Legally Speaking with Ashton KCJ

Injured in a road collision?

Don’t accept an offer without seeking independent advice

Road collisions cause untold damage to individuals and families, with nearly 30,000 people killed or seriously injured on roads every year in the UK.

Statistics show that the average UK driver spends over three years in a vehicle, travelling an average of around 7,000 miles each year and making over 1,000 individual journeys. Around 79% of men and 65% of women possess a full driving licence. On average, female drivers make more trips than males but males travel much further each year.

Certain groups of road-users are at greater risk than others.

Statistically, motorcyclists and young drivers have more chance of being involved in or injured in a crash.

Indeed, 1 in 4 collisions involve a young driver, despite drivers between the ages of 17 to 24 making up only 1 in 8 licence holders. Young male drivers between 17 and 20 are 7 times more likely to be involved in a collision than the average male driver, with “driver error” a contributory factor in almost 70% of all road traffic accidents.

If you have been involved in a road traffic collision and you are the injured party, it is important to discuss your options with an independent lawyer as early as possible so that the right advice and assistance can be given from the outset.

Unfortunately, many people accept settlements from insurers without taking independent advice and all too often these settlements are much lower than the amount to which they could have been entitled, or they fail to get the support and medical treatment they need before any settlement is agreed.

An example is a lorry driver who had been advised by his former solicitors that his claim was worth around £15,000 and after more thorough investigation and expert advice we obtained a settlement of £95,000.

Although it may be tempting to accept a first (or even a second) offer because it is “better than nothing”, it is important not to settle your claim before you have had the chance to speak to an independent lawyer. An initial appointment for personal or medical injury matters is always free and without obligation.

Tom Ranson

Associate

T: 01473 261364

E: tom.ranson@ashtonkcj.co.uk

www.ashtonkcj.co.uk

This article is for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal or other professional advice. We would advise you to seek professional advice before acting on this information.