As part of our campaign to raise awareness for road safety, Major Trauma Group are advising passengers on their right to make a claim if they suffered an injury due to a road traffic collision.
Whether by road, rail, air, or sea, we entrust our safety to the hands of those responsible for our transportation. Yet, in the event of a road traffic collision, the impact on passengers can be profound, reaching far beyond physical injuries.
Road users have a duty of care to all other road users. If you have been injured as a passenger in any type of vehicle, you may be eligible to make a claim for compensation.
Starting a claim can be very daunting, but our panel of expert personal injury lawyers at Major Trauma Group are on hand to assist you every step of the way. Our panel have ample experience in dealing with passenger accident claims involving serious and life changing injuries, and always endeavour to secure the best settlement possible for our client’s pain and suffering.
In addition to securing compensation for your injuries, we will also ensure that you obtain the best possible post-discharge rehabilitation treatment and support to help you get your life back on track.
Passenger accident examples
Road collisions involving various types of vehicles can lead to injuries for passengers. Listed below are some specific types of incidents that can occur in different types of road vehicles:
- Car passenger accidents: Car accidents can encompass the range of collision types mentioned earlier, including frontal collisions, rear-end collisions, side-impact collisions, roll-over accidents, and single-vehicle accidents. Passengers in cars can sustain injuries due to the force of impact, deployment of airbags, and contact with various parts of the interior. Wearing a seatbelt can help to minimise injuries to passengers; however serious injuries can still be sustained.
- Bus passenger accidents: Bus accidents can involve public buses, school buses, and private buses. Passengers on buses can be injured due to sudden stops, sharp turns, collisions, or roll-over accidents.
- Taxi passenger accidents: Passengers in taxis can also be involved in accidents, whether due to the taxi driver’s negligence, collisions with other vehicles, or other factors. The impact can cause a range of injuries to passengers inside the taxi.
- Minibus passenger accidents: Accidents involving minibuses used for group transportation can result in passenger injuries. Minibuses often lack the same safety features as larger buses, putting passengers at risk in case of accidents.
- Rideshare/ Uber passenger accidents: Passengers using rideshare services like Uber can be injured if their driver is involved in a collision. These incidents can result from various factors, including distracted driving or other forms of negligence.
- Commercial vehicle passenger accidents: Collisions involving commercial vehicles like delivery trucks or vans can result in injuries to passengers riding in these vehicles. The size and weight of commercial vehicles can lead to severe injuries in case of a collision.
- Motorcycle passenger accidents: Passengers on motorcycles are also at risk of injury in case of collision. They may be ejected from the motorcycle during a collision, leading to serious injuries.
Types of injuries suffered by passengers
Regardless of the specific type of road vehicle, accidents can lead to many types of injuries that range from minor to severe. The circumstances of the accident, the speed of impact, the use of safety features, and the overall vehicle design all play a role in determining the extent of passenger injuries.
In any case, passengers injured due to the negligence of a driver or another party may have legal options to seek compensation as a passenger for their injuries and losses.
Listed below are some common types of injuries that passengers may suffer:
- Whiplash: Whiplash is a soft tissue injury that affects the neck and spine, often occurring in rear-end collisions. It results from the sudden jerking motion of the head and neck, causing strain and pain.
- Fractures: Broken bones are common in accidents involving high impact. Passengers may suffer fractures in the arms, legs, ribs, and other bones.
- Head injuries: Head injuries can range from mild concussions to severe traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). They can result from hitting the head on the dashboard, window, or other parts of the vehicle during impact.
- Spinal injuries: Spinal cord injuries can lead to paralysis or partial loss of movement and sensation. These injuries are often severe and can have a profound impact on a passenger’s quality of life.
- Cuts and lacerations: Broken glass, flying debris, and interior vehicle components can cause cuts and lacerations to passengers.
- Internal injuries: Blunt force trauma during an accident can cause internal injuries to organs such as the liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys. These injuries may not always be immediately apparent and require medical attention.
- Soft tissue injuries: Muscles, tendons, and ligaments can be strained, sprained, or torn due to the force of impact, leading to pain and restricted movement.
- Bruises and contusions: Impact with vehicle components or other objects can cause bruising and contusions on various parts of the body.
- Burns: In accidents where vehicles catch fire or fluids leak, passengers can suffer burns from hot surfaces, chemicals, or flames.
- Psychological trauma: Beyond physical injuries, passengers can also experience psychological trauma such as anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and depression as a result of the accident.
