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As the number of vehicles on UK roads continues to grow year-on-year, so too does the risk of being involved in a road traffic accident. Road traffic collisions have the potential to cause serious and life changing injuries. In road traffic accident claims that involve severe injuries, the amount of compensation awarded can be substantial where an injured person cannot return to work or has long term care needs. It is important to secure the right amount of compensation to provide you and your family with financial security for the future.
If this happens to you or a loved one and someone else is at fault, our road traffic accident solicitors can help you claim compensation for your injuries and financial losses.
Drivers, passengers, cyclists or pedestrians – there are many different types of road users who are injured in accidents every year and who we have represented. In the most serious accidents resulting in amputation, brain injury, spinal injury, psychological injury or multiple broken bones, the impact on a person can be life-changing. At Boyes Turner, our experts are here to support road traffic accident claims for those who need it most.
To start the process, get in touch for a free, no-obligation consultation. The aim of this is for us to find out more about the accident in your own words. It is also important for us to understand how the injuries sustained have affected you and your family.
With this information, we can advise you on whether we believe you have a claim. If so, we can tell you more about funding your claim and what you can expect as your claim progresses. If you decide to proceed, our road traffic accident solicitors will gather evidence about your accident and injuries from any witnesses or organisations such as the police or hospital. We will notify the party at fault of your compensation claim, and they will be allowed a period of time to investigate and advise whether they accept fault for your accident.
We will arrange early rehabilitation and support for you and your family where possible, and ensure you get the practical, legal and financial advice you need immediately after your accident. We will obtain medical evidence about the nature and extent of your injuries and any nonmedical evidence about the long term needs and financial implications of your injuries, such as care or equipment needs.
When we have all the necessary information and reports, we will advise you on the level of compensation you should expect to receive and contact the insurer of the party at fault to negotiate a settlement on your behalf.
Our experience of supporting road traffic accident compensation claims goes back more than 30 years. In that time, our legal experts have gone the extra mile to secure compensation for those who both need and deserve it.
Road Traffic compensation should reflect not only the long-term impact of your injuries, but any rehabilitation and support you need going forward. Our team of solicitors are recognised for their skills and expertise within the industry. But we also have strong links with charities and support groups who can help you too.
Call our specialist legal teams Monday - Friday, 9:00 - 17.30 for free, no obligation advice.
Complete our simple form to start your claim and get a call back back from our expert legal team.
Some accidents on UK roads are just that – an unfortunate set of circumstances that cannot be helped. But the sad truth is that most accidents are the result of someone doing (or not doing) something before a collision, quite often as a result of a momentary lapse in concentration.
This means that many road traffic accidents are entirely avoidable.
According to official government data, more than two-thirds of reported road accidents in 2018 were caused by driver or rider error. A further 20% of accidents were the result of “injudicious action” – this can include speeding, running red lights or ignoring pedestrian crossings. Many of our clients are injured on rural roads or due to other drivers using their mobile phones or driving whilst under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Just as different factors can cause an accident in the first place, how it then affects you and your family can also vary, and no two claims are ever the same. Our specialist road traffic accident solicitors have substantial first-hand experience of how accidents can leave their mark – and it means that we can help you no matter how severe or life-changing that impact is.
We have particular expertise in supporting road traffic accident compensation claims involving:
Injuries to limbs and other body parts are common in road traffic accidents, whether you are the driver, passenger, or a pedestrian. Medical professionals will always attempt to save a limb after a serious accident. But this may not always be possible or successful. If limbs, fingers, or toes become crushed, severed or damaged beyond repair, the resulting loss of limb will have life-changing consequences. Many of our clients suffer from traumatic amputation or have elective amputation surgery after their accident. We know how much of an effect this can have on you and those nearest to you. So, our aim is to give you the best possible chance at rehabilitation and returning to the quality of life you (or a loved one) enjoyed before your accident.
At Boyes Turner, we specialise in securing road traffic accident compensation for those who suffer a traumatic brain injury. Our dedicated expertise means that we understand – better than most – the importance of clear advice and practical support for you and your loved ones following a serious brain injury. Our priority is to work with you and your family to help you rebuild your life. As members of Headway’s panel of personal injury solicitors, we agree to abide by their code of conduct. This means you have confidence, knowing that we have both the expertise and commitment required to ensure you get the help and support you need.
