Road Traffic Accidents

Claims for injuries sustained on the road

Most people probably associate the word "accident" with a car or bike crash or a motor accident. Statistics show that many of us will have the misfortune to have at least one road traffic accident during our driving lives.

Fortunately, the majority of these accidents do not result in serious injury to the drivers and/or the passengers involved. But if you are injured in a car crash (either as the driver or a passenger) - whether it is simple bruising and whiplash, or something more serious - it is worth finding out if you can claim compensation for those injuries, how long the claim will take and the potential costs involved in claiming.

Basically a road traffic accident is treated in law in just the same way as any other type of accident. The injured party needs to establish that the accident is, at least partly, someone (or something) else's fault.

By law all drivers must have at least third party insurance cover. This means that their insurers will pick up the bill if the driver causes an accident and injury to any other party (including any passengers, whether related to the driver or not). If you are unfortunate enough to be involved in an accident with an uninsured driver, or with a driver who doesn't stop after the accident, then your claim is likely to be covered by a special agreement covered by the Motor Insurers' Bureau, an organisation set up specifically to cover such incidents.

If you are involved in a road traffic accident, then try and follow these basic steps:

• If you are involved in an accident in which someone other than you has been injured or damage has been caused to another's property or animal, then you must stop and give your name and address (and the name and address of the owner of the vehicle if not you) and your registration number, and insurance details if you have them, to any other parties involved.
• If such an accident occurs then you must report the accident to the police within 24 hours, if you have not stopped and/or not been able to provide your name and address, car registration number and insurance details to the other parties.
• Make sure you have a note of the make colour and model of any other vehicles involved, together with their number plate.
• Note any damage to other vehicles involved.
• Make a note of the other drivers' names and addresses.
• Make a note of any witness names and addresses.
• We advise that you call the police in all but the most straightforward of "prangs".
• Do not make any admissions about liability.
• Try and draw a rough sketch plan of the accident scene and where the vehicles ended up (if possible go back later and take some proper measurements).
• As soon as you are able to, write down your version of what happened.
• Notify your insurers as soon as you can after the accident.
• If you have suffered any injury at all get it checked out by a doctor.
• If the accident was not your fault and you have been injured then you should consider making a claim. You do not have to use the solicitors chosen for you by your insurers. They may be convenient for them, but not necessarily for you.

If your car is going to be off the road for any length of time then you may also be entitled to hire a car.