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.
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 for an adult. In England and Wales the three-year time limit does not start running until the child turns 18, so a claim can usually be brought until their 21st birthday. Claiming sooner is still better — witnesses move on and maintenance records don't last forever.
WHAT IS A MULTI-TRACK CLAIM?
Usually the organisation responsible for maintaining the space — often the local council, sometimes a private operator or housing provider. Whether a claim succeeds normally turns on whether the hazard should have been identified and repaired through reasonable inspection and maintenance.
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.