What happens to uninsured drivers in an accident? With around one million drivers operating a vehicle without a licence, an estimated four per cent of UK road users are uninsured. And despite 226,803 drivers in the UK carrying points on their licence for driving without insurance and uninsured drivers costing insurance companies an estimated £500 million per year, many people still choose to drive without insurance. While driving without insurance can sometimes go under the radar, when a road traffic accident occurs involving an uninsured driver, it can cause serious problems to all involved. In this blog, we look at the topic of uninsured drivers and how it can affect both the driver without insurance and the other driver. What happens to uninsured drivers involved in accidents? When a road traffic accident involving an uninsured driver occurs, the outcome will vary due to the uninsured driver not being suitably covered. As with any compensation claim, an important factor would … [Read more...]

How to claim for whiplash A common injury for many UK road users, whiplash accounts for an estimated 300,000 injuries per year, costing the economy around £3 billion. According to the Association of British Insurers (ABI), eight out of 10 personal injury claims from road traffic accidents are for whiplash. With so many victims of road traffic accidents and similar incidents experiencing symptoms of whiplash, it’s a condition that has become commonplace on UK roads and to professional injury lawyers. In this blog, we explain exactly what whiplash is before answering some key questions around it and offering advice on how to make a claim for whiplash compensation. What is a whiplash injury? Caused by a sudden, powerful movement of the head, whiplash is an injury where rapid motion leaves muscles in the neck strained and the ligaments and tendons stretched out or even torn. Although a common injury in road traffic accidents, incidents on other methods of transportation, slips, … [Read more...]

How much compensation can I get for a motorbike accident? Victims of road traffic accidents can be left physically, mentally and emotionally scarred, and the effect can impact their friends and family members as well as their ability to work, find future employment and live a normal life. The injuries sustained in any form of road traffic accident could be long-lasting or even permanent, but when it comes to motorbike accidents, increased vulnerability and lack of protection on UK roads can mean a heightened chance of danger and a more extreme level of damage to both the motorbike and the rider. If you’ve been involved in a motorcycle accident and believe you could be owed compensation, you will be interested to learn how much money you could be entitled to. In this blog, we explain how a motorcycle accident compensation settlement is calculated and look at some of the more common injuries for this type of incident. How much is my motorcycle accident worth? As with any … [Read more...]

What is the main cause of motorcycle accidents? Alongside pedestrians and cyclists, motorcycle riders are among the most vulnerable users of UK roads. Unfortunately, while motorcyclists only take up 1 per cent of the total amount of traffic on our roads, 18 per cent of deaths are attributed to this method of transportation. Every type of vehicle user risks the chance of being involved in a road traffic accident and, depending on the circumstances, the outcome can be severe to anyone involved. However, as motorcycles are smaller, less balanced on two wheels and lacking in the protective shell that cars, vans and other road vehicles have, the same level of damage caused to a motorcycle rider is likely to be far more devastating than the damage a car user could sustain. With a view to informing anyone involved in this type of incident, this blog explains the main causes behind motorcycle accidents and statistics around how frequently they happen in the UK. How likely is it to get … [Read more...]

How to claim after a bus accident Whether you use a bus service as part of your commute to work, ride into your local town at the weekend or even take regular coach tours or holidays each year, the least you expect is a safe and secure journey. However, as with other forms of mass and public transport, the risk of injury while riding a bus or coach can be high in the unfortunate event of a road traffic collision, sudden emergency stop or other accident. This is because these substantial vehicles carry a large number of typically unrestrained passengers - both seated and standing - and injuries can easily occur when these passengers are thrown around the bus or fall during a journey. More often than not, an injury to a passenger is caused by them not being properly restrained, leading to injuries as minor as cuts and bruises or as severe as bone fractures, whiplash and damage to the head, neck and spine. In this blog, we focus on public transport accidents, how bus passengers can … [Read more...]

When can you claim train compensation? With thousands of people travelling on busses, trains and taxis every day, public transport accidents are a common occurrence that affects passengers in high numbers. Trains and train stations are extremely busy places, and with masses of people moving around in close proximity, it’s no real surprise that accidents happen. If you’ve been the victim of a train accident and believe that it wasn’t your fault, you may be entitled to compensation. However, before making a claim, it’s important that you’re aware of what type of injuries qualify. In this blog, we look at train accidents, how they happen, when you’re entitled to claim and how you can go about making a claim. How do train accidents occur? Accidents on trains can be caused by a variety of different factors, with categories including derailments and collision with other trains, vehicles and pedestrians. In the case of derailments alone, the cause can be down to track failure, train … [Read more...]

What are the main causes of pedestrian accidents? Thousands of road traffic accidents happen in the UK every year, causing injury, upset and sometimes even death to those involved. Although drivers are the first thing you are likely to think of when considering the devastating effects of incidents on the road, the impact on  pedestrians involved in these accidents is often overlooked. This is despite the fact that pedestrians are often subjected to more severe and potentially life-threatening injuries than drivers as they don’t have the protective shell of a road vehicle as a final line of defence. Many incidents that occur on UK roads do indeed involve pedestrians, and in severe cases, can lead to serious injury or the loss of life. In this blog, we explain exactly what a pedestrian accident is before delving into statistics around pedestrian deaths from road traffic accidents and whether it’s possible to make a compensation claim as a pedestrian. What is a pedestrian … [Read more...]

How do pedestrians cause accidents? In the event of an accident on the road involving a vehicle and a pedestrian, it’s easy to assume that the person at fault is the driver of the vehicle that’s caused the damage. While this is often true and many compensation claims are made against drivers of vehicles involved in road traffic accidents each year, it’s also important to consider whether the fault could in fact be in the hands of the pedestrian involved in the incident. Due to the lack of protection that would otherwise come with operating a vehicle, pedestrians are typically the most vulnerable people in a road traffic accident and are usually subjected to more severe injuries. However, if they’ve acted irresponsibly or directly caused the incident themselves, is it possible that they could be subject to a compensation claim? In this blog, we look at whether pedestrians could be at fault for accidents and if it’s possible to make a claim against pedestrians if you’re involved … [Read more...]

What are the major causes of road accidents? When a road accident occurs, it can be disorienting, upsetting and stressful for everyone involved. Immediately after the event, it’s easy to fall into a state of shock, as these accidents often happen completely without warning. However, regardless of the cause - be it a deep-seated habit of the person at fault, plain carelessness or freak circumstances that could not have been prevented - you shouldn’t have to suffer any long-term effects without the necessary help, especially if you were not to blame. Establishing the reason for the road accident will play a key role in making a compensation claim against the person at fault. Without this, it may delay or even entirely prevent any chance of a successful claim. What are the reasons for road accidents? Many different factors can lead to an accident on the road. Although you could almost blame anything as the sole reason for a road accident, the primary causes include: Distractions … [Read more...]

A traumatic brain injury refers to damage to the brain caused by a sudden jolt or blow to the head. While minor cases could lead to temporary, subtle symptoms, more serious damage could lead to long-term or even permanent effects. Traumatic brain injuries are often associated with road traffic accidents and physical attacks, and the victims may be entitled to compensation regardless of the severity. In this blog, we take a closer look at this type of injury, including potential causes, effects and how much money you could be entitled to if you decide to make a claim. What qualifies as a traumatic brain injury? Also sometimes referred to as a TBI, a traumatic brain injury is damage to the brain caused by a jolt, blow or bump to the head. It differs from other types of brain injuries such as a stroke, anoxia, hypoxia, tumour, inflammation or infection, which aren’t caused by an impact to the head. Types of traumatic brain injury include: concussion penetrating injury … [Read more...]