
  11. Useful links

A Guide To Car Accident Claims In London

London is known for being a difficult place to drive. The sheer number of cars on the road in London mean that traffic jams are common. All drivers have a legal duty of care towards other road users when driving. This means that they have a legal obligation to drive and use the road in a way that upholds the health and safety of others. The busy nature of London’s roads mean that drivers have to take extra care to drive in a way that does not cause accidents, or endanger others. As well as drivers upholding safe driving practice, other parties also have responsibilities concerning road safety.

Councils have a responsibility for the road’s upkeep and organisations such as freighting companies have a responsibility not to spill or deposit substances onto the road, such as mud or fuel which can cause cars to slip. If a driver, road user or other party is negligent and this negligence causes an accident, which results in someone becoming injured, the negligent driver or party could be held liable for these injuries and have to pay the injured party compensation.

Car accident in London

Car accident in London

If you have suffered a road traffic accident in London or elsewhere, Legal Expert can provide you with a personal injury solicitor to represent you in your road traffic accident claim. We believe we are the right car accident claims company to win you the compensation you are entitled to. We will provide you with an experienced road traffic accident solicitor, with an track record of winning car crash claims like yours. Our team includes solicitors who have up to three decades of experience handling car accident claims in London and elsewhere, so you’re bound to be in safe hands. What’s more, every one of our clients has the option to make a no win no fee claim, which is the less stressful option for many. Whilst our offices are not based in London, that does not affect our ability to handle your claim. Call us today for your free consultation and if you have legitimate grounds to claim, we will start working on your claim right away.

How Long Do I Have To Claim For Car Accident Injuries?

If you are to make a claim for a road traffic accident in London, you must bring forward your claim before the time limit expires. Generally, the personal injury claims time limit is three years from the date of the accident as set by the Limitation Act 1980.

However, in some circumstances, there are exceptions to this limitation period. These include:

  • Those who lack the mental capacity to make their own claim. For these parties, the time limit is suspended unless they regain this capacity. During this time, a court-appointed litigation friend can bring forward a claim for them. However, if they regain the capacity to claim and one was not started on their behalf, they will have three years from the date their capacity was recovered to begin the claiming process.
  • Those under the age of 18. These parties have the time limit paused until their 18th Before this, a litigation friend can start the claiming process for them. However, if they turn 18 and a claim was not made on their behalf, they will have three years from their 18th birthday to start one.

If you have any questions about the limitation period for London traffic accidents, or to find out if you are still within the time limit, get in touch with one of our advisors.

Getting Medical Treatment After being Hurt In A Road Traffic Accident

If you have been involved in a road traffic accident in London and your injuries are serious enough to warrant medical treatment, you can obtain medical treatment at your local NHS hospital. You will need to visit the Accident and Emergency department (A&E) to obtain treatment. If you are involved in a very serious accident and the emergency services arrive on the scene, you will probably be taken to hospital by ambulance.

You will not have to pay for your hospital treatment if you are a British citizen. At the time of writing, the United Kingdom is still part of the European Union, so if you are an EU National that is not a UK resident (for example a tourist or in London on a business trip), you can use your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) to cover the costs of your treatment. This may be subject to change after the United Kingdom leaves the EU in 2019.

What Should I Do After A Road Traffic Accident In London?

What should you do immediately after being involved in a road traffic accident in London or elsewhere? First of all, if someone is seriously hurt, in danger or the road is blocked, call the emergency services.

The information below assumes this is not the case and is focused on how to act appropriately, legally and support a future road traffic accident claim that you might make.

  • First of all, it is an offence not to stop your car as soon as possible. Switch off your engine and switch on your hazard lights.
  • Although it may be instinctive, don’t say “I’m sorry” or “that was my fault” to the other driver. You may be taking liability for the accident, when it may not be caused by negligence on your part.
  • Exchange contact details with the other driver, for car accident claims purposes.
  • Take a photo of the other vehicle involved, including pictures of the license plate, make and colour of the car.
  • Photograph the accident to serve as visual evidence of the accident. If your accident was caused by a health and safety hazard such as a spillage on the road, take photographs of this hazard to provide visual evidence.
  • Take down names and contact details of any witnesses, as they may be required to give evidence to support your claim during the car accident claims process.
  • If you have any expenses related to your injuries, such as medical or alternative transport expenses, keep the receipts. This could serve as evidence of your accident and injuries and you may also be able to claim these expenses back as special damages.

