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Road Traffic Accident Claims

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Services in: Road Traffic Accident Claims

    • Car Accident Claims
    • Motor Insurance Policy Claims
    • Cycling Accident Claims
    • Passenger Claims
    • Pedestrian Accident Claims
    • Motorbike Accident Claims
    • Bus & Coach Accident Claims
    • Horse Accident Claims
    • E-Scooter Accident Claims
    • Road Traffic Accident Claims Guide

If you or a loved one has been involved in a road traffic accident, our solicitors could help you get the compensation, rehabilitation, and support you deserve. Each year we help thousands of people to claim following a road accident, and we could help you too.

Our experts have the knowledge and experience to help you make a compensation claim. Contact us today to start your claim.

We often take road traffic accident claims on a no win no fee basis. These are offered on a case-by-case basis but using a no win no fee agreement means you’ll pay nothing if your claim is unsuccessful.

Who can make a road traffic accident claim?

We’ve helped people claim compensation if they’ve been involved in a road traffic accident either as a:

  • Driver
  • Passenger (including on a bus or in a taxi)
  • Pedestrian
  • Cyclist.

If you were involved in a road traffic accident, no matter in what capacity, contact our team of road traffic accident solicitors who’ll be able to advise you if you can claim.

We can also help you to claim compensation if your road traffic accident happened abroad.

Motor insurance policy claims

We’ve grown to become the leading motor personal injury solicitors in the UK through our belief in providing high levels of service and putting our clients first.

Working with most insurers and other leading financial organisations, we handle thousands of claims like yours every year. We’ve extensive experience in dealing with almost every type of road traffic accident.

Our Motor Online service allows you to complete your Confirmation of Loss Questionnaire online, speeding up the process of the initial stages of your claim.

Why choose Irwin Mitchell to handle your road traffic accident claim?

We’ve many years of experience handling a wide range of road traffic accident claims, dealing with thousands of successful claims each year. Our solicitors have helped clients claim over £1.5 billion in compensation in the last two years alone.

Our specialised expertise in road traffic accident claims means you can be sure of excellent advice and support whatever your circumstances. Our road traffic accident investigation team, which includes a former police accident investigator and an advanced driving instructor alongside our expert personal injury solicitors, can:

  • Interview witnesses
  • Carry out site inspections
  • Prepare reconstruction reports to find out who was at fault, where appropriate.

We're one of the only law firms in the UK with a specialist department carrying out this work, so you can be sure we'll leave no stone unturned to help you get the compensation you need.

As well as being supported by some of the leading legal experts in the UK, you’ll have the support of our Support and Rehabilitation Coordinators. The team are trained medical experts and can help you identify and access the support you or your loved one would benefit from.

You’ll also have access to our Asset Management team of financial experts. They’ll be there to offer you guidance on how to manage your compensation to make sure it’s there when you need it. They can also give advice on investing your money if that’s something you’re interested in.

Our teams are located across the UK in our various UK offices. If you can’t make it into one of our offices for any reason, we can arrange phone or video calls, as well as meeting you at an appropriate location.

No Win No Fee*
Accredited personal injury experts
Help accessing rehabilitation
Offices across the UK

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0800 056 4110

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Tracey Storey Profile
Tracey Storey Managing Partner - Personal Injury Meet the team

More information on road traffic accident claims

It's important to contact our road traffic accident solicitors as soon as possible. Insurance companies often try and settle claims directly, which can mean you get less compensation than you're entitled to.

Call us and we'll give you a free initial consultation where we let you know if you're likely to have a successful claim, and how much compensation you might get.

You’ve got three years from the date of the accident to make a claim for injuries caused by a road traffic accident.

We do always advise people to contact us as soon as possible because the evidence will be easier to gather and the details fresher in your and witnesses’ minds. No matter how recent your accident was, as long as it’s within three years, we’ll use our expertise to gather the necessary evidence to build your claim.

There are two exceptions to the three-year rule:

  • Children – anyone under the age of 18 can claim at any point up until their 18th birthday. Once they turn 18 they’ve got three years to make their own claim.
  • A person lacking mental capacity – anyone lacking mental capacity can have a claim brought on their behalf at any point.

How long your road traffic accident claim takes depends on a range of factors, including the severity of your injuries and the complexity of the case. Some simple cases may settle in a few months, whereas more complex cases will take longer.

As soon as we have enough information, we'll give you an estimate of how long your claim will take.

Interim payments are made in advance of any final settlement. They’re only made in an agreement with your opponent if they admit that they're responsible for your injuries.

Interim payments can be used to replace lost earnings, so you can afford to pay essential bills if your injury has meant you’ve been absent from work. They can also cover the cost of specialist medical care or mobility equipment.

Although most accidents on the road are between two cars, there are many other circumstances in which people can be injured and may be entitled to claim compensation.

