Road Accident Lawyers — Scotland

Road Traffic Accidents

Road traffic accident claims

Being injured in a road traffic accident (RTA) can be a harrowing ordeal, especially if it wasn’t your fault. The physical injuries you can sustain can have long-term consequences. These 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 of the most 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 in a crash. While these injuries may seem minor, they can still be grounds for car 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 life-changing injuries such as partial or complete paralysis. If you’ve sustained injuries to your spine in a crash, you may be able to make a substantial road accident claim.
• Head and brain injuries – Traumatic brain injuries can have long-lasting cognitive, mental capacity and physical effects. If you’ve sustained a head injury in a road traffic accident, you could potentially receive compensation.
• Psychological trauma – The emotional impact of a crash can be just as severe as physical injuries. If your mental wellbeing has been affected, like developing anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following a road traffic accident, this can be factored into your claim.
• Fatal injuries – Losing a loved one in a road traffic 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 with vehicles involved. Pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists are also vulnerable to serious injuries when involved in collisions with cars.

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

Making a Claim

Who qualifies for road traffic accident claims?

If you or a loved one has been injured in a road traffic accident 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 involved 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 involved 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 other parties involved, you could be entitled to significant compensation for damages.
• Pedestrian – Pedestrians have the right to use the roads safely. If you were 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 because of another party’s negligence, you could be eligible for compensation.
• Bus passenger – If you were a passenger on a bus involved in a crash and suffered injuries, you may have a valid 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 and other vehicles involved can be catastrophic due to their size and weight. If you were injured in an accident involving a truck, you might be able to make a road traffic accident claim in Scotland.
• Taxi passenger – Taxi drivers have a duty of care to their passengers. If you were a passenger in a taxi that was involved in an accident, you could claim compensation for any injuries suffered if the taxi driver was negligent.

In addition to the above, you may also be able to make RTA claims if a horse injured you while you were on the road.

Essentially, any injured person involved in a traffic road accident through no fault of their own has a right to be compensated. The final settlement obtained by your Watermans road accident lawyer can be used 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 that is where our car accident lawyer can help.

Our road traffic accident solicitors are here to help you and offer straightforward legal advice to guide you through the claims process. Plus, we work on a no-win, no-fee basis, meaning that if you’re not awarded compensation, you won’t have to worry about any car accident solicitors fees — the fees only apply if your claim succeeds.

Our legal experts can take the hassle out of the juridical side of things for you and seek the accident compensation reward that you deserve for your suffering. Speak to one of our expert personal injury team members today.

How Much Compensation? 

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

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

If you or a loved one has been involved in a road traffic accident that wasn’t your fault, you may be able to claim 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 property or clothing damage, adapted accommodation and the cost of attending medical appointments.
• Costs of repairing your vehicle or pursuing a claim 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, doing housework and grocery shopping.

Our legal team of car accident lawyers fully investigate each case we work on to make sure that we get the maximum amount of compensation possible for you.

Use our road traffic accident compensation calculator to estimate the value of your claim. 

Why Watermans?

Why should I choose Watermans to pursue my road accident claim?

As a specialised law firm, Watermans makes legal services look and feel easy so people can move forward in life.

Our expert legal team of personal injury lawyers is committed to doing everything to make the claims process straightforward for our clients following an accident. 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 ensure you recover from your injuries as soon as possible and get your life back on track.