Remember, it is an offence not to report a road traffic accident to the police within 24 hours of it occurring. If the other driver refuses to stop (i.e. you are involved in a hit and run accident) or you believe that they are under the influence of drugs or alcohol then report this to the police a well. Call Legal Expert today, to see if you are entitled to a car accident claim payout.

London Car Crash – How To Report A Road Traffic Accident In London

If you’ve been involved in a London car crash due to negligence, it could potentially cause serious injury, and you may be eligible to claim. However, you may also wonder how to report an accident or if you should report a car accident to the police.

You should know that you only need to report a car accident to the police if you cannot exchange insurance details for some reason (such as in a hit and run) or the crash caused an obstruction in the road that could be a hazard to other. You may also need to call the police if you suspect the other party was breaking the law in some way, such as drunk driving.

You could personally report the car accident to the police at a local police station or you could use the police’s online portal. You could also potentially ring the non-emergency number 111. However, you do not need to ring 999 unless it’s an emergency situation where someone has been seriously injured.

You are required by law to report an accident within 24 hours of its occurrence to the police. If there has been injury to you or your property, you may also need to report the accident to your insurance provider, which should also be done as soon as possible.

Car Accident Claims For Whiplash

If you have suffered whiplash in a car accident that in London that was not your fault, you could be entitled to car accident claim for whiplash. What is whiplash? Whiplash is a sort of neck injury which happens when the head is extended beyond its usual range of motion, causing the muscles in the neck to become sprained. Although whiplash usually heals over time, serious cases of whiplash can reduce the sufferer’s mobility. In extreme cases whiplash can cause a permanent disability. Symptoms of whiplash include: neck pain, neck stiffness, difficulty moving your head, headaches, muscle spasms and limited mobility in the shoulders and arms. Whiplash can be caused by car collisions, especially collisions from the rear end of the car known as rear end shunts. If you have suffered whiplash due to an accident that was not your fault, call Legal Expert today to get started on a car accident claim for whiplash.

What Can My Car Accident Claim In London Include?

If you make a car crash or accident claim, and your solicitor wins your case, your compensation will be awarded in two parts. The first part of your compensation will be general damages, which will compensate you for your pain, suffering and loss of amenity. The amount of compensation you are awarded will be greater for more severe accidents and serious forms of injury. You can use our car accident claims calculator to see how much your car accident claim payout could be worth. For an estimation that is more tailored to you, call Legal Expert to speak to one of our informed advisors.

You will also receive special damages as part of your settlement. Your special damages serve to cover any expenses or losses you have experienced as a result of your injuries. It will also cover the costs of any expenses you may experience in the future such as medical bills, or if your injuries left you unable to work in your current job, cover the costs of retraining for a different career.

Some examples of special damages you could be paid:

  • Medical expenses: Medical expenses cover the cost of any medical treatment you may need as a result of your car accident injuries, such as medicine, an operation or physiotherapy. If you are likely to need further medical treatment, you can claim for those expenses as well.
  • Travel expenses: Travel expenses serve to cover any transport costs you experienced. This can be as simple as the cost of a taxi that you had to take to the hospital, if your car was written off, to alternative transport for a period of time, if you were temporarily unable to drive.
  • Care claim: If you become seriously debilitated as a result of your accident, temporarily or permanently, you could claim the cost of your at home care. If a relative or friend cared for you while you were unwell, you could be entitled to claim compensation for them on their behalf as part of your compensation package.
  • Loss of income expenses: If your accident causes you to miss time off work, you can claim compensation for any salary payments you missed. You can also claim for missed work related benefits such as sick pay or holiday pay and loss of future income if you missed paying into a pension fund. If you have experienced a very serious accident that meant you were no longer able to do your job (for example, you have a manual job and are now unable to be active for an extended period of time) then you may have to retrain. You can claim expenses to cover the cost of retraining for a new career and interim payments to support you whilst doing so.

If you believe you have grounds to make a car accident claim, or road traffic accident claim, call Legal Expert today to get started.

How Much Compensation Can You Claim For A Car Accident In London?

