In this guide, we’ll discuss the process of making a claim after a head on collision car crash. We’ll also discuss the eligibility criteria that you must meet in order to seek compensation for any harm you experienced in a road traffic accident.
Head on collision car crash claims guide
Further down in this guide, we’ll discuss the steps you’ll have to take when making a road traffic accident claim and the evidence you can provide.
Finally, we’ll explore No Win No Fee agreements and how they can benefit you when making a personal injury claim.
If you’d like to get in touch, you can use the contact details below to speak with one of our advisors. Once they confirm that your claim is valid, they could put you in touch with a solicitor from our panel. To learn more:
- Fill out the ‘contact us’ form on our website
- Call us on 020 8050 2736
- Use the live support feature on our website.
Choose A Section
- A Guide To Head On Collision Car Crash Claims
- Can You Claim After Being Injured In A Head On Collision Car Crash?
- Potential Compensation You Could Recieve From A Road Traffic Accident Claim
- What Evidence Could Be Used In A Road Accident Claim?
- What Are The Benefits Of Making A Claim For A Road Accident On A No Win No Fee Basis?
- Learn More About Claiming For An Injury Sustained In A Head On Collision Car Crash
A Guide To Head On Collision Car Crash Claims
A head-on collision from a car crash can lead to injuries ranging in severity. For example, a driver or passenger could sustain minor or life-changing injuries, such as:
- Traumatic amputations
- Spinal cord damage, such as from a neck injury or back injury
- Broken and fractured bones
- Sprains and strains
- Cuts and lacerations
Additionally, there could be a psychological impact on the person, such as stress, travel anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder.
Different factors will be considered when determining how much compensation you could be owed if you make a successful claim, such as:
- The severity and type of injury
- Future prognosis
- Treatment required
- Recovery period
To find out whether you could receive compensation for injuries sustained in a head on collision car crash, read on. Alternatively, you can speak with an advisor from our team by calling the number above.
Can You Claim After Being Injured In A Head On Collision Car Crash?
In order to make a claim, you’ll have to prove that:
- A third party had a duty of care
- They breached their duty of care
- The breach resulted in you sustaining a physical or psychological injury. This is negligence.
Road users must adhere to the duty of care laid out in the Road Traffic Act 1988. As per their duty, they must navigate the roads in a way that reduces the risk of others sustaining harm. The Highway Code also outlines the different responsibilities each road user has as well as rules which are back up by the law.
A failure to uphold this duty of care could lead to others experiencing harm on the road. For example:
- Another driver collided head on with your vehicle because they were driving whilst under the influence of drugs.
- A driver failed to check their mirrors before overtaking on a narrow road resulting in them crashing head on into another vehicle.
If you can demonstrate another road user’s negligence, please get in touch with our team. They can assess whether you’re eligible to make a head on collision car crash claim.
Potential Compensation You Could Receive From A Road Traffic Accident Claim
General damages is one of the heads of claim that aims to compensate you for any pain or suffering you have experienced due to your injuries.
We have include compensation brackets from the Judicial College Guidelines in the table below. These correspond to different injuries and are used by solicitors to help them assign a value to general damages.
Due to the many different variables that are considered when valuing general damages, it’s important to note that these figures are not guaranteed.
