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Immediate Action after a Car Accident

Our car accident compensation guide has been compiled to give you the information you need if you are considering making a claim for car accident compensation. If you are involved in a car crash there are procedures which you must follow, not only in order to protect your right to claim car accident compensation, but also to ensure that your injuries are properly treated and that you fulfil your legal obligations. Our car accident compensation guide covers the important steps that you must take following any car accident, be it with another vehicle, a pedestrian, cyclist or motorbike.

Immediate Action to Take After a Car Accident

When you are involved in a car accident, your immediate consideration should be for your health and the health of those who are travelling with you. If somebody is seriously injured, an ambulance and the police should be called or, if your injuries are such that an ambulance is not required, you should make your way to the accident and emergency department of your local hospital. Even if you feel that you have escaped the accident with no more than a bump, it is still recommended that you have a precautionary examination as some injuries that can be sustained in a car accident may take time to manifest.

If the police have not attended the scene of the accident – they do not always visit the scene - wherever possible make an independent note of the vehicle(s) you have been in a collision with, and collect the contact details of any witnesses who may have seen the accident. You should try to get the insurance details of the negligent driver who is responsible for the accident, but this may not always be possible if they have been injured or have driven off without stopping. Nowadays, most people carry a mobile phone with a camera facility, and it is a good idea to take some photographs of the accident scene in case you cannot remember every detail when it comes to claiming car crash compensation for your injuries.

Before Claiming Compensation After a Car Accident

Before considering compensation after your car accident, it is advisable to speak with a specialised car accident claims solicitor. As the process for claiming compensation develops, there will be many instances where their guidance will be invaluable to you and they will ultimately ensure that you receive a fair and adequate amount of compensation for injuries sustained in a car accident. Even if you are part of the way through the claims process, and have not yet contacted or instructed a solicitor, or if you have reached the later stages of claiming compensation and need help, it may not be too late to seek the assistance of a car accident compensation solicitor.

Car Insurance Companies and Third Party Capture

A frequent occurrence which happens when claiming car accident compensation is that a claimant may be approached by the negligent party´s insurance company with an offer of early settlement. This act is known as “third party capture” and it is a tactic often used by insurance companies to save money. If you can be convinced to accept a lower compensation amount in return for receiving it quickly, the insurance company will have made a significant saving. Inasmuch as a short term lump sum may be welcome at a time when you are still traumatised from your injuries and possibly unable to work, it is worth bearing in mind that an insurance company will find your acceptance of their offer far more beneficial than you ultimately will. Such early offers are often vastly inadequate, and do not even come close to covering the full extent of car accident injuries and the costs of treatment.

Although any approach by an insurance company should be treated with caution, their willingness to negotiate does mean that your solicitor may be able to extract a far higher offer from them in a relatively short period of time. As a solicitor´s fees are usually paid for by the negligent insurance party´s insurance company, you have nothing to lose by consulting with a solicitor even when your claim for car accident compensation has reached this stage. As a rule, claims for car accident compensation are resolved without the need to take the claim to the UK courts to resolve. The expert negotiating skills of a car accident solicitor can help you to get an adequate compensation settlement and avoid litigation through the UK courts.

No Win No Fee Car Accident Compensation Claims

Many car accident compensation claims can be pursued by a personal injury solicitor on a No Win No Fee basis. No Win No Fee legal representation is an example of a conditional fee arrangement. Under such an agreement, a No Win No Fee car accident compensation solicitor will waive all legal fees should a claim not succeed. Failing to win car accident compensation and also having to pay for the legal costs of making the claim can place a car accident victim under incredible financial strain. It is for this reason that many car crash victims are deterred from making a claim for the compensation they are entitled to.

In the UK, successful claims for compensation see the defence liable for any legal costs incurred during the claim, and this can lead many people to believe that claiming car accident compensation on a No Win No Fee basis is totally free of charge; however this is not always the case. Even under a No Win No Fee arrangement, the claimant may be liable for third party defence costs should the claim fail, in addition to any disbursements (legal expenses) incurred during the claim. Disbursements include obtaining expert witness testimony, recruiting medical experts to help substantiate a claim, and UK court costs.

These costs can be considerable; however it is possible in many cases to take out an insurance policy to cover them. In fact, insurance cover may already be provided under your motor insurance policy or even your home contents insurance. Our No Win No Fee car accident solicitors will advise you how you can limit your liabilities to pay legal costs, as well as providing you with a free assessment of whether you qualify for No Win No Fee representation.

Summary

A car accident can be a very traumatic event – both physically and psychologically. At a time when you may not be fully capable of going through the process of claiming compensation for your injuries, it is always advisable to use the services of a specialised personal injury claims solicitor. Although there are many solicitors who would be able to take on your claim and litigate on your behalf in court, a specialised car accident compensation solicitor will be more up to date with the value of current car accident compensation awards and will be more familiar with the techniques used by the insurance companies to avoid paying a fair and adequate settlement.

If you would like to find out more about how using the services of a specialised car accident compensation solicitor can improve your chances of success, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us. Our initial consultation service is completely free of charge, as is the call, and all contact is treated with the utmost confidentiality. There is not even an obligation to proceed with a claim once you have spoken with us, or even to use us to pursue your claim.

For free expert advice relating to your case you can talk to us now by calling our Freephone car accident claims helpline on or complete our call back form at the bottom of this page and request a call back at the time of your choosing.

What You Can Expect From Our Car Accident Claims Helpline?

When you call us, you will be put through to a solicitor who is very experienced in dealing with car accident compensation claims in the UK.

We will listen to you as you tell us about your claim in complete confidence. We can normally tell you quickly if your claim is worth pursuing, the likelihood of your claim succeeding, and what the claim’s process involves including how long it usually takes.

We can also tell you the general level of compensation you should be able to claim, although to get an accurate figure we would need to complete a thorough investigation of your case. We will also advise you whether you qualify for our No Win No Fee service, and if there are likely to be any costs involved with making a claim for car accident compensation.

Right now, the easiest next step is to call our Freephone car accident claims helpline and speak with an experienced solicitor today. Our telephone lines are manned between 8.00am and 10.00pm, 7 days a week. Call now on and find out more about making a car accident claim to recover compensation for your injuries.

If you cannot speak to us now, simply fill in the contact form below to request a call from us at any time that is convenient for you.