It is sometimes the unseen impact of an accident that people need most support with. As part of any road traffic accident claim, our team are mindful of the emotional and psychological consequences for you and your family after a traumatic and frightening event. Informed by our experience in handling Post Traumatic Stress Disorder compensation claims, we can ensure that you and your loved ones are given the treatment and support you need to help you to come to terms with the aftermath of an accident and to deal with some of the feelings you may have such as fear, anxiety, loss of confidence and sense of self and low mood. If your physical injuries are more severe and long-term, we will also call on the organisations that we work with to help you adapt to the changes you face and start to rebuild your life.
It is important to remember that drivers are not the only road users who can make a road traffic accident claim. Anyone who is involved in an accident involving a vehicle may be able to make a claim.
This includes pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists, as well as passengers of vehicles.
The one factor that must be proven in all road traffic accident claims is that someone else is, at least, partly to blame or 'liable'. If you think you are partly at fault (known as contributory negligence) then you can still make a claim, but your compensation will be reduced depending on the amount of responsibility agreed for each party.
The aftermath of a serious road traffic accident is always an emotional time and worrying time. There are many things to think about and uncertainties about what the future holds. The aim of compensation is to put you back to the financial position you would have been in had your accident not occurred.
However, making a claim for compensation can also ensure that you have access to ongoing rehabilitation to give you the best chance of maximising your recovery and regaining your independence.
Here are some reasons why you should consider making a road traffic accident claim:
The amount of road traffic accident compensation you could receive will depend on the severity of your injuries and any past or future financial losses and expenses you suffer. There are numerous factors that are considered, which are usually broken down into two categories: general damages and special damages.
General damages is the amount of compensation for “pain, suffering and loss of amenity” (impact on day to day life). Guidance for the amount of general damages to be paid can be found in the Judicial College guidelines, which is updated each year and is based on both the severity of the injury and part of the body affected.
Special damages is the amount paid for any past or future losses and expenses incurred as a direct result of your accident and injuries. Special damages are designed to reflect your unique financial and rehabilitation needs. This includes loss of earnings or pension, cost of care or medical treatment, adaptations to your home or vehicle, aids or equipment and the like.
Serious road accidents can have catastrophic consequences – especially for the most vulnerable road users. Sadly, those consequences can sometimes be fatal. The impact on those left behind is one of profound shock and distress.
We appreciate how the idea of making a road accident traffic claim can seem far from important in such situations. While it cannot bring back a loved one who has passed away, it can provide the financial and emotional support you need when coming to terms with your loss.
If you are claiming on behalf of a loved one who has passed away due to a road traffic accident, you may also be entitled to the statutory bereavement payment currently set at £15,120.
In most road traffic accident injury claims, your solicitor negotiates with the insurers of the other person or organisation that we believe to be at fault. It is the insurer who will be responsible for paying your compensation.
Depending on the individual circumstances of each accident, serious injury claims arising from unsafe highway conditions may be made against:
Yes.
As part of our information-gathering process, you will be asked to undergo an independent medical examination so that we can understand the full extent of your injuries and any long term impact in order to help us to properly value your claim.
Most of the cases that we deal with settle amicably without the need to go to court, however if the other party does not accept fault or disputes the amount, then court proceedings will be commenced so that a Judge can decide on these issues.
Many of the cases we issue settle before the trial date, and we will continue to try to negotiate settlement with the other side – where possible.
While it is rare, accidents can be caused by an uninsured driver or a driver/rider who then leaves the scene. But it does not (and should not) mean you cannot claim road traffic accident compensation.
If you are injured by an uninsured driver or a driver who leaves the scene, our road traffic accident solicitors can help you make a claim to the Motor Insurance Bureau. Which is an organisation set up specifically to help people in your position.
We believe that everyone should have the right to seek justice when injured in an accident that is not their fault. Our solicitors can support many road traffic accident injury claims on a no win no fee basis.
If we can support your claim on a no win no fee basis, there will be nothing to pay up front. You also pay nothing if your claim is unsuccessful. See our guide to funding your claim for more information.
To find out if you could make a no win no fee claim, contact us today for your free consultation. You can call us at your convenience on 0800 124 4845 or get in touch by using our online form.
We strongly recommend starting a road traffic accident compensation claim as soon as possible. This will give us the best chance of collecting the information needed to build a strong case.But we know that, for some people, the focus is on coming to terms with the raw emotions that can follow an accident that was not your fault.
So, if you do not wish to start a claim right away, you have three years from the date of the accident in which to do so.
In some cases, there are exceptions to this limit – especially if the accident involves children or means a loved one can no longer decide for themselves.
