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compensation following an accident
illness or injury - nationwide
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Motorway pile-ups, involving several vehicles which crash into each other as a result of a single car accident, are not only an annoyance for drivers who get stuck in traffic jams, but they can be dangerous and fatal to motorists involved. Those people who receive a personal injury through no fault of their own, or lose a loved one in an incident, could be entitled to seek road traffic accident compensation for their suffering and any loss of earnings.
Typically, individuals who are unfortunate enough to experience a pile-up experience whiplash, neck injury or head injury as a result. In more severe cases a motorist and their passengers could suffer from broken legs and internal injuries after being thrown forwards, or because the front of the car is crushed in the impact.
The severity of a person's injuries depends on where in the pile-up their car is, what speed the vehicle was travelling at, the weather conditions and how quickly the driver hit the brakes when they first saw the hazard.
Motorway accident fatalities and injuries
The 2009 road accident statistics showed that there were 132 deaths and 858 serious injuries on Britain's motorways during that period, which amounts to almost three people getting killed or injured on UK motorways every day.
Dangers of driving at such high speeds
The Highway Code states that when travelling at 70mph, the speed limit on British motorways, the driver will have usually travelled another 21 metres before finishing their thinking process and depressing the brake pedal. Following this, the vehicle, carried by its momentum, will travel an average of 75 metres before reaching a halt.
Altogether the vehicle will move an average of 96 metres from the time the hazard is seen, to the time the vehicle stops. If there are vehicles anywhere closer than 96 metres in front of the automobile, there is a strong possibility that the car will collide with them.
Who's at fault in a motorway pile-up?
If the pileup is caused by a road user overtaking recklessly, or illegally undertaking, then the driver may be found liable and victims of the incident could claim road traffic accident compensation.
Likewise, if a motorist causes a pile-up or other car accident by tailgating the vehicle in front, then the driver could be found liable for any resulting accident.
As written in The Highway Code, it is a car owner's responsibility to maintain their vehicle. If an accident is caused because a vehicle's brake lights, hazard warning lights or indicators are not working, and another road user is mislead by the lack of information given by the other driver on their road movements, then the driver who did not check their car's lights before beginning their journey could be found liable for injuries experienced by those involved in a car accident.
Just as dangerous are drunk drivers, or those who fall asleep at the wheel. Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is illegal, and resting at two hour intervals during a long journey is advised by Safe Motoring and many other road safety authorities.
Sometimes, motorway accidents are not the fault of an individual's negligence. Motorway road works should be clearly marked out, warnings given to people using the motorway, and those working on site should be protected from traffic. If drivers are not told to change lanes in time, or not given any warning of the hazard at all, then relevant authorities could be held responsible, and as such, personal injury claims made against them.
Are you seeking road traffic accident compensation?
Suffering a personal injury in a car crash can be a frightening and painful experience, and the consequences can be stressful if you take a long time to recover and can't go to work.
At YouClaim, a friendly team of no win, no fee compensation claim solicitors are ready to help you. In the majority of cases we manage to win our clients' claims, and we never take a cut of the money you receive, so you obtain 100% compensation.
Fill in our short online claim form and a member of our team will contact you regarding your case, or alternatively you could use live help or phone on 0800 10 757 95 to see if you could make a a road traffic accident compensation claim today.
