With the number of cars on Britain's roads growing every year, there is an increasing likelihood that you may be involved in some form of Road Traffic Accident in the future. Being involved in a collision on the roads can be a traumatic, as well as painful, experience, however there are certain immediate steps you can take to make sure you do not unintentionally break the law. You must stay at the scene of the accident for a reasonable amount of time, and make sure you have given your contact details to any of the relevant people. Also, you must provide your certificate of insurance, either at the scene or within seven days at the police station of your choice. By doing this you are covering yourself from being fined or charged with a police offence.



The most common Road Traffic Accident injuries are whiplash related, whereby the force of the collision has thrown the victim forward and backwards in quick succession, leaving the person's neck to support the full velocity of the impact. Whiplash injuries can vary greatly in terms of severity, and symptoms can range from pain/stiffness in the neck and shoulders, to a tingling sensation in the arms and fingers. Headaches, blurred vision and tiredness can all also indicate that a person has suffered a whiplash related injury.

If you are unfortunate enough to have suffered a whiplash injury then you may be entitled to claim compensation, provided it can be proved that someone else was at least partly to blame. If you were the passenger in a vehicle which was involved in a collision, then the claim would be made against the person who was at fault for the accident, even if that means the driver of the car you were travelling in. If you were driving yourself, then claim would be made against the driver of the car who was at fault for the accident.

Many people are unaware that in the UK every citizen has a legal and civil right to claim compensation if they have suffered an accident which was not their fault. Road Traffic Accidents can have many implications for the victim, such as inability to work, psychological impairments such as fear of the road, on top of the initial pain and suffering endured as a direct result of the accident. The compensation package will consider the direct and indirect implications, and the amount awarded will take into account many factors, including loss of earnings, damages to any clothes / equipment caused by the collision (i.e. motor vehicle repair costs) and any other costs incurred, including medical bills and treatment fees.

The changing climate in Britain will give rise to many more accidents on the road, as the weather becomes more extreme and examples of flash floods rising across the country. Every person has a right to claim compensation against the guilty party, and it is important not to feel pressured into doing so. There are many ?rogue? companies around who simply try to quota fill and take on as many cases as possible. When choosing a firm to proceed with your compensation claim you should take notice of their experience and past successes before committing to their service, to make sure they are right for you and your individual circumstances - every claim is different!