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You may be able to claim compensation for a pedestrian injury if a road user’s failure to take proper care caused you harm. If you have grounds to claim, the compensation sought can reflect more than the immediate consequences of the collision. Pedestrian accident claims can account for the injury’s effect on your life, as well as financial losses arising from it. At Legal Helpline, our advisory team can listen to what happened and explain whether a solicitor from our panel could help you pursue compensation.
Our panel recognises that being injured while walking can disrupt your daily routine and change how you get around while you recover. A journey that once felt automatic can suddenly become something you have to plan around, whether pain makes the walk itself difficult or the crossing on your way to work now feels daunting. When you are still adjusting to those changes, having a solicitor connect them back to the claim can take some of the pressure off and help keep the case focused on what the accident has actually changed for you.
If your case is suitable, they may be able to represent you on a No Win No Fee basis. Contact one of our advisors for a free consultation whenever you feel ready to discuss your options.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What Are Pedestrian Accident Claims?
- Can I Claim Compensation For A Pedestrian Injury?
- What Are The Most Common Causes Of Pedestrian Accidents?
- What Injuries Can Pedestrians Suffer After An Accident?
- How Much Compensation Could A Pedestrian Accident Claim Be Worth?
- What Evidence Could Help Prove A Pedestrian Accident Claim?
- How Legal Helpline’s Team Can Support Pedestrian Accident Claims
- Can Pedestrian Accident Claims Be Made On A No Win No Fee Basis?
- Learn More
What Are Pedestrian Accident Claims?
Pedestrian accident claims are personal injury claims made when someone travelling on foot is injured because another road user failed to take reasonable care. Without the protection of a vehicle, pedestrians are one of the most vulnerable road users, with nothing to absorb the force of a collision. This can result in much more severe injuries than those suffered by someone travelling in a vehicle that was hit at the same speed.
Compensation can reflect both the injuries you sustained as a pedestrian and the financial impact they have had. However, not every pedestrian accident will give rise to a valid personal injury claim, so you still need to show that another road user was legally responsible for the collision and the harm it caused.
If you are unsure whether you are eligible to pursue compensation, speak to one of our advisors to see whether you can move forward with a pedestrian accident claim.
Can I Claim Compensation For A Pedestrian Injury?
Yes, you can claim compensation for a pedestrian injury if the negligent conduct of another road user caused the harm you suffered. When assessing pedestrian accident claims, the following needs to be established:
- Whether the road user was expected to take reasonable care. Under the Road Traffic Act 1988, road users must travel safely and avoid causing harm to others. The Highway Code makes those expectations more concrete around pedestrians, as drivers should take extra care on residential streets or near parked cars in case someone steps into the road, and must give way to anyone already on a zebra crossing.
- Whether the road user failed to do so. Once it is clear what was expected, the focus turns to how a driver may have fallen short of their obligations on the road. That might mean a motorist reversing off a driveway without checking behind them, or a driver running a red light at a pedestrian crossing.
- Whether the failure caused your injury. There must be a connection between the negligent driving and the harm you are claiming for, whether the collision caused a new injury or made an existing condition worse. Psychological harm arising from the same accident can also form part of the claim where it amounts to a recognised injury.
Whether you were injured yourself or are considering a claim for your child, having a solicitor guide you through the process can make things easier to manage while your attention stays on recovery. Contact our advisors today to talk through how the pedestrian accident occurred and find out whether there are grounds to pursue compensation.
What Are The Most Common Causes Of Pedestrian Accidents?
The most common causes of pedestrian accidents include drivers failing to give way and manoeuvring without checking for people on foot. The following examples illustrate circumstances that can lead to pedestrian accident claims:
- Failing to stop at a pedestrian crossing. A distracted car driver may continue towards a zebra crossing after someone has stepped onto it. The pedestrian can be struck before reaching the opposite pavement.
- Turning across a pedestrian’s path at a junction. A driver concentrating on a gap in approaching traffic may turn into a side road without checking for someone crossing its entrance. The front of the vehicle can hit the pedestrian from the side.
- Reversing out of a parking space. In a car park, a driver may reverse while watching only for other vehicles. Someone walking behind the car can be knocked down and caught beneath it as it continues backwards.