| Injury | Compensation Bracket | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Brain and Head Injury | £282,010 to £403,990 | (a) Very Severe: There will be little if any evidence of a meaningful response to the environment. There will be a need for full time nursing care. |
| Brain and Head Injury | £219,070 to £282,010 | (b) Moderately Severe: The injured person will be very seriously disabled and will substantially depend on others. |
| Foot Injuries | £169,400 to £201,490 | (a) Both feet are amputated. |
| Neck Injury | In the region of £148,330 | (a) Severe (i): Neck injury often associated with incomplete paraplegia. |
| Chest Injuries | £100,670 to £150,110 | (a) One lung is removed or there is serious heart damage with several issues. |
| Leg Injuries | £96,250 to £135,920 | Severe (b) (i) Injuries such as a degloving of the leg that is extensive and causes a gross shortening of the leg. |
| Arm Injuries | £96,160 to £130,930 | (b) Injuries resulting in a disability that is permanent and substantial, such as where both forearms have been fractured. |
| Elbow Injuries | £15,650 to £32,010 | (b) Injuries are less severe causing function impairment that doesn't involve major surgery. |
| Whiplash Injury | £4,215 | One or more whiplash injuries lasting between 18-24 months. |
| Whiplash Injury | £3,005 | One or more whiplash injuries lasting between 15-18 months. |
Additionally, your settlement could consist of special damages. This head of claim compensates for the financial losses incurred due to your injuries. For example:
- Loss of earnings
- Medical expenses
- Care costs
Evidence can help prove these losses, such as receipts and payslips.
When Can You Make A Whiplash Claim?
Any driver or passenger in a vehicle over the age of 18 that sustains a whiplash or soft tissue injury worth £5,000 or less, would need to make a whiplash claim by using the governments Official Injury Claims portal. This is as per changes brought in by the Whiplash Reform Programme.
In making a claim through this portal, whiplash and soft tissue injuries will be valued in line with the tariff in the The Whiplash Injury Regulations 2021. We have included figures from the tariff in the table above.
However, even if you are not required to claim via the portal, you could still have your whiplash or soft tissue injuries valued in accordance with the tariff. This is because they apply to all occupants inside a vehicle.
If you have sustained injuries not included in the tariff, these will be valued in the traditional way.
If you’re unsure about the value of your injury, you can call our advisors as they can provide an estimate of how much your claim could be worth.
What Evidence Could Be Used In A Road Accident Claim?
In order to illustrate that your injury was caused by negligence, you will need to provide evidence. Below are some examples of evidence you can gather:
- Witness contact details
- CCTV or dashcam footage
- Medical records, such as a doctor report or prescriptions
A car accident claim solicitor from our panel could help you to collect any evidence necessary to support your head on collision car crash claim. If you would like to find out whether you could have a solicitor work on your case, get in touch on the number above.
What Is The Time Limit To Claim For A Road Traffic Collision?
The standard time limit to start a claim is three years from the date of the accident. The three years can also begin from the date you became aware of negligence. This is illustrated in the Limitation Act 1980.
There are exceptions to this, though. For example, if someone lacks the mental capacity to make a claim for themselves or is under the age of eighteen. In these instances, the time limit is suspended and the courts can appoint a litigation friend to make a claim on the injured person’s behalf.
If no claim is made on behalf of a person who is under the age of 18, they will have three years from their 18th birthday to make their own claim.
Similarly, if no claim is made on behalf of a person who has a reduced mental capacity, they will have three years from the date of their recovery to make their own claim.
Find out more by calling our advisors using the number above.
What Are The Benefits Of Making A Claim For A Road Accident On A No Win No Fee Basis?
Hiring No Win No Fee solicitors to make your claim can be a financially beneficial as it mitigates the monetary risk involved in accessing a solicitor’s services.
There are different ways they can offer their services, such as under a Conditional Fee Agreement which is a type of No Win No Fee service.
This typically allows you to access the services of a solicitor without paying upfront or while the claim is ongoing. If the claim is not successful, you won’t be required to pay for the work they have completed on your claim.
If your claim is a success, it’s likely that your solicitor will take a success fee. This success fee is legally capped.
Contact Us For Free Legal Advice – See If You Can Claim For A Road Traffic Accident
We hope this guide has helped you understand whether you could make a head on collision car crash claim. However, we understand you may have questions. If so, you can get in touch with our advisors for free legal advice regarding your potential claim.
To reach them, you can:
- Fill out the ‘contact us’ form on our website
- Call us on 020 8050 2736
- Use the live support feature below.
Learn More About Claiming For An Injury Sustained In A Head On Collision Car Crash
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If you’d like to learn more about head on collision car crash claims, please call our team using the details provided above.
Writer Louis Price
Editor Meg McDonald