Road Traffic Accidents - Car Accident Claim

PHC Law secured £5m compensation for a teenager who was left with devastating injuries after a severe car crash.

A friend of the client was driving a Vauxhall Corsa sxi the day the accident occurred. Having been urged to slow down, soon afterwards, the car became airborne and spun into the path of an oncoming vehicle. Our client was in a coma for months after the collision, and sustained brain injuries that changed his life over night.

Now solely dependant on 24 hour care from his parents and medical staff, the damages approved by the Court will be kept in trust by the Court of protection to ensure that his future needs are met. It is estimated that £200,000 a year will contribute towards the medical treatment and care that he needs on a daily basis.

PHC Law are dedicated to all of our clients, and guarantee to handle your case with complete confidence on a no win no fee basis.

In order to be eligible to make a car accident claim, we need to be able to prove that your injuries have been caused by someone else’s negligence.

The majority of car accidents are caused by human error and in many cases by people who have been driving dangerously.

By law, all motorists have to be insured so that they are covered in the event of a car accident and any claims that may arise against them. If you are successful in making a car accident claim, the compensation that you receive will be paid by the third party’s insurers.

To support your claim for compensation, it is important that you seek medical attention if you haven’t done already. The amount of compensation for which you may be eligible will depend on the extent of your injury and the effect that it has on your day-to-day lifestyle. Without seeking medical attention for your injuries, this may affect whether or not your claim is likely to be accepted.

To prove that a third party is liable for causing the car accident and injuries you have sustained, you should try to provide your solicitor with as much evidence as possible to support your claim for compensation.

Evidence to support your claim:

• Photographs of the damage to your car.
• Photographs of the injuries you have sustained (if visible).
• Details of any independent eye witnesses who were at the scene of the accident.
• Medical documents and receipts for any prescriptions or private care.
• Receipts for any work you have had done to your car.

All of the above will help your solicitor to prove liability against the third party. Medical evidence will also determine how much compensation you may be entitled to, which will be based on the pain and suffering of your injuries and the effect that it has on your day-to-day lifestyle.

If you have been signed off work for any period of time due to injuries, you may be entitled to claim for financial loss. The same also applies if you have had to pay for any private medical care, physiotherapy, prescription drugs etc. out of your own pocket.

Your solicitor will discuss what you may be entitled to claim for when they access your claim.

Q. Can I claim if I am a passenger or pedestrian?

A. Yes. If you are a passenger in a vehicle, you will be able to proceed with a claim against the other party involved in the collision or against the driver.

Q. How long will my claim take?

A. Usually, if one side accepts liability, a compensation claim can be settled quite swiftly. However, if the compensation claim is disputed, this can delay matters in the claim being completed. Every individual’s case is different to another’s. At PHC Law, we will keep you informed at all times on the progress of your claim. Your solicitor will give you a good idea with regard to the time it may take to settle your case.

Q. How much compensation will I receive?

A. Every case is different dependent on everyone’s individual circumstances, so there is no direct answer to this. The amount of compensation that you can expect to receive will be based on various factors that your solicitor will access; the seriousness of your injury, medical reports, the pain and suffering it has caused, the length of time it will take to make a full recovery, any financial loss, medical expenses or any other expenses you may have incurred are just a few example of what will dictate the level of compensation that you are entitled to.

Your solicitor will advise you how much they think you may be entitled to at the start of your claim. During the process of your claim, it could be established that you may be entitled to interim payments or even be informed that you may be entitled to more compensation that you initially thought. Of course, this all depends on the medical evidence and individual circumstances of your case.

Q. Who will pay my compensation?

A. The compensation you are awarded will be paid by the third party’s insurers. Throughout the process your personal injury solicitor will advise you on the appropriate amount of compensation you should accept.

Q. Are there lots of forms to fill in?

A. No. There are some forms that you will need to sign; these are usually required for you to fill in at the start of your claim.

Q. Will I have to go to court?

A. It is very rare for compensation claims to go all the way to court. This only happens if the claim is disputed from start to finish and an agreement cannot be reached.