You can make a motorway accident claim if you can prove that the negligent actions of another road user directly caused your injuries, such as by driving while under the influence or going over the variable speed limit. Motorway accidents can be life-changing, often resulting in fractures or multiple catastrophic injuries, such as brain trauma and paralysis. When you are focused on your recovery, you need legal representation that will fight hard to secure the compensation and always prioritise your recovery.
At Public Interest Lawyers, our panel of solicitors are committed to providing a bespoke service that takes the time to understand every client’s needs. They are experts in handling road traffic accident claims, with proven success grounded in their knowledge, expertise, and decades of combined experience. Our advisors are available 24/7, ready to answer your questions and assess your situation confidentially to determine if you can make a motorway accident claim with the support of a solicitor on our panel. Get in touch today.
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- Can I Claim For An Accident On The Motorway?
- Motorway Accident Claim Examples
- What Injuries Could Be Sustained In A Motorway Accident?
- Who Can Claim After A Fatal Motorway Accident?
- How Much Compensation Can I Get After An Accident On The Motorway?
- Can A Motorway Accident Claim Compensate For Other Losses?
- What Will I Need When Claiming For Motorway Accident Compensation?
- Why Claim With Our Panel Of Solicitors After An Accident On The Motorway?
- No Win No Fee Motorway Accident Claims With Public Interest Lawyers
- More Information
Can I Claim For An Accident On The Motorway?
Yes, you can claim for an accident on the motorway if you can prove that you are eligible to make a claim. To prove your eligibility, you must meet the criteria below:
- You were owed a duty of care: Anyone travelling on British roads, including motorways, has a legal duty of care to avoid causing injury to themselves and others. This also requires adherence to the Road Traffic Act 1988 and The Highway Code. For instance, sections 253 – 274 of the Highway Code outline rules for overtaking, maintaining safe distances, and using the hard shoulder on motorways.
- That duty of care was breached: A breach occurs when a road user fails to travel safely. On the motorway, this might happen if a motorist exceeds variable speed limits, fails to check blind spots, or tailgates.
- You suffered an injury in a motorway accident: If this breach of duty led to your injuries, you might have grounds to claim compensation. Motorway accidents often involve high-intensity impacts, meaning injuries can range from broken bones to severe brain or spinal damage.
Can I Make A Motorway Accident Claim On Behalf Of A Loved One?
Yes, you can act as a litigation friend to make a motorway accident claim on behalf of a loved one if they are unable to seek compensation independently because they are under 18 or lack sufficient mental capacity. As a litigation friend, you carry out duties throughout the legal process and act in their best interests.
Whether your loved one has a traumatic brain injury or is a child injured in a motorway collision, contact one of our friendly advisors today to learn more about the litigation friend role. They are here to support you and give you the answers you need at this time.
Motorway Accident Claim Examples
Motorway accident claims often result from injuries caused by driver error, excessive speeding, and the use of phones or other forms of distracted driving. Due to the intensity of many motorway accidents, claimants often seek compensation for multiple injuries and long-lasting psychological trauma. Examples of motorway accident scenarios are given below:
- A driver emerging from a slip road suddenly moves into your lane without signalling, resulting in a collision with the side of your car. This dangerous manoeuvre results in you sustaining severe whiplash.
- While approaching a traffic jam during rush hour, you are rear-ended because the driver behind you fails to brake while distracted by a mobile phone. The force of the impact leaves you with facial fractures and a concussion.
- You are on your way home from work when a driver is unable to control their van due to fatigue and excessive speeding, causing a multi-vehicle pile-up. The accident results in you being temporarily paralysed after sustaining severe spinal injuries.
To find out whether you might have grounds to make a motorway accident claim, get in touch today.
What Injuries Could Be Sustained In A Motorway Accident?
Broken bones, lacerations, and whiplash are among the most common injuries that could be sustained in a motorway accident. However, due to the high forces involved in these types of road traffic incidents, multiple serious injuries often occur. These include:
- Traumatic brain injuries (e.g., concussions)
- Back and neck injuries, such as herniated discs
- Broken jaws and other skeletal injuries
- Penetrating wounds
- Psychological harm, ranging from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to long-term anxiety about driving
- Paralysis
- Organ damage, such as a ruptured bladder
You can discuss the injuries that will be included in the compensation of your motorway accident claim with one of our advisors today. Get in touch.
