Road Traffic Accident Abroad Claims

If you have been injured in a road traffic accident abroad that wasn’t your fault, you could be entitled to claim compensation. This applies whether you were a driver, passenger or pedestrian in an accident involving:

• Cars, including taxis
• Coaches and buses
• Heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) and lorries
• Motorcycles
• Bicycles.

Get in touch with our specialists today to tell us what happened to you. If, after a free consultation, you choose to pursue a claim with us, we will begin by collecting all available evidence that can support your case. Evidence we will use might include:

• Witness statements
• Photographs and CCTV footage
• Medical reports
• Independent medical expert opinions
• Receipts.

If your case is to be pursued in England, Wales or Scotland, we will contact the person or company responsible for your injuries and inform them we intend to make a claim. We’ll be able to settle your claim quicker if they admit responsibility and agree with the compensation amount we put to them.

However, we will have to use the evidence gathered to prove it was their fault if they won’t accept blame. This may involve initiating court proceedings, which we may also need to do if they dispute how much compensation we feel you need.

We try to keep claims from going to court, but if we need to start proceedings, we will keep you informed every step of the way. It’s very unlikely that your claim will get to a full court hearing.

You can claim for yourself or on behalf of a loved one who has died after a road traffic accident caused by someone else. The accident could have been caused by:

• The driver of another vehicle
• The driver of a vehicle you were a passenger in
• A fault in the vehicle
• A poorly maintained road surface or traffic signals.

Even if you were partially responsible for the accident, perhaps due to being unfamiliar with local traffic laws, you may still be able to claim compensation. Please contact us for expert advice in this situation.

Wherever you need to make your claim, we aim to make the entire process as simple as possible for you. If you do need to claim abroad, we work with an international network of law firms whose representatives can pursue your case in their jurisdiction.

When making a car or road traffic accident abroad claim, who you’re claiming against will depend on the circumstances.

In the case of a collision between two cars, for example, you are likely to be claiming against the other driver and their insurer. If you were a passenger in a car or in a taxi, it may be the driver of the vehicle you were a passenger in and their insurer or the other driver and their insurer (whoever was found to be at fault).

However, in certain cases someone other than the driver may be deemed to be responsible. For example, if you were travelling on a coach or bus as part of a package tour abroad and the accident was caused by reckless driving by the driver, the tour operator may be held responsible. This is because they failed in their duty of care to you as a customer.

Road traffic accidents in foreign countries can also be caused by other factors, such as poorly maintained signage or road surfaces. In these cases, you may be able to bring a claim against the jurisdiction’s local authority responsible for this.

In the case of hit and run accidents abroad, where the driver responsible isn’t insured or can’t be traced, you may still be able to make a claim. If you are able to claim through the UK courts then your compensation could be paid by the Motor Insurance Bureau (MIB), an insurance industry-funded organisation that compensates victims of uninsured or untraceable drivers.

Thanks to our excellent relationships with partners and law firms around the globe, we can help with pursuing your claim in many different jurisdictions, such as the USA, Europe, Canada and Australia.

So, wherever your road traffic accident abroad took place, we urge you to speak to us. We will ensure you are properly represented by a legal expert with in-depth knowledge of the law in the country your accident took place.

If your illness or accident has resulted in a hospital stay in another country, it's still vital that you contact us as soon as possible to ensure you get your claim started within the relevant time limits.

We can begin working on your claim while you're still abroad—all you need to do is contact us.

You can advise us on the best way to contact you while you’re still abroad and, if needs be, you can update this once you are back in the UK.

We always advise you to make a claim for compensation as soon as possible after your road traffic accident abroad.

The time limits for claiming compensation vary significantly in different countries, so it’s vital you start your claim within the jurisdiction’s time limit. Our international connections with partners across the globe means we will be able to make sure your claim is made in time, if you contact us soon enough.

Get in touch today to start making your car or road traffic accident abroad claim.