Coodes top five tips for finding the right support after a road traffic accident

What should you do if you are looking for legal support after a road collision? Coodes offers their top five tips

National Road Victim Month

August marks National Road Victim Month, held annually to raise awareness for the ongoing work to prevent crashes and to remember those who have been killed or injured in road traffic accidents. Organised by the charity RoadPeace, August was designated National Road Victim Month following the death of Princess Diana on 31st August 1997, and to commemorate the first death by a motor vehicle – Bridget Driscoll in 1896.

According to RoadPeace, five people are killed every day, and over 60 are seriously injured on our roads. The latest provisional report from Government found that there were 29,795 people killed or seriously injured and 136,002 casualties of all severities in 2022.

Many people who have experienced the terrible toll a traffic collision can take are left seeking trusted legal support and advice about compensation, to help get their life back on track.

Key considerations when you are looking for legal support and considering a personal injury claim

Coodes personal injury team have worked with many victims of road traffic accidents and experienced first-hand the devastating impact that accidents have on victims and their families. We pride ourselves on providing a sensitive and supportive service and understand that winning compensation is often just part of the journey.

Here are our top five tips when you have experienced a road traffic collision and are seeking legal support for a claim.

Go local

Going to a local law firm offers a host of benefits, including being able to meet your solicitor in person. This is especially important for building trust between you and the solicitor representing you. Often, proceeding with a claim involves sharing intimate information about yourself, such as injuries sustained, so being sure you can trust your representative is key. Coodes has a network of offices across the South West so you can be sure there is one near you!

Avoid the ads

There is often a misconception that when contacting companies such as Injury Lawyers 4 U, you are contacting expert lawyers who can help with your claim. Whilst their offer may suit some peoples’ needs, it’s important to know they are management companies who will pass on your case to a law firm on their board. This means you do not get a choice in who represents you and you can’t check on the law firm’s reputation.

Check they are experts

It is important to check if the firm you are considering is accredited. Most expert firms will be accredited with the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers, just like Coodes is.

Know what you want

Before you proceed with a claim it is important that you consider what you want the outcome of the process to be. Your solicitor should be able to help you consider the options available before a claim is opened.

Be aware that it’s not a quick process

A personal injury claim is not a quick process and can take anywhere from one year to four years. This means it’s even more important to build a strong relationship with the solicitor who is representing you.

For more information about how Coodes can help, contact our Personal Injury team at clinical@coodes.co.uk or call 01326 318900