Who Can Claim After A Fatal Motorway Accident?
The estate of the deceased and qualifying relatives may be able to make a claim after a fatal motorway accident. In line with legislation, the estate is the only party that can claim within the first 6 months of death. They also have the option to seek compensation on behalf of eligible relatives.
If no such claim is made for them during this period, qualifying relatives can seek compensation as dependants for the impact of losing their loved one. You can find out more about fatal injury compensation claims in our dedicated guide.
Our advisors are here to provide compassionate guidance and answer any of your questions about pursuing a fatal motorway accident claim. Give them a call today.
How Much Compensation Can I Get After An Accident On The Motorway?
The amount of compensation that you can get after an accident on the motorway will depend on the severity of your injuries, their day-to-day impact, and whether they have affected your finances. In road traffic accident claims, general damages will compensate you for the pain that you have suffered. Your solicitor may calculate this head of claim by using the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG), as this document provides suggestions for compensation brackets for injuries of varying types and severities.
The table below provides multiple brackets from the JCG, including those involving brain and head injuries. Every motorway accident claim is unique, and that is reflected in the fact that none of the entries below is guaranteed. Please bear in mind that the initial figure listed in the table is not taken from the JCG, and the last 2 entries come from the whiplash tariff.
| Type of Injury | Severity | Compensation Guideline |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple Serious Injuries and Financial Losses | Special damages may account for care costs, loss of earnings and adjustments made to the home to support independence | Up to £1,000,000+ |
| Paralysis | Tetraplegia - where there is physical pain present as well as significant effect on senses or the injured person's ability to communicate | £396,140 - £493,000 |
| Paraplegia - where compensation depends on the presence and extent of pain, age, life expectancy and the degree of independence | £267,340 - £346,890 | |
| Brain and Head Injury | Very Severe - recovery of eye opening and ability to follow basic commands but little or no language function and double incontinence | £344,150 - £493,000 |
| Moderate (i) - moderate to severe intellectual deficit, an effect on sight and speech and a significant risk of epilepsy | £183,190 - £267,340 | |
| Bowel Injury | Double incontinence -meaning total loss of natural bowel function and complete loss of urinary control and function | Up to £224,790 |
| Back Injury | Severe (i) - damage to the spinal cord and nerve roots with a combination of incomplete paralysis and significantly impaired bowel function | £111,150 - £196,450 |
| Neck Injury | Severe (i) - where the injured person has little to no movement in the neck, suffering from severe headaches. | In the region of £181,020 |
| Pelvis and Hip Injuries | Severe (i) - where there has been extensive fractures of the pelvis with a dislocation of a low back joint and ruptured bladder | £95,680 - £159,770 |
| Whiplash | With at least 1 minor psychological injury - lasting longer than 18 months but no more than 24 months | £4,975 |
| Whiplash | Without a psychological injury - lasting between 18-24 months | £4,830 |
What Is The Whiplash Tariff?
The whiplash tariff sets fixed amounts set out by the Whiplash Injury Regulations 2021. These regulations were introduced as part of the Whiplash Reform Programme (WRP), which changed the way that claims for minor injuries and certain road traffic accidents are made in England and Wales. They apply if:
- Your injuries are valued at upwards of £5,000.
- You were at least 18 at the time of the motorway accident.
- You were a driver or passenger when the incident occurred.
Any injury that is valued above the £5,000 threshold is compensated in line with the guideline brackets found in the JCG.
For further discussion of whiplash rules or how your general damages might be valued in a motorway accident claim, contact an advisor at Public Interest Lawyers today.
Can A Motorway Accident Claim Compensate For Other Losses?
Yes, a motorway accident claim can compensate you for the financial losses you have suffered due to your injuries. These costs are covered by the head of claim, special damages, some examples of which are detailed below:
- Loss of earnings: The injuries that you can sustain from a motorway accident can be extremely debilitating and may lead to a significant amount of time away from work.
