Personal injury advice from
Thompsons Solicitors
Motorway Accident Compensation Claims
If you or a member of your family has suffered a personal injury as the result of a motorway accident, you may be entitled to claim compensation.
Our specialist personal injury solicitors have extensive experience in recovering compensation for the victims of motorway accidents, and all other types of road accident, so can provide expert accident claim advice. Contact us on 0800 0328511, or by completing a compensation claim enquiry form online.
Motorway Accidents
Who Can Make a Motorway Accident Claim?
Common Causes of Motorway Accidents
Injuries Caused by Motorway Accidents
Motorway Safety
Compensation
Our Specialist Road Accident Lawyers
Successful Claims for Motorway Accident Victims
Motorway Accidents
Motorways are designed to carry fast moving traffic and can be invaluable for making longer journeys, as they tend to offer a more direct route.
As with any other road, accidents can unfortunately occur on motorways. Per mile travelled, there are less accidents on motorways than on other roads, so they are considered to be safer, however due to the higher speed limit there is a greater potential for motorway accidents to be serious.
Who Can Make a Motorway Accident Claim?
Anyone who suffers a personal injury in a motorway accident that was the fault of someone else, may be able to make a compensation claim.
For example, an injured passenger, the inhabitants of a vehicle hit from behind or someone struck by a vehicle that has lost control may all be eligible to make a personal injury claim.
Common Causes of Motorway Accidents
There are a variety of ways in which a motorway accident can occur. There are some, however, that are more common than others.
A large number of motorway accidents occur when at least one of the parties involved is attempting to change lanes. Vehicles travelling without sufficient distance from the vehicle in front (known as ‘tailgating’) are also a major cause of collisions, as they do not have enough time to stop safely if the traffic ahead of them slows suddenly. This can sometimes lead to a ‘pile up’ effect, where multiple vehicles are involved in the same road traffic accident.
Another area where motorists have particular problems is on entrance and exit slip roads.
Driver error such as excessive speed, failure to indicate, failure to anticipate the actions of other drivers, failure to perceive other vehicles in mirror blind spots, excess alcohol or drugs, tiredness and fatigue can also play a part.
Motorway accidents can be caused by tyre blowouts from domestic and commercial vehicles, as an unavoidable loss of control of vehicle may occur and the presence of tyre debris can pose a sudden and dangerous threat to all other vehicles on the motorway.
Accidents can also occur due to a failure to drive in accordance with prevailing weather conditions. Fog or spray on the motorway can reduce visibility and there is need to reduce speed, display headlights and fog lamps. Also, using high intensity rear fog lights when it is inappropriate to do so can be hazardous, as this can obscure brake lights on brake applications by that vehicle.
Injuries Caused by Motorway Accidents
Motorway accidents can result in a variety of injuries, including whiplash, fractures, head injuries and many others. Because collisions usually occur at higher speeds on motorways, they are often more severe, causing serious injuries or even fatalities.
Motorcyclists can be particularly vulnerable to injury in a motorway accident, as they are not restrained in the same way as drivers and are not afforded the same protection that a car provides.
Motorway Safety
In order to be as safe as possible when using motorways, there are certain measures that you can take to avoid accidents and injuries:
• Maintain a suitable braking distance from the vehicle in front of you, taking into account the weather conditions. Some motorways have painted chevron markings to help with this but, as a guide, keep a gap of at least 2-4 seconds.
• Remain in the left hand lane wherever possible. If you need to overtake, do so safely and then return to the left lane as soon as possible.
• Take regular breaks on long journeys.
• Stay alert, never drive when you are tired as this can impair your reaction times.
• Plan your route in advance and do not try to read a map or directions whilst driving.
• Always wear a seatbelt, whether you are a driver or a passenger.
• Do not use the hard shoulder unless you have broken down or there is an emergency (except in cases where signs specifically advise that this is allowed).
• In the event that you break down, pull onto the hard shoulder and exit the vehicle on the left side. Whilst waiting for help, keep well away from the carriageway and hard shoulder, preferably on a verge. Do not remain in your vehicle unless absolutely necessary.
• Observe the speed limit, which may not always be 70mph. Sometimes the motorway speed limit will be reduced to 40 or 50mph if there has been an incident or there are road works or traffic congestion.
• Do not use a mobile telephone whilst driving and avoid any potential distractions.
• Ensure that you are displaying the correct lights and signals as necessary, for example indicators, headlights, fog lights etc.
• Do not drink and drive.
• Use your mirrors, remembering that there could be vehicles on both sides on a motorway.
Compensation
If your motorway accident claim is successful, and our lawyers will work hard to ensure that this is the case, you will be entitled to compensation.
There are two elements to a compensation award. The first, called general damages, is for the pain and suffering you may have gone through and any loss of amenity (perhaps an inability to wash your car, play sports or take your children to school). The award for loss of amenity can be for a short period after an accident or for ever if that is what the medical evidence supports.
The second element of a compensation award, for your losses and expenses, is known as special damages and aims to put you back in a position financially as if the accident had never occurred. It is important to keep receipts for any expenditure you have related to the accident so that these can be reclaimed.
In serious cases, you may no longer be able to continue in your employment. This can be taken into account when damages are calculated. Costs for care, equipment, transport and housing modifications can also affect the calculations. If you are still able to work but not in the same role as before, an extra amount may be awarded for loss of ‘congenial employment’, particularly if you held a public service role such as a doctor or police officer. A court can also make a financial award to recognise that your prospects on the open labour market may be limited.
Our Specialist Road Accident Lawyers
At The Legal Line, our expert lawyers have a wealth of experience in recovering the highest possible compensation for the innocent victims of motorway accidents.
They can provide sympathetic advice and assistance on your claim on a cost free basis.
Successful Claims for Motorway Accident Victims
Our lawyers have handled many cases for people injured in motorway accidents. You can find details of a small selection of these claims in our news and success stories sections, together with articles about motorway safety:
AA Calls for Speed Limit Increase
Our Lawyers Recover Compensation for Road Accident Victim
Young and inexperienced drivers to face curfew
Road Accident Victim Receives £4,000 Damages After M40 Collision
Personal Injury Claim for Motorway Accident Victim
Compensation Claim for Man Injured in Motorway Accident
- At the time of her road accident, our client was driving a minibus carrying her colleagues and some passengers along a motorway. They were travelling in the left hand lane, passing a slip road, when there was a forceful impact from behind. Another car had collided with the rear of the minibus, causing it to flip over into the fast lane where it slid along a crash barrier.
Our client sustained injuries to her head, neck and shoulders, left leg, hip and hand as a result of this motorway accident and also suffered shock and trauma. She had to be medically retired due to ongoing problems and her injuries have had a significant impact on her hobbies and day to day life. She is also now very anxious when driving.
Our expert lawyers acted on her behalf in a compensation claim and were able to recover £97,634 in damages. This was in respect of the injuries our client suffered, her loss of earnings and costs she incurred, including travel expenses, medication, treatment, care and replacements for property damaged in the accident.
- Our client was involved in a motorway accident when an articulated lorry struck her car on the M6. She was in the central lane passing the lorry, which was travelling in the left lane, when the driver drove into her car. As a result of the collision the client’s car was pushed into the central reservation, rolled over several times and came to rest on an embankment.
Our client suffered injuries including whiplash, bruising to her chest, arms, legs and feet and a blow to the head, causing a laceration.
As the driver and vehicle were from another country, our lawyers used their experience to trace the insurer and pursue a compensation claim on our client’s behalf. They were able to secure £4813.32 damages in respect of her injuries and losses.
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