- Mounting the pavement. A speeding car may leave the road when its driver loses control on a bend. Someone walking along the pavement can be struck despite being away from the carriageway.
Recognise the circumstances of your accident here? Take the next step with Legal Helpline: tell our advisors what happened and explore whether you could pursue pedestrian injury compensation. Your enquiry could be the starting point for getting a solicitor from our panel involved.
What Injuries Can Pedestrians Suffer After An Accident?
Pedestrians can suffer injuries ranging from minor soft tissue injuries to catastrophic brain damage after an accident. The harm involved in pedestrian accident claims may come from the initial vehicle impact or from being thrown onto the road, and may include:
Broken bones
Lower-leg fractures can occur when the front of a vehicle strikes the shin or knee, with more severe breaks sometimes requiring surgery and leaving lasting difficulty bearing weight.
Head injuries
Striking the windscreen or road surface can cause concussion, while a more serious brain injury may affect your ability to live independently.
Foot injuries
If a wheel passes over the foot, the resulting crush damage can leave lasting pain or restrictions when standing and walking.
Back injuries
Being thrown onto the road can place enormous force through the back and spine. If the spinal cord is affected, the consequences may include paralysis.
Your injuries may not stop with the more obvious damage caused at the point of impact. Being knocked sideways can force a knee or ankle into an unnatural position, leaving you with soft tissue damage that makes walking or putting weight through the joint difficult long after the bruising fades. The collision itself can also leave a psychological mark, with post-traumatic stress or other recognised conditions that may manifest as flashbacks or a reluctance to use the crossing or stretch of road where you were hit.
As is often the case in pedestrian accidents, you could suffer more than one injury. Your settlement (if successful) can recover compensation for multiple injuries.
Whether you are adjusting to an injury or grieving someone close to you, you can contact Legal Helpline at your own pace. Our advisors will listen with care and guide you through any questions you have about making a claim.
How Much Compensation Could A Pedestrian Accident Claim Be Worth?
In a successful outcome, how much compensation for a pedestrian accident claim could be worth can vary depending on the injuries sustained and their lasting consequences. The course of your recovery helps explain why those amounts can vary. Someone who recovers fully will have different needs from a person left unable to return to their previous work.
To assess that individual impact, compensation is considered in separate parts: general and special damages. General damages address the injury itself and the loss of enjoyment of life it causes. Solicitors may refer to the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) when valuing this part of the pedestrian accident claims process, as the document provides suggested compensation brackets for different injuries and severities. We’ve used some of these brackets to craft the table below.
| Injury | Severity and description | Guideline compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple Pedestrian Injuries and Related Costs | Settlements compensating for multiple severe injuries and expenses such as lost wages, nursing care and home adaptations. | Up to or more than £1,000,000 |
| Brain Damage | Very Severe: Profound disability with little or no meaningful response to the surrounding environment and a need for full-time nursing care. | £372,570 to £533,720 |
| Back Injury | Severe (i): Spinal cord and nerve root damage causing severe pain and disability, including incomplete paralysis and significantly impaired bodily functions. | £120,340 to £212,670 |
| Pelvis and Hip Injury | Severe (i): Extensive pelvic fractures or exceptionally serious hip damage, leaving substantial lasting disability. | £103,580 to £172,970 |
| Leg Injury | Severe (ii) Very Serious: Injuries leaving permanent mobility problems, potentially requiring lifelong walking aids, or multiple fractures causing serious deformity and restricted movement. | £72,440 to £117,210 |
| Arm Injury | Permanent, Substantial Disablement: Serious fractures to 1/both forearms causing significant permanent disability (cosmetic or functional). | £51,750 to £79,080 |
| Ankle Injury | Severe: Injuries requiring extensive treatment and leaving significant residual disability, such as ankle instability and severely restricted walking. | £41,370 to £66,140 |
| Wrist Injury | Significant Permanent Disability: Lasting impairment, although some useful wrist movement remains. | £32,370 to £51,750 |
| Knee Injury | Moderate (i): Dislocation or torn cartilage causing mild continuing disability, such as weakness or minor instability. | £19,610 to £34,600 |
| Shoulder Injury | Moderate: Frozen shoulder causing restricted movement and discomfort for around two years, or soft tissue damage with continuing symptoms that are not permanent. | £10,420 to £16,870 |
The table uses figures from the JCG’s latest edition, apart from the first entry, which illustrates a possible combined settlement for multiple injuries and related costs. These amounts are guidelines rather than guaranteed compensation awards.