- Amputations: Severe accidents can lead to traumatic amputations of limbs if the impact crushes or severs body parts.
- Crush Injuries: Crush injuries often occur when a body part is trapped between objects during an accident, leading to damage to the affected area.
- Eye Injuries: Impact with debris or broken glass can cause eye injuries, ranging from scratches to more severe damage.
It’s important to note that some injuries may not be immediately apparent after an accident. Some symptoms may develop over time, which is why seeking medical attention after any accident is crucial, even if injuries seem minor at first.
Making a passenger accident claim
The passenger accident claims process can be complex; however the serious injury lawyers in our network have the expertise and experience to make the process as stress-free as possible for you.
When making a passenger accident claim, it is important to know who was at fault for the accident. In some circumstances, injured parties may need to pursue their claim against a friend or family member if they were the driver at fault for the accident. If another road user was at fault, the claim would be made against them.
In circumstances where a child is injured as a passenger in a vehicle driven by a parent, one parent may be required to make a claim against the driver parent on behalf of the child. This will only be required if the parent driving the vehicle was responsible for the accident.
Those injured whilst travelling in a taxi, bus, mini bus or other type of transport may be required to make the claim against the driver of the vehicle they were travelling in, or a third party road user, depending on who was to blame for the incident.
Regardless of who was at fault, claims will be pursued against the insurance company of the at-fault driver.
In circumstances where an uninsured or untraceable driver was at fault for the collision or incident, claims will be made through the Motor Insurance Bureau (MIB).
Why make a claim?
Some of the main benefits to making a claim include recovering compensation to provide financial security and obtaining funds to access rehabilitation which helps to optimise the injured person’s recovery.
The amount of compensation you receive when making this type of claim will be determined based on the severity of your injuries. Any additional losses and the impact the accident has had on your life will also be taken into consideration.
Having access to specialist treatment, therapies and support in the early stages of serious injury and beyond discharge from NHS care, can significantly improve your chances of achieving the best possible outcome in the longer term.
Our team of lawyers can help seriously injured persons to access the support and rehabilitation they require through Rehabilitation Code funding or interim payments. This may include physical rehabilitation, psychological rehabilitation, social support and vocational support.
Our panel of lawyers can assist you in claiming compensation, offering their expert services on a no win no fee basis. This means you will not need to pay your solicitor anything if your claim is unsuccessful, and if successful, they will look to recover their fees from the other side.
Time Limits for passenger accident claims
In England and Wales, the standard time frame for making a personal injury claim (including passenger accident claims) is usually three years from either the accident date or from the point at which the injury was recognised. This time frame is commonly referred to as the “limitation period.”
There are some circumstances that deviate from this general rule. For example, if the injured party is under the age of 18, the three-year limitation period commences upon their 18th birthday, providing them until their 21st birthday to make a claim.
In cases where minors are involved, a parent or guardian can act on their behalf to initiate a claim before they reach 18 if they deem it appropriate.
For personal injury claims linked to incidents on aircraft, ships, and claims made under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA), the time limit is reduced to two years.
Furthermore, in situations where the injured party lacks the mental capacity both during and following the accident, there exists no specified time limit for filing a claim. The limitation period is only initiated if the individual regains mental capacity.
How can Major Trauma Group help with passenger accident claims?
If you are looking for more information on making passenger accident claims following serious or life changing injury, then our panel of personal injury lawyers at Major Trauma Group are on hand to assist you with your queries.
Major Trauma Group consists of experienced law firms based across the UK, all of whom are committed to securing our clients the best outcome in terms of financial compensation and specialist medical care and rehabilitation support. We understand that traumatic injuries present new challenges in everyday life and work tirelessly to obtain the best outcome for our clients, improving their chance of making a full recovery.
Our members offer their services on a no win no, fee basis, meaning you do not need to worry about the costs of instigating a claim.
If you would like a free, no obligation chat with a specialist serious injury solicitor, contact us via telephone at 0330 311 2578, email hello@majortraumagroup.co.uk or access live chat on our website during office hours.
Suffered minor injuries?
In respect of minor injury claims, Government reforms to Personal Injury Claims over many years has meant that it is not possible to instruct lawyers cost effectively to assist. It is the Government’s belief that people should be able to complete forms online themselves or with help e.g. from Victim Support Groups or your local Citizens Advice. Please be aware that time limits for pursuing cases still apply. Unfortunately, if your injuries are minor, Major Trauma Group will be unable to assist.
