Road Traffic Accident Lawyers — Scotland

Road Traffic Accidents

Road traffic accident claims

Involvement in a road traffic accident (RTA) can be a stressful, harrowing ordeal, especially if it wasn’t your fault. The physical injuries you can sustain following a road traffic accident can range from minor whiplash to serious head and brain injuries and, in some cases, even death.

Common road traffic accident injuries

Here are some common injuries sustained in road traffic accidents:

• Whiplash – Whiplash is a common injury in car accidents caused by the sudden jerking of the head and neck upon impact. Your symptoms may include neck pain, stiffness, and headaches.
• Cuts and bruises – Glass, metal, and other debris can cause cuts and bruises. While these injuries may seem minor, they can still be grounds for road traffic accident claims.
• Broken bones – The force of a collision can cause fractures, which may require extensive medical treatment and time off work. If you’ve suffered a broken bone in a road traffic accident in Scotland, you could be entitled to compensation.
• Soft tissue injuries – Sprains, strains, and tears to muscles, tendons, and ligaments are common in road accidents. These injuries can be painful and can severely impact your daily movements.
• Spinal cord injuries – Damage to the spinal cord can result in partial or complete paralysis, drastically altering your life. If you’ve suffered injury to the spine in a crash, you may be able to make a substantial RTA claim.
• Head and brain injuries – Traumatic brain injuries can have long-lasting effects on your cognitive health, mental capacity and physical appearance. If you’ve sustained a head injury in a road traffic accident caused by another person, you could be eligible for compensation.
• Psychological trauma – The emotional impact of a road accident can be just as severe as physical injuries. If you’ve developed anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following a crash, this can be factored into your road accident claim.
• Fatal injuries – Losing a loved one in a motor accident is devastating. If a family member has died due to someone else’s negligence on the roads, you may be able to make a road traffic injury claim on behalf of their estate.

These injuries can result from various types of road traffic accidents, not just those involving cars. Pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists are also vulnerable to serious injuries when caught in collisions with vehicles.

At Watermans, our road traffic accident solicitors are here to offer straightforward legal counsel, to help you seek the road traffic injury compensation that you deserve.

Making a Claim

Who qualifies for road traffic injury claims?

If you or a loved one has been involved in a car accident in Scotland within the last three years that wasn’t your fault, you have the right to pursue a compensation claim against the responsible party.

All road users can claim compensation after being injured in a road traffic accident, whether you are a:

• Driver or passenger in a car – You may be eligible to make a car accident claim if you were driving a car or were a passenger in a vehicle caught in an accident caused by another party’s negligence.
• Motorcyclist – Motorcyclists are among the most vulnerable road users. If you were riding a motorcycle and were injured due to another person’s actions, you could be entitled to a significant settlement for damages.
• Pedestrian – If you were caught in a pedestrian accident, like being struck by a vehicle or motorbike, while walking, running or standing near a road, you may have grounds for a road traffic accident claim.
• Cyclist – Cyclists are often at risk of serious injury when sharing the road with motor vehicles. If you suffered an injury due to another party’s negligence in a cycling accident, you could be eligible for compensation.
• Bus passenger – As a passenger on a bus that crashed and suffered injuries, you may be able to make a claim against the bus company, as they have a duty of care to ensure your safety.
• Truck driver or other road user involved in a truck accident – Collisions with trucks can be catastrophic due to their size and weight. If you were injured in an accident involving a truck, you might be able to kickstart a road traffic accident claims process in Scotland.
• Taxi passenger – Taxi drivers have a duty of care to their passengers. If you were a passenger in a taxi when an accident occurred, you could claim compensation for any injuries sustained if the taxi driver was negligent.

In addition to the above, you may also be able to make road traffic accident claims if you were injured on the road in an accident involving a horse.

Essentially, anyone involved in a road traffic accident through no fault of their own has a right to be compensated for medical costs, loss of earnings and any other expenses incurred due to the accident.

How do I make a road traffic accident claim?

At Watermans, we understand that making a financial compensation claim can seem like a daunting task, but we can help ensure your claim progresses smoothly.

Our road traffic accident solicitors are here to help you and offer straightforward legal representation to guide you through the personal injury claims process. There are no upfront fees. Plus, we work on a no-win no-fee basis, meaning that if we don’t win, you won’t have to worry about any solicitors fees.

Remember, we are here to take the hassle out of the legal side of things for you and seek the compensation reward that you deserve for your suffering. Speak to one of our expert personal injury solicitors to start your claim today.

How Much Compensation?

How much compensation can I claim for a road traffic accident?

Compensation claims for road traffic accidents in Scotland are awarded on a case-by-case basis. The amount you could receive depends on the severity of your injuries and other factors, like lost wages.

If your case involved you or a loved one in a road traffic accident through no fault of your own, you may be entitled to financial compensation from the negligent party. It’s possible to claim the following:

• Compensation for pain and suffering stemming from an accident. The amount you could receive will depend on the type of injury and how severe it is.
• Compensation for loss of earnings as a result of going on sick leave after an accident. If you can’t return to work at all, you might be able to claim for future loss of earnings, too.
• Expenses resulting from an accident, including damage to property or clothing and the cost of attending medical appointments.
• Costs of repairing your vehicle or pursuing a claim with the insurance company for the value of your vehicle if it’s written off.
• Compensation for post-accident treatments that you might need, including physiotherapy and counselling.
• Compensation for services provided by family members after an accident, such as helping you get washed/dressed, with housework, and with grocery shopping.

A Watermans road traffic accident lawyer fully investigates each case, whether it’s a challenging case or a straightforward one. We work to make sure that we get the maximum settlement amount possible for you.

Use our road traffic accident injury compensation calculator to estimate the value of your potential accident claims.

Why Watermans?

Why should I choose Watermans to pursue my personal injury claim?

Watermans make legal services look and feel easy so people can move forward in life.

Our dedicated team of personal injury lawyers is committed to doing everything to make the claims process straightforward for our clients. We take the hassle from you and fight each case to secure the maximum level of compensation.

We also provide access to a range of additional services, such as physiotherapy and psychological treatment, to support your rehabilitation.

Trusted personal injury solicitors in Scotland

Our expertise in personal injury covers a wide range of areas, including:

• Accidents at work
• Public liability claims
• Accidents on the road
• Fatal and serious personal injury claims
• Cases relating to abuse

With offices in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dundee, our team of expert solicitors represent thousands of clients throughout Scotland each year, securing millions of pounds in personal injury compensation claims for our clients. We work on a no-win, no-fee basis, which means that if your road accident claim is unsuccessful, you don’t carry any financial risk.