Road Traffic Accidents
SZA LEGAL have specialist road traffic accident lawyers who can help you whether you or your children were involved in an accident as a driver, passenger, motorcyclist, cyclist or a pedestrian. If you have suffered an injury in a Road Traffic Accident in the last 3 years, we can help you obtain compensation.
RTC (Road Traffic Collision)
Remember, all of our claims are dealt with on a ‘No Win No Fee’ basis which means you pay nothing to us (win or lose).
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Vehicle Damage Claims
We have experience of dealing with all aspects of claims and legal matters which arise out of non-fault road traffic accidents including all vehicle related damage. Our team will ensure that the clients are put back into their pre-accident position by ensuring that we recover maximum compensation for the repair cost or total loss payment.
When the client has been placed in a credit hire vehicle, it Is vital for the client to mitigate his losses. We ensure that these cases are dealt with promptly in order to keep the hire period to a minimum. We understand that failing to deal with matters promptly will ultimately result in a reduction in the hire period when it comes to settling the credit hire charges. We aim to make sure that the full duration of hire is paid by the fault parties insurance by providing a efficient and pro-active service.
Credit Hire, Storage and Recovery
If you own a credit hire or taxi hire company, we are able to cater for your needs. We have in house Specialists who are able to deal with all aspects of Credit Hire and Storage claims. We work hand in hand with Hire providers across the country ensuring that claims are dealt with in an amicable manner ensuring efficient and effective settlement of matters. We often provide organisations with prospects of success from the outset and provide regular updates throughout the period of hire.
We have built strong working relationships with the insurance industry which meant that claims are dealt with faster which means that we are able to reach settlement sooner.
Whilst customers are in hire, we firstly ensure that a car engineer is contacted and sent out to inspect the client’s vehicle at the outset. Following this we ensure that engineering evidence is sent to the fault parties’ insurance as soon as possible.
We understand the important requirement of the client mitigating his losses. Our team is trained to satisfy this requirement and they actively chase third parties for repair costs or total loss payment. This warrants the claimant is put back into their pre-accident position which will conclude the hire period.
When it comes to the recovery of the credit hire invoice, our team has a broad range of experience in this field. We have seen all of the potential arguments that can be raised by the third party and are well skilled in arguing all of these points including Impecuniosity, Rate, Period, Need and Enforceability. We often see points such Betterment, Like for Like and Issues relating to Prestige Vehicles raised.
As well as the above issues we have also have vast experience in winning cases with liability and quantum disputes.
Our team is familiar with the Hussain v EUI, which is the leading case law in Taxi Credit Hire claims. We are familiar with the exceptions set out in the case to the general rule which has allowed us to recover the full cost of hire and avoid being restricted to Loss of Profit. We ensure from the outset that the client satisfies the criteria set out and we gather evidence at an early stage to avoid unnecessary delays.
Credit Hire, Storage and Recovery
If you own a credit hire or taxi hire company, we are able to cater for your needs. We have in house Specialists who are able to deal with all aspects of Credit Hire and Storage claims. We work hand in hand with Hire providers across the country ensuring that claims are dealt with in an amicable manner ensuring efficient and effective settlement of matters. We often provide organisations with prospects of success from the outset and provide regular updates throughout the period of hire.
We have built strong working relationships with the insurance industry which meant that claims are dealt with faster which means that we are able to reach settlement sooner.
Whilst customers are in hire, we firstly ensure that a car engineer is contacted and sent out to inspect the client’s vehicle at the outset. Following this we ensure that engineering evidence is sent to the fault parties’ insurance as soon as possible.
We understand the important requirement of the client mitigating his losses. Our team is trained to satisfy this requirement and they actively chase third parties for repair costs or total loss payment. This warrants the claimant is put back into their pre-accident position which will conclude the hire period.
When it comes to the recovery of the credit hire invoice, our team has a broad range of experience in this field. We have seen all of the potential arguments that can be raised by the third party and are well skilled in arguing all of these points including Impecuniosity, Rate, Period, Need and Enforceability. We often see points such Betterment, Like for Like and Issues relating to Prestige Vehicles raised.
As well as the above issues we have also have vast experience in winning cases with liability and quantum disputes.
