Injuries incurred in a road traffic accident can be traumatic. Your everyday life may be disrupted in an instant, perhaps without you’re doing, owing to the suddenness of the event.
When others are culpable for the accident, you don’t have to endure the consequences in silence. You may act — and Wafer Phillips Solicitors is an excellent resource for that.
You’ll need assistance in difficult situations. After an accident, family, friends, and professional personal injury lawyers can make a significant difference. We treat our clients as unique individuals, unlike “large” legal businesses that utilize a one-size-fits-all approach to personal injury claims.
You get:
The greatest likelihood of obtaining the compensation you deserve is A personalized service with regular contact Reassurance that your claim is being handled by personal injury attorneys.
Don’t accept the consequences of a vehicle accident. To begin your injury claim, contact us right now.
Are My Injuries Serious Enough to Instruct a Solicitor?
On May 31, 2021, the government implemented sweeping changes to road traffic accident claims. The Official Injury Claims portal will be used for most whiplash injuries-related claims.
If your claim is subject to this procedure, there are two significant consequences:
- A set rate is used to compute the amount you get compensated for your injuries. These figures are based on how long your problems last, and, in general, they are far lower than comparable injuries compensated in other sorts of accidents (to which the premium does not apply).
- The claimant is not permitted to recover legal fees as part of the claim, thus Truth Legal (and other personal injury attorneys) will not be able to assist you.
If all these requirements are met, you must submit a claim using the Official Injury Claims website:
- You must be at least 18 years old.
- On or after May 31, 2021, the incident took place.
- You were a motor vehicle driver or passenger (not including motorcycles and scooters) in a road traffic accident, and your injuries resulted from the incident.
- Whiplash injuries were the cause of your pain—i.e., soft-tissue neck, shoulders, or back damage.
- Your injuries are worth less than £5,000, and the total value of your claim is less than £10,000.
The third element, in which the injured person must have a diagnosis confirming an injury or disease that was caused by the accident, is sometimes difficult to assess. The basic compensation amount for whiplash injuries that last between 18 months and two years is £4,215. Whiplash injuries that heal faster than that will be valued lower. This implies
For more information on the 2021 whiplash regulations, see our comprehensive guide and FAQ here. Alternatively, if you’d rather watch an honest rundown of these terrible legislation changes for injured people, check out Andrew Gray’s rant on the 2021 whiplash reforms and why they’re so dangerous.
You do not have to use the Official Injury Claims website if you were injured in a road traffic accident. If you were harmed because of someone else’s negligence, say, in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you can still file an injury claim and get legal assistance from Truth Legal.
- Cyclist
- Motorcyclist (or whilst riding a scooter)
- Pedestrian (or whilst on a mobility scooter or in a wheelchair)
You may have suffered a fracture in your neck, back, or skull. Even if you feel that you only sustained minor injuries like sprains and bruises (and/or believe the accident was not your fault), these are important things to consider when seeking compensation for bodily injury and medical expenses.
- Broken bones
- Head injuries
- Catastrophic injuries
- Development of chronic pain
The rest of the guide is intended primarily at individuals whose circumstances prevent their claims from being accepted under the new Official Injury Claims procedure. However, much of the background law and general process of a road traffic incident claim is still accurate, and they may help you.
Different Kinds of Road Traffic Accident
The Department for Transport predicts that 327.1 billion vehicle miles were travelled in the UK in 2017, which is an all-time high. All manner of different road traffic accidents will inevitably occur because of this enormous volume of traffic.
Whilst most of the information on this page can apply to any kind of road traffic accident, it may be helpful to look at some more specific types of incidents.
Car accidents
Cars are the most common type of vehicle on the roads. The majority of the billion vehicle miles travelled in these statistics were driven by automobiles (327.1 billion). It’s no wonder that automobile collisions account for the most frequent sort of road traffic accident. Between July and September 2017, car occupants comprised 57% of all fatalities in road traffic accidents.
If you were in a vehicle and were hurt in an accident, you may be able to file a claim whether you were the driver. Changing lanes into your car, putting you up on a roundabout, or reversing into your automobile in a parking lot are all examples of common accidents.
If you’re the driver of the vehicle and someone else is at fault, you’ll be required to demonstrate that. If you were a car passenger rather than the driver, it’s very difficult for you to be held responsible for the fender-bender. For more information about what it takes to win a claim, see below.
Accidents involving more vulnerable road-users
Although accidents involving car occupants may be most common, accidents involving more ‘vulnerable’ kinds of road-user have the potential to be more serious. You may have been involved in a road traffic accident as:
- A cyclist
- A pedestrian
- A biker, on a motorbike or scooter
If so, the lower levels of protection you must mean you are at a greater risk of suffering much more severe injuries, such as brain or head injuries.
The courts recognise the increased vulnerability of these kinds of road-user. Other motorists are often expected to take more care to avoid injuring them. This may make certain aspects of your claim a bit easier to establish if you fall into one of these more vulnerable categories. More specific information on each category can be found by following the links above.
Why Should I Make a Personal Injury Claim?
Isn’t it true that personal injury claims are only for money-grabs and malingerers? That is not the case at all! Personal injury claims may receive criticism from certain quarters, but they are not a “get rich quick” scheme. They aim to “undo” as much of the damage caused by your accident as possible. You have
A traffic accident might have various negative consequences. The most obvious is the bodily injuries that you suffered because of the collision, but other complications can cause equal harm. These include psychological symptoms, changes to your quality of life, and loss of income. Money alone cannot repair all the repercussions of an accident; however, personal injury compensation maybe
The other driver did not have insurance or gave me false or incorrect details
Even if the other driver isn’t insured, you may still file a personal injury claim. If you have the vehicle’s registration, the insurer’s information can be obtained.
The Motor Insurers’ Bureau, which is the named insurance provider for your vehicle, can assist you in filing a claim if there is no proper insurance coverage. They will act similarly to an insurance firm and pay your compensation if you win your case.
If you need legal assistance dealing with your road traffic accident, we highly suggest that you contact Wafer Phillips Solicitors today for a second opinion.