Being involved in a car accident – a collision with another vehicle, person or object – can be a very painful and worrying experience and leave you with injuries that can range from minor through to serious and life-changing. Car accident injuries can also have a huge impact on your daily life even aside from the pain and discomfort you may be in. For example, if you are unable to work because of your injury or you have to repair your car due to the crash damage this could put you and your family under financial strain.
In addition, if you depend on your car for work or family responsibilities and it needs to be repaired or replaced due to the car crash, this could have a financial and practical impact on your life.
There are many different types of car accidents. If the car accident was not your fault, you may be entitled to claim compensation for your injury and financial losses. Our specialist car injury claims team can advise you on your claim and guide you through the whole process of claiming compensation following a car accident.
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Vehicle collisions
Most car accidents occur because of a lapse in concentration or a misunderstanding of the ‘rules of the road’. Every car accident injury claim is different; however, there are some common accident scenarios:
Crash at a roundabout
Car accidents often happen on or approaching roundabouts. When reaching the roundabout drivers can fail to give way to traffic already on the roundabout and approaching from the right. In other cases, drivers do not check before moving off that traffic in front has moved off or they fail to adjust their speed and position relative to the vehicle in front on approach to the roundabout, assuming the vehicle in front is about to enter the roundabout when it does not. Such inattention can result in collisions, personal injury and vehicle damage.
Crash at a junction
Junctions are a common place for car accidents, typically down to a failure to give way to traffic on the main road and pulling out when it is not safe to do so. However, many of these accidents can be avoided by better car driver awareness and observation of what is happening on the road around them.
Crash at traffic lights
Unfortunately, many drivers fail to pay proper due care and attention at traffic lights and even try to ‘beat the lights’ as they change from green to amber to red. Other common accidents at traffic lights are caused by drivers turning right across oncoming traffic when it is not safe to do so or cutting the corner and drivers failing to maintain a safe stopping distance from the car in front on the approach to the traffic lights. Serious injury can result to those involved if an accident occurs.
Drivers should always make sure they have sufficient time to safely make their way through the traffic lights and be prepared to stop and wait.
If you are involved in a car accident at traffic lights, it is often helpful to take photographs of the junction and traffic lights and establish their pattern, particularly filter lanes and filter arrows. Our dedicated team of specialist Personal Injury Solicitors can advise you and help in recovering any evidence in support of your compensation claim.
Rear end shunt
Many drivers fail to leave a sufficient stopping distance between them and the vehicle in front and, as a result, a sudden stop by the vehicle in front or lapse in concentration can result in a rear end shunt. Some drivers will try to pre-empt the actions of the driver in front of them, particularly when approaching roundabouts or at junctions, and consider what they themselves would do and not what the driver in front is actually doing. For example, they may fail to look forward before moving off to make sure traffic in front has moved off.
Car left the road
A vehicle can leave the road due to many reasons. There may be a contributing road conditions factor such as mud, oil or ice on the road for which a third party such as the local authority or a nearby farm may be responsible. Or it could be that the driver simply loses control of their vehicle. Our specialist Car Accident Personal Injury team can help you establish the responsible party and guide you through the process of making a car accident compensation claim.
Multiple vehicle pile-up
If you are involved in a multi-vehicle collision, it can often be difficult to determine who is at fault for the accident and which insurance company should be paying compensation. You may be left feeling confused as to ‘who hit who’ when the accident happens so suddenly. Our professional team of Personal Injury specialists will investigate the car accident and make sure your claim is quickly raised against the party at fault.
Accidents due to driver error
Most accidents occur due to driver error in some form. Whilst there may sometimes be contributing factors, it can often be the case that the driver loses concentration or starts to doze off at the wheel. Drivers may also make a conscious choice to use their mobile phone whilst driving or become distracted by the radio or their music. Such errors can easily result in road traffic collisions causing minor to life-threatening or even fatal injuries.
Regardless of whether criminal proceedings are being brought against the driver, we can help you to make your claim for personal injury compensation using our legal knowledge and skills to achieve the best result for you.
Speeding accidents
Despite speeding being a criminal offence, it is very common for drivers to take a chance with the speed limits. Speeding can significantly affect a driver’s reaction time and compromise their ability to take evasive action to avoid an accident. Speeding also reduces the driver’s control of the vehicle and means they are much more likely to cause a more serious impact and injury than a low speed collision. Always respect the speed limits of the road and remember that they are there for the safety of all road users. Even if criminal charges are not brought, if you have been injured in a car accident with a speeding driver we can still help to secure you compensation.
How can Thorntons help?
Thorntons’ friendly and experienced Personal Injury team are here to help you through the worrying and often confusing time following a car accident. We are Law Society Accredited Specialist Personal Injury Solicitors who can guide you easily through the process of making a claim for personal injury compensation because of your involvement in a car accident.
We will run your car accident compensation claim on a no win, no fee basis, meaning there is no financial risk to you in pursuing your RTA claim and to help make the process as worry free as possible for you.
You can start your car accident claim today by calling us free on 0800 731 8434, chat online with us or complete our enquiry form. We will discuss your situation, answer any questions you may have and advise you if you can make a car accident compensation claim. Our discussion about your injury and accident will be confidential and you are under no obligation to make a claim. You can also take a look at our Claims Calculator to find out how much compensation you may be entitled to.
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