Claiming Compensation For A Car Accident
Bott and Co recover millions of pounds in compensation every year from insurance companies for people injured in car accidents, bus or taxi accidents, for pedestrians hit by road vehicles and for cyclists and motorcyclists.
Our highly skilled, experienced car accident solicitors succeed in 99% of cases and 99% of our customers would recommend us to friends and family.
One of the most common questions we’re asked at the beginning of the claim process is about the amount of compensation an injured party may receive. Unfortunately the answer isn’t always straightforward so we’ve compiled an easy to read guide below that should answer many of the questions you may have.
What To Do After You’ve Had A Car Crash
There are several things that will help you with your claim that you should remember to do if you are involved in a car crash and in the aftermath of any road accident:
- Get the details of the third party (vehicle number plate and contact details for example)
- Notify the police of the incident if necessary (if there is any dispute over the cause and fault of the accident or any danger to you or other road users)
- Seek medical attention following the incident if it wasn’t needed at the time (whiplash symptoms can take several days to develop)
- Keep a record of all costs incurred following the accident (keep receipts safe as you’ll need to provide evidence of your expenses)
Scene Of The Accident
Clearly the first thing to do is focus on the safety and well-being of anyone involved in the accident. If you need medical treatment on the scene then have someone call an ambulance if you can’t yourself.
It is important to exchange insurance information with other people involved in the car accident. We will claim against the fault driver who caused the collision so having their details makes the process easier.
However, if the other driver doesn’t stop or is untraced, we can still pursue your claim through the MIB (Motor Insurers Bureau).
Depending on the circumstances of the accident there can be a wide range of injuries sustained. Most commonly is the soft tissue injury (or sprain) to the neck and back, usually called ‘whiplash’.
We also regularly help people suffering from broken arms and legs, facial cuts and damage to teeth, spinal injuries, amputations and even fatalities. In these more serious cases we have a specialist team to support you through the claims process with the utmost sensitivity.
Immediately After the Accident
You should notify your insurer as many policies require notification within a certain time period after the accident. If you have suffered an injury and want to make a claim for your pain, medical treatment, and any out of pocket expenses then you should contact a reputable law firm such as Bott and Co as we recover many times more compensation than insurers offer.
Our only interest is in winning you the maximum possible compensation whereas insurers can be interested in keeping the total payout low.
For example, we took up a case for a client who had been offered just under £10,000 after a car collided with his scooter, leaving him with devastating wrist injuries and unable to continue his career at the time.
Our specialist solicitors managed to recover £430,000 for his injuries and loss of earnings from the third party insurers.
If your car needs repairing then our team can also organise replacement vehicles and car repairs at no cost to you.
Following one accident on the M6 we had a replacement vehicle on the scene for our client within 30 minutes when they called us immediately after the accident.
When Should You Involve the Police?
You should always involve the police at the scene of a car accident if the other party fails to stop or refuses to provide you with their name and address and insurance details. It is an offence to not stop at the scene of an accident or to not provide contact details.
If there is a dispute about the cause or fault of the accident then it’s a good idea to inform the police so they can attend the scene and objectively determine who is at fault.
If you don’t feel it necessary to involved the police then make sure you have all the contact details of the third party and take plenty of photos of the cars involved and the surrounding road and area. This will assist us recovering the best payout for your compensation claim.
Claiming For A Car Accident
There are several simple steps you should take in order to improve the chances of a favourable result when we handle your compensation claim.
- You should have taken photos of the accident scene and obtained details of the third party. Alternatively if the police have attended the scene they will usually have sourced this information for you.
- Some injuries, particularly soft tissue whiplash injuries, can take up to several days after the accident to fully develop. It is important to visit your GP after an accident to make sure the extent of the injuries have been fully verified by the doctor and that there are no other serious underlying injuries.
- Keep a record of all your costs and expenses that relate to the accident such as medical treatment, taxis and travel costs, prescriptions, and loss of earnings if you can’t attend work. All these costs can be recovered from the third party when we settle your claim.
