This article looks at potential road traffic accident causes and how you could be eligible for compensation if harmed because of negligence on the roads. In the UK, all road users have a duty of care to each other that is described in the Road Traffic Act 1988. Furthermore, rules and suggestions about road conduct can be found in the Highway Code. Some rules from the Highway Code are elsewhere backed up in legislation.
Road traffic accident causes guide
This means avoiding actions on the roads that could injure other road users. If another road user fails to properly apply this duty of care, and it causes actual injury to you, they (or their insurer) may be liable to compensate your damages.
As you read the sections below, the highlighted text can take you to further resources. Also, we invite you to contact our team for a free, impartial assessment at any point. If you would like to discuss a personal injury claim following a road traffic accident, you can:
- Call our team on the number at the top of this page
- Contact us online
- Use the live chat option at the bottom of your page
Choose A Section
- What Are The Main Road Traffic Accident Causes?
- Situations For Road Traffic Accidents
- Evidence For Road Traffic Accident Causes
- Valuing A Payout For A Road Accident
- How Can I Work With A No Win No Fee Solicitor?
- More Resources About Road Traffic Accident Causes
What Are The Main Road Traffic Accident Causes?
Road traffic accidents can happen for a number of different reasons; we discuss them in detail below. If your car accident and subsequent injuries were caused because of negligent conduct on the part of another road user, it could be possible to make a claim. Evidence can be used as a basis for calculating possible damages to compensate for the physical, emotional and financial harm caused.
We look at how you can start a personal injury claim with the help of a legal professional. If you choose to contact our team for help, they can assess eligibility in a free call and potentially connect you with one of the personal injury solicitors from our panel offering a No Win No Fee agreement.
2022 Road Accident Figures
The prevalence of road traffic accidents is detailed in some government statistics for the year ending June 2022. Their provisional estimates show that:
- 1,760 fatalities were reported in road collisions
- 29,804 people were reported killed or seriously injured
- 137,013 casualties of all severities occurred
Situations For Road Traffic Accidents
The Highway Code details the compliance expected from all road users and their legal obligations. Recent changes to the Highway Code have established a hierarchy of road users, with vulnerable road users at the top. This sets out that those road users who could cause the most harm have the greatest responsibility to protect more vulnerable road users.
Some of the things that road users are expected to do to adhere to the duty of care on the road include:
- Leave a safe stopping distance between you and the vehicle in front
- Not driver while unfit to do so because of alcohol or drugs
- Following road markings and signs (for example, ensuring you are going the right way down a one-way street)
In some cases, a road traffic accident might be caused by something other than the conduct of another road user. For example, a local council may fail in their duty of care to maintain the road, resulting in a pothole that causes a crash in which you’re injured.
Talk to our advisors about claiming compensation for harm caused by negligence. If your claim is valid, they could connect you with a lawyer from our panel. Get in touch today to discuss road traffic accident causes and when a claim could be valid.
Evidence For Road Traffic Accident Causes
If a road traffic accident causes you injury, there are pieces of evidence that you can gather to support your claim for damages. For example, you could:
- Seek medical attention and obtain records
- Collect CCTV or dashcam evidence if possible
- Take photos of the crash scene and your injuries
- See if any witnesses would be willing to provide their contact details so that they can give a statement
If the causes of your road traffic accident were negligence on the part of another road user, speak to our team for free guidance on making a claim. One of our advisors can offer you free legal advice and, if you have a valid claim, could connect you with a No Win No Fee lawyer from our panel.
Valuing A Payout For A Road Accident
If you claim after an accident, the settlement you receive could be made up of general and special damages. General damages relate to the pain and suffering your injuries caused/
Solicitors might refer to a document called the Judicial College Guidelines to help them value this head of a claim. We have included a table below using these figures that you can use as a guide:
Guideline Compensation Brackets
| Area of Injury | Award Bracket | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Head | Very Severe - £282,010 to £403,990 | Permanent injury leaving little meaningful response to environment and requiring constant dependence on others. |
| Head | Moderate (i) - £150,110 to £219,070 | Intellectual deficit, personality change and impact on senses. |
| Neck | Severe - In the region of £148,330 | Incomplete paraplegia or little to no movement in the neck despite 24/7 use of a collar. |
| Neck | Moderate - £24,990 to £38,490 | Fractures and dislocations that cause initially severe issues that may require surgery. |
| Pelvis | Severe (i) - £78,400 to £130,930 | Lower back dislocations that rupture the bladder causing intolerable pain and requiring surgery. |
| Pelvis | Moderate (ii) - £12,590 to £26,590 | Injuries that necessitate hip replacement surgery or its requirement in the foreseeable future |
| Knee | Severe (i) - £69,730 to £96,210 | Gross ligament damage and disruption of the knee joint causing considerable pain and requiring extensive treatment |
| Knee | Moderate (i) - £14,840 to £26,190 | Dislocation and torn cartilage or meniscus that creates instability, wasting and other mild future disability |
| Back | Severe (iii) - £38,780 to £69,730 | Vertebrae fractures, disc lesions and soft tissue injuries that give rise to chronic conditions. |
| Back | Moderate (ii) - £12,510 to £27,760 | Ligament and muscle soft tissue damage that results in a prolonged acceleration of a pre-existing condition. |
Special Damages In Road Traffic Accident Causes
As well as this, special damages can be awarded to compensate for financial losses caused by the accident in which you were injured. For example:
- Proof of loss of earnings
- The cost of medical treatments not freely available on the NHS
- Care costs for help at home
- Adaptations to home or vehicle after the injuries
- Any other cost directly attached to the injuries caused to you.
Evidence is an important factor in claiming special damages. For example, you could provide receipts to show what you have spent or invoices. Speak to our team for further helpful guidance as an alternative to using a personal injury compensation calculator.
How Can I Work With A No Win No Fee Solicitor?
If you are considering making a personal injury claim, it may be more straightforward with professional legal advice. Should you have a solid case, our team could connect you with one of the solicitors from our panel who offer No Win No Fee agreements such as Conditional Fee Agreements. The benefits of working with a solicitor under a No Win No Fee agreement generally include:
- No fees to hire the solicitor
- No fees required as the case moves forward
- No solicitor fees for the work they’ve done if the claim fails
A successful outcome means that a solicitor deducts a percentage as their success fee. This amount is capped by law to ensure the claimant receives the majority of the compensation. There is a 3-year time limit for starting a personal injury claim, so get in touch to see if you could start the process today.
Enquire About A Car Accident Compensation Claim
Find out more from our team about how a No Win No Fee agreement could assist you after a road traffic accident caused you harm. Simply:
- Call our team on the number at the top of this page
- Contact us online
- Use the live chat option.
More Resources About Road Traffic Accident Causes
The articles below from our website discuss a variety of claims:
- Read our complete guide to road traffic accident claims
- How much are road traffic accidents worth in compensation?
- What steps are involved in the road traffic accident claims process?
Other resources to help:
- Road safety advice from THINK!
- Advice for motorway safety
- First aid guidance from the NHS
If you have any more questions about road traffic accident causes or making a claim if injured, please get in touch.
Writer Jeff Winters
Publisher Fern Styles