Many thousands of people are injured, sometimes fatally, on the roads of the UK every year and being involved in a car accident can be a traumatic experience for all involved whether you are a passenger or a driver.
If you are involved in a serious road accident, chances are that obtaining financial compensation will be the last thing on your mind.
Nevertheless, being involved in a car accident can have serious and long lasting consequences and receiving compensation for your injuries can help secure the best care and treatment and take the burden of financial worry off your shoulders when you need it most.
I've been involved in a road accident, am I entitled to compensation? Whether you are a passenger, a driver, a cyclist or a pedestrian if you are involved in an accident on the road and you suffer an injury as a result you may be eligible to claim compensation if the accident wasn't your fault.
In the first instance it is important to gather as much evidence as possible, as this can make it easier to proceed with your personal injury claim.
Though it may not occur to you at the time, photographic evidence can be particularly useful in establishing legal liability for an accident.
A personal injury solicitor can offer detailed guidance as to whether you may be eligible to make a claim, and the steps that you will need to take in order to make a compensation claim.
Your solicitor will work with you to obtain the appropriate evidence and the correct medical assessments should you go ahead with the claim.
How much compensation will I receive? The amount of compensation that you receive will depend on the type of injury that you suffer and the effect that it is likely to have on your life as well as any financial losses that you have incurred as a result.
For example, you are likely to receive a greater level of compensation for a life threatening injury than you could expect to receive for minor whiplash.
Although it is normally no longer possible to obtain legal aid for making a personal injury claim, your solicitor will be able to advise you on how best to fund your claim and you may be able to make a claim on a no-win no-fee basis, depending on the circumstances of your case.
Making a personal injury claim will not reverse the consequences of the accident or the injury that you sustained as a result, however it could achieve financial recompense for your injuries and help you on the path to recovery.