Delivering the compensation you deserve.
road traffic accident claims
In the year ending June 2020, the Department for Transport reported 131,000 casualties of all severities in Great Britain, and although there has been a significant drop as a result of the pandemic it still has a devastating impact on those families.
Road traffic accidents can be a traumatic experience for those involved and quite often leaving victims with serious and life-changing injuries. For many this can impact on their ability to return to work, which in the long term can have a huge impact on them financially and mentally.
You don’t even have to be the driver of a car to make a claim for road traffic accident compensation. Passengers, motorcyclists, pedal cyclists, pedestrians and e-scooter riders who have been involved in accidents on the road are equally entitled to claim for compensation.
At Geoffrey Leaver Solicitors our Top Ranked Personal Injury team has the experience to help you make a claim, so if you have suffered an injury as a result of a road traffic accident in the last 3 years that was someone else’s fault then our team will be able to help you.
Road Traffic Accident compensation: What should I do?
We recommend you report the accident to the police and obtain the other driver’s insurance details capturing evidence of the accident with the use of photographs and witness statements and inform your insurance company of the accident.
If you have been injured as a result of the accident you should seek medical attention and obtain treatment for your injuries.
Is there a time limit for a road traffic accident injury claim?
All personal injury claims need to be filed within 3 years from the date of the accident. Very often we have clients who contact us after the deadline of 3 years and we are unable to help, so do not delay in making your claim.
How much road traffic accident compensation can I claim for?
Every claim is different, but there are guidelines which the courts use as a starting point and our team will ensure that your claim considers:
- Current and future loss of earnings.
- Medical & travel expenses incurred as a result of the injury.
- Care & rehabilitation needs now and, in the future.
- Any modifications to your home including mobility aids.
- Pain and suffering caused as a result of the injury.
As a guide here are the compensation amounts you could receive in a typical case, please note that this is just a guide, and every case is evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
- Broken limbs (between £10,000 – £250,000)
- Back & neck Injuries (between £2,000 – £140,000)
- Spinal & Paralysis (between £11,730 – £151,000)
- Head & Brain Injuries (between £11,980 – £379,000)
Compensation can be separated into three distinct parts. Each part considers what the injured person has already lost (past losses), what they might lose or need in the future (future losses) and their pain, suffering and loss of amenity as a result of the accident (personal injury). The above guide only relates to compensation for the personal injury and does not include any associated losses. This is why serious life-changing injuries can achieve millions of pounds in compensation which is an area our team is experienced in handling.
If a driver is at fault, then their insurance company may approach you with an out of court settlement. We always advise clients never to accept any out of court settlement with an insurance company as it is likely to be lower than the compensation you could be entitled to. We recommend you contact a specialist solicitor, who can advise how much compensation you could be entitled to.
For more information about compensation visit our compensation explained page.
Small personal injury claims – new whiplash law changes
The new rules for making a small personal injury claim for any road traffic accident occurring on or after 31st May 2021 now means that:
- claims for whiplash injuries lasting two years or less, and which give rise to no or only minor psychological trauma, must now be settled according to a tariff system which fixes compensation at between £240 to £4,345, but with the flexibility for awards to be increased by up to a maximum of 20 per cent in exceptional cases;
- claims for whiplash injuries can no longer be settled out of court without a medical report which provides independent verification that such injuries have been sustained; and
- claims for any type of injury suffered in a road traffic accident which can be valued at less than £5,000, and where the total being sought including financial losses is less than £10,000, must now be dealt with via a newly created online system, called the Official Injury Claim (OIC) portal, which has been specifically designed to accept and process low value claims without lawyer input.
Access to the OIC portal and associated user guidance can be gained by clicking on this link: Official Injury Claim.
The aim of the new rules is to stamp out fraudulent and exaggerated whiplash claims, and to try to drive down the cost to insurers of dealing with minor injury cases. However, we believe it is important for your claim to be assessed properly and valued appropriately by a legal professional.
When you call our Personal Injury team, they will fully assess your case and advise whether the new OIC portal is appropriate for your claim.
Uninsured or untraceable driver – what can I do?
Victims of accidents caused by uninsured or untraced drivers can be left feeling distressed and unsure what to do next. It is possible to pursue compensation if you have been injured or your property has been damaged, but steps must be followed to ensure this process can run as smoothly as possible. To learn how read our article on uninsured and untraced drivers.
Can I make a No Win No Fee claim for compensation?
The majority of claims we handle are arranged on a No Win No Fee basis, which means that you do not need to worry about expensive legal costs or pay anything upfront.
No win, no fee is where we take out an insurance policy on your behalf, meaning if your claim is unsuccessful you will not have to pay a penny. To learn more about how this works view No Win No fee.
Support & Rehabilitation for road traffic accident injuries
We know that if you have suffered a life-changing injury sometimes rehabilitation can take months or even years, which is why our focus doesn’t just end at delivering the compensation you deserve but continues to help secure the finances you need to pay for equipment and support with other care such as therapies/physiotherapy that are vital to helping your recovery. What’s more we will take the reins and give you peace of mind that the practicalities are being looked after such as organising medical assessments or assigning a case manager depending on your needs.
Fatal Injuries
Tragically, in the year ending June 2020, the Department for Transport reported 1,580 road deaths on our roads, which has a huge impact on their loved ones. In the event of these circumstances our solicitors can guide the family through any dealings with the police or the coroner if an inquest is likely, as well as ensuring the family receive the compensation they deserve.
Learn how we can help with fatal injury claims.
Personal Injury Solicitors: Why choose us?
