No Win, No FeeRoundabout accidents are perhaps one of the most common types of Road Traffic Accidents (RTAs) that occur and regularly cause a lot of damage that can leave those involved with serious personal injuries. If you’ve been injured in a collision at a roundabout and the accident was caused by someone else, you could be compensated for your suffering. In this article on roundabout accident claims, we’ll look at when you could be entitled to be compensated and explain how the claims process works.
claimsaction.co.uk has a team of specialists who can help if you do decide to seek damages for your injuries. We’ll start by reviewing your roundabout accident claim for free during a telephone consultation. Then we’ll supply free legal advice about your chances of being awarded compensation. If your claim is suitable, we’ll ask one of our personal injury lawyers to step in. If they agree to represent you, they’ll reduce your stress levels and financial risks by working on a No Win, No Fee basis. That means you won’t be asked to pay for their work in advance.
If you’d like to begin a roundabout accident claim straight away, call us on 0800 652 1345 to get started. Alternatively, to learn more about when compensation might be paid following a collision on a roundabout, please read on.
Am I Entitled to Compensation for a Roundabout Accident?
Our team of solicitors are specialists in all types of road accident claims. As such, they’ll only take on your case if they believe there’s a reasonable chance that you’ll be compensated. When assessing roundabout accident claims, they will try to ascertain whether:
- You were owed a duty of care by the other driver involved in the accident; and
- Their negligence caused an accident at or on a roundabout; and
- You sustained personal injuries as a result of the accident.
It’s usually quite easy to prove that a duty of care existed for collisions on roundabouts and at mini-roundabouts because of the Road Traffic Act 1988. It states that all road users must take reasonable precautions to try and reduce accidents and injuries on the road. Essentially, this means motorists must pay attention when driving and abide by the rules of the Highway Code.
As such, an important main task you can help with is to try and prove who was responsible for the roundabout accident, how it occurred and the extent of your injuries. We’ll explain what evidence might help with this later on.
Common Examples of Roundabout Accident Claims
Roundabouts can be a hotspot for accidents and personal injury claims. We won’t provide details of them all here but some common examples include:
- Entering without checking: Accidents caused by drivers entering the roundabout too quickly or without giving way to oncoming traffic.
- Rear-end collisions: Incidents where a vehicle strikes another from behind, often due to a lack of attention or sudden braking.
- Lane-change collisions: Crashes caused by a driver sideswiping another vehicle while changing lanes on the roundabout without sufficient space.
- Pedestrian accidents: Cases where pedestrians are injured after being hit while using designated crossings at roundabout junctions, often due to driver distraction or failure to stop.
- Heavy vehicle accidents: Collisions caused by lorries or buses cutting across lanes to exit the roundabout improperly, striking other vehicles in the process.
Crucially, roundabout accident claims are not just limited to drivers. Passengers, cyclists, motorcyclists, pedestrians, and other road users may also be entitled to compensation if the accident was caused by another party’s negligence.
What Types of Roundabout Injuries Can I Claim For?
In this section, we’ve listed some of the most common injuries that could result in a roundabout accident claim. Don’t worry if you don’t see your injury on our list, this is just a sample and we could still support your claim. Some of the most common injuries from accidents at roundabouts include:
- Spinal injuries.
- Head injuries such as concussions.
- Joint sprains or strains.
- Broken bones.
- Back, shoulder and neck injuries.
- Whiplash.
- Serious finger injuries.
- Scrapes and bruises.
Importantly, since 31 May 2021, the government has introduced reforms to try and stem the number of fraudulent whiplash claims. As such, if you sustain whiplash whilst in a vehicle and the value of the claim is less than £5,000, you will need to claim through an online portal.
Having said that, it’s still worth calling our phone number for a free case review to try and ascertain how much your claim might be worth. If it’s a low-value claim, we’ll point you toward the portal. If we believe the value of the claim exceeds the threshold, we could appoint a solicitor to help. Importantly, the portal is not for pedestrians, cyclists or other vulnerable road users injured in an RTA.
What Evidence Do I Need for a Roundabout Accident Claim?
In most cases, you’ll claim for any injuries caused by the roundabout accident against the other driver’s insurance policy. Their insurer will only agree to pay if you’ve got enough evidence to prove who was liable for both the accident and your injuries. For this reason, you could use the following to help:
- Photographic proof: If it’s safe to do so, it’s a good idea to try and take pictures at the accident spot before anything is removed from the scene.
- Dashcam footage: This is a good way of proving what happened and who was responsible for the accident. If your car is fitted with a camera, make sure you download the footage. Also, check whether any other vehicle that stopped has a camera as well.
- Medical reports: Getting treatment for your injuries is important. It should mean they are diagnosed and treated properly. If you decide to claim compensation, your medical records could be requested to help prove what injuries you sustained.
- Witness details: You don’t need to ask for a statement but it is a good idea to take down the contact details of any witnesses. If needed, your solicitor might get in touch later on for a statement of what they saw.
- Police reports: In more serious roundabout collisions, the emergency services might attend and a police investigation might be conducted. Any report of this nature could help to prove how the accident happened.
As part of our free initial consultation, any proof you’ve already collected will be reviewed for free. Before calling, it might also be worth writing down what you remember about the accident and how your injuries have affected you. Furthermore, you could list any costs or expenses you’ve incurred as a result of your injuries.