- Let us know about the accident. Not only can we give you the best possible advice in the aftermath of any accident, we can help with replacement vehicles and car hire, medical appointments and rehabilitation and make sure you are fully compensated for all pain and suffering and out of pocket expenses.;
How Do I Know If I Can Claim For A Car Accident?
Speak with a solicitor to find out if you have a right to claim compensation. We offer a no obligation, free consultation.
We’ll assess the details of the accident and explain what your rights may be. Once we decide if we can accept your claim we would work on a no-win no-fee basis so this means there is no financial risk to you and on the very slim chance we didn’t win your case, you wouldn’t owe us anything.
The Claims Process
We’ve worked hard to make claiming with Bott and Co simple, because we know the legal process can seem quite complex.
We’ll take on your case on a 100% no-win no-fee basis so you don’t have to pay up front for anything and we win 99% of all our claims so you’ll not find a better personal injury law firm than us.
You can usually make a claim up to three years after an accident or up to three years after you discover an injury was a result of an accident – which might be longer.
If you were under 18 at the time of the accident then you have three years from the date you turn 18 but you can claim before then if you have a litigation friend who is over 18 to represent you.
To begin your claim we will send a letter to the defendant, once you’ve provided all the relevant details of the accident. If you need a medical report we can also arrange for an appointment with one of our specialists.
The defendant has to respond to the letter that we send within a certain timeframe and they will either admit or deny liability for the accident. If they admit liability we can usually settle the claim without having to go to court.
We will deal with all correspondence with the third party insurers, presenting the evidence to them and negotiating the best possible payout for your injuries and other losses.
To process a claim you must be over 18 or if not then you must have a friend or family member who is over 18 to act as your ‘litigation friend’ and we would speak with them about your case.
We would need to know details of the accident, how and where it happened, and details of the third party (the person who caused the accident) but if you don’t know this information we can sometimes claim through the Motor Insurers Bureau (MIB) who will pay compensation in cases where the other driver can’t be traced.
We always provide strict client confidentiality with all our claims and as a law firm we’re authorised and regulated by the Solicitor’s Regulation Authority (SRA) so you can trust in the service we provide. We will never pass on or sell your information to any other company, unlike many claims companies and our 99% recommendation rate shows how well we are regarded by previous clients.
No Win No Fee
We always offer you a no win no fee service for any road accident claim. No win no fee is also known as a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA) and this means we agree to work for you on the basis that we won’t charge any fees if in the rare instances the claim is not successful.
This means you have no financial risk to making a claim and it enables us to help you receive justice. We also purchase an After The Event (ATE) insurance on your behalf to cover any legal costs should you not win the case.
However, if you have an existing legal expenses insurance policy such as one included in your car insurance, then you won’t need an ATE policy. Whatever your particular circumstances, we will advise you on how to protect yourself against any costs and how we will recover the best possible compensation amounts from the other side.
Average Car Accident Claim Amounts
One of the first questions we get asked by clients is, quite naturally, ‘how much compensation will I get?’ Compensation exists to try and get you back to where you were before the accident so any out of pocket expenses can be recovered and there are ranges of compensation amounts for the pain and suffering experienced as a result of your injuries. It is our job to make sure you receive the maximum you are entitled to by law.
The standard amounts that can be claimed for specific injuries are set by the Judicial Studies Board (JSB) and for the most common car accident injury; whiplash, the amount of compensation can range from £1,000 for mild whiplash to just under £100,000 for severe neck injuries, so knowing where you are within that scale is something we can ascertain.
Calculate how much you could claim
Claiming Other Out Of Pocket Expenses
You should keep all receipts and records of anything you have to buy in relation to your injury, this might include travel expenses for hospital appointments, prescriptions and medical treatment, help in the home if you are unable to undertake day to day tasks, and for injuries that are serious enough to prevent you from working then you can also claim for loss of earnings and bonuses.
We will work out all these costs with you and add them to your compensation claim. In some cases there are also psychological injuries suffered after an accident such as a fear of driving, we can also claim for this type of injury and for any counselling required to help you get back to physical and mental health. You may also claim for car hire and repair of your vehicle and our partners at S&G Response can manage this entire process for you.
