What Happens After a Car Accident That Wasn’t Your Fault?
A practical step-by-step guide covering safety, evidence, medical treatment, insurers and the claims process after a non-fault collision.
Read on this pageWhat Happens After a Car Accident That Wasn’t Your Fault?
You’ve just been in a car accident. You’re shaken up, maybe in pain, and you know it wasn’t your fault. The other driver ran a red light, rear-ended you or pulled out without looking. So what now?
At the scene — safety first
- Check yourself and your passengers for injuries.
- Move to safety if you can and turn on your hazard lights.
- Call 999 if anyone is seriously injured or there is a danger to other road users.
Exchange details and gather evidence
Get the other driver’s name, address, telephone number, insurance details, registration number and vehicle details. Take photographs of the vehicles, road layout, signs, debris, weather conditions and any visible injuries. Save dashcam footage and obtain witness details where possible.
See your GP and keep records
Even if your injuries initially seem minor, seek medical advice. Keep a diary of symptoms, time off work, expenses and the impact on your daily life. Receipts and clear records help establish the full financial effect of the accident.
What not to do
- Do not accept an early offer before the full extent of your injuries is known.
- Do not give a recorded statement to the other insurer without legal advice.
- Do not discuss the accident or claim on social media.
- Do not delay seeking medical and legal advice.
The claims process
- The other side’s insurer is notified.
- Liability is investigated.
- An independent medical examination is arranged.
- Your injuries and financial losses are valued.
- Settlement is negotiated.
- Compensation is paid after settlement.
Being in a car accident is stressful enough without navigating the legal process alone. You focus on recovering. I will handle the claim, insurer and negotiations.
Speak directly with Chris Hutchinson: 01204 263147
Can You Claim Compensation If the Accident Was Partly Your Fault?
You were in an accident and you were injured, but you think you may have been partly responsible. That does not automatically mean you cannot claim.
What is contributory negligence?
Contributory negligence means that something you did, or failed to do, contributed to the accident or the injuries you suffered. Unless you were entirely responsible, the other party may still owe compensation. The award can be reduced to reflect your share of responsibility.
How percentage reductions work
- A 20% finding reduces compensation by 20%.
- A 50% finding means the compensation is halved.
- Even a higher percentage can still leave a substantial award in a serious injury claim.
Common examples
- Not wearing a seatbelt where it made the injuries worse.
- Crossing away from a pedestrian crossing.
- Speeding where speed contributed to the collision.
- A motorcycle helmet not being worn or fastened correctly.
- Junction, lane-change and car-park collisions where both parties contributed.
Why you should still ask for advice
Insurers may allege contributory negligence as a negotiating tactic. The evidence may support