The Department for Transport reports more than 130,000 people killed, seriously or slightly injured on Britain's roads each year. If you were one of them — as a driver, passenger, cyclist, motorcyclist, pedestrian or any other road user — and the collision wasn't your fault, you have the right to claim compensation.
The Department for Transport reports more than 130,000 people killed, seriously or slightly injured on Britain's roads each year. If you were one of them — as a driver, passenger, cyclist, motorcyclist, pedestrian or any other road user — and the collision wasn't your fault, you have the right to claim compensation.
This page is the full picture: what counts as a road traffic accident claim, who can make one, which route the claim takes (the Official Injury Claim portal, the pre-action protocol, or the Motor Insurers' Bureau), and what you're likely to receive. Every case we handle is on a no win, no fee basis.
Who can make a road traffic accident claim?
Anyone injured as a direct result of another road user's negligent driving — or the poor condition of a road surface kept by a highway authority. That includes:
- Drivers of any vehicle involved in the collision.
You can also claim where the accident was partly your fault — contributory negligence reduces the award in proportion to your share of the blame. See split liability.
What to do at the scene
- Stop and check for injuries. Call 999 for anyone hurt, or if the road is blocked.
Where does your claim go? OIC, protocol, or MIB
UK road traffic claims run through one of three tracks depending on who you are and how much the claim is worth:
The Official Injury Claim (OIC) portal — tariff-based
For adult drivers and passengers of motor vehicles whose primary injury is whiplash lasting up to 24 months, where the total injury claim is under £5,000 and the total claim (injury + damages) is under £10,000. Compensation is set by the statutory tariff under the Whiplash Injury Regulations 2021, updated by the Whiplash Injury (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (a 15% uplift for accidents on or after 31 May 2025). You can self-represent through the portal; most claimants find having a solicitor alongside improves special-damage recovery. The full tariff table is on our whiplash claims page.
The Pre-Action Protocol for Personal Injury Claims
For everything that doesn't fit the portal — injuries worth more than £5,000, recoveries longer than 24 months, and claims by cyclists, motorcyclists, pedestrians and children. These claims are valued under the Judicial College Guidelines 17th edition (April 2024). Most serious RTA cases go through this route.
The Motor Insurers' Bureau (MIB)
For uninsured and untraced drivers — hit-and-runs and drivers found without valid insurance. The MIB stands in for the missing insurer under the Uninsured Drivers' Agreement and Untraced Drivers' Agreement. Same underlying test, slightly slower process. See uninsured driver claims.
The types of road traffic accident claim we handle
Car accident claims
The highest-volume category. Rear-end shunts, junction collisions, lane-change incidents, motorway pile-ups, roundabout accidents, and single-vehicle claims caused by road defects or another driver's negligence. See car accident claims for the step-by-step.
Whiplash claims
A soft-tissue neck injury from a sudden back-and-forth movement of the head — the most common single RTA injury. Subject to the 2021 tariff (as amended 2025) for adult driver/passenger claims under £5,000 and under 24 months. See whiplash claims.
Motorcycle accident claims
Motorcyclists are disproportionately represented in serious-injury statistics. Claims commonly involve lane-splitting disputes, drivers pulling out of junctions without looking, and rear-enders that cause high-velocity falls. See motorcycle accident claims.
Cycle accident claims
The claim is run on the same negligence and duty-of-care principles as motor claims. Cyclists aren't in the OIC tariff — their claims run through the pre-action protocol. HGV blind-spot, dooring, and poor-surface claims are the recurring themes. See cycle accident claims.
Bus and coach accident claims
Passenger injuries on public and private transport — sudden braking, upper-deck falls, standing-passenger injuries on accelerating buses, doors closing on passengers. Claims are against the operator. See bus and coach accident claims.
Taxi passenger accidents
Black cab, minicab, Uber — the claim is against whichever driver was at fault (the taxi driver or a third-party driver). Passengers are almost never at fault, which makes these some of the most straightforward RTA claims. See taxi passenger accident claims.
Passenger claims (all vehicles)
Our dedicated passenger claims page covers the entire passenger category — car, bus, coach, taxi, minibus. The legal position is the simplest in the RTA category: you're a passive party, so the claim runs against whichever driver was at fault.
Pedestrian accident claims
At pedestrian crossings, junctions, and on the pavement where a vehicle left the road. Pedestrians are outside the whiplash tariff — claims run through the pre-action protocol under the Judicial College Guidelines. See pedestrian accident claims.
Uninsured and untraced driver claims (MIB)
Claims where the responsible driver was uninsured or left the scene (or can't be identified). Handled through the Motor Insurers' Bureau under statutory agreements. Slightly longer process, same legal tests. See uninsured driver claims.
How much compensation could you receive?
Every RTA award is built from general damages (the injury itself, under the Judicial College Guidelines 17th edition) and special damages (financial losses). The tariff applies in OIC-portal whiplash cases only — everywhere else, the JCG applies. Typical ranges:
- Whiplash under the 2025 tariff (OIC-portal): £275 (up to 3 months) to £4,830 (18-24 months), with the 'with minor psychological injury' column slightly higher. See the full tariff table.
Special damages — loss of earnings, medical and rehabilitation costs, vehicle damage excess, recovered travel costs, care and equipment — sit on top. In serious injury cases they routinely exceed general damages several times over. For a quick estimate see the compensation calculator; for the detail see how much compensation.
The RTA claim process, step by step
- Free eligibility check. A specialist tells you whether you have a claim, which track it belongs in, and the time limit that applies.
Full step-by-step in our personal injury claims process guide.
How long do I have to claim?
Three years from the date of the accident — or the 'date of knowledge' — for most RTA claims, under section 11 of the Limitation Act 1980. For children under 18, the clock starts at their 18th birthday. For protected parties (lacking capacity), there's no limit while capacity is absent. See our time limits guide for exceptions in detail.
No win, no fee — how RTA claims are funded
Every RTA claim we take on runs on a Conditional Fee Agreement. No upfront fees, no hourly bills, and no personal exposure to the other side's costs (subject to the CFA and ATE terms). If the claim wins, the success fee is capped at 25% of general damages and past losses. Full detail in no win no fee explained.
What if I was partly at fault?
You can still claim. Contributory negligence reduces the compensation in proportion to your share of the blame — not to zero. A 25% finding reduces a £20,000 award to £15,000. The most common scenarios: not wearing a seatbelt, crossing at an unsafe point as a pedestrian, lane-splitting at excessive speed. See split liability.