Have you been involved in a road traffic accident or car accident that was not your fault? Our clients are understandably anxious to see how much they could be awarded in car accident compensation. Use our car accident claims calculator to estimate how much compensation you could claim. Please be aware that the accident claim compensation amounts quoted on this calculator are approximate estimations, so your claim could be worth even more than the price quoted. The prices shown only include general damages, don’t include special damages, which will often add more onto the value of a car accident (or any other type of) claim.

Edit
Nature of injury and severity Additional comments about this injury and its serverity Upper or lower settlement recommendations
Neck injuries – severe This injury will have a long term effect on the claimant. For some victims, there will not be a full recovery from this. Symptoms may always persist. from £45,470 to £148,330
Neck injuries – moderate Higher settlements will be awarded if the pain or suffering continues over a longer period of time. from £7,890 to £38,490
Leg injuries – very serious The injuries found in this bracket require extensive treatment and result in serious deformity and movement limitations. £54,830 to £87,890
Leg injuries – moderate The claimant has suffered complicated or multiple fractures or severe crushing injuries. from £27,760 to £39,200
Back injuries – moderate Moderate back injuries will affect your connective tissues. These injuries may include (but are not limited to) damage to tendons and ligaments, damage to the muscles, or other parts of the back. There will be some degree of pain during recovery. from £12,510 to £38,780
Shoulder injuries – serious This is the more serious level of injury. May include dislocations. £12,770 to £19,200
Whiplash Tariff This tariff is for claimants suffering from the symptoms of whiplash alongside a related minor psychological injury for 18-24 months. £4,345
Whiplash Tariff The tariff is for claimants suffering from whiplash symptoms for 18-24 months. £4,215

If you have been involved in a car accident that wasn’t your fault in London or elsewhere, call Legal Expert today, for an accurate estimation of the value of your road traffic accident claim.

No WIn No Fee Car Accident Claims In London

If you have been involved in a car accident in London that was not your fault and are entitled to make a personal injury claim for your injuries, Legal Expert will offer you the option to make a no win no fee claim. What does this mean. A Conditional Fee Arrangement (CFA), more popularly known as a no win no fee claim means that you will be entitled to claim compensation for your injuries without paying an upfront fee, or any ongoing fees to your personal injury solicitor. Instead, you will pay your fee on the condition that you win your compensation claim. In the unlikely event that you do not win your London car accident claim, you will not have to pay us any fees. For many clients, who may have just experienced a traumatic incident which has caused them untold stress, making a no win no fee claim is the less stressful option as there is no financial risk involved. Also, because your fee will be taken out of your compensation package if and when you win your claim, you don’t have to worry about funding your claim upfront.

We believe that we are the solicitors to handle your case, which is why we’re willing to to forfeit our fee if you do not win your claim. Call Legal Expert to see if you are entitled to make a no win no fee London car accident claim. Alternatively for more information, read our online guide to making a No Win No Fee claim.

How Legal Expert Can Help You

If you have been injured in a car accident in London that was not your fault, you could be able or entitled to be compensated for your injuries and their effects. Call Legal Expert today to see if you are entitled to make a personal injury claim. We will listen to your story, assess your situation and if you are entitled to claim, we will get a fantastic personal injury solicitor to start working on your claim right away.

Remember, as a law firm we have an excellent track record of winning claims similar to yours. Infact, some of our team have 30 years of experience practising personal injury law. So you are guaranteed to get a skilled and experienced personal injury lawyer working on your claim. Call Legal Expert today for your free personal injury consultation and hopefully we’ll be able to start working with you soon. Alternatively fill out our online claims form for more information. We’re looking forward to hearing from you.

Useful Links

A Guide To No Win No Fee Solicitors

We have all often heard the phrase ‘no win no fee’. Find out what it really means in this comprehensive guide to how these services work.

Whiplash Claims Calculator: 2018 Update

Whiplash is one of the most common forms of injury caused by car crashes. Find out how to make a successful compensation claim in this guide.

Road Traffic Accident Claims

This is our more general guide to making a claim for injuries suffered in road traffic accidents across Great Britain.

Hit And Run Accident Claims – How Much Compensation?

Have you been involved in a hit and run accident in London? If so, find out how much you can claim for any injuries suffered

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      Patrick is a Grade A solicitor having qualified in 2005. He's an an expert in accident at work and public liability claims and is currently our head of the EL/PL department. Get in touch today for free to see how we can help you.