What is a Road Traffic Accident?
Road traffic accidents (sometimes shortened to “RTA”) are any collisions on the road involving a vehicle, person (road users), or an object resulting in damage to a vehicle or property, injuries and even death.
Can I claim compensation for my Road Accident?
If you’re injured in a road traffic accident that wasn’t your fault, you can claim compensation for your pain and suffering, which will help recover your losses, rehabilitate you and rebuild your life.
If you’re involved in a Road Traffic Accident, you can claim whether you’re a:
- Driver or passenger in any type of vehicle
- Pedestrian
- Public transport user
- Horse rider
- Cyclist
- Motorcyclist
Common causes of Road Traffic Accidents
Road accidents often happen due to:
- Distraction
- Speeding
- Weather Conditions
- Reckless Driver
- Under influence of drugs or alcohol
- Malfunction of the vehicle
What to do if you have a car accident:
If you’re unfortunately involved in a Road Traffic Accident you should follow the following steps:
1- Seek medical help immediately
Get medical help immediately as even minor injuries can become lifelong conditions if not treated properly.
Visit a healthcare professional for a full assessment of your injury. They will also record the details of your accident in medical records, which can help your case for compensation be successful.
2- Gather and prepare evidence
The other person, whether a driver, cyclist or pedestrian may try to deny the accident.
In order for your case to be successful, there has to be enough evidence, such as:
- Dashcam footage
- Photos or videos of the vehicle damage done
- Photos or videos of any injuries
- Any other proof you were in the accident’s location at the time
3- Get all the necessary details
There are some details you should take in order to have a successful case:
- The registration number of cars involved
- The driver’s name, address and phone number
- The driver’s insurance details, if they have them on hand
Witnesses have an important role in all legal proceedings. So be sure to take the contact details of people who saw your accident.
4- Claim Road Traffic Accident compensation
Call our Injury Claims team on 0161 436 0000 for a free no-obligation consultation.
Ask Legal will take away the burden and stress of dealing with complex legal proceedings.
We will make sure your journey to getting the compensation you deserve is smooth and easy.
How much compensation could I get for an RTA?
The amount of compensation you get depends on a number of things which could combine.
You can make a claim for the following losses:
- Damage to vehicle – You can claim compensation for damage to your car, motorcycle, bicycle or any other vehicle in a road traffic accident.
- Medical Expenses – If you were injured in a road traffic accident that wasn’t your fault, you can claim compensation for the medical expenses required for your treatment and recovery.
- Property Damage – If your property has been damaged due to a road traffic accident, you can also claim compensation for the recovery of your property.
- Whiplash injury – Whiplash is caused due to the sudden, violent movement of the neck during a road traffic accident, resulting in damage to tendons or ligaments. You can claim compensation for whiplash.
- Airbag injury – There are numerous injuries associated with airbag failure, in some cases where an airbag should’ve been checked and repaired during a visit to a garage, there may be a claim for compensation against the garage for their negligence to carry out their duty of care.
How much time do I get to make an RTA claim?
In the UK, there is a 3-year time limit for claims to be brought.
However, there are some cases where the 3-year rule doesn’t apply:
- Children – The 3-year limit doesn’t apply to children under 18 years of age. On the 18th birthday of your child, the 3-year rule comes into effect. So you must file the claim before they turn 21.
- Capacity – If someone lacks the mental or legal capacity to file a medical negligence claim then the three–year rule doesn’t apply. There’s no time limit for documenting a claim in such a case.
The sooner a solicitor starts working on your case, the easier it is for them to prepare your claim.
Ask Legal will help you
Ask Legal understand that taking legal action due to an injury can be stressful. Our expert solicitors are here to guide you through every step of the legal process.
Contact us via phone or email, or fill in the form below and we will get back to you as soon as possible. We specialise in ‘no win no fee’ personal injury claims. Our dedicated team of solicitors is committed to making sure that we recover the maximum amount of compensation possible for our clients.
Call our Injury Claims team on 0161 436 0000 for a free no-obligation consultation.