Yes. Some vehicle insurance providers have their own panel of solicitors who they prefer their customers to deal with. But we believe that making a claim is a personal decision – and one that only you can make.
This includes choosing the solicitor that you are most comfortable with, whether that is because of their knowledge and expertise, locality and awareness of local services, or their empathy and understanding.
Our personal injury team can also help with:
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A personal injury is an injury to the body. Sometimes the physical injury or the circumstances in which that injury was suffered also leads to a psychiatric or psychological injury.
When someone is injured as a result of another person or organisation’s breach of their duty of care (negligence), the injured person may be entitled to claim compensation for their injury and its financial consequences. The claim for compensation is made against the person or organisation that was responsible for the injury and is usually met by their insurer. The legal process of claiming compensation for injuries that are caused by negligence is known as a personal injury claim.
Boyes Turner’s personal injury team specialise in claims involving severe or catastrophic injury. Most of our clients have been injured in road traffic accidents (RTAs) and accidents at work.
For compensation claims relating to injuries which occurred in England or Wales the general rule is that court proceedings must be issued (formally started) within three years of the date of the injury. In most cases, before a claim can be issued work must be carried out to investigate the claim, notify the defendant and the insurance company against whom the claim is being made and obtain a medical report to support the claim. The sooner you contact us after an injury has occurred, the sooner we can begin to help you, and the better we can investigate and prepare your claim.
Longer time limits apply to children whose three-year time period only begins to run from the age of 18, meaning that their time limit expires when they reach the age of 21.
Time limits do not apply for those who lack mental capacity. Where an injured person’s mental capacity is uncertain, we work closely with our Court of Protection team to determine whether our client has capacity to bring their own claim. As with other claims, it is always advisable to contact us as soon as possible after the injury, to ensure that evidence can be preserved, rehabilitation started (where needed) and financial help secured via the claim.
In exceptional circumstances, the court may extend the time limit (or limitation deadline) for those including:
You can make a personal injury claim for:
Court proceedings are issued (started) in many cases but this does not mean that the case will end in a trial. There are many reasons why court proceedings might be issued:
The duration of a serious injury claim depends on the individual circumstances of the client’s case. Claims take less time to conclude if:
Claims are more complex and may take longer to resolve where:
We work hard to secure cooperation with defendant insurers, to provide immediate needs assessments and timely funded rehabilitation for our clients to maximise their recovery in the all-important period immediately following an injury. Wherever possible, we also secure interim payments to ease our clients’ financial hardship long before their claims have concluded.
By taking the time that is needed for the client’s rehabilitation and the careful assessment of their long-term needs, we can be confident that each client receives the full support and the compensation they deserve.
Compensation is carefully structured to make the best provision for the injured person’s needs. There are rules protecting compensation for children or adults who lack mental capacity. Compensation may be paid in one or more of the following ways:
If you, or someone in your family has been seriously injured in an accident that was somebody else’s fault, you may be entitled to make a claim. If this feels daunting, alongside everything else that you are coping with in the aftermath of an accident, it may help to remember that:
If you decide that you want to go ahead with making a claim, we will gather as much evidence as we can to support your claim. This evidence may include:
We will also contact the defendant and their insurers to begin working towards meeting your immediate needs and settlement of the claim.
Our personal injury lawyers are specialists in catastrophic and severe injury compensation claims. Our clients have often suffered life-changing injury resulting in permanent disability, and we aim to assist their recovery by securing funded rehabilitation, whilst supporting them in adjusting to the changes to their lives and securing compensation to meet their needs in the future.
Our clients usually have suffered one or more of the following:
If you have suffered a serious injury as a result of somebody else’s negligence (breach of their duty of care), we may be able to help you make a claim for compensation.
Depending on the circumstances of your accident and the severity of your injury, we may also be able to help you claim compensation:
The vast majority of our clients’ serious injury claims are settled without the need for a court hearing (trial). Our clients very rarely need to go to court.
Our personal injury specialists are highly experienced in investigating and assessing the strength of each client’s case. From the outset, and throughout the claim, we advise our clients clearly and honestly about their prospects of success.
We work hard to prove each client’s claim, based on evidence of the circumstances of their accident and the impact of their injury. We encourage cooperation with the defendant’s insurers and negotiate the best possible settlements for our clients. On the rare occasions when a claim cannot be settled without a court hearing, this will be because:
In the following circumstances, the law requires a judge to approve an out-of-court settlement, for the protection of those involved:
In these cases, the approval hearing will be a short hearing at which the lawyers for both parties explain the circumstances of the case and the settlement terms to the judge. In most cases, our client will be expected to be in court during the hearing, accompanied and fully supported by members of our legal team.
