Pedestrian Accident Claims
Check If You Can Claim Compensation
If you were injured as a pedestrian in an accident that was not your fault, you may be able to claim compensation. We will explain your options clearly and help you understand the next steps.
Regulated solicitors
Years' experience
No Win No Fee
Can you claim for a pedestrian accident?
You may be able to make a pedestrian accident claim if you were injured in the last three years in an accident that was caused, at least in part, by someone else. Accidents involving pedestrians usually mean being hit by a car, van, lorry, bus, motorbike, bicycle or e-scooter, though injuries caused by an unsafe road or pavement count too. Most of the claims we handle follow a pedestrian being hit by a car, and the rules work the same way, whatever the vehicle was.
A pedestrian claim against the driver at fault is usually made through their insurer, and many are handled on a No Win No Fee basis. If the driver was uninsured or never stopped, a claim can still be made through the Motor Insurers’ Bureau. If you are not sure whether you can claim, our team can check for you.
Why pedestrian accidents often lead to a claim
Drivers owe pedestrians and other road users a duty of care. That covers safe, attentive driving and giving way to people on foot where the Highway Code requires it. When that duty is not met and someone is injured, the law may entitle them to compensation.
Pedestrians have the least protection in a collision, so injuries can be serious. If a driver, the authority responsible for the road, or a poorly maintained vehicle caused your injury, a pedestrian injury solicitor will explain where you stand and handle the claim for you.
is usually the time limit to start a pedestrian accident claim, from the date of the accident. Different rules apply for children. The sooner you start, the easier it is to obtain evidence such as CCTV or dashcam footage.
Common causes of pedestrian accident claims
You may be eligible to claim if your injury was caused by a driver’s or another party’s negligence.
Failing to give way at crossings
Drivers who fail to stop at zebra, pelican or puffin crossings, or who turn at a junction without looking for people crossing.
Reversing and blind spots
Vehicles reversing or pulling away without checking for pedestrians behind or alongside them, in car parks and on the road.
Speeding, distraction or poor conditions
Speeding, distracted or drink and drug driving, and unsafe roads with potholes, missing signs or poor lighting.
Whatever caused your accident, if a driver or another party was at fault you may have a claim. Tell us what happened and we will let you know where you stand.
How much compensation for a pedestrian accident?
There is no fixed average payout for a pedestrian hit by a car in the UK, because every claim is valued on its own facts. Pedestrian accident compensation depends on how serious your injury is, how long it affects you, and the financial losses that follow. Injuries range from cuts, bruising and fractures to more serious head, spinal and internal injuries, along with the psychological effects of the accident.
Every claim is assessed individually. Our pedestrian accident solicitors will explain what your claim may be worth once an independent medical report sets out how the injury has affected you.
- Pain, suffering and the effect on your daily life
- Lost earnings, now and in the future
- Treatment, rehabilitation and travel costs
- Care and support while you recover
How is pedestrian accident compensation worked out?
No solicitor can tell you what your claim is worth on a first phone call, and you should be wary of anyone who does. What they can tell you is how the figure gets reached.
Courts in England and Wales work to the Judicial College Guidelines, which set brackets for each type of injury by severity. An independent medical expert instructed for your claim reports on your injury and how long it is expected to affect you. The bracket follows from that report, not from anything said at the outset.
Worth knowing if you were on foot
Since 31 May 2021, most road traffic injury claims worth £5,000 or less have been dealt with in the small claims track, where legal costs are not usually recovered from the other side. Pedestrians are one of the groups the rules keep outside that change. A pedestrian injured in a road traffic accident keeps the £1,000 small claims limit instead.
In practice that means a pedestrian with a relatively modest injury can still be represented in the usual way, where someone injured inside a vehicle with the same injury often cannot. It is one of the reasons it is worth asking, even if you think your injury was too minor to bother with.
Those brackets cover the injury itself. A claim also covers what the injury has cost you: earnings lost now and in future, treatment and rehabilitation, travel, and care, including help given unpaid by family. On a serious pedestrian injury, that second half is often the larger of the two.
If you want a rough idea before you speak to anyone, our claim value estimator will give you a range based on the injury you describe.
What injuries can you claim for after a pedestrian accident?
Because a pedestrian has nothing between them and the vehicle, the injuries tend to be at the more serious end. The ones we see most often are these.
- Head and brain injuries Even a short loss of consciousness matters, and it changes which medical experts are needed. Say so on the first call.
- Leg, knee, ankle and foot injuries Common where the impact is from the side or the front. See our page on knee injury claims and on Achilles tendon injury claims.
- Pelvis and hip injuries Often from a side impact, and they can carry consequences people find hard to raise. See our page on pelvis injury claims.
- Back and spinal injuries Valued on long-term effect rather than on the initial diagnosis, which is why the medical report matters so much.
- Arm, wrist and hand injuries Frequently caused by the fall rather than the vehicle itself. See our page on wrist injury claims.
- Psychological injury Where it is diagnosed, it is a head of loss in its own right, not an extra. See our page on mental health compensation claims.