At Geoffrey Leaver our experienced team of Personal Injury solicitors are ranked number one by Chambers and Partners for delivering top quality legal advice. What’s more our personal approach means that you will be looked after by the same litigator throughout the legal process giving you that reassurance and peace of mind you are being taken care of.
To make an appointment to see one of our Personal Injury experts, Navdip Gill, Sam Seaford, Anne Maguire, Ann Summerling or Kerry Gibbs please call 01908 689338 (out of office hours – 07825 940007) or contact us.
What our clients say:
“I was involved in a serious motorcycling accident and I spent 10 nights in Northampton Hospital, my injuries included a fracture of my leg and I was treated with the insertion of metalwork. My solicitor Navdip Gill gave me a roadmap from the outset of the case and he stuck to this over the last 3 years and helped to secure a settlement of £37,000. Navdip always took my phone calls and promptly addressed my issues via e-mail and I would recommend him on any major cycling accident because of his attention to detail, commitment, knowledge and experience and his network of Surgeons who were able to provide a concise and supportive medical reports in my claim.” R Chambers, Northampton
For more information about how we can help, you can read testimonials from our personal injury clients
CASE STUDY: Family of Chinese national killed on M25 secure £400,000 damages
A Chinese national was killed after his car was struck by a lorry when he pulled over onto the hard shoulder of the M25 to check his sat nav.Although the man, Xing had recently been made redundant, and his earning potential was called into question, our solicitor secured £400,000 compensation on behalf of his wife and baby.
The accident happened on the 10th November 2007 and there was an issue over whether the man would have returned to China with his family, meaning his potential income would have been significantly reduced. There was also an issue in relation to partial blame as the man had stopped on the hard shoulder in contravention of the Highway Code. These issues were resolved in favour of the deceased driver.
Accreditations
Chambers & Partners 2024 – Personal Injury Department Ranked in Band 2: notes the team has built a national reputation achieving impressive results on behalf of clients dealing with life changing injuries. Clients praise the team on their selection of instructing the leading experts in the UK. “Geoffrey Leaver offers excellent client care with the added benefit of experienced staff.”
Chambers & Partners 2023 – Personal Injury Department Ranked in Band 2: notes the team is a highly regarded personal injury practice offering expertise in a broad range of disputed liability cases. The team is equally adept at handling cases from RTAs, acting for passengers, pedestrians and cyclists. Their expertise includes severe spinal cord and brain injuries, as well as PTSD. “Geoffrey Leaver’s team is professional and approachable.”
Chambers & Partners 2022 – Personal Injury Department Ranked in Band 1: notes the team is highly regarded as a personal injury practice offering expertise in a broad range of disputed liability cases. Equally adept at handling cases resulting from RTAs, brain injuries, as well as PTSD. One client commented “The service I received was five-star; the team were professional and empathetic.”
Chambers & Partners 2021 – Personal Injury Department Ranked in Band 1: one client reports “The process has been nothing but well planned and stress-free.”
Chambers & Partners 2020: Personal Injury Department is recognised by Chambers & Partners 2020 who noted the department as“efficient and effective, and easy to communicate with.”
The Legal 500: Personal Injury Department is recognised by The Legal 500 who notes “the practice is well-regarded for ‘taking on difficult cases at short notice’ from other law firms.”
The Personal Injury Team
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Navdip Gill Partner
Personal Injury 01908 689338 (07825 940007)Navdip is a highly experienced and shrewd Personal Injury Litigator with an exceptional track record in delivering great results for his clients. Recognised as a top ranked lawyer by Chambers & Partners, his particular area of expertise involves complex and challenging high value brain and head injury cases in both adults and children. -
Sam Seaford Partner
Personal Injury 01908 689349Sam is a personal injury solicitor and Partner at Geoffrey Leaver Solicitors, who has over a decade of experience handling serious and catastrophic personal injury claims including but not limited to employer’s liability, road traffic accidents and occupier’s liability claims. Sam has extensive experience in claims against insurance companies, large scale employer’s and their representatives, Councils and the Police. He specialises in high value and complex, pedestrian, motorcycle and cyclist claims. -
Anne Maguire Consultant
Personal Injury 01908 689365Anne is a Consultant to the Personal Injury Department. Anne is ranked as a leader in her field by Chamber and Partners Legal Directory. She has more than 30 years’ experience representing clients who have suffered serious brain or life-changing injuries, clinical negligence and fatal accidents. -
Ann Summerling Senior Associate
Personal Injury 01908 689368Ann is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives who joined Geoffrey Leaver Solicitors in May 2006. She has extensive experience in handling all types of personal injury claims. -
Kerry Gibbs Associate
Personal Injury 01908 692769Kerry has worked in the legal industry for over 20 years, in various roles acting on behalf of claimants and defendants. The majority of her experience has been gained in Personal Injury, where she worked her way up to client account manager for a large corporation before specialising in claimant based work. -
Herma Hirst Litigation Executive
Personal Injury 01908 689375Herma is a very experienced litigator who has been running complex personal and clinical negligence cases for over 20 years. She is a member of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers. -
Samantha Pegg Paralegal
Personal Injury 01908 689372Samantha is a Paralegal in our Personal Injury team, who joined us after graduating with a First Class Honours in Law (LLB) from the University of Buckingham, and completing her Legal Practice Course and LLM from De Montfort University. -
Ariana Kirton-Mogort Paralegal
Personal Injury 01908 689328Ariana is the newest member of our Personal Injury team and joins us as a Paralegal. After graduating from Buckingham University with an LLB, Ariana completed her Legal Practice Course and LLM with De Montfort University. Having always had a passion for studying law, she chose to specifically study personal injury during her master’s degree.
