Car Accident Claims

There are hundreds of thousands of vehicles on the roads today in the United Kingdom, so it is no surprise that accidents can and do happen. If you have been involved in a car accident that was not your fault, then you may be entitled to make a claim for compensation. It does not matter whether you were the driver of the car involved in the accident, or merely a passenger. If you have been affected by a car accident, you may be eligible to make a claim. In many cases, it is even possible for cyclists and pedestrians to claim compensation if they have been affected.

What causes car accidents?

Car accidents can be caused by a lot of different factors. In the United Kingdom, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents cites driver error as the most common cause of car accidents in the country. If you are involved in an accident where another driver was found to be at fault, a claim is usually made against their motor insurance company. Depending on the level of compensation which is being claimed, the driver may also be sued personally. If the driver who caused the accident did not have car insurance, they will have to cover the whole value of any insurance claims with money from their own pocket. They may also face other penalties as driving without insurance is illegal in the United Kingdom. If the cause of the accident is found to have been driver error, and you were the driver who was found to be at fault, it is unlikely that you will be able to make a claim.

As well as general driver error, speeding, falling asleep at the wheel and the consumption of drugs or alcohol are also common causes of accidents. Accidents cause by any of these factors can be life-altering, and therefore it is possible to make a claim for compensation related to accidents caused by any of these issues, as long as the accident was not your fault.

Environmental factors may also have been the cause of your accident. Things like potholes in the road or faulty traffic lights can cause serious problems for drivers. In these cases, you may be able to claim compensation from the person or company who is responsible for the upkeep of the road or the maintenance of the lights.

Mechanical faults can also be the cause of an accident. If your vehicle suffered from a mechanical fault which caused you to crash, the manufacturers or the mechanics who last serviced the vehicle may be at fault. In some cases, you may be able to sue them for compensation.

What are the effects of car accidents?

The most common physical complaint after a car accident is an injury which is known as whiplash. Whiplash can occur to the neck when the head is jolted sharply in any direction, as would occur in a car accident. Other common injuries include broken bones, bruising, internal injuries and psychological damage. Your vehicle may also be badly damaged. If you have experienced any of these problems, you can make a claim for compensation.

Why claim compensation after a car accident?

Being injured in an accident can seriously affect your quality of life. The injuries which you sustain may make it impossible or much harder for you to do many of the things which you want to do. It can even harm your earning potential if you are forced to take time off of work because of the injuries which you have sustained. Any compensation which you receive can help to cover you for the inconvenience that these injuries have caused and any loss of earnings which you have experienced.

How to make a claim for compensation

Although it is possible to make a claim for compensation without professional help, most people choose to contact a claims advisor or a compensation solicitor because their professional experience can prove invaluable. A professional will often be able to listen to your story for free, before they assess whether you will be able to make a claim or not. Some professionals are even able to take on whole cases on a “no win, no fee” basis.