Car Accident Claim Solicitors

The expert car accident solicitors at Sheldon Davidson Solicitors help those injured in car accidents that were someone else's fault, to claim suitable financial compensation and get the medical and rehabilitative care they need.

You may be referred to a law firm by your insurer or possibly by the garage repairing your vehicle, but you are free to make your own choice as to which law firm represents you.

At Sheldon Davidson Solicitors we have successfully secured compensation for car accidents where other firms have advised the client to abandon a claim.

When an accident on the road affects you or your family, we understand how stressful this can be, but with Sheldon Davidson Solicitors you do not have to face the immediate and longer-term challenges alone.

We will help you from start to finish and will remain committed to achieving the best result.

Can I claim car accident
compensation?

The key to any successful car accident claim is proving someone else was to blame for the collision. Our expert Car Accident Solicitors will work tirelessly on your behalf to show that another motorist was at fault for your car accident.

While we get in touch with the driver’s insurance company to deal with the practicalities of your car accident claim, we ensure that you are well looked after and receive any medical assistance that you require. This will not need to wait until your claim is successful; you will be cared for straight away in order to help your recovery.

We also appreciate that you may need your vehicle on a day-to-day basis, for example to get to work or transport your children to school. To help with this, we will provide you with a like-for-like replacement vehicle while yours is being repaired, ensuring minimum disruption to your routine.

Our solicitors can act on behalf of drivers, passengers and pedestrians who have been injured as result of someone else’s negligent driving, while we can also work with the Motor Insurers’ Bureau to help those hurt in an accident with an uninsured driver.

Compensation
for Car Accidents

The amount of compensation you can claim for injuries sustained in a car accident varies according to the severity of the injuries.

Compensation payouts for your pain and suffering, called General Damages, follow guidelines which are set out on a scale of minor, moderate and severe which vary according to which part of the body has been injured.

For example, average payouts for a minor head injury where the injured person recovers within a few weeks range from £1,940 to £11,200. By comparison, the settlement amount for a severe head injury that affects speech or memory leaving the person needing ongoing care ranges from £247,280 to £354,200.

In addition to compensation for the physical injuries suffered, you can claim for any financial losses you have incurred as a result of the car accident. These ‘out of pocket’ expenses are called Special Damages which may include loss of earnings, travel expenses and medical expenses.

A fair settlement will compensate you for current and future expenses and damages, including:

• Pain and suffering
• Medical expenses
• Treatment costs including future medical treatment and therapy
• Car repair bills
• Car rental while your vehicle is being repaired
• Loss of earnings
• Expected future lost earnings
• Mental health treatment

Our specialist Car Accident Solicitors make it their priority to ensure your compensation award accurately reflects the physical, emotional and financial damages you have suffered.

If you have been injured in a car accident that was someone else’s fault, contact us for a free initial consultation today.

If the other driver’s
insurance company offers
me an out of court
settlement, should I accept?

In some cases, if the driver was undoubtedly at fault and there is no case of liability to be argued, the 3rd parties’ insurance company may approach the injured party with an offer to settle out of court.

As it is the Insurance Company that would eventually be forced to pay any financial compensation awarded by the court, an early offer is often used to entice people into foregoing a court case.

As experienced Car Accident Injury Claims Solicitors, we strongly advise against accepting any such offer as we believe we can secure you a much larger sum through the court.

Talk to one of our personal injury claims specialists for further advice on your specific case.

What is a pre-medical offer?

In certain circumstances, insurers will make a pre-medical offer immediately - without even seeing any medical evidence.

This usually happens when the person responsible for the accident has informed their insurer about the incident and has accepted liability. In anticipation of your claim the insurance company attempts to limit their exposure by making an offer before the full scope of the immediate or long term damages has come to light. This is a very controversial practice and we’d strongly advise against accepting it.

What are the legal costs
for a car accident claim?

Sheldon Davidson Solicitors are one of Manchester's most established No Win No Fee injury claim law firms.

If we agree to take on your case, we are usually able to do so on a no win no fee basis. This means that there are no upfront legal costs to pay, and we will not charge you anything if we do not win the case.

If your case is successful, you will have to pay a “success fee” of no more than 25% of the amount awarded for pain and suffering, loss of amenity and past losses. No deduction can be made from your compensation for future losses.

Why choose us?