You do not need a diagnosis before you get in touch. An independent medical expert instructed for your claim sets out the full picture.
Evidence that supports your claim
Clear evidence helps show how the accident happened and how it has affected you. You do not need to gather everything before you get in touch. We can help.
Report it to the police. Ask for a police reference number when you report the accident. It helps confirm how and when it happened, and it is useful evidence for your claim.
No Win No Fee pedestrian accident claims
You can start a pedestrian accident claim without paying anything upfront. If your claim is unsuccessful, you will not pay a fee for our work, subject to the terms of your agreement.
If your claim succeeds, an agreed success fee is deducted from your compensation. Your solicitor will explain this clearly before you commit to anything.
If you are out of work or facing costs while the claim is running, it is sometimes possible to request an interim payment from the other side’s insurer before the claim settles. It is not available in every case and it depends on responsibility being accepted, but it is worth asking about early rather than waiting. Tell us what the accident has cost you and we will say whether it is a realistic option.
You will see the full terms in writing before your claim begins.
Worth knowing
There are conditions attached to an MIB claim. The accident normally has to be reported to the police, and there are notification requirements that can be tighter than the three-year court deadline.
The sooner you report it and get advice, the fewer of those become a problem.
Claiming after a hit-and-run or an uninsured driver
Not every driver stops, and not every driver is insured. Neither one ends your claim.
The Motor Insurers’ Bureau exists for exactly these cases. It is funded by insurers and it handles claims where the driver cannot be traced or had no cover in place. Pedestrian hit and run compensation is paid through the MIB rather than through an insurance company, and the amounts are assessed the same way any other claim would be.
If the driver who hit you did not stop, report it to the police and ask for the reference number. Then speak to us and we will deal with the MIB on your behalf.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know before starting your claim.
I was hit by a car as a pedestrian. What should I do?
Seek medical attention first, even if your injuries seem minor. If you can, report the accident to the police and take the driver’s details along with any witness information. When you are ready, speak to a specialist solicitor about your options. You do not have to have gathered everything before you get in touch.
Who do I claim against after an accident involving a pedestrian?
In most cases the claim is made against the driver who was at fault, and it is their insurer who deals with it and pays any compensation. Where a poorly maintained road or pavement caused the accident, the claim may be against the authority responsible for it. If more than one party contributed, a claim can be brought against each of them. You do not need to work out who is responsible before you call us. That is our job.
How much compensation can I get for a pedestrian accident?
It depends on how serious your injury is, how long it affects you, and the financial losses that follow, such as lost earnings and treatment costs. There is no reliable average, because every injury is different. Our team can give you a clearer idea once we understand your situation and a medical report is in place.
Can I claim if I was hit by an uninsured or hit-and-run driver?
Yes. You can still pursue a claim even if the driver was uninsured or left the scene. The Motor Insurers’ Bureau exists to handle claims in these situations, and our team can guide you through how it works.
How long does a pedestrian accident claim take to settle?
It depends on how serious the injury is and whether the other side accepts responsibility. A straightforward claim where fault is admitted and the injury has settled can conclude in a matter of months. A serious injury usually takes longer, because the medical picture has to be clear before anyone can value it properly. We will give you a realistic timescale once we have seen the details, and we will tell you if it changes.
Will I have to go to court?
Most claims settle without a court hearing. Court is the backstop if the other side will not accept responsibility or will not make a fair offer, and even then many cases settle before a hearing date arrives. If it ever looks likely, we will talk it through with you well in advance.
Do pedestrians always have right of way?
Not in every situation. The Highway Code gives pedestrians priority in many places, particularly at junctions and at crossings, but right of way is not absolute. Fault in a claim depends on the full circumstances of the accident rather than on a single rule.
What if the accident was partly my fault?
You may still be able to claim. Where responsibility is shared, this is known as contributory negligence, and compensation is usually adjusted to reflect each side’s share of the blame. It is still worth getting advice, as you could be entitled to more than you expect.
My child was hit by a car. Can I claim on their behalf?
Yes. A parent or guardian can make a claim for a child under 18, acting as what the courts call a litigation friend. The same arrangement applies where an adult lacks the mental capacity to bring a claim themselves, which can happen after a serious head injury. The three-year time limit works differently in both situations, so it is worth getting advice about where you stand.
How long do I have to make a pedestrian accident claim?
In most cases, you have three years from the date of the accident. For children, the three years usually start on their 18th birthday. Different rules apply for people who lack the capacity to claim. If you are unsure, contact us, and we will check whether you are still in time.
Check if you can make pedestrian accident claims
Tell us what happened and we will review your details and get back to you. We will explain your options in plain English, with no obligation to go ahead.
- Free, no-obligation review
- No Win No Fee available
- SRA-regulated solicitors
Check if you can make a claim
Takes less than 60 seconds
Other road traffic claims we handle
Don't Let Time Run Out On Your Claim
Most pedestrian accident claims must be started within three years. The sooner you begin, the easier evidence like CCTV and dashcam footage is to obtain while it is still held.
Related Blogs
