Car Accident Compensation Claims Solicitors

If you suffer an injury in a car accident that was someone else’s fault then you may be able to make a compensation claim. At Beacon Law we handle car accident claims for all kinds of road users, from moderate to serious injuries, and even for life-changing disabilities.

You can make a car accident claim as a driver, passenger, pedestrian, cyclist or motorcyclist, claiming compensation for the physical and psychological pain you’ve been through and any financial impact the car accident has had on you.

As long as you can show that the car accident happened because someone else acted negligently, you may be eligible to receive compensation, even if a driver involved was uninsured or can’t be traced. Contact Beacon Law with the details of your car accident and we’ll explain exactly how the claims process works.

Who can make a car accident claim?

Anyone who is injured in a car accident caused by the negligence of another party can make a car accident claim. As well as drivers themselves this covers passengers, pedestrians and other road users such as cyclists and motorcyclists.

The eligibility for making a car accident claim is as follows:

• You were owed a duty of care by another party such as a driver or, in some cases, the party responsible for maintaining safe driving conditions
• The other party failed in their duty of care and you were involved in an accident as a result of this failure
• The accident directly led to your injuries – physical, psychological or both

Speak to our specialist road traffic accident claims solicitors today to find out your rights to claiming compensation.

Can I make a no win no fee car accident claim?

Yes, if you make a car accident claim through Beacon Law then we work on a no win no fee basis. This means that there will be nothing to pay up-front, or as we gather evidence and negotiate with the other party for a fair compensation settlement.

We only take a fee if you win your claim and have been paid compensation, and it is never more than 25% of the money you receive. If you lose your claim then the legal costs of the other party will be covered by insurance we take out of your behalf

What are the common causes of car accident claims?

There are numerous factors which can cause an accident leading to a car accident claim. Some of the more common causes we see at Beacon Law include the following:

• Speeding – driving too quickly reduces reaction time and makes accidents more likely. It also increases the chances of people being seriously injured in any kind of car accident.
• Distraction – accidents are more likely to happen if someone driving a car is distracted and therefore not paying full attention to driving conditions and other road users. The distraction could be caused by anything from a fellow passenger to a text message or trying to do something like eat whilst driving.
• Drugs or drink – driving under the influence of drugs or drink has a negative impact on everything from the driver’s judgement to reaction times and hand-eye coordination, making car accidents much more likely to happen.
• Dangerous driving – some accidents are caused simply by a driver driving in a reckless or aggressive manner, including actions such as changing lanes without warning, weaving through traffic, ignoring traffic signs and traffic lights and driving far too close to the vehicle in front.
• Tiredness – driving whilst heavily fatigued can have a similar detrimental effect to driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

How much compensation could I receive for a car accident claim?

If your car accident claim is successful the amount of compensation you could receive will vary from a few thousand pounds for minor injuries up to hundreds of thousands for injuries which are life-changing and require on-going medical treatment and care. The final figure will be calculated on the basis of the following:

• The nature and severity of the injuries you received
• The way in which the injuries have impacted your life, such as stopping you pursuing hobbies and interests in the way you used to
• Whether you are expected to recover from your injuries and to what extent
• The direct financial impact of your injuries

In all cases the compensation paid for a successful car accident claim is made up of general damages and special damages.

General damages

General damages are paid on the basis of the nature of the injuries received and the pain and distress they have caused, both physical and psychological. The figure is decided with the help of a publication called the Judicial College Guidelines.

The JCG is a specialist guide setting out specific payment ranges for particular injuries. Examples in the latest edition which could be relevant to a car accident claim include the following:

• Moderately severe brain injury – £186,890 to £240,590
• ​Minor permanent damage to vision in one or both eyes – £7,780 to £17,900
• Serious jaw fracture – £15,320 to £26,010​
• A fractured index finger causing permanent symptoms – ​£7,780 to £10,440
• An injury to the hip or pelvis which requires surgery – £33,430 to £44,790

Minor injuries such, including some soft tissue injuries (whiplash) and other minor cuts and bruising are generally capped at £300 under the new tariff system introduced by the government.

Special damages

Special damages are intended to compensate for any direct financial impact the injuries have. They are meant to return you to the financial position you would have been in if the car accident had never happened.

This will include compensation for any earnings or pension provision lost because your injuries have impacted on your ability to earn a living, as well as direct compensation for any expenses which arise as a result of your injuries.

Expenses which could be included in special damages include the following:

• Any amount spent on medical treatment because of your injuries, now and in the future
• Any amount spent on care provision because of your injuries, now and in the future
• An amount intended to cover the time spent caring for you free of charge by friends and family
• Any amount spent on special equipment which you need to purchase on the basis of your injuries, such as mobility aids
• Any amount spent accessing therapy and counselling to deal with the psychological impact of your injuries
• Any amount spent travelling to and from medical appointments required because of your injuries

The team at Beacon Law will help you with the process of keeping and collecting the financial records needed to support your claim, such as invoices, receipts, bank statements and wage slips.

