Car accidents can have a devastating effect, leaving people with lifelong physical and psychological injuries. They can be caused by road users failing to follow rules set out in the Highway Code and Road Traffic Act 1988. Last year (2025) there were 127,161 reported road casualties in Great Britain. Car accident claims can help those injured on the road recover compensation for the harm they suffered, as well as for financial losses such as medical bills and lost income.
If you’ve been involved in a collision on the roads, you should first prioritise your safety, then seek medical treatment, secure evidence (such as photos and details of parties involved), ensure it is reported to the police and your insurance company, and finally speak to a specialist road traffic accident solicitor. A solicitor specialising in car accident claims can ensure that your claim is accurately valued, has the correct supporting evidence and negotiate with the other party’s insurer to get the compensation you deserve.
At No Win No Fee Lawyers Direct, we work with a panel of experienced personal injury claims solicitors, one of whom could help you to seek compensation. Whether you were a driver, passenger, pedestrian, cyclist, or other road user, we could help connect you to an expert from our panel.
Talk to us about your car accident claim today by,
- Phoning 020 8050 4194
- Talking to us online.
- Use the contact form.
Jump To A Section
- Can I Make A Car Accident Claim?
- Examples Of Car Accident Claims
- What Are The Most Common Car Accident Injuries Sustained?
- How Will The New Whiplash Reforms Programme Affect My Claim?
- How Much Can I Claim For A Car Accident?
- What Should I Do After Being Involved In A Car Accident?
- Car Accident Claims Time Limit
- Can I Claim For A Car Accident With Your Panel Of No Win No Fee Solicitors?
- Learn More
Can I Make A Car Accident Claim?
You could make a car accident claim if you can show that another road user was responsible for the incident in which you were harmed. Car accident claims could be made by passengers, drivers, and other road users (such as pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists) who have been involved in a collision. However, there is a set of criteria that you need to meet to seek a payout.
In order to claim compensation you must show,
- Duty Of Care. You were owed a duty of care by another road user. This duty is owed by all road users to one another. It means that a road user had a legal obligation or ‘duty’ towards your safety. To fulfil this, anyone navigating on the roads must do so in a safe manner that avoids causing harm and damage to themselves and others. Part of complying with this duty involves following relevant road safety rules and regulations such as those found in the Highway Code and the Road Traffic Act.
- Breach Of Duty. The party identified above breached their duty of care (legal obligation) towards your safety by failing to meet acceptable standards, such as by failing to adhere to the Highway Code or Road Traffic Act 1988 (RTA). They may have been speeding, failed to pay due care and attention to the road, or been intoxicated.
- The Breach Caused Your Injury. You will need to prove that the breach of duty identified above directly led to your injury and that this would not have occurred if the other road user had taken reasonable care.
Next we look at further questions you may have about when and whether you could make a road traffic accident compensation claim.
Can I Still Claim If I Was At Fault For The Car Accident?
Under a split liability agreement you could still make a car accident claim, even if you were partially at fault. A split liability agreement shares blame between multiple parties, reducing the amount of compensation you could claim by the percentage you were said to be at fault.
For example, in a rear-end collision, the following driver is usually said to be at fault as they should leave sufficient stopping distance. However, the leading driver may also share fault if they brake suddenly and for no reason.
The critical factor in being able to claim compensation is that another party must have some degree of responsibility for the accident taking place. If you were wholly at fault, you could not make a claim.
Can I Make A Car Accident Claim If I Didn’t Wear A Seatbelt?
You could make a car accident claim even if you did not wear a seatbelt at the time of the accident. However, if by wearing one you contributed towards your injuries occurring or their severity, any compensation awarded may be reduced. This is due to your contributory negligence, whereby not wearing a seatbelt contributed towards your being harmed. Your compensation may be reduced by the percentage you contributed towards your injuries.
Car Accident Claims On Behalf Of A Loved One
Car accident claims can be made on behalf of loved ones who are legally unable to do so themselves. Prominent examples may include where a minor (under 18s) or person with reduced mental capacity is injured in a road traffic accident.
In these cases you may ask to be appointed as their litigation friend by the court. This is a suitable adult who can act on their behalf in the claim, instructing the solicitor and carrying out other duties.
An advisor from our team can help you understand more about when you could make a road traffic accident claim and if you could do so on behalf of a loved one.
Examples Of Car Accident Claims
Examples of car accidents you could claim for may include rear-end collisions, those caused by uninsured drivers, hit and run accidents, and head-on crashes.
Road traffic accident claims could be made for:
- Uninsured driver accidents. These can include hit and run or other forms of accidents caused by uninsured or untraced drivers. Claims may be made via the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB).
