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Road Traffic Accident Claims

Claims for Injuries as a Pedestrian

What you need to know

  • Unlike drivers and passengers, pedestrians have no protection from the impact of a vehicle, and their fatality rates are fifteen times higher than a driver’s. Due to exposure, even low impact accidents can cause serious injuries.
  • Injuries suffered by pedestrians, even if the vehicle was travelling at a low speed, can have catastrophic and life-changing effects on the victim physically, emotionally, and financially.
  • If you have been injured as a pedestrian in a road traffic accident that was not your fault, you may be entitled to claim compensation for your injuries, loss of earnings and related expenses. Premier Legal Assist can put you in touch with specialist personal injury solicitors who can fight your corner, no win, no fee.

Find out if you're eligible to make a pedestrian injury claim by getting in touch with Premier Legal Assist today.

It is important to note that if your claim is successful and you receive compensation, your solicitor will take a pre-agreed "success fee" from your compensation. This percentage is legally capped, currently at 25% of your general and past special damages, to ensure you keep the majority of your payout. You may be charged cancellation fees by the legal service we introduce you to if you cancel your agreement after any applicable cooling-off period and before the claim is concluded.

Pedestrian injuries following a road traffic accident

Pedestrian injury claims can arise when someone walking, standing or crossing the road is injured because another road user failed to take reasonable care. Pedestrians have very little protection in a collision, so injuries can be serious even at relatively low speeds.

Accidents may happen when a driver fails to stop at a crossing, turns into a pedestrian’s path, reverses without checking properly, mounts a pavement, pulls out of a junction, or drives too fast for the conditions. Claims may also arise where the driver was uninsured or failed to stop after the accident. In those situations, compensation may still be available through the Motor Insurers’ Bureau.

Pedestrian accidents can lead to a wide range of injuries, including:

  • Broken bones and fractures
  • Head and brain injuries
  • Back and neck injuries
  • Soft tissue injuries
  • Cuts and bruising
  • Internal injuries
  • Scarring
  • Psychological injuries such as anxiety, PTSD and depression

The impact of a pedestrian accident is often not only physical. Injuries like these can also lead to time off work, loss of earnings, treatment costs, travel expenses, rehabilitation needs and ongoing care or support.

Claims for pedestrian injuries in road traffic accidents

All road users must take reasonable care to avoid causing injury to others. Drivers should remain alert, follow the Highway Code, slow down where needed, keep a proper lookout, and take particular care around pedestrians, especially children, older people and people with disabilities.

According to the Highway Code, drivers should give way to pedestrians crossing or waiting to cross a road into which, or from which, they are turning. It also says drivers must give way to pedestrians on zebra crossings. These rules may be relevant when considering whether a driver acted safely and responsibly.

  • Depending on the circumstances, pedestrian injury claims may involve:
  • Drivers failing to look properly at junctions
  • Vehicles failing to stop at crossings
  • Cars turning into the path of a pedestrian
  • Reversing without proper observation
  • Vehicles mounting pavements or entering pedestrian areas
  • Distracted, careless or dangerous driving
  • Speeding or driving under the influence
  • Collisions involving uninsured or untraced drivers

Pedestrians are also expected to take reasonable care for their own safety, and the facts of each accident will need to be considered carefully. However, this does not prevent a claim where there is evidence that a driver or another road user caused or contributed to the accident.

If another road user caused the accident that led to your injuries, you may be eligible to claim compensation. Premier Legal Assist can assess your enquiry and, where appropriate, connect you with specialist personal injury solicitors.

Investigate your claim with Premier Legal Assist

We understand how upsetting a pedestrian accident can be, especially if you believe it could have been avoided if another road user had acted more carefully. Our team is on hand to assess your circumstances, and where appropriate, put you in touch with experienced solicitors to help you claim the compensation you deserve.

Our trusted panel of personal injury solicitors specialise in road traffic accident claims, and will ensure that your claim is handled with care and professionalism, and if your claim is eligible, they will seek to recover the compensation you are owed.

Compensation for Injuries Suffered as a Pedestrian: Frequently Asked Questions

If you were injured as a pedestrian in a road traffic accident, you may be able to bring a claim provided the accident happened within the relevant time limits and there is evidence that another road user caused or contributed to what happened.

Premier Legal Assist is a FCA regulated claims management firm that works with experienced solicitors specialising in road traffic accident claims, including those involving pedestrians.

To get started, simply fill in our short online form with details about what happened and the injuries you suffered. Once we have reviewed your enquiry, we will contact you for a free, no-obligation consultation.

If your claim is eligible, we will refer you to a member of our panel of specialist road traffic accident compensation solicitors. Should they agree to take your case on, they will handle the full claims process for you, including gathering evidence, dealing with the relevant insurer or insurers, and working to secure compensation on a no-win, no-fee basis.

Compensation depends on a range of factors and there is no guaranteed figure. The amount you could receive will depend on how serious your injuries are and the impact they have had on your day-to-day life.

Compensation is usually divided into two parts:

  1. General Damages, which cover pain, suffering and loss of quality of life
  2. Special Damages, which cover financial losses such as loss of earnings, medical expenses, travel costs, and rehabilitation and care costs.

