Car Accidents

A motorist owes a "duty of care" to other road users. This means he/she should not hurt other people, whether other drivers, passengers (including passengers in his/her own vehicle), pedestrians, cyclists and so forth.

In simple terms, what has to be shown if your claim is to be successful is that the motorist has been at fault because he or she has failed to drive with reasonable care.

If a motorist who is at fault is either uninsured or untraced, then innocent victims are protected by the Motor Insurers' Bureau (the MIB), which provides a fund that can be claimed against in these circumstances.

The UK has one of the best records for road safety in the EU, and also compares favorably with countries such as Japan, Australia and the US.

However, road traffic accidents are still a leading cause of death and serious injury in this country. Figures from the Department of Transport show that in the year 2006, there were over 3,000 fatalities and 28,000 serious injuries. There were more than 258,000 recorded injuries in total.

There are around 10,000 car accidents in the UK every day. Car accidents can be caused by vehicle failure or poor road maintenance. The vast majority are the result of human error.

When presented with a possible car accident claim there are a few elements that need to be considered and checked against. From the beginning we need to make sure that the police are aware of every element of injury to you and damage to your car. The smallest scratch, as well as the smallest inconvenience regarding time and finance can constitute a successful claim.

Also a very important aspect of any potential claim is time. It is vital that the case is submitted as soon as possible to ensure a successful claim.

The Highway Code is a good guide when trying to assess who is at fault. Some of the more common faults in driving result from speeding, overtaking, failing to keep a proper lookout.