Trapped in a Car Door — £40,000 Compensation for a Multi-Injury Claim
WHAT HAPPENED?
Our client had pulled safely into a layby to attend to their child. As they stood at the open car door, a passing vehicle struck it — forcing the door shut and trapping them between the door and the car.
The incident caused multiple serious injuries that required extensive medical treatment and a long recovery.
HOW WE HELPED
Multi-injury claims are more complex than single-injury ones. Several injuries at once can interact with each other, recovery is harder to predict, and the full picture often isn't clear for many months.
We supported our client through a complex claim, making sure the medical evidence covered every injury rather than the most obvious one, and that the claim was not settled before the long-term outlook was properly understood. Settling too early is one of the most common ways people are undercompensated in claims like this.
THE OUTCOME
We secured £40,000 in compensation — support for our client's recovery and a measure of financial security after a difficult period.
COULD YOU MAKE A SIMILAR CLAIM?
If you have been injured on or beside the road because of another driver's carelessness, you may be able to claim — whether you were driving, a passenger, a pedestrian, a cyclist or, as here, standing beside your own parked vehicle.
Where injuries are serious or there are several of them, the claim is likely to be more involved, take longer and require specialist medical evidence. It is worth taking advice from someone who handles this kind of claim regularly.
COMMON QUESTIONS
CAN I CLAIM IF I WAS INJURED OUTSIDE MY PARKED CAR?
Yes. You do not need to have been driving to bring a road traffic accident claim. If another road user's carelessness caused your injuries, a claim may follow regardless of whether you were in the vehicle at the time.
HOW LONG DOES A SERIOUS INJURY CLAIM TAKE?
Longer than a straightforward one. Serious and multi-injury claims usually shouldn't be settled until the long-term effects are reasonably clear, which can take many months or longer. Where money is needed sooner, interim payments are sometimes available before the claim concludes.
WHAT IS A MULTI-TRACK CLAIM?
It's how the courts allocate more complex or higher-value claims. Multi-track cases get a tailored timetable rather than the streamlined process used for lower-value claims, which reflects the greater amount of evidence involved. Your solicitor handles this — it isn't something you need to manage.
SERIOUSLY INJURED IN AN ACCIDENT THAT WASN’T YOUR FAULT?
Complex claims need careful handling, and rushing to settle rarely serves you well. Call 0330 818 1202 for a free, no-obligation conversation about where you stand.