Road Traffic Law: Personal Injury Claims
A high percentage of personal injury claims occur as the result of road traffic accidents, it’s possible for anyone who is injured in a road accident which they did not cause to claim compensation for the pain and suffering they are put through as well as other costs incurred as a result of it, such as money lost through time off sick from work or medical care required to make a full recovery.
There are two main reasons why personal injury claims so often result from car accidents, one is that the speeds involved make injury a more or less inevitable consequence of any road traffic collision or accident, and the other is that all drivers in the UK are required to have insurance which covers personal injury claims made against them, so any settlement awarded by the Courts is guaranteed to be paid.
Anyone who is considering a personal injury claim after being harmed in a road traffic accident should seek expert legal advice before taking any action, having the backing of an experienced solicitor can dramatically affect the amount of compensation that is awarded and will make the entire process much less stressful. If you are involved in an accident your priority should be to seek medical attention, however, there are a number of measures that can be taken in order to support a personal injury claim later on:
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Exchange names, addresses and insurance details with everyone involved in the accident
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Take contact details from all witnesses
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Note the make, model, colour and registration of all the vehicles involved
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Photograph the scene if possible, otherwise draw a sketch of where the vehicle(s) ended up
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Write down your version of events as soon as possible, while its still fresh in your mind
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Inform the police within 24 hours and get an accident report number
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Inform your insurance company as soon as possible
The more evidence there is to back up a personal injury claim the easier it will be for a solicitor to successfully negotiate with the other side’s insurance company and win the maximum possible compensation. It’s important to ensure that the solicitor you end up working with is a consummate professional, ask to check their track record and consider speaking to some previous clients; if your insurance company provides someone remember that there is no obligation for you to work with them.