Why Choose A Law Firm For Your Car Accident Claim
If you were to try and settle your claim direct with an insurer you would be up against a multi-million pound organisation with huge resources to pay lawyers to fight their case against you. They want to minimise the amount they pay you so the benefits of having a law firm such as Bott and Co on your side are considerable. We are well known among defendant law firms and our reputation helps us secure better payouts for our clients.
We regularly recover many times more compensation than you would be offered direct by the insurer. Some of our clients have come to us after being offered two or three thousand pounds and we’re able to negotiate up to considerably more. Mr X was originally offered £1,500 for his injuries following a car accident and we ended up receiving an offer of £5,000 when we’d presented all the evidence to the insurers.
Table of Average Car Accident Claims Amounts
| Area | Level | Compensation | Injury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Head | Very serious | £214,300 – £307,000 | Badly disabled, brain damage with little or no response. Includes people in vegetative state in need of full time nursing. Learn More |
| Head | Serious | £11,600 – £214,300 | Serious physical symptoms or a significant change to your intellect or personality Learn More |
| Head | Moderate | £1,600 – £9,700 | Head injury not resulting in brain damage, amounts dependent to on-going symptoms such as headaches Learn More |
| Eyes | Very serious | £80,500 – £204,200 | Amounts relate to completely blind, or blinded in one eye and/ or severely reduced vision in other. Learn More |
| Eyes | Serious | £6,900 – £50,000 | Loss of eye, lost sight in one eye or suffered some but not total visual impairment Learn More |
| Eyes | Moderate | £1,650 – £6,700 | Injury to eye that caused pain, or temporary vision issues Learn More |
| Ears | Very serious | £68,950 – £107,500 | Injury leading to complete deafness. If injured as child, higher compensation based on lose of ability to speak. Learn More |
| Ears | Serious | £23,850 – £34,650 | Loss of total hearing in one ear, amounts dependent on additional symptoms such as dizziness Learn More |
| Ears | Moderate | £5,300 – £34,650 | Compensation amount apply for those suffering from partial hearing loss to mild or sever tinnitus Learn More |
| Face | Very serious | £13,700 – £74,500 | Facial disfigurement or scarring, amounts depending on how seriously affected. Men could receive less for facial disfigurement than women with same injury.Learn More |
| Face | Serious | £1,770 – £28,950 | Facial fractures such as broken jaw or nose. Amounts dependent on severity. Also apply to broken, damaged teeth. Learn More |
| Face | Moderate | £1,290 – £2,670 | Facial injury that didn’t include broken bones and left only very light or no scarring. Learn More |
Compensation Amounts For Injuries To The Upper Body
| Area | Level | Compensation | Injury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neck | Very serious | £34,570 to £112,800 | Neck injuries that seriously affect movement of one or more limbs or little or no ability to move their neck years after accident. Learn More |
| Neck | Serious | £29,300 to £42,500 | Fractures and dislocations that require surgery. Amounts may apply to those who suffer with permanent pain, discomfort that limits usual activities. Learn More |
| Neck | Moderate | £1,850 to £6,050 | Soft tissue or whiplash injury but have recovered within two years of incident. Amounts vary on severity of injury, level of pain and effect on restriction of ability to take part in your usual activities. Learn More |
| Back | Very serious | £29,450 to £122,300 | Back injury that would usually require surgery such as damaged spinal cord leading to serious consequences such as partial paralysis, loss of bowel/bladder function and psychological issues. Learn More |
| Back | Serious | £9,450 to £29,500 | Back injury that has left you in constant pain or discomfort often due to disturbed ligaments or soft tissue injuries. Amount based on severity of original injury and treatment you may need. Learn More |
| Back | Moderate | £300 to £9,450 | Injuries leading to less serious strains, disc problems and soft tissue damage. Amounts relate to severely of original injury, treatment required and long term effects. Learn More |
| Shoulder | Very serious | £9,750 to £36,450 | These amounts are usually associated with neck injuries resulting in significant disability. Learn More |
