Car Accident Lawyer

Make a car accident claim

If you or a family member has been involved in a road traffic accident our team of specialist solicitors can help you to gain the rehabilitation and compensation you are entitled to. Every month our team are contacted by road users who have suffered injuries due to an accident that wasn’t their fault.

What should you do when you are involved in a car accident or other road accident?

Whether you are a driver or a passenger, here are some guidelines to follow if you are involved in a car accident.

It is an offence under the Road Traffic Act not to stop after an accident. If the accident causes injury or damage to a vehicle, you must provide your name, address and vehicle registration number to whoever has ‘reasonable grounds’ to request them.  This could be the other driver, their insurance company or the police. Note if the driver is not the owner, the owner’s name and address must also be supplied. Finally, you must report the accident to the police within 24 hours as well as to your insurance company.  This is the case even if you do not intend to make a claim.

If anyone is injured, call 999 right away for an ambulance and the police.

The police will not always attend so if you believe the other party is at fault you will need to think like a detective yourself which can be difficult when you are feeling flustered and upset.

Most people will remember to exchange details with the other people involved. But to be certain the details are correct take a photograph of all number plates and vehicles.   This will prevent any later argument with an insurer insisting you have the wrong vehicle.

If possible collect details of any witnesses and make notes of the accident, such as the time, date, exact location and weather conditions. The cameras on our mobile telephones are ideal for assembling this evidence.

Should you decide to pursue a claim for compensation for personal injury this information will be very helpful. However, you should not be put off from making a claim because you are concerned you do not have all the necessary details. An experienced personal injury solicitor will know how to go about obtaining all the information needed.

In summary:

• Record the details of the other party at the scene, including name, address, telephone, insurance details and vehicle registration number.
• Report the matter to the police immediately. If for any reason this is not possible, report the accident in person to a police station as soon as you can (and get a police reference number).
• Take details of any other party and any witnesses.
• Contact your own insurers.

What type of car accident can I claim for?

Pedestrians crossing the road

The rights of pedestrians are well protected by the law. There is no offence of “jaywalking” in this country and if a pedestrian is knocked down at traffic lights, on a crossing or other place where they should have been visible to oncoming traffic, there will usually be at least some fault on the part of the vehicle user.

Car Passenger Claims

There will almost always be a claim here as road accidents are invariably caused by someone’s negligence but the car passenger will have been an innocent party.

Rear-end shunt

These are common cases where one vehicle fails to brake and collides with the back of the vehicle in front. Almost always liability will rest with the driver of the vehicle behind.

Hit and Run

If the accident was a hit-and-run or if the other party was not insured then the case can still proceed but it will be dealt with by the Motor Insurers Bureau (MIB) rather than an insurance company.

Insurance is compulsory for nearly all motorised road vehicles. Most road accident claims are therefore directed to a motor insurer and they pay the compensation and costs in the successful cases.

Uninsured cases are run like any other personal injury claim but the MIB has a separate scheme for Hit and Run cases. Under this scheme, court proceedings are not allowed and there are special rules governing eligibility, procedure and costs.

How long do I have to claim for a car accident?

The time limit for making a road traffic accident claim is three years. This means that court proceedings must be issued within 3 years of the accident date. There are some different time limits and the court may decide to extend depending on the circumstances and type of case. When you call us for your initial free consultation our legal team will discuss this with you.

No Win No Fee Auto Accident Claims

Your claim would be funded on a No Win, No Fee basis which means you will not have to pay anything at the start of your claim and there will be nothing to pay should your claim be unsuccessful.

When you call us to discuss your claim, our personal injury lawyers will discuss funding and explain, in full, payments to be made from your compensation.

London Car Accident Lawyers

Osbornes Law specialise in personal injury claims for compensation, we have a large team of experienced and independently accredited personal injury solicitors handling road traffic accident claims in London and across the UK. Our solicitors have helped thousands of people get their lives back on track following serious injuries. We have built up a strong reputation for representing clients with the following injuries:

• Head and Brain Injury
• Spinal Injuries
• Amputation and Limb Damage
• Fatal Injuries

Our legal teams comprise car accident lawyers fluent who are fluent in many languages including Romanian, Hungarian, Polish, Bulgarian, Czech and Spanish who can also advise on car accidents abroad.