Our team is familiar with the Hussain v EUI, which is the leading case law in Taxi Credit Hire claims. We are familiar with the exceptions set out in the case to the general rule which has allowed us to recover the full cost of hire and avoid being restricted to Loss of Profit. We ensure from the outset that the client satisfies the criteria set out and we gather evidence at an early stage to avoid unnecessary delays.
What can you claim for?
As a driver
As a driver of a vehicle in a non-fault accident, you may be able to claim for
- General Damages
- Pain and suffering as a result of the accident
- Compensation for future financial losses including medical and care costs
- Special Damages
- Damage to your vehicle
- Credit Hire Charges
- Storage and recovery charges
- Repair and credit hire charges
- Policy excess
- Loss of earnings
- Cost of treatment and travel expenses
- Any other losses (such as damaged clothing)
As a passenger?
Equally, as an innocent passenger in a car, on a bicycle/motorbike (which may be as a result of a manufacturing fault, third party vehicle or defect in the road) or on a bus, you can claim compensation for your injuries. Fortunately, most Road Traffic Accidents result in a whiplash injury (which can even be suffered through low velocity impacts (LVI) resulting in soft tissue damage).
However, in the event of serious injury, your claim may involve organising a specialist in your injury, nursing care/rehabilitation experts and any other professionals who can assist in helping you recover from your injury. If a member of your family has unfortunately died as a result of a Road Traffic Accident, then this may result in the loss of the main source of income for a family.
After such an accident a family needs the care and attention of highly-trained lawyers to help them through the difficult circumstances. Following a fatal accident, there may be a potential claim for a bereavement award, funeral expenses and special damages compensation if the family’s income has been affected following the accident.
Hopefully, you will never need our services. In the event that you do, SZA LEGAL will achieve the best possible compensation award for you – and quickly.
Due to the Whiplash Reforms which came into force on 31 May 2021, we now have to deduct up to 40% of your damages compensation as fees for some RTA cases. However the amount that we deduct is assessed on a case by case basis and the actual deduction may be lower than 40%.
If you have been involved in an accident which was not your fault, please complete our Online Enquiry Form so that we can help
Road traffic accident guide
Due to the Whiplash Reforms which came into force on 31 May 2021, we now have to deduct up to 40% of your damages compensation as fees for RTA cases.
If you have been involved in an accident which was not your fault, please complete our Online Enquiry Form so that we can help
Information to collect at the time of the accident
• The time and date the car accident took place
• Contact details of all the drivers, passengers and pedestrians involved
• Details of the cars, including make, model, registration number, colour, and the number of passengers
• The insurance details of the car driver and the number of passengers in their car
• Whether or not the car headlights and/or indicator lights were switched on
• The weather, visibility and lighting conditions at the time of the accident
• Name and the station details of any police officer attending the scene of the accident
• Any damage caused to each car including photographs
• Any injuries caused as a result of the accident
• Photographs of the scene of the accident
• Street name(s) of the accident location
Information to recall following the accident
• Try to remember what happened, including sketches of the cars’ positioning
• Estimate what speed the cars were going
• The type of road the accident occurred on
• Try to describe the scene of the accident, including any road markings, traffic lights, signs, obstructions or recognisable buildings
• Return to the accident scene to take photographs of the accident location and also of your injuries and damage to your car
• Any information taken from witnesses following the accident
• Keep a diary of events following the accident, including visits for medical care
• Keep receipts for all of your ‘out-of-pocket’ expenses that you have incurred as a result of the accident e.g. painkillers, prescription charges, travel expenses
• Details of any loss of earnings where you have had to take time off to recuperate and the cost of any recommended treatment such as physiotherapy
• Keep all correspondence relating to the accident and ensure that you forward copies promptly onto your solicitor
• Even if you believe you may have partially been at fault for the accident, you can still claim for compensation. The more evidence you can produce in support of your claim, especially in relation to liability and the value of your claim, the more likely you are to succeed in recovering the maximum amount of compensation for your injuries and losses.
• We are here to help you throughout the process and welcome any questions you may have in relation to your claim. Get in touch with us today via our Online Enquiry Form for a no-obligation discussion about how we can help you.