Road Traffic Collisions: How to claim UK compensation for injury and financial loss following a RTC
Road traffic collisions: Specialist solicitor summarized guide to claiming compensation for personal injury, car damage and financial loss following a road traffic collision – includes an explanation of what a compensation claim actually is, how long you have to start your claim, how to have all your questions answered online by a legal expert with links to pages setting out each step of the RTC claims process in detail and a summary of pages answering online frequently asked questions.
What are compensation claims for road traffic collisions?
“Road traffic collisions” or RTC compensation claims are claims for compensation for personal injury and financial loss caused by a motor vehicle travelling on a road or public highway. A road traffic collision is also known as a road traffic accident or RTA.
Road Traffic Collision
It can involve two motor vehicles or a motor vehicle and pedestrian or cyclist.
How do you know which vehicle driver is at fault for the RTC?
For your compensation claim to be successful the driver who caused your injury must be shown to be at fault.
It is generally quite simple to show which driver is at fault – the road user who has broken the Highway Code will normally be responsible for your accident.
Who do you make road traffic collisions compensation claims against?
You make your compensation claim against the driver who was responsible for your accident.
Who pays your road traffic collision compensation?
For a motor vehicle to be used legally on a public road – the driver must have in place a valid form of motor insurance which must allow for payment of compensation for any injuries and losses caused to other road users.
It is therefore the motor insurers who will pay your road traffic accident compensation.
Who pays if the driver responsible for your accident was not insured?
You will be relieved to hear that you can still claim compensation if the driver responsible for your accident was not properly insured.
An organisation known as the Motor Insurers Bureau will pay your claim for compensation following road traffic accidents if the guilty driver was not insured or untraced – such as in a hit and run.
You must make sure you inform the police of your accident immediately so that you can prove to the Motor Insurers Bureau that your accident happened in the way you describe.
What types of compensation can you claim as part of road traffic accident claims?
You can claim the following types of compensation:
1. Personal injury — both physical injuries, such as whiplash, and psychological injury, such as post traumatic stress disorder.
2. Financial losses – losses that you have directly incurred as a result of your accident, such as lost income, prescription expenses, vehicle repair expense, etc.
3. Interest – you are entitled to claim interest on the above sums.
4. Legal costs — in England and Wales you are entitled to claim the majority of your legal expenses in pursuing your claim so long as your personal injuries are worth over £1,000.
How long do you have to start a claim for compensation following road traffic collisions in the UK?
In Great Britain you have three years from the date of your RTC to start your claim for compensation at court.
There are some exceptions to this rule, for example: if you were a child at the time of your accident you have until your 21st birthday to start your claim.
Summary and free online legal help with a road traffic accident claim
You now know all the important considerations you should take into account before deciding whether to make a claim for compensation following road traffic accidents – it is not suggested you make this claim yourself. I recommend you always seek the help of a specialist personal injury solicitor to make your claim.
Click RTA solicitor to access the free legal help options my website has to offer – including speaking to me direct or asking an online legal question.
Links to detailed pages I have written describing each step of the road traffic collisions claims process
Click road traffic accident to see an index page with links to all the pages I have written setting out in detail each step of the road traffic accident claims process.
Click road collision / road accident claim to see the a page summarizing all of the frequently road traffic collisions questions I have been asked with a link to the page I have written providing the answer.
