Pedestrians often don’t know how to claim compensation if they have been injured by a car, bus, lorry or other vehicle in a road traffic accident. At Direct2Compensation we know how to go about pursuing such claims and whether the details of the 3rd party are obtained or not, we can help you.
Commonly, the injuries suffered by pedestrians that are hit by a negligent driver are serious and often include bone fractures, loss of limbs, or brain and head injuries. In the most serious cases we deal with loss of life claims made by surviving family members.
Pedestrian claims will succeed if the claimant can demonstrate that 3rd party vehicle driver has been responsible for causing the accident through negligent driving. Vehicle drivers and their insurers will be liable to compensate any pedestrians that are injured if the vehicle driver is found to be at fault for the accident.
As with all road traffic accident compensation claims, to pursue a claim through the normal insurance process it is vital that the injured pedestrian has the relevant information of the vehicles involved in the accident. If these details are not held, as would be the case in a hit and run incident, or if it transpires that the negligent driver was uninsured, a claim can still be made, but it will need to be run through the Motor Insurers Bureau scheme.
Direct2Compensation can assist with claims on either basis and if you are unsure as to where you stand, please contact us for help.
What you need to make a claim
Below are the details that should be recorded to pursue a claim on the usual road traffic accident compensation basis:
- Details of drivers involved (all vehicles involved if more than one)
- Vehicle registration details for all vehicles involved (if applicable, include bus and route numbers)
- Accident location (street name/road number etc) and date of accident
- Details of any witnesses
In the case of an untraced driver (a hit and run) or if it transpires that the driver of a vehicle that has caused injuries to a pedestrian was uninsured, to pursue a claim via the motor insurers bureau, the injured party should complete the following steps before claiming:
- Report the incident to the Police and obtain a police incident reference number
- Make a statement to the police if required to do so
- Seek medical attention from a GP or hospital
- Obtain the details of any witnesses if possible
Why claim pedestrian accident compensation?
Pedestrians who are injured in an accident involving a vehicle don’t always pursue their legal right to make a claim for compensation. Whether this is because they don’t know how to go about making a claim or they simply don’t realise that they are covered by the vehicle insurers should they be in an accident, we don’t know. However, there are many compelling reasons for pursuing a pedestrian accident compensation claim.
Pedestrians are very vulnerable when hit by a vehicle and can easily sustain nasty injuries. Many such claims involve elderly people and young children, and claiming personal injury compensation can help ease some of the problems caused by the accident.
At Direct2Compensation all accident compensation claims are made on a No Win No Fee basis, so you will never be charged if your claim does not succeed. A successful pedestrian accident compensation claim will lead to a settlement being made to the injured party making the claim, with the value of the claim including lost income and incurred costs as well as a settlement value for the injuries suffered and medical treatment that has been required.
As well as a financial settlement, claiming compensation with Direct2Compensation and our expert injury compensation solicitors can also help you in other ways.
- Making a claim is a legal right, and if successful will fairly compensate the injured party for injuries that were not their fault.
- If successful, a pedestrian road traffic accident compensation claim will allow the claimant and their solicitor to request that the liable 3rd party release funds to pay for private medical treatment and rehabilitation therapies to speed the recovery process of the injured party.
- A successful pedestrian road traffic accident claim settlement will include a special damages claim that will cover lost income now and in the future if the injuries that are being claimed for have prevented the injured party from working, either temporarily or again. In the case of a child or elderly person being injured, the special damages element of the claim will cover the cost of a parent having to take time away from work to care for the child or carer costs for an elderly person needing post accident care.
Specialist rehabilitation therapies
Once your pedestrian road traffic accident compensation claim is active and your specialist Direct2Compensation solicitor has been able to obtain an admission of liability (from the insurers that provide the vehicle insurance for the liability party), your claim will succeed. It is at this point, that your solicitor can look to obtain specialist rehabilitation therapy if it is deemed relevant to your injuries.
In the case of pedestrian accident compensation, it is likely to involve serious injuries and as such rehabilitation therapies will greatly benefit the recovery process. Whether the therapies would include physiotherapy, osteopathic/chiropractic or massage therapies, your specialist solicitor and associated medical expert will help to organise this for you. Any such treatments will be provided at the expense of the third party dealing with your claim and the cost will form part of the value of the total settlement. Further information on this will be available from your solicitor once your claim has been active for a sufficient amount of time.
When can you make a pedestrian accident compensation claim?
Any pedestrian who has been injured in an accident involving a car, van, lorry, bus, motorcycle or any other road going vehicle, can pursue a claim for compensation as long as they were not at fault for the incident. As with all claims, they must allege negligence (responsibility) against a 3rd party vehicle. It is not possible to claim compensation if the injured party is responsible for their own injuries.
Common scenarios leading to pedestrian road traffic accident compensation include:
- A vehicle failing to stop at a pedestrian crossing
- A vehicle mounting the pavement
- A bus or coach knocking a tree branch onto a pedestrian.
- Speeding
- Failing to drive with adequate due care and attention
In all cases of someone making a pedestrian accident compensation claim, they are doing so because they have been injured as a result of someone else’s mistake or negligence.
How Direct2Compensation can help with your claim
As with all accidents, if you’ve been injured in a pedestrian road traffic accident, is important to make sure that the details of your accident have been recorded properly and with the right people. In most cases, the first point of call for a pedestrian injured in an accident involving a vehicle, would be to contact the police and obtain an incident reference number (in serious injury or death pedestrian accidents, the police will conduct a full investigation). Pedestrians injured in an accident should also seek medical attention at the earliest opportunity for any injuries that have been sustained. If you haven’t completed these steps already, we can help you to do so and advise you as to what you need to do.
Direct2Compensation are vastly experienced with the handling of pedestrian accident compensation claims whether on the standard insurer claim process or via the motor insurers bureau scheme. We have road traffic accident expert solicitors available to assist you during your claim. At Direct2Compensation, we know your rights and can help you to understand whether the specifics of your accident is something you are likely to be able to successfully claim compensation for.
Direct2Compensation work with some of the best personal injury compensation solicitors in the UK. With our easy to understand claims process and ability to handle your claim quickly, simply and transparently, there are many reasons that make us the right choice when it comes to starting your pedestrian accident compensation claim.
You can start your claim online or , and one of our expert team will be in touch to offer help. Alternatively, call us on 01225 430285.
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