Road Traffic Accident Claims

There’s no denying that the roads can be a very dangerous place, and accidents do happen. If you’ve been involved in a road traffic accident in Northern Ireland and have suffered a loss or injury as a result, you might be entitled to claim road traffic accident compensation.

Even if you’ve only suffered minor injuries, you may still be able to make a claim for road traffic accident compensation—and it costs nothing to find out!

We have assisted many drivers and indeed passengers with car accident claims to recover compensation for their injuries and losses as a result of road traffic accidents.  If any members of your family (including children) were injured in an accident through no fault of their own, we are happy to help and advise.

You’re entitled to make a claim for any type of loss or injury that comes about as a result of a road traffic accident. Some of the most common injuries and losses claimed for include:

Every road traffic accident is different, and no one claim is the same as another. This means that the claims process can differ according to the unique circumstances of each case.

At JMK, we have successfully assisted over 30,000 cases since 2003 and we are Northern Ireland’s number one personal injury specialist. To help us get the best possible result for your case, it helps if you have the following information ready to go:

Once you’ve provided us with all the necessary information, we can begin to bring your claim. The unique circumstances of your case will determine how quickly we can bring it to a conclusion.

If there are disputes over who is responsible, called ‘liability’, or any serious losses or injuries, for example, the case may end up in court which can prolong the process. We aim to have most injury cases concluded within 12-18 months depending on the nature and complexity of injuries. It may be in your best interests to defer the conclusion of your case to ensure that a full picture of your situation is obtained, especially in cases involving ongoing medical problems caused by the accident. This allows us to ensure you are completely and rightfully compensated.

For non-injury claims, we generally aim to have your case concluded and compensation paid out within six months.

No—anyone who’s involved in an accident can make a claim.

Compensation is available for drivers and passengers in cars and other vehicles, including motorcycles. Cyclists and pedestrians, including children, may also be able to make their own claims if they were involved in a road traffic accident.

Yes—it’s important to begin your claim as soon as possible. We would advise this even in the absence of a time limit.

Currently, in Northern Ireland, there’s a limitation period on claims of three years from the date of the injury or three years from the date of knowledge (depending on each case’s unique circumstances) as set out in The Limitation (Northern Ireland) Order 1989. However, the courts have a wide discretion to extend this if it’s equitable to do so.

Claims for anyone under the aged of 18, can be brought up to three years after they turn 18 but the sooner the claim is progressed the better.

How much road accident compensation you can claim depends on your accident, the circumstances surrounding it, and the losses suffered.

Although some claims can stretch well into the hundreds of thousands and beyond, many factors influence the outcome, such as:

JMK Solicitors specialise in Personal Injury and Road Traffic / Car Accident claims and every case is different. We have processed over thirty thousand accident cases since 2003 and we are Northern Ireland’s Number 1 Personal Injury Solicitors. We may need to obtain expert evidence before providing advice on the value of your case.

If you’d like an idea of how much you might be able to claim, speak to the road traffic accident experts at JMK Solicitors to arrange a free consultation and we will give you our honest and expert opinion.

Every case is different and various factors will determine how quickly we can bring your case to a conclusion, such as if fault for your accident is disputed and if court proceedings are necessary to resolve the issues in your case. However, in a case which does not involve a claim for injury then we will aim to have your losses recovered and your case concluded within six months.

For cases involving personal injury, the nature and complexity of the injury will dictate how long a case takes. We aim to have the majority of our injury cases concluded within twelve to eighteen months. However, it can be in your best interests to prolong the conclusion of your case to ensure that a full and complete picture of your symptoms and prognosis is obtained, especially in cases involving worsening or ongoing medical conditions. This will enable us to ensure that you are fully and properly compensated for your injury, pain and suffering.

Our initial consultation is free and in fact, JMK Solicitors are the only solicitors in Northern Ireland who, as far as we are aware, are able to offer you an insurance policy which gives protection against the financial risks of bringing a claim for compensation for personal injury and other losses.

This policy covers not just your opponent’s costs, but also your own costs in the event that they cannot be recovered from another party. We believe that we are the only firm who offer any kind of legal costs cover on a complimentary basis – which means that, unlike other firms, when JMK Solicitors provide this to you, subject to following its terms and conditions, you will never be asked to pay for it from any compensation awarded.

Call JMK Solicitors now on 028 9032 0222 for eligibility criteria and to find out more about this product.

It is natural particularly when dealing with something as sensitive as a personal injury that you want to ensure you have the best possible person dealing with your case. It will always be advisable to instruct a solicitor who is well experienced in dealing with personal injury litigation, to make sure you get the best possible outcome in your case.

If you have concerns about the way your case is being handled by your current solicitor, you should address this with them directly. Should you remain dissatisfied with their response to your concerns then you may wish to seek a second opinion.

We at JMK Solicitors are always happy to help, we will give you an honest assessment of your case and the progress made to date and then it is up to you to make the decision to stay with the solicitor you already have or to move.

Should you choose to move to JMK Solicitors we will take care of all aspects of the move, all you have to do is make the decision.

We make people our priority at JMK Solicitors and making sure you get a straightforward and honest service is our aim.

Accidents happen for a wide variety of reasons but a common theme in PSNI statistics every year shows that the cause of the vast majority (51%) of collisions is human behaviour.

Here are 15 simple ways to avoid a road accident.

1. Slow down, Stop, Look and Listen – remember to check all mirrors, err on the side of caution and slow down, stop, look and listen.
2. Watch for traffic light dodgers – when approaching a green light count to three, look around you and ensure its safe to continue.
3. Keep an eye out for children – be prepared for children stepping out from behind a parked car, from a bus or playing.
4. Look after your vehicle to help it look after you – ensure your vehicle is maintained to a good standard, serviced and checked regularly.
5. Use the 12-second rule while driving – scan the road 12 seconds ahead for potential obstacles and or dangers.
6. No seatbelt, no excuse – wear a seatbelt at all times in a vehicle.
7. Do not speed – speeding reduced your time to react to a situation. Stick to the speed limits.
8. Forget the 10 o’clock and 2 o’clock positions. It’s now 9 o’clock and 3 o’clock – keeping both hands at 9 and 3 allows you to have more control of the vehicle.

9. Use your indicators appropriately – always indicate your intentions to alert other road users.

10. Keep your eyes moving – your eyes should always move while driving; looking past the car in front, to the sides, in your side and rearview mirrors.

11. Be careful of minor accidents in Northern Ireland car parks – use your indicators and keep an eye on all pedestrians around you and slow down when manoeuvring in or out of a parking space.

12. When you’re in your car, concentrate wholly – never ever pick up a phone, ensure your full concentration is on the road.

13. Where possible, avoid driving at night or in bad weather – driving at night or in bad weather brings a whole host of dangers.

14. If you’re tired, do not drive – concentration levels plummet when you’re tired, and even a split-second loss of focus behind the wheel can have devastating consequences.

15. Never assume what another driver is going to do – it’s a common cause of accidents; drivers assume that someone will make a turn if they’ve indicated to the left or right. Deal with actions not assumptions to cut the risk of collisions.