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Car accidents are the most common cause of personal injury in the UK. Unfortunately, most people will be involved in at least one car accident in their lifetime. If you have been injured in a road traffic accident that was not your fault, whether you have suffered whiplash or a more serious injury, you may be able to claim personal injury compensation. JMW is one of the UK's leading personal injury solicitor firms (see Chambers UK Guide To The Legal Profession). Our specialist team have extensive experience in successfully pursuing injury claims arising from road traffic accidents and win over £10 million in compensation for our clients each year.
Hit-and-run and uninsured driver
We also deal with personal injury claims resulting from hit-and-run incidents or where the driver is uninsured. In these circumstances, claims may be brought through an organisation called the Motor Insurers' Bureau (MIB).
We have pursued many claims against the MIB over the years and feel we have a good rapport with their solicitors. Claims against the MIB are notoriously difficult and require careful and skilful handling. JMW has a specialist team which deals with MIB claims. Claims against the MIB require strict compliance with their time frame and as a consequence many solicitors no longer deal with them. If you are seeking to make a claim involving a hit-and-run or uninsured driver, it is of key importance to choose a specialist solicitor who is experienced in dealing with the MIB.
One of the requirements of bringing a claim with the MIB is that the claimant has reported the accident involving an uninsured motorist as soon as possible to the police. Failure to notify the police (within a short period of time) will invalidate your claim before you start.
At JMW personal injury solicitors we work on an ethical no win, no fee basis to help you claim compensation for personal injury arising from a road traffic accident, whether you have whiplash, broken limbs, spinal injuries, head injuries or far more serious injuries. We ensure that, win or lose you will not have to make any payment from your own pocket. If you win, your legal costs will be paid by your opponent. If you lose, your opponent's costs will be fully insured.
Being involved in a car accident is traumatic enough without having the stress and worry about the cost of pursuing a claim for compensation for your injuries. JMW provides assistance to people who have been involved in a car accident that was not their fault. We are a leading personal injury solicitor firm in the UK and we have extensive experience in successfully pursuing compensation claims for people who have been injured in car accidents that were not their fault.
For free, confidential advice without obligation call our claim team on 0808 144 0043 or complete our free claim assessment opposite.
About Whiplash
Whiplash is not a medical term but is a name given to the way in which certain neck injuries are suffered as a result of a sudden force often, but not always, because of a rear end shunt in car.
It is essentially soft tissue damage to the ligaments and muscles in the neck and varies in severity from a minor injury requiring little or no physiotherapy and taking just a few days to clear up, to a lifestyle changing injury lasting several years and sometimes forcing a claimant to change his or her employment. It is thought that the injury is often caused or compounded by badly fitted seat belts and head rests.
Medical studies appear to have established that the injury will be more severe in high impact road accidents involving speed and heavy vehicles. Women tend to suffer more than men as the muscles in their neck are less developed.
Treatment
Early mobilisation of the neck is now the preferred treatment for whiplash injury and a soft collar may be used for a short period of time. Pain medication and anti-inflammatory drugs may be prescribed. Severe whiplash injury may be treated with a surgical collar.
It is often encouraged that those injured by whiplash should resume their normal daily routine as soon as possible - whilst avoiding certain physical activities that may aggravate the injury. It has been shown that people who stay active and exercise their necks typically recover more quickly from a whiplash injury. Physiotherapy is a key weapon in the recovery process.
Each year we recover in excess of £10 million in personal injury compensation for our clients, who have been injured in all types of accident, including car accidents, accidents at work, accidents in public places and clinical negligence. Our breadth of experience covers all type and severity of injury from minor whiplash to injuries of a catastrophic nature. Our approach to customer care is to treat people as individuals not just clients and to show sensitivity and respect throughout all stages of the claim.
We work on an ethical no win, no fee basis which means there is no financial outlay or risk to our clients. If we cannot recover our costs and fees from the person at fault's insurance company, you will be protected from any fees or costs*. You will not be liable for any fees and we will not take any deductions from your compensation.
For free and confidential advice regarding your car accident injury call our claim team on 0808 144 0043 or complete the free claim assessment opposite.
What to do if you have been involved in a road traffic accident?
We have compiled a list of things you should do to help yourself and your personal injury solicitor if you have been injured in an accident.
1. If you are involved in a car accident in which someone (other than you) has been injured, or where damage has been caused to someone else's property, then by law you must stop and give the other people involved in the accident your name and address (and the name and address of the owner of your vehicle if it is not you), registration and insurance details. If you are unable to stop, you must give these details to the police within 24 hours.
2. Write down the names and addresses of the other drivers involved in the accident.
3. Write down a detailed account of the accident as soon as you can after the accident has happened. This is important because matters are still fresh in your mind. It is often useful to draw a rough sketch or a map to identify just who was where. Take photographs if possible.
4. If there are any potential witnesses to the accident, particularly any independent witnesses - ensure to get their details.
5. No matter what the circumstances of the accident and regardless of whether you believe you were at fault - do not make any comments at the scene of the accident about liability.
6. Seek medical attention for any injuries you have suffered. It is quite normal for you to feel fine immediately after the incident, with symptoms not appearing for up to 48 hours later. This is particularly the case for whiplash injuries.
7. Notify your insurance company as soon as possible.
8. Keep a diary of events following the accident, giving details of the severity of your injuries, medication and treatment, and how you were feeling on a daily basis. Please click here for a downloadable version of our personal injury diary.
9. Keep a record of any additional out-of-pocket expenses that you incur as a result of the accident e.g. taxi fares, prescription charges and keep the receipts.
10. If you have suffered a personal injury in a car accident that wasn't your fault you may be entitled to compensation. You should seek legal advice from an expert personal injury solicitor as soon as possible to ensure you are able to receive the best level of advice concerning both compensation, rehabilitation and treatment.
For free advice and to make a claim for personal injury compensation following a car accident or whiplash injury, call our claims team on 0808 144 0043.
* This does not apply to clinical and medical negligence cases. Please ask about funding arrangements.
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