August is National Road Victim month and our Personal Injury lawyers are sharing their advice on what steps to take if you find yourself suffering an injury due to a road traffic accident.

National Road Victim Month is held every August to remember people who have been injured or sadly killed on UK roads. It is also an opportunity to raise awareness on road safety and responsible driving.

For the year ending June 2019 there were upwards of 27,000 people killed or seriously injured in road traffic accidents that were reported to the police. Although this is a 5% decrease from the previous year, this is still a concerning number of casualties which could be prevented. (Source: Department of Transport Statistical Release November 2019).

Our Personal Injury Lawyers at Lamb Brooks give useful guidance to take on board should you find yourself involved in an accident, along with an overview of what to expect when making a claim for a road traffic accident…

Can You Prepare For a Car Accident?

Collisions and accidents happen without warning and often there is very little you can do to avoid them other than to drive with care and caution.

But there are a few tips that you should consider than could prove useful:

• Keep your vehicle well maintained to avoid brake failures, bursting tyres or sudden breakdowns. Check brake lights, bulbs and oil regularly and make sure you are not driving low on fuel

• Make sure that cars you purchase have adequate safety features and have a good service history

• Make sure you are always fully insured

• Keep a copy of your insurance details in your glove box

• Consider the weather before driving – it may be sensible to keep a pair of sunglasses in your car to avoid driving blinded by low sunlight. In the winter you should ensure that your windscreens and mirrors are fully clear of ice before driving

• Keep your phone charged at all times should you need to contact emergency services

• Some handy things to keep in your car include: pen and paper, torch, blanket, bottled water, small first aid kit, power pack, warning cones.

What to do First?

If you are badly injured in a car accident and unable to move or carry out these initial steps then the emergency services will deal with the matter but you will need to act quickly once you are recovering from your accident.

If you are involved in an accident and at the time are able to safely do so, the following steps should be taken.

• Try to remain calm

• Stop your vehicle where it is and move to somewhere safe

• Call emergency services if the accident is serious and any parties are badly injured or unresponsive

• Swap details with the other party or parties involved (insurance details, names, phone numbers etc.)

• Write down the make/model of the other person’s car, the colour and registration

• Take photos of the incident including road positioning and damage to vehicles. If you do not have a camera phone with you then make a note of the damage and scene

• Take photos of your injuries and re-photograph if they progress

• Record circumstances of the crash – it may be difficult to recall exact details as time goes on

• If there are witnesses, then ask to take their contact details

• Refrain from discussing the accident and who is at fault etc.

• Seek medical attention – visit a hospital, call 111 or speak to your GP depending on severity

• Report the accident to the police

• Speak to your insurance company as quickly as possible

continue reading for what to do if you suffer an injury from a road traffic accident…

If you are hurt as a result of your accident seek medial attention as soon as possible and make a record or note of your medical treatment.

If you have suffered serious injuries or you have been unable to work or continue with your usual lifestyle due to a car accident that was not your fault then you may look to seek compensation by making a personal injury claim.

A successful personal injury claim is helped by the supply of detail and evidence; therefore photographs of your injuries, accounts of the accident and medical notes will greatly help support your claim. It is advisable to keep a diary or log of your injuries as sometimes they can progress over time.

What Can You Claim For?

If you have been injured as a driver, passenger (or even as a pedestrian) then you may have a claim for personal injury as well as claiming for damage to your vehicle (which is dealt with via your insurance company).

Road traffic accidents include all motor vehicles (cars, lorries, vans etc), bikes, motorbikes, mopeds, scooters, and public transport (buses, trams and coaches).

A road accident can occur for several reasons. However, you must be able to prove that the person you are making the claim against was either partly or totally in the wrong.

The majority of car accidents occur due to driver negligence, recklessness and weather conditions. Claims often involve situations where road maintenance is poor or malfunctions / major issues occur with vehicles.

Legal Advice After Trauma

Being involved in an accident on the road can be very traumatic for people and traumatic grief can make carrying on with your day-to-day life difficult.

If you are looking for advice on whether you have a claim or would like help seeking financial compensation for your pain and suffering, then please get in touch with our team of Injury Lawyers.

Call us on 01256 844888, email enquiries@lambbrooks.com or speak to our online chat assistant who is available online at any time of day.

Other Articles You May Be Interested in Reading:

6 Signs That You May Have a Personal Injury Claim

New Smart Motorways Halted After 38 People Killed

Caring For Someone After Injury

The contents of this article are for the purposes of general awareness only. They do not purport to constitute legal or professional advice.  The law may have changed since this article was published.   Readers should not act on the basis of the information included and should take appropriate professional advice upon their own particular circumstances.