- Rear-shunts. These could occur where the following driver fails to pay due care and attention on approach to a roundabout or other junction, failing to stop in line with other traffic.
- Distracted driving. Accidents may be caused by a driver using their mobile phone, satnav, or other device and failing to pay due care and attention to the road. For example, a driver is using their satnav whilst changing lanes on a dual carriageway. They fail to check their mirror, sideswiping another car.
- Reckless driving and speeding. Driving recklessly, such as speeding, can lead to serious accidents. These could occur where a driver is speeding in a residential area and they strike a pedestrian crossing the road on a zebra crossing. The pedestrian suffered injuries including broken and fractured bones.
- T-bone collisions. These can occur in private vehicles, taxi’s, may be caused by the driver of the vehicle you are in, or someone else’s negligence. For instance, a taxi driver speeds through a red light causing a t-bone collision with another vehicle. A passenger suffers multiple injuries.
Accidents can also involve collisions with cyclists, pedestrians, and other road users. Please contact us to learn more about making car accident claims.
What Are The Most Common Car Accident Injuries Sustained?
The most common car accident injuries sustained can include whiplash, sprains and strains, broken bones, and head or brain injuries. Additionally, car crashes can lead to serious injuries, such as those affecting the internal organs, spinal cord, or psychological harm (including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)).
Common car accident injuries include,
- Brain and head injuries, including traumatic brain injuries and more minor head injuries.
- Spinal cord and back injuries. These may include partial or complete paralysis.
- Broken and fractured bones. Broken leg, ankle, arm, wrist, rib, or clavicle bones may all occur.
- Soft tissue injuries. Car accidents can cause various forms of sprains and strains across the body, such as whiplash.
- Internal injuries and organ damage. Internal injuries may include organ damage and/or internal bleeding.
- Scarring. Including disfiguring facial scars, as well as those across other parts of the body.
- Traumatic amputation. In which a body part is lost during the crash.
- Psychological harm. Such as PTSD or psychological damage.
This represents a non-exhaustive list of the different types of injuries which may be sustained in a car crash. Please get in touch with our team to discuss your personal injury claim for a car accident.
How Will The New Whiplash Reforms Programme Affect My Claim?
The Whiplash Injury Regulations 2021 (introduced by The Whiplash Reform Programme) mean that claims for injuries valued at £5,000 or less are made through a different process than those with higher-valued injuries. You will need to make your claim through the Whiplash Reforms if:
- You were aged 18 or older at the time of the accident.
- The accident happened in England or Wales.
- You were driving or a passenger in a vehicle.
- The value of your injuries is £5,000 or less.
These cases are valued in line with a fixed tariff. We have included examples from this fixed tariff in the following table. Please note, if you suffered other minor injuries, such as bruised ribs, you may still claim through the Whiplash Reform Programme but your injuries may be valued in a different manner (which we explain shortly). Furthermore, your whiplash injuries may be valued based on the fixed tariffs even if you are making your claim in the traditional way.
| Duration of injury (in months). | Whiplash injury. | Whiplash with psychological injury. |
|---|---|---|
| 18 - 24 | £4,215 | £4,345 |
| 15 - 18 | £3,005 | £3,100 |
Please contact our team to learn more about how the whiplash reforms may affect car accident claims.
How Much Can I Claim For A Car Accident?
How much compensation you could claim for a car accident may be based on your injuries, their severity, and your financial losses. For example, according to the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG), a very severe brain injury may be awarded between £344,150 and £493,000. The JCG is a publication containing guidelines which legal professionals may use to value general damages. This is one of 2 parts making up a settlement and deals with pain and suffering caused.
The following table takes figures from the JCG. Note, the headline figure is not from the publication. Please only use this table as a guide.
| Injury & Severity | Notes | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple severe injuries and special damages for medical costs, care bills, and lost income. | Covering multiple serious or severe injuries. | Up to £1,000,000+ with special damages. |
| Very severe brain injuries. | Leaving some ability to follow basic instructions. | £344,150 to £493,000. |
| Paralysis, paraplegia. | Compensation depends on pain, degree of independence, and age, as well as other factors. | £267,340 to £346,890. |
| Severe psychiatric damage. | Resulting in marked problems across all areas of life and a poor prognosis. | £66,920 to £141,240. |
| Severe PTSD. | Permanent effects preventing the person from working at all, or to the same level. | £73,050 to £122,850. |
| Severe neck injuries (iii). | Dislocations, severe soft tissue injuries, or fractures which lead to chronic conditions. | £55,500 to £68,330. |
| Moderate back injuries (i). | A wide range of back injuries, such as crush or compression fractures. | £33,880 to £47,320. |
| Serious shoulder injuries | Damage to the lower brachial plexus and dislocation. | £15,580 to £23,430 |
| Moderate knee injures (ii). | Bruising, twisting, and laceration injuries or the exacerbation/ accelertion of existing injuries. | Up to £16,770. |
| Less serious leg injuries (iii). | Soft tissue injuries or simple fibula or tibia fractures. | Up to £14,450. |
Can Car Accident Claims Cover Other Losses?