Worried that the cost of getting back on your feet is growing? Chat with a member of our advisory team for a free discussion about the expenses you are facing, and see whether you can recover those losses through a claim.
What Evidence Could Help Prove A Pedestrian Accident Claim?
Evidence showing the pedestrian’s position and the vehicle’s movements could help prove a pedestrian accident claim. For pedestrian accident claims, material capturing the moments before or immediately after impact can be particularly useful, such as:
Footage showing the approach to a crossing
A nearby shop camera may show you stepping onto a zebra crossing while the vehicle continues towards it, preserving a sequence that footage of the impact alone might miss.
Dashcam recordings of a vehicle turning into a side road
These may show that you were already crossing the entrance when the driver began turning, helping clarify how your paths came together.
Records of traffic signal timings
Where available, signal sequences and accurately timed footage could help establish which lights were showing when you entered a controlled crossing.
Vehicle details and photographs of impact damage
The vehicle registration and driver’s details can help identify the road user involved. Photographs of damage to the bonnet or windscreen may then help an appropriately instructed collision expert assess how the vehicle struck you.
Our personal injury evidence guide explains the wider material that may support your case. Alternatively, you can call an advisor to discuss what items you already have to prove your pedestrian accident claim and how our panel can help gather more.
Unsure whether footage still exists or how much time you have left? Contact our advisory team now so they can help you explore the next step.
How Legal Helpline’s Team Can Support Pedestrian Accident Claims
Legal Helpline’s team can support pedestrian accident claims by helping eligible claimants access legal representation suited to the particular difficulties their case presents. If you can be connected with a solicitor from our panel, their work could include:
Pursuing a claim when the driver cannot be traced
If you were struck by an uninsured driver or by someone who left the scene, your solicitor could handle an eligible application to the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB). They can explain the requirements of this route and respond to questions raised during its assessment.
Dealing with questions about the collision
CCTV may capture the moment a pedestrian enters the road, but that footage is often only one part of the story of how the danger developed in the seconds before impact. Your solicitor can combine that footage with records showing where nearby vehicles were positioned or how they were moving, so the claim follows one clear line from the outset.
Managing direct approaches
Even once those moments are pieced together, the defendant’s legal representatives may argue you entered the road too late or had enough time to move out of the vehicle’s path. If that argument assumes a walking pace you could not realistically manage because you used a walking aid or already had restricted mobility, your solicitor can challenge it against the available evidence.
Speak to one of our advisors today if you have any questions about the support our panel provides, and let them help you find a way forward.
Can Pedestrian Accident Claims Be Made On A No Win No Fee Basis?
Yes, eligible pedestrian accident claims can be made on a No Win No Fee basis through a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA) with a solicitor from our panel.
Under the agreement offered, you won’t pay immediate or ongoing service fees for the work of your solicitor. If the claim is unsuccessful, those fees will not be payable, subject to the agreement’s terms.
If compensation is secured, a success fee is deducted. For personal injury claims, this is a percentage capped at 25% of the relevant compensation.
Contact Legal Helpline About A Pedestrian Accident Claim
An ordinary journey should not leave you wondering how to rebuild your life after being struck by a vehicle. If that is where you find yourself, a conversation with Legal Helpline could help you decide what to do next.
Our advisory team can discuss whether you may be eligible to claim and, where appropriate, connect you with a solicitor from our panel. Get in touch today for a free, confidential consultation and take the first step towards having someone pursue your case on your behalf.
Learn More
You may also find these related guides helpful:
- Find out about hit-and-run compensation claims if the driver left the scene.
- Read 10 things you should know about the Motor Insurers’ Bureau when considering this route to compensation.
- Explore pavement accident claims if you were injured by a defect in the walking surface.
These websites may help you:
- Read GOV.UK guidance on the details drivers must provide after an accident.
- Find NHS information about head injuries and concussion, including when medical help is needed.
- Learn about compensation for victims of uninsured or hit-and-run drivers through GOV.UK.
Thank you for reading our guide to pedestrian accident claims.