Car accidents and personal injury - a guide
Car accidents
The amount of car accidents in the UK is an ever growing concern. In fact there are around 250,000 car accidents in the UK each year and with the amount of cars on the road increasing, the amount of accidents increase with that. With this in mind, there is a high chance of being involved in a car accident at some point of your life. If this is the case, then a claim may need to be made.
The causes of car accidents may vary and of course some causes are more common than others. The main and most well known causes for accidents are:
Examples of this may be driver behaviour, visual and auditory comprehension, decision-making ability and slow reactions.
It is shown from surveys conducted that the chances of having a car accident are increased if the driver is travelling above or even below the speed limit that has been set for that area.
This may include alcohol use, physical impairment, old age, fatigue, drug use and distraction.
Although there have been significant improvements made to the design of roads in the UK, there are still areas that have design faults and may cause car accidents.
The UK MOT test was created as to determine whether a car is roadworthy or not. Having a vehicle that is well maintained, with good brakes and well adjusted suspension can make a vital difference in an emergency and may well determine the cause of a car accident.
What can I claim for?
If you have experienced a car accident, there are many different areas as to what can be claimed. This may include:
- Repairs to a vehicle
- Loss of earnings
- Damage to property
- Transport costs
- Personal injury
Personal injury claims
Although it is not compulsory to seek help from a solicitor, it is strongly advised. When being involved in a car accident that has resulted in personal injury, there is a protocol that should be followed. A solicitor can make sure the protocol is adhered to and the case is dealt with in the most efficient manner. Firstly, the solicitor would need to write a letter to the other party explaining that they are being held responsible for the car accident. Also, a list of injuries and expenses will need to be summarised. The other party would need to acknowledge receipt of this claim within 3 weeks. If the other party is insured, the insurance company would probably take over at this point. It would need to be confirmed within 3 months as to whether the claim is going to be settled. Most cases are dealt with sooner.
In the event of injury from a car accident, a solicitor would normally appoint a medical expert that will examine the extent of the injury, make a prognosis and provide a full report. It is after the medical report provided that the solicitor can provide an estimation of the possible value of the claim. This will then progress further to hopefully make a settlement.
If it isn’t possible to reach an agreement, the issues can then be decided at a court hearing.