Is there a time limit on making a car accident claim?

Yes, there is a strict 3 year time limit on making a car accident claim, running from the date of the accident itself. Once the 3 years have elapsed, you no longer have the legal right to start a car accident claim for compensation.

There are a few possible exceptions to this 3 year rule, such as the following:

• If you are under 18 at the time of the car accident then the 3 year limit will run from your 18th birthday to your 21st.
• If you are ‘mentally incapacitated’ during the 3 year period and unable to start a claim then the time limit will be taken from the date on which you regain the capacity to make a claim.

Despite the 3 year limit we always recommend starting a car accident claim as soon as possible after the accident takes place. It will be easier for us to gather the evidence to support your claim soon after the accident, while the details will be fresher in your mind and the minds of any witnesses.

What are the most common injuries suffered in car accidents?

Injuries caused by car accidents range from broken bones to life-changing disabilities such as fractured spines and amputations. Some of the more common injuries we handle at Beacon Law include the following:

• Head injuries – Car accidents can cause head injuries ranging from mild concussion up to serious brain injuries, particularly if your head comes into contact with a part of a car or the road surface at speed.
• Spinal cord injuries – High impact car accidents can cause damage to the back and neck which, at their most severe, could cause a loss of function and even full paralysis.
• Amputation – severe crush injuries which cause catastrophic damage could lead to amputations being necessary. Cyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians involved in car accidents are particularly vulnerable to this type of injury.
• Neck and back Injuries – The impact of a car accident can lead to neck and back injuries ranging from strains and bruising to fractures and limited mobility.
• Psychological injuries – Being involved in a car accident can trigger psychological impacts including stress, anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

What is the process for a car accident claim?

We understand how daunting it can be to think about launching a compensation claim in the aftermath of a car accident. We provide empathetic support throughout, giving you the space and time to come to terms with what has happened to you by breaking the claims process itself down into smaller individual steps:

In the immediate aftermath of any car accident you should do the following:

• Report the accident – there is a legal obligation to report any car accident in which people are injured to the police. A copy of the police report into your car accident will later form part of the evidence supporting your claim.
• Seek medical attention – immediate medical attention will increase the chances of recovery from your injuries, no matter how relatively mild or serious they are. At the same time, treatment of this kind will create an official record of your injuries in the immediate aftermath of the car accident.
• Exchange details with any other driver involved in the car accident, including contact information and insurance details, as well as the registration number of any other vehicle.
• If possible, you should collect visual evidence of the car accident, taking photographs or videos of the location including the position of any vehicles if it is safe to do so.
• Contact Beacon Law to discuss your accident and the possibility of making a car accident claim. We’ll provide a free, no obligation consultation and, if we think you are eligible to claim compensation we’ll set to work gathering the evidence needed for a claim.

This evidence could include the following:

• A detailed statement from you, explaining how the accident happened and how you were injured. This statement will include an account of the impact the injuries have had on your life and the physical and psychological suffering you have been through.
• A medical report produced by an independent expert after a medical examination. This report will set out a full description of the injuries you received alongside a prognosis for recovery and the expectation of any further treatment and care you are likely to need in the future.
• Your medical records in general, and in particular those detailing any treatment needed since the car accident happened.
• Any police report produced after the accident happened.
• Statements from any witnesses to your car accident.
• Any photographic or video evidence of the scene of the car accident that you were able to gather
• Any available CCTV footage of the car accident
• Any relevant dash cam footage of the car accident
• Any correspondence between you and your insurance company or the insurance companies of any other drivers involved in the car accident
• Documentary evidence of any expenses directly arising from your injuries

Why choose Beacon Law to assist with your car accident compensation claim?

You should choose Beacon Law for your car accident claim on the basis of our track record of delivering successful results for clients just like you. Our case-hardened expertise is blended with more than 200 years’ worth of combined experience, so we know exactly how to set about proving negligence in car accident claims, and how much compensation you should be entitled to.

In addition to delivering results for our clients we treat each and every one of them as a human being dealing with a difficult situation, and not just another case number. We know how upsetting it can be to find yourself injured in an accident which wasn’t your fault, and how long and arduous recovery can be, and we provide empathetic support as we work to win the compensation that could help you to start putting your life back together.

As a family run firm we’re always available to provide one to one help and advice whenever it is needed, and no matter how complex the details of your car accident claim are we always communicate in clear, jargon-free English. Once we’ve established how much compensation we think you deserve we work to win 100% of the amount you’re entitled to.

The fact that we work on a no win no fee basis means that you can make your car accident claim on the basis of fairness, without having to worry about hidden costs or legal fees, and you’ll never be left out of pocket, no matter what happens. If you’ve been injured in a car accident which happened because someone else was negligent, then contact Beacon Law to talk about making a compensation claim today.