What Is the Time Limit to Make a Roundabout Accident Claim?
In most roundabout accident claims, you’ll need to start your claim within 3 years from the date of the accident. However, there are exceptions to this rule:
- Children: If the claim is being made on behalf of a child, the limitation period does not begin until their 18th birthday. A parent or guardian can act as a litigation friend and lodge a claim at any point before the child turns 18. After this, the child has 3 years to start their own claim (until their 21st birthday).
- Persons lacking mental capacity: If the injured person lacks the mental capacity to manage their own claim, the 3-year time limit does not apply unless they regain capacity. A litigation friend can make a claim on their behalf at any time.
We recommend starting your claim as soon as possible. This will allow plenty of time for medical reports and other proof to be gathered to support the claim. Furthermore, if the defendant accepts liability, your solicitor might ask the defendant to make an interim payment before the claim is finalised to cover the cost of private medical treatment if it will help you to recover sooner.
If you’re unsure how much time you have left to claim or need advice, please contact us today.
How Much Compensation for a Roundabout Accident Can I Claim?
There is no set amount of compensation awarded for roundabout accident claims. Instead, you can claim general damages to compensate you for your injuries and special damages to cover any costs or expenses you’ve incurred. If you’re not sure of what these two types of damages cover, you can find out more here.
If you proceed with a claim, it could cover:
- The pain and suffering your injuries have caused.
- Any impact on your hobbies or social life (loss of amenity).
- The cost of replacing items that were damaged during the accident.
- Any medical expenses. This could include the cost of private medical treatment where needed.
- Care costs to cover the time a family member or friend spent looking after you while you were injured.
- Any fuel costs, parking fees or transport fares linked to your injuries.
- The costs involved with making changes to your home to improve your quality of life if you’re left disabled.
As you can see, there’s quite a lot to consider when making a roundabout accident compensation claim. If you work with one of our personal injury lawyers, they’ll review your case in fine detail to try and ensure you’re paid the right amount of compensation for your injuries.
Can I Claim for Loss of Earnings Due to a Roundabout Accident?
If you win a roundabout accident compensation claim, you shouldn’t be left out of pocket for any income you’ve lost due to the accident. This can include lost earnings from time off work for hospital appointments or while recovering from your injuries, for instance.
Additionally, you may be entitled to claim for missed opportunities such as overtime, bonuses, or commissions.
To strengthen your case, it’s important to provide clear financial evidence of your losses. Examples include pay slips, bank statements, or copies of your employment contract. This evidence can help your solicitor accurately calculate the value of your claim.
Will I Need a Solicitor to Claim Roundabout Accident Compensation?
Taking on legal representation when making a roundabout accident claim can make the claims process much easier. Generally, solicitors will manage the claims process on your behalf from beginning to end. They’ll also control all negotiations for you so you won’t need to face any direct questions about what happened from the defendant’s insurers.
crucially, our panel of solicitors offer a No Win, No Fee service for any roundabout accident claim they take on. As a result, you can rest easy during the claims process because you’ll know that you won’t pay your solicitor a penny unless you’re compensated.
At the start of your claim, you’ll both sign a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). This contract allows your solicitor to begin working on your case without being paid in advance for their work. It will set out what they’ll do for you and the conditions that need to be met before you need to pay them.
If your claim is won, a success fee will be deducted from your settlement amount. This is used to cover your solicitor’s costs and time. So that you’re aware of the fee from the start, it is listed clearly in your contract. Legally, success fees are capped at 25% of any compensation when a case is funded by a CFA.
To check if you could use one of our No Win, No Fee solicitors in your case, please call today.
Roundabout Accident Claims Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Claim for Emotional Distress Caused by the Accident?
Being involved in an accident at a roundabout can lead to both physical and emotional injuries. Crucially, both could be factored into any compensation you’re awarded.
For instance, a motorcyclist who was dragged under a lorry at a roundabout could be diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Even in less serious roundabout accidents, drivers can suffer from anxiety, flashbacks, depression and distress.
So long as your condition can be verified by a medical specialist, you could include any psychological injuries in your roundabout accident compensation claim.
Can I Make a Claim If I Was Partially at Fault for the Roundabout Collision?
Yes, you can still make a compensation claim even if you were partially at fault for a roundabout collision. This type of claim would be settled on the basis of contributory negligence, which means both parties share responsibility for the accident.
The claims process will still follow standard procedures, but the final settlement amount will account for your contribution to the accident. If you’re unsure about how your level of fault might affect your claim, it’s worth seeking advice from our personal injury solicitors who can help clarify your options.
What Happens If the Accident Worsened an Already Existing Condition?
It may be possible to claim compensation for an existing medical condition that has got worse following an accident at a roundabout. For instance, if you already had arthritis in your knee but your suffering has got worse because of the accident, the additional suffering could be factored into your claim. This, of course, would only be possible if liability for the accident can be linked to someone else’s negligence.
Start a Roundabout Accident Compensation Claim Today
We hope we’ve explained when you might be compensated following a roundabout accident. If you are ready to take action today and would like our help, please feel free to call us on 0800 652 1345.
Any claim that is accepted will be managed by one of our solicitors and they’ll work on a No Win, No Fee basis to reduce your stress levels during the claims process.
If you have any additional questions about roundabout accident claims, please call or use live chat to contact us.