Accidents involving pedestrians or cyclists are also common and can be very serious due to the lack of protection that these road users have compared to drivers. The same is true for motorcyclists, with the added risk of high speeds.

Cyclists and motorcyclists are often injured because drivers don't allow for enough space to manoeuvre, pulling out into their path without looking, or not noticing bicycles or motorbikes in a blind spot. Cyclists are at particular risk from lorries and vans, because of the bigger blind spots on these vehicles.

Accidents involving public transport, whether a bus or a coach, can be incredibly traumatic, as these incidents can result in a larger number of victims, and may end up being quite high-profile cases. The person responsible for the accident might not necessarily be the driver of the vehicle or another road user. The transport operator could be found responsible if its safety or training procedures are found to be inadequate.

Bus and coach claims aren't just limited to public transport operators. Private hire companies, as well as school bus or coach tour operators, can also be responsible for injuries. Similarly, accidents involving a taxi may involve claiming against a private hire company. 

Road traffic accidents can cause a range of minor and serious injuries. Tragically, hundreds of people are killed in road traffic accidents every year. You may be able to claim compensation if a loved one has died in an accident – find out more about fatal accident claims.

Most of the road traffic accident claims our lawyers handle are on a no win no fee basis. That means you don't pay anything upfront, and there's nothing to pay if your claim is unsuccessful. 

If your claim succeeds, your opponent pays most of your legal fees, with anything outstanding coming out of your compensation. We'll keep you updated throughout your claim, so you'll know how much compensation to expect.

There can be more suitable funding options available to you. We’ll always give you information about every option so you can make an informed decision.

Ismena's story

Rebuilding life after serious injury and the loss of your husband Ismena

Ismena's life was changed forever when she and her husband Simon were hit by a speeding vehicle while crossing the road in Chesterfield. Simon was killed instantly and Ismena sustained severe brain injuries, a tear to her spleen, bruising to her lungs, and fractures to her skull, hip and pelvis.

Our serious injury team secured Ismena interim payments and the support of multi-disciplinary therapists to aid her recovery and support her as she coped with the loss of her husband. One of our charity partners, Widowed and Young, were also there to support Ismena as she began to rebuild her life.

In time, Ismena's been able to enjoy new adventures, including a trip to Peru with a friend.

Read more about Ismena's story

Ismena

“Irwin Mitchell sees you as a human. They tailor the help that you need, and they work on finding your strength to carry on.” - Ismena, client

Read More Client Stories

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make a road traffic road accident claim if the accident was my fault?

It's worth speaking to us even if you think you were to blame. It may be that you were partly to blame, but you may still be able to claim that someone else was also partially at fault.

We'll talk to you about what happened and give you an honest view of your chances of getting compensation.

Will I need to have a medical examination?

If you've been injured in a road traffic accident you should seek medical assistance as soon as possible. Even if you only appear to have minor injuries, they could be more serious than you think, so you should see a doctor.

You’ll also need to have a separate medical examination as part of the claims process, which we'll arrange. This’ll help us to determine the extent and impact of your injuries, which is an essential part of working out how much compensation you’re owed.

My insurance company has recommended a law firm, do I have to use them?

Many insurance companies have preferred solicitors that they work with, but you’re still free to make up your own mind, and they can’t insist that you use the lawyers they recommend.

It's important that you choose a solicitor you’re comfortable with and can communicate with easily and clearly. 

Before you decide, you should consider all your options. Contact us for a free consultation with no obligation to make a claim.

Will I have to go to court as part of my road traffic accident claim?

We always try to keep road traffic accident claims from going to court, to avoid adding further stress on you or your loved one. However, it can sometimes be the best route to get the best compensation amount and care package for you.

A lot depends on whether the other party involved accept fault for your injuries. If they do, we likely won’t need to go to court. If they don’t, court proceedings can be started to prove liability. If this happens, don't worry – we'll be there to support you every step of the way.

We’ll always work on your instructions, providing you with all the information needed to make an informed decision.

Read More FAQs

Related Information - Road Traffic Accident Claims

Pedestrian Accident Claims - if you’ve been hit by a vehicle while walking, you might be entitled to compensation
Serious Injury Claims - our specialist serious injury lawyers could help you get the compensation and care you deserve
Welfare & Benefits - our factsheets provide information on benefits you may be entitled to following an injury
Amputation claims - see how we can help if you've had an amputation after an RTA

Scottish Flag All Scottish cases will be handled by the Scottish law firm with which we are associated, Irwin Mitchell Scotland LLP. The law relating to funding is different in Scotland and you will receive separate advice about what that means as well as a separate funding agreement.

 

About Irwin Mitchell

Founded in Sheffield in 1912, Irwin Mitchell has always been a bit different. Our advisers really get to know the people and business that we help.

We have offices around the UK so wherever you are, our experts can help.

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