Car accident claims can cover other losses such as lost income, medical bills, and care costs. Potential losses which may be covered include,
- Lost earnings.
- Medical costs.
- Care bills.
- Travel to medical or legal appointments.
- Domestic support, such as with nursing care, or even a cleaner while you recover.
This part of your claim is known as ‘special damages’. Evidence such as copies of bank statements, invoices, pay slips, and receipts will be needed if you wish to be reimbursed for your costs.
One of the specialist personal injury solicitors from our panel could assist with your case. Speak to an advisor now to learn what items you could be reimbursed for and to discuss what evidence you’ll need for each.
What Should I Do After Being Involved In A Car Accident?
After being involved in a car accident you should stop where safe to do so, check for injuries, seek medical care, and exchange details with anyone involved in the accident. Further steps in making car accident injury claims include collecting evidence, reporting the incident, and talking to an expert solicitor.
Steps which could support your car accident injury claim include,
- Seeking immediate medical care. This may mean visiting an A&E department, urgent treatment centre, or your GP. Prompt medical treatment gives you the best possible chance of recovery, as well as creating a record of your injuries and treatment.
- Exchange details. You must give your own and the vehicle owner’s name and address, plus the vehicle registration number to anyone with cause to require them.
- Reporting the accident. Road accidents should be reported to the police within 24 hours where someone was injured or where vehicles were damaged.
- Gathering evidence. Once your injuries have been taken care of, and when safe to do so, you should collect evidence including,
- Medical evidence, such as your medical records.
- Video and photographs of the accident scene and any injuries visible.
- Police accident reports.
- Contact details of anyone who witnessed the accident. They may be asked to provide a witness statement.
- Keep a diary. In this you may record the impact of your injuries, treatment received, financial losses, and medical or legal appointments you kept.
- Seek legal advice. By getting legal advice from a solicitor specialising in personal injury claims, you can help to ensure your case is in the best hands. If eligible, a solicitor from our panel can help with your car accident claim.
Speak to a member of our team today to learn more about how to make car accident claims.
Car Accident Claims Time Limit
The Limitation Act 1980 states that the standard personal injury claims time limit is 3 years, beginning on the date of the accident. This time limit applies to car accident claims, and other accidents on the roads.
The car accident claims time limit may differ where you are making a claim on behalf of an individual with reduced mental capacity, or who is under the age of 18. In these cases, the time limit is paused and will begin either on,
- The date the claimant turns 18.
- The date their mental capacity is regained. If this party does not regain their capacity, the time limit is indefinitely suspended.
Whilst the time limit is paused or suspended, a litigation friend may act on behalf of the person harmed. You can discover more about what time limits apply to road accident claims by talking to one of our advisors.
Can I Claim For A Car Accident With Your Panel Of No Win No Fee Solicitors?
You could claim for a car accident with a member of our panel of No Win No Fee solicitors. At No Win No Fee Lawyers Direct, the solicitors on our panel are often able to help claimants without having to charge upfront or ongoing fees for their services. Instead, they may be able to offer you a Conditional Fee Agreement. This is a form of No Win No Fee agreement enabling the solicitor to provide their services in this way.
A No Win No Fee solicitor will not charge for their services where car accident claims are unsuccessful. Where claimants win, a success fee is deducted by the solicitor. This fee is a (legally capped) percentage of your compensation.
A No Win No Fee agreement is just one of the numerous benefits of working with one of the solicitors on our panel. Further benefits could include,
- Help accessing rehabilitation, physiotherapy, or psychologists.
- An independent medical assessment of your physical and/or psychological injuries.
- An explanation of any legal terms used.
- A clear explanation of the claims process and success fees.
- Help applying for an interim payment (if applicable).
The solicitors on our panel have decades of combined experience in helping people to make successful compensation claims. If you are ready to make a road traffic accident claim, please contact us.
Contact No Win No Fee Lawyers Direct
You can contact No Win No Fee Lawyers Direct by phone, online chat, or by sending the details of your case.
- Phone 020 8050 4194
- Contact us with details of your accident.
- Talk to us live online.
Learn More
Learn more about road traffic accidents and compensation claims here.
- Read more in our guide to road traffic accident claims.
- Learn more about personal injury claims here.
References.
- Learn more about road safety in this government resource.
- Advice for road users from the Government Think! Campaign.
- An overview of first aid from the NHS.
Please contact us to learn more about how the solicitors on our panel could help with car accident claims.