| Shoulder | Serious | £6,050 to £9,750 | Compensation could apply for injury causing ‘frozen shoulder’, or soft tissue damage causing pain and discomfort lasting around two years. Learn More |
| Shoulder | Moderate | £300 to £6,050 | Suffered pain from a soft tissue injury lasting a few months to two years, but have eventually had a full recovery, you could be entitled to this amount. Learn More |
| Pelvis & Hips | Very serious | £29,800 to £99,550 | Severe hip or pelvis fractures that have led to bowel damage or have required a spinal fusion. Amounts depend on long-term effects (such as impotence or complications with child-birth) and likelihood to have to have more surgery in the future. Learn More |
| Pelvis & Hips | Serious | £9,550 to £29,850 | Injury that required a hip operation / replacement (or may lead to you requiring one in the future), but are unlikely to suffer from any serious disability as a result. Learn More |
| Pelvis & Hips | Moderate | £3,000 to £9,580 | Hip or pelvic injury, but have completely (or almost completely) recovered within two years of the incident, you could be entitled to this amount. Learn More |
Compensation Amounts For Injuries To Arms and Hands
| Area | Level | Compensation | Injury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arm | Very serious | £73,050 to £228,050 | Amputation of one or both arms. Amount awarded depends on where amputation is, your age and the effect the operation has on your life and whether you suffer from phantom pains. Learn More |
| Arm | Serious | £29,750 to £99,450 | Arm injury not resulting in amputation, but has a serious effect on your ability to use your arm(s) and left you disabled. Learn More |
| Arm | Moderate | £5,000 to £29,750 | If you have suffered a degree of disability for a period of time (such as a broken arm) but are expected to make a complete (or almost complete) recovery. Learn More |
| Elbow | Very serious | £29,750 to £41,650 | These amounts could apply to you if your injury has required surgery or has resulted in severe disability. Learn More |
| Elbow | Serious | £11,850 to £24,300 | If you have suffered an elbow injury that did not require surgery and has not led to a disability but has resulted in restricted movement. Learn More |
| Elbow | Moderate | £2,650 to £9,550 | The majority of elbow injuries fall under this category. These amounts apply to injuries like tennis elbow or deep cuts that don’t lead to permanent damage. Learn More |
| Hand | Very serious | £47,000 to £153,150 | Amounts usually apply when a person has had one or both hands amputated, or has had their hand rendered almost useless by amputation of more than one finger. Learn More |
| Hand | Serious | £22,000 to £47,000 | Injury that has reduced your hand’s functionality significantly (for example, if you are unable to use your fingers properly), or resulted in severe disfigurement. Learn More |
| Hand | Moderate | £650 to £22,000 | Injuries such as deep cuts and soft tissue damage that have resulted in impaired function of the hand that may require surgery in the future. Learn More |
| Wrist | Very serious | £18,600 to £45,450 | Wrist injury that has left you either unable to move your wrist, or has significantly reduced your ability to move your wrist, these compensation amounts could apply to you. Learn More |
| Wrist | Serious | £5,600 to £18,620 | Broken wrist or have sustained soft tissue damage but will still be able to use your wrist relatively normally in the long-term, despite some pain or stiffness. Learn More |
| Wrist | Moderate | £2,650 to £3,550 | Wrist injury that required bandaging or a plaster for weeks, but are expected to make a complete (or almost complete) recovery within a year. Learn More |
| Finger | Very serious | £6,570 to £69,050 | One or more finger completely amputated. Amount depends on which finger(s) had to be removed and the level of disability the person suffers as a result. Learn More |
| Finger | Serious | £3,000 to £14,255 | Part finger amputation, these compensation amounts could apply to you. How much is awarded depends on which part of which finger had to be removed. Learn More |
| Finger | Moderate | Up to £360 | If you have suffered from a broken finger but have had a complete (or almost complete) recovery. Learn More |
| Thumb | Very serious | £9,550 to £12,740 | If you have had to have part of your thumb amputated, suffered nerve damage or have lost your ability to grip properly, you could be entitled to this amount of compensation. Learn More |
| Thumb | Serious | £3,050 to £9,550 | These are amounts can be awarded where a person has suffered tendon or nerve damage, including severe dislocations. Learn More |
