Pedestrian
Accident Claims
Compensation claims for pedestrian accident claims, speak to Truth Legal Solicitors today.
If you have been injured in a road traffic accident whilst you were walking, you may be able to claim compensation for your injuries, and the other losses which you have suffered. The law provides a great deal of protection for pedestrians.
Pedestrian Claims Unaffected by the 2021 Whiplash Reforms
You may have heard about changes to the law involving whiplash claims and road traffic accidents. These changes alter the process by which certain personal injury claims are made, imposing lower injury compensation awards, and preventing affected claimants from instructing solicitors to help them.
However, if you were injured as a pedestrian, your claim will not be affected by these changes fortunately. This means that, even if you have suffered whiplash-type injuries, you can instruct Truth Legal to help you in your personal injury claim.
Pedestrian accident claims FAQ
There are unfortunately many ways in which a pedestrian accident can occur. For example:
- Careless or dangerous driving by another road user. This could involve ignoring a red traffic light or other road signs, failing to give way at a pedestrian crossing, or making a manoeuvre without proper observations.
- Drunk drivers or someone driving under the influence of drugs.
- Hit and run drivers. Apart from any moral issues, it is a criminal offence to leave the scene of an accident without stopping. Claims can often be pursued even if the other driver is untraced.[link to untraced drivers claims page]
There are several steps to legally establishing a personal injury claim. You must prove:
- A duty of care – The party you are claiming against must have owed a duty of care towards you. Road-users owe duties of care to one another so this is rarely at issue in a pedestrian accident claim.
- Breach of that duty – The other party must have failed in their duty somehow. For a car driver, the standard they must meet is that of a reasonably competent driver. If they have fallen below this standard, then they have breached their duty of care. An example would be a driver failing to stop at a red traffic light. It is fair to say a ‘reasonably competent’ driver would have stopped at the light.
- Causation – The breach mentioned above must have caused your injuries and other losses. Continuing the above example, if the driver who ran a red light collided with you as you crossed the road, any injuries sustained from that collision will have been caused by the driver’s breach of duty.
- Reasonable injuries and losses – The compensation you claim for your injuries and losses must be reasonable. As an extreme example, you might incur travel expenses for attending treatment sessions but hiring a helicopter to take you to them would not be a reasonable expense!
Pedestrians also hold duties of care towards other road-users. As such, it is possible for pedestrians to be liable for accidents if they have breached their duty. One example could be walking out into the road suddenly without looking. If you are worried that your conduct could be partially to blame for your accident, it does not necessarily mean you cannot make a claim. If you are held to be liable in part, it will usually mean a reduction in your compensation. Motorists have the greater potential to hurt others so their conduct is generally held to a higher standard.
Legal time limits apply to all personal injury claims. The general rule is that you must settle your claim or commence court proceedings within 3 years of the date of your accident. Missing this deadline means you will probably be unable to claim compensation.
Other rules can change the time limit which applies though, and courts also have the power to allow cases beyond the deadline. However, it is always best to investigate your potential claim as soon as possible. Contact us now to discuss your legal position.
Why instruct Truth Legal for your pedestrian accident claim?
You should instruct specialist Personal Injury solicitors to act on your behalf when making a Personal Injury claim. If you entrust your case to our experienced team of solicitors you can be sure that your claim is in safe hands. They have the knowledge and expertise help you every step of the way.
We are based in Harrogate with presences in York, Manchester, and London. We are more than willing to sit down with you for a free, no-obligation consultation and to discuss any ways in which we can help you.
If you have already instructed another firm, you are always able to change your solicitors. Perhaps they are not Personal Injury specialists, you do not have confidence in their abilities, or they are not providing you with the service you deserve? If so, you should consider switching solicitors. By instructing Truth Legal instead, you will ensure you have experienced Personal Injury solicitors working hard to make your case a success.