Established in Manchester in 1997, we are a leading specialist personal injury, accident and medical negligence law firm acting for claimants who are victims of non-fault incidents.

Our team of Road Accident Solicitors in Manchester, act regularly for clients across the North West of England including Bury, Bolton, Leeds, Liverpool, Preston and Warrington.

As a recognised personal injury law firm, we can support your needs wherever you live in Wales, England & Northern Ireland.

Sheldon Davidson Solicitors are a Lexcel accredited law firm. The Lexcel standard is only awarded by the Law Society to firms who meet the highest standards of practice management and customer service. With Sheldon Davidson Solicitors in Manchester you can be confident that your claim is in safe hands.

Call us for free now using the number at the top of the page or complete the online contact form and a member of our team will get back to you.

Start Your Car Accident Claim

Call one of our expert Car Accident Solicitors in Manchester today for a free initial consultation. We will listen carefully to the specific circumstances of your accident and advise you with a high degree of certainty whether there is a legal case to be answered.

In choosing Sheldon Davidson Personal Injury Solicitors in Manchester to act on your behalf you can be sure to benefit from the support of an experienced legal professional who is compassionate to your needs but tenacious on your behalf.

You and your claim could not be in better hands.

How frequent are
car accidents?

Despite the fact that the number of vehicles on our roads has increased virtually every year since the end of World War III, there has been a promising overall trend since the late 1970s to suggest that the number of casualties and fatalities is on the decline. That said, this decline seems to have tailed off in the last decade and evidence points towards Britain being in a period when the fatality numbers are broadly stable.

Much of the decline in casualty numbers can be attributed to advancements in car safety technology, with the development of safety features such as airbags, side-impact protection systems, anti-lock brakes, traction control and assistive braking systems.

Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of the car manufacturers, with nearly 32 million licensed cars on the road, car accidents inevitably do still happen.

Car accidents can vary significantly in their severity, as can the injuries they cause, ranging from a minor bump causing nothing more than a temporary muscle strain to a high-speed collision causing life-changing or even fatal injuries.

According to government figures, in 2019 there were a total of 153,158 casualties in reported road accidents in the UK, of which, 30,144 were serious injuries and 1752 were fatal injuries, representing a marginal drop on the previous years’ figures.

In terms of absolute counts, car occupants, including both drivers and passengers, accounted for 736 (42%) of all fatalities on the road and nearly 90,000 (58%) of all the casualties on the road. However, this is unsurprising as cars account for over 80% of the traffic on British roads

The majority of car occupant fatalities were car drivers, with 508 car drivers killed and 228 car passengers killed in 2019.

Sadly, we can’t stop accidents from happening, but we can support you in making a car accident claim for your accident.

Most common causes
of injuries to car
drivers and passengers

Car accidents can occur at any time, on any road and due to a multitude of different factors but time and time again we see similarities in the incidents and events that lead to the injury of car drivers and passengers. Negligence to some degree, of either the driver, other road users, or pedestrians often plays a part.

Failure to look properly

The most common cause of road accidents in the UK is drivers failing to be observant.

Accounting for over a third of all road accidents in the UK, being injured in an accident involving an unobservant fellow road user is alarmingly common.

There are many reasons why people fail to look properly, they may be distracted by the radio, chatting to a passenger, or simply just not paying attention. Irrespective of the reason, their lack of concentration can have significant consequences for other drivers.

Road accidents often occur close to home or on familiar routes, this is because drivers have a tendency to become complacent when driving on familiar roads and their levels of concentration and observance drop.

Even getting out of the car can be dangerous, with people failing to check their mirrors for an approaching vehicle or cyclist before opening your car door.

Tiredness

If you have ever driven on a motorway in Britain, you are likely to have seen the matrix signs saying, 'Tiredness kills'.

Tiredness can have a significant negative impact on a driver’s awareness and reactions. According to police incident records, tiredness is a contributory factor in 2% of all road traffic accidents. However, some studies suggest that fatigue is a factor in up to 20% of accidents on the road.

Crashes caused by driver fatigue are approximately 50% more likely to result in serious or even fatal injuries. This is because they tend to be high-speed impacts because a driver who has fallen asleep is unable to swerve or brake to avoid or reduce the force of the impact.

Speeding

Sadly, many drivers choose to ignore speed limits on roads across the UK – putting other road users at risk. And the faster the vehicle is travelling, the less time the driver has to react to prevent an accident and the greater the force of the impact.

