Your legal options if you have been injured in a road traffic accident

August marks National Road Victim month, a campaign held annually that serves to raise awareness of road traffic accidents. It also highlights the ongoing work that goes into preventing crashes and remembering those who have been killed or injured.

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.

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. If you have been injured in a road traffic accident and want to make a claim, what are your options? Demelza Pallant, Associate in Coodes’ Personal Injury Team, explores.

What comes under the umbrella of a road traffic accident?

Road traffic accidents can take many forms, and any accident that leaves an injury can have significant and long-lasting impacts. Examples of accident that often lead to injury:

• Pedestrian hit by a vehicle when crossing the road
• Cyclist hit by another vehicle
• Head on collision with another vehicle
• Cyclist knocked from their bike from an overtaking vehicle

For a personal injury claim to be successful there needs to be a reasonably significant injury and the accident needs to be the fault of someone else.

The options for claiming

What are the options for claiming if you are injured from a non-fault road traffic accident?

1. Legal Expense Insurance: You may have the benefit of Legal Expense Insurance through your insurance policy. The benefit of using this policy is that the insurers will contact the solicitors for you to start the claim. The downside can be that you do not get to choose the solicitor or solicitors firm representing you. If it is important to you to have a local solicitor fighting your case then this may not be the best option. Even if you have legal expense insurance, you do not have to use it to make your claim. However, you may need to tell your insurers this when you report the accident to them.

• Companies advertised on TV/Internet: There are a number of large well-known companies who can be found on the internet or through TV advertising. These companies are not necessarily solicitors, but they act as a marketing agent for law firms. The advantage of using one of these companies is that they are easy to find and will be quick to call you back. However, you have no choice as to which law firm they will contact for you. Therefore, even if your road traffic accident occurs in Cornwall, you could have a firm from Manchester acting for you.

• Your local law firm: Using a local law firm like Coodes, who specialise in personal injury, means you will have a solicitor or legal executive representing you from start to finish. You will have a local office that you can pop into to meet with them. You will also have the knowledge that someone highly experienced is acting for you who you can contact directly.

Coodes represents a victim of a road traffic accident

The Coodes team recently represented a victim of a road traffic accident who suffered an injury to his leg resulting in compartment syndrome. Compartment Syndrome is a very painful and debilitating injury which had a significant impact on all elements of life.

As part of the claim process, the team were able to help him return to a different type of employment. In less than two years from when he made contact, we were able to achieve a six-figure settlement for him. This represented his injury and the financial losses he had suffered as a result of the accident.

He said: “I opted to go with a local solicitors like Coodes because I wanted, and received, a more personal one-on-one service. This included home visits and regular updates on how my case was moving forward.

“I was very happy with the speed at which the case was resolved as I had worried it might drag on for years and I’m delighted with the result.”

Next steps

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

If you or someone you love has been involved in a road traffic accident that wasn’t their fault, you can contact Demelza for personalised advice. Email demelza.pallant@coodes.co.uk or call 01326 213 037. Alternatively, you can fill in the online contact form on our website and somebody will get back to you.