Less serious injuries may result in awards worth a few thousand pounds, while more severe or life-changing injuries could lead to significant compensation. If your claim is eligible, your solicitor will usually rely on medical and financial evidence to work out the likely value of your case.

Pedestrian accidents can lead to a wide range of injuries depending on the speed of the vehicle, the way the collision happened, and how the person landed.

Common injuries include but are not limited to:

  • Broken bones and fractures
  • Head injuries
  • Back and neck injuries
  • Soft tissue injuries
  • Cuts and bruising
  • Internal injuries
  • Scarring
  • Psychological injuries such as anxiety, PTSD and depression

In the most serious cases, particularly where injuries are multiple or long-term, compensation can be substantial, especially if ongoing care is needed and income has been affected.

Potentially, yes. Being away from a crossing does not automatically prevent a claim. The key issue is whether another road user failed to take reasonable care and whether that caused your injuries. In some cases, responsibility may be shared, but that does not necessarily mean you cannot claim.

You may still be able to pursue compensation; the Motor Insurers’ Bureau may be able to compensate victims of uninsured drivers and hit and run drivers. 

Potentially, yes, but it will depend on the circumstances. A pedestrian claim is not automatically defeated because this is alleged. The issue is whether the driver or rider still failed to take reasonable care, and whether any action by the pedestrian contributed to the accident. In some cases, compensation may be reduced rather than refused altogether.

In most cases, an adult has three years from the date of the accident to begin a personal injury claim. Where the injured person was under 18 at the time of the accident, the usual three-year limitation period generally starts from their 18th birthday.

Good evidence can be very important in showing how the accident happened and why the other road user may be at fault. The exact evidence will depend on the case, but often includes:

  • Photographs of the accident scene
  • CCTV or dashcam footage
  • Medical records and reports
  • Witness details and statements
  • Police reference details where relevant
  • Insurance details
  • Proof of financial losses

A solicitor acting for you would normally help obtain the evidence needed to support both liability and the value of your claim.

Yes. The Highway Code can be important evidence in pedestrian accident cases, especially where the collision happened at a zebra crossing, traffic lights, or a junction. The rules on drivers giving way to pedestrians at crossings and junctions may be relevant when deciding fault. 

Usually not. Most pedestrian injury claims are resolved without the need for a Court hearing, usually through negotiations between your solicitor and the relevant insurer.

Court proceedings are uncommon because both sides will often want to avoid the extra time, cost and uncertainty involved. However, if an agreement cannot be reached, your claim may need to go to Court. If that happens, a judge will consider the evidence, decide who was responsible for the accident, and, where appropriate, determine how much compensation should be awarded.

If your case is taken on by one of our panel solicitors, they will manage the process on your behalf, including dealing with the insurers, negotiating a settlement, and representing your interests throughout the claim.

In most cases, no. Our panel of specialist personal injury solicitors handle claims on a no-win, no-fee basis, which means there is nothing to pay upfront and you will not be charged legal fees if your claim does not succeed.

It is important to note that if your claim is successful and you receive compensation, your solicitor will take a pre-agreed "success fee" from your compensation. This percentage is legally capped (currently at 25% of your general and past special damages) to ensure you keep the majority of your payout.

You may be charged cancellation fees by the legal service we introduce you to if you cancel your agreement after any applicable cooling-off period and before the claim is concluded.

Before anything goes ahead, your solicitor will explain the funding arrangement clearly so you understand exactly how it works and what, if anything, may be deducted if your claim is successful.

Get in Touch with Premier Legal Assist

If you’ve been injured in a farm or agricultural accident, you don’t have to face the aftermath alone. Premier Legal Assist can help you take the next step towards the compensation and support you deserve.

If your claim is eligible, then we’ll connect you with our panel of specialist personal injury solicitors who handle farm accident claims on a no win, no fee basis, so there’s nothing to pay upfront, and no cost if your claim is unsuccessful.

It is important to note that if your claim is successful and you receive compensation, your solicitor will take a pre-agreed "success fee" from your compensation. This percentage is legally capped (currently at 25% of your general and past special damages) to ensure you keep the majority of your payout.

Our Client Commitment

Premier Legal Assist Client Commitment
At Premier Legal Assist, we’re here to make sure your voice is heard.

We are committed to:

  • Listening to you and treating your concerns with respect and understanding.
  • Acting quickly and fairly to assess your case and connect you with experienced and specialist personal injury solicitors.
  • Keeping things clear by explaining your options in plain English.
  • Supporting you throughout the claims process – no pressure, no upfront costs or pressure.
  • Respecting your privacy by protecting your personal data.
  • Putting your well-being first while helping you achieve the outcome you deserve.

Because everyone has the right to the compensation they deserve.

Important Information

Premier Legal Assist is a claims management company. You do not need to use a claims management company to make your complaint, you can complain to the organisation you are complaining about directly. If the issue is not resolved, you can refer it to the relevant independent Ombudsman service for free.

For personal injury claims, you do not need to use a representative to make a claim for low-level personal injuries sustained in a road traffic accident. You can claim through the online Official Injury Claims portal yourself, for free. If your injury damages exceed the small claims limit, we recommend you use a specialist legal service.

For all other types of personal injury, including medical negligence, employment claims and workplace injuries, we always recommend discussing your claim with a legal professional. You should only proceed with a claim when you understand the risks and associated costs.