| Thumb | Moderate | Up to £1,680 | You could be entitled to these amounts if you suffered pain from a thumb injury but completely (or almost completely recovered within months). Learn More |
Compensation Amounts For Injuries To Lower Body
| Area | Level | Compensation | Injury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leg | Very serious | £74,450 to £214,300 | One or both legs amputated. Amounts dependent on if amputation is above or below the knee and how this could affect you in the future. Learn More |
| Leg | Serious | £21,050 to £103,200 | Usually awarded when a person has not had to endure an amputation but has suffered serious damage to the leg(s), that will have serious implications in the long-term. Learn More |
| Leg | Moderate | £1,850 to £19,850 | Broken leg or soft-tissue damage. How much would depend on whether or not you made a full recovery and whether the injury stands to affect you in the long-term. Learn More |
| Knee | Very serious | £39,600 to £73,120 | Joint injury has resulted in serious disability, constant pain or muscle wastage. Amount will depend on whether you are likely to need surgery in the future and the effects your injury will have on your life. Learn More |
| Knee | Serious | £19,850 to £32,990 | Serious damage to the kneecap, ligaments or muscles, resulting in some disability with continued pain and discomfort. Learn More |
| Knee | Moderate | £4,600 to £19,950 | Dislocated knee, torn cartilage, cuts or twists, you could be entitled to these amounts depending on how your injury could affect you in the long-term. Learn More |
| Ankle | Very serious | £38,000 to £52,995 | Severe ankle injury leading to serious deformity, disability or even the possibility of amputation in the long-term. Learn More |
| Ankle | Serious | £23,850 to £38,000 | Ankle injury requiring operation or plaster. Amount depends on if your injury affects ability to work and if you need to wear special footwear. Learn More |
| Ankle | Moderate | £10,400 to £20,150 | Sprained or broken ankle. The amount awarded depends on whether your injury results in any less-serious disabilities or a tendency for the ankle to ‘give way’. Learn More |
| Achilles | Very serious | Up to £29,250 | Muscles have been severed and this has led to restricted ankle movement. Learn More |
| Achilles | Serious | £18,950 to £22,850 | Partial tearing to the Achilles tendon. Amount awarded related to surgery and whether you have been left in permanent discomfort/with a limp. Learn More |
| Achilles | Moderate | £5,520 to £16,050 | If your ankle has been left weaker by damage to your Achilles tendon. Learn More |
| Foot | Very serious | £63,820 to £153,250 | If you have had one or both feet amputated as a result of your injury. Learn More |
| Foot | Serious | £19,000 to £53,150 | Two broken heels or feet, or serious damage to just one foot. The amount awarded depends on level of surgery required. Learn More |
| Foot | Moderate | £5,320 to £10,445 | Injury has resulted in constant pain, a limp or aching, but has not led to any serious disability. Learn More |
| Toe | Very serious | £23,750 to £42,650 | Amputation of all of your toes or your ‘big toe’. The amount depends on whether you lost your toe(s) in an incident or had to have them surgically removed, and the effect this has had on your life. Learn More |
| Toe | Serious | £7,300 to £16,050 | Severe trauma to the toe(s) and have either had toes other than the ‘big toe’ amputated or have not had to have a toe amputated but have suffered serious damage to the toe(s) with ongoing symptoms. Learn More |
| Toe | Moderate | £4,200 to £7,300 | One or more broken toes. How much you are awarded will depend on how quickly you recover and whether or not you will suffer long-term symptoms. Learn More |
The figures are taken from the Case Law on general damages in personal injury cases. Amounts may change without notice and figures should not be considered as exact.
Although the compensation amounts in this guide may seem relatively low – they are only the amounts that are awarded for the injuries themselves.
For serious injuries, we also recover compensation to cover additional costs that arise as a result of your accident, including; loss of future earnings, a lifetime of care and treatment, help with chores, medication, state-of-the-art prosthetic limbs and custom built accommodation. Depending on the seriousness of the injury, this can lead to you being awarded up to millions of pounds.
For further information, contact us today to get a free, no obligation claim consultation.