After decades of speed awareness campaigns, driving excessively fast, for either the road or the driving conditions, is still one of the most common contributory factors in road traffic accidents. According to The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA), almost 400 people were killed in the UK in accidents involving speeding vehicles in 2015.

Reckless driving

Careful driving isn't simply about moderating your speed but also about being considerate to other road users. Changing lanes without looking first on a motorway or dual carriageway can cause other drivers to swerve or brake suddenly, possibly resulting in a serious road traffic accident.

Driving too closely to the vehicle in front of you, often referred to as tailgating, is also extremely dangerous. If the vehicle in front brakes suddenly, there'll be insufficient time for the driver to react, potentially leading to a serious collision.

If you have suffered an injury due to the erratic driving or reckless actions of another road user, call Sheldon Davidson Solicitors and let us help manage your Car Accident Compensation Claim.

Driving under the influence

Despite the numerous safety campaigns over the years, some people still choose to drive whilst under the influence of drink or drugs.

Consuming alcohol or taking drugs dramatically reduces a driver’s reaction times and impairs their judgement, putting the safety of other road users in danger.

If you have been injured by the selfish actions of a driver under the influence of alcohol or drugs, we can help you pursue a claim against the liable third party.

Uninsured driver and
hit and run incidents

It is claimed there are over 1 million drivers on British roads without insurance, so the chances of being involved in an accident with an uninsured driver are surprisingly high.

With that said, if your car accident was caused by an uninsured or untraceable driver, it is still possible to pursue a claim through the Motor Insurers' Bureau (MIB).

If you have been injured in a car accident of this nature, you should speak to one of our experienced RTA claims specialists immediately and we can help claim the compensation you deserve.

Potholes and poorly
maintained road surfaces

Whilst potholes and damaged road surfaces tend to be of greater risk to motorcyclists, they can also cause car accidents, causing drivers to swerve into other vehicles or causing damage to the vehicle itself.

If a pothole or sub-standard road surface has caused the accident, you could have a case for claiming compensation from the relevant local authority or private road owner.

We would always advise drivers who have been involved in such an incident, to secure as much photographic evidence as is possible of the surrounding road surface, any damaged vehicles and any injuries sustained.

The depth of the pothole is also important so taking photographic evidence where a ruler is used to provide scale is also highly recommended. If the pothole depth is approximately 40mm or more, then we can help you pursue a claim from the relevant authority.

Road spillages and shed loads

Anything that makes the road surface slippery or compromises traction for motorists is a major hazard.

This could be oil, diesel, or physical obstructions such as brickwork, loose chippings, or any debris left on the road.

If you’ve been injured in an accident involving an oil spillage or where any other loose materials are involved, Sheldon Davidson Solicitors can help you claim car accident compensation from the third party responsible.

Defective vehicles

On occasion, manufacturing defects can lead to vehicle recalls. If the manufacturer has yet to become aware of a defect, then there is scope for the fault to cause a car accident.

If you have been involved in a car accident that can be traced back to a manufacturing defect, you may be able to make a compensation claim against the liable party. However, proving liability will not be easy and you will need the expertise of one of our specialist Serious Injury Lawyers to help you determine that the vehicle was the cause of your injuries.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How long after a car accident can I claim compensation?

A: Compensation claims for injuries following a car accident can be made up to 3 years after the incident, or three years after you discovered that a condition you are suffering from was caused by the accident.

Q: Can I claim compensation if the driver was a family member or friend?

A: Yes - you can claim and this is a very common situation. There should be no guilt felt in seeking proper compensation for the injuries you have suffered. All matters will be dealt with between the solicitor and the insurance company. The insurance company would cover the costs of the claim, not the driver.

Q: I wasn’t wearing a seat belt – will this stop me from claiming?

You can still make a claim if you were not wearing a seat belt, but it is likely that not some of your injuries will be accounted for by your own actions, and not entirely blamed on the third party. This may result in a percentage deduction in your final award of damages.

Contact Us

Call one of our expert Car Accident Solicitors in Manchester today for a free initial consultation.

We will listen carefully to the specific circumstances of your accident and advise you with a high degree of certainty whether there is a legal case to be answered.

To get in touch, either call the number at the top of this page, or leave your details in the enquiry form and we'll call you back.