The amount of compensation that an injured person receives in a personal injury claim depends on a number of individual factors:
Depending on the client’s injury and the way it affects their life, their claim may include compensation for:
An interim payment is a part-payment of compensation which is paid to the injured person, in advance, whilst the claim is ongoing. We can usually secure an interim payment from the defendant’s insurer where they have admitted liability (accepted fault) for our client’s injury.
We use interim payments to help the injured person and their family, who may be suffering financial hardship as a result of the injury. Where insurers are not willing to provide Rehabilitation Code funding, we sometimes obtain interim payments to ensure that our client receives the rehabilitation, case management and therapies that they need straight away.
Interim payments may be used to meet any genuine need, but it is important that the injured person and their family understand that the sums that they have already received as interim payments are deducted from their final compensation at the end of the claim.
Depending on the client’s injury, an interim payment may help meet their needs for:
By understanding and targeting provision for our clients’ rehabilitation and other essential needs early in the claims process, we help restore our clients’ mobility, independence and ability to participate fully in family and social life, long before the claim has concluded.
When claiming for compensation, Boyes Turner will help you gain:
The easiest way to get started is to talk to one of our friendly, experienced solicitors. You can talk to us free and confidentially about your potential claim, with no obligation, by contacting us by email.
It costs nothing to talk to us to find out about making a claim. Our initial advice is free.
When you first contact us, we advise you whether we can help you make a claim. We discuss how your claim will be funded, and advise, fully and clearly, how that works and what it will mean for you.
We offer a range of funding options, but the majority of our clients’ claims are handled on a conditional fee agreement (CFA) basis, often known as ‘no win no fee’. This means that there is nothing to pay at the outset or until the claim is settled, and you receive compensation. If you win your claim, the defendant’s insurer makes a contribution towards your legal costs. You pay nothing if your claim does not succeed.
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Our medical negligence and personal injury teams have been nationally recognised for over 20 years because of their expertise, empathy and commitment to securing maximum compensation for our clients.
Almost 5 years ago my sons suffered a life changing brain injury accident. A new life for everyone, so many unknowns so many difficult decisions. I met Claire and the team shortly after the accident. So many questions answered but more than that, amazing lovely people. Claire has been guiding me and the family throughout this ordeal with such compassion, there every time I needed her we couldn’t of asked for a nicer person. I have met many others with in Boyes Turner and all have been genuine lovely people, I’m now working with Ruth and Lindsay from the court of protection. Again, I can't say enough about them amazing lovely people. They truly do won't the best for my son and they did and continue to do so.
Claire is exceptionally knowledgeable in the personal injury legal domain, especially in the specific area of my injury. From our very first conversation, she was clear in explaining the potential different routes that the process could take and provided me with expectations of what I could expect along the journey. She ensured that all bases were covered, organising meetings, discussions and necessary specialist appointments, in order to bring together the case and take it forward. Claire was then able to use her extensive pool of contacts, to appoint an "area leading" barrister, to represent me. Overall, I was very pleased with appointing Claire and Boyes Turner to act as my solicitor for the legal claim that I pursued. Thank you for all of your support.
I approached Claire Roantree of Boyes Turner in regards to making a claim about a workplace burns injury. It was something that had scarred me physically and mentally and taken a huge toll on the lives of me and my family. Claire wasted no time in finding out what happened and made sure I was treated by known experts and quickly finding an answer to my burns scarring and how I could be treated to help manage my pain. Claire also helped me by appointing a psychiatrist to understand my situation and help me cope with post traumatic stress disorder. As well as taking as much stress of the claim away, she was thorough in every situation, making sure I had the best possible claim, and handled it all expertly, I am so very grateful to her and her team. They have helped guide my life back into a positive direction and I can't thank her enough!
Excellent service from Claire and her team at all times. We were kept up to date at each stage of our claim. The outcome was much better than we expected and we would not hesitate to recommend Boyes Turner to family and friends.
Kim handled my personal injury claim after a car accident with immeasurable expertise and compassion. Boyes Turner arranged every part of my private rehabilitation, which greatly improved the speed and quality of my recovery. Each stage of the litigation process was dealt with efficiently and succinctly. This was then always explained without using unclear legal jargon. On both health and financial levels, I would be in a far worse position without Kim’s invaluable input. I cannot recommend this firm enough.
