Who are our Road Safety Heroes?

When a road traffic collision occurs, a host of people and organisations come together to support those who have been involved.  These can include:

Fire and Rescue Services who can often be among the first on the scene.  They attend crashes to get people to safety, including using specialist cutting and lifting equipment to free people trapped in vehicles, and to make crash scenes safe, especially if a spillage has resulted.

Ambulance Service are often again among the first on the scene.  They help injured people receive medical help as quickly as possible, transporting those with serious injuries to Major Trauma Centres around the UK, often calling on the Air Ambulance Service to support them.

Police Service will attend the scene of serious collisions including those where people are injured.  They will make the road safe for the other emergency services to rescue and treat injured vehicle occupants, direct other traffic, conduct investigations to determine the cause of the crash and arrange removal of damaged vehicles.  In additional Police Family Liaison Officers support families when a loved one is killed or seriously injured.

Hospital Staff who help those who have suffered injury to receive the best treatment as quickly as possible to help them recover from their injuries as quickly as possible.

Other health professionals who continue to support seriously injured people following their discharge from hospital, this can include physiotherapists, case managers, psychologists and other therapists who help injured people on their road to recovery.

Charities such as Brake, the Road Safety Charity, Roadpeace, The Child Brain Injury Trust, Spinal Injuries Association, Headway, The Backup Trust and Brain Injury is BIG provide support to individuals and their families who have suffered the loss of a loved one or serious injury, due to a road traffic crash.

Legal support

If someone is injured in a crash, which was not their fault, they may be able to claim compensation for their injuries, alongside funds to assist with rehabilitation, loss of earnings (past and future) as a direct result of their injuries and help with specialist equipment or housing adaptations.  An experienced serious injury solicitor will understand the devastation a significant injury, or death, of a loved one can have on a family, often bringing with it financial hardship, additional help with caring for the injured person, and time off work.  Providing a holistic approach to ensure the whole family are considered, members of Major Trauma Group are experienced in dealing with road traffic collision claims on behalf of those who have suffered serious injury, and will support the family to ensure early rehabilitation is obtained, along with appropriate compensation for the pain and suffering caused.

Can I claim if I was the passenger in a vehicle responsible for the crash?

Yes is the simple answer.  If you are the passenger in a vehicle and the driver of that vehicle is responsible for the crash which caused your injuries, it is often possible to claim against them.  Whilst this can be uncomfortable if that driver is your parent, sibling, child, or friend, its important to remember that any compensation you are awarded will be funded by their insurance company and not them personally.

Is there a time limit to bring a claim for compensation?

The general time limit for bringing a claim is 3 years from the date of injury.  However, there are circumstances where a longer time limit may apply, including for children who have 3 years from their 18^th birthday to commence a claim, although a claim can be started before this by a litigation friend on their behalf.  Another scenario is where the injured person loses the capacity to make decisions on their own behalf where no time limit applies, although if capacity is regained, the 3-year time limit commences.  This is common when someone suffers a serious brain injury in a crash.

Funding a claim

Major Trauma Group’s member law firms can generally offer their services under a Conditional Fee Agreement, commonly referred to as a no win, no fee agreement.  This kind of agreement means that legal proceedings can be commenced with no upfront fees payable.  During your initial meeting with a solicitor, this kind of funding agreement, if available, will be discussed in detail – be sure to ask lots of questions about how your claim will be funded if you don’t fully understand as there may be expenses such as after the event legal insurance, solicitor success fees and shortfall payments which may be deducted from your damages if your claim is successful.

Choosing a solicitor

It is important to choose a solicitor who is experienced in dealing with serious injury claims, such as those who are members of Major Trauma Group.  We always suggest that you speak to at least three solicitors, ask about funding your claim, who will be dealing with your case and what their experience is of dealing with such matters, and ensure you are comfortable with the person you choose to instruct, as you may be dealing with them for some years in the case of serious injury.