- Future loss of earnings: Motorway accidents frequently result in long-term harm, such as paralysis. Where you are unable to return to work, your special damages can cover projected losses, including missed promotions and pension contributions.
- Therapy costs: The trauma of a motorway accident may have resulted in you needing therapy to support your mental health.
- Care costs: Where your motorway accident has left you with an injury that leads to a loss of mobility, you may be compensated for the cost of being helped by family or professional carers.
- Adjustments made to your home or car: If you have lost or experienced reduced function in your arms, legs, or elsewhere, you may require adjustments to your car or the installation of a stairlift in your home.
Ensure that you keep copies of receipts, payslips and invoices to prove that these payments were made, as you can only be compensated for your losses if you have evidence of them.
To discuss what special damages you may be compensated for in your motorway accident claim, call one of our advisors today.
What Will I Need When Claiming For Motorway Accident Compensation?
When claiming for motorway accident compensation, you will need evidence to prove the negligence of the third party. You will then have to ensure that you are bringing your claim within the limitation period. Examples of evidence you can begin to compile, as well as details on the limitation period, are provided below.
How To Prove Liability For An Accident On A Motorway
To prove liability for an accident on a motorway, you can use dashcam recordings, CCTV footage, and reports made to your insurer. You will also need to exchange details with the other road user, including vehicle registration, insurance, and contact information.
You can find out more about the evidence needed for a personal injury claim in our dedicated guide.
How Long After A Motorway Accident Can I Claim Compensation?
After a motorway accident, you will have 3 years to claim compensation, per the Limitation Act 1980. This deadline will begin from the date that your accident took place. You can find out more about the limitation period in our dedicated guide.
For more guidance on the process of making your motorway accident claim, get in touch with an advisor today.
Why Claim With Our Panel Of Solicitors After An Accident On The Motorway?
If you claim with our panel of solicitors after an accident on the motorway, you get access to years of collective experience supporting claimants through the legal process. Our panel are experts in road traffic accident claims, and they are dedicated to securing compensation while easing the strain on their clients. Some ways that they achieve this include:
- Assessing all of your injuries and losses thoroughly, as our panel understands that motorway accidents often lead to multiple, complex forms of harm. Therefore, they will organise an independent medical assessment to evaluate the full extent of the physical and psychological impact on you.
- Contacting other road users who saw the accident on the motorway, and preparing eyewitness statements on your behalf to support the claim.
- Meeting your needs by conducting online or at-home consultations where your mobility has been reduced by a back injury because of your motor vehicle accident.
- Answering any of your questions and keeping you updated on the progress of your claim.
- Tailoring their advice and taking the time to understand what evidence will best support your claim, such as CCTV footage of the motorway incident.
You can get connected with a solicitor on our panel and find out what other services they offer to support your motorway accident claim by contacting one of our advisors today.
No Win No Fee Motorway Accident Claims With Public Interest Lawyers
With Public Interest Lawyers, you can make a motorway accident claim on an exclusively No Win No Fee basis through the Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA) used by all the solicitors making up our panel. CFAs ensure our panel never takes any payments for the work they carry out on behalf of clients throughout the claims process. This means:
- No upfront payments for service fees.
- No ongoing service fees at any stage of the motorway accident claim.
- No service fees charged in the event of an unsuccessful claim.
Our panel deducts a legally capped percentage of your compensation as a ‘success fee’ when a claim has a favourable outcome. Thanks to this pre-agreed cap, you have clarity from the outset that you will receive the majority of your compensation.
Contact Our Advisors To Make A Start
To learn more about the support provided by our panel of solicitors or to make a start on your motorway accident claim, use the details below:
- Call 0800 073 8803
- Contact us by completing our online contact form
- Use our free live chat function
More Information
More of our helpful guides can be found below:
- Learn how to claim whiplash as a passenger
- Find out about claiming for broken nose compensation
- Read about the bereavement award
Further information that may help you with your claim is given below:
- Information on road safety, POLICE.UK
- Find out how to carry out first aid, NHS.UK
- Learn how to get copies of medical records, NHS.UK
Thank you for reading our guide on how to make a motorway accident claim, and please use our 24/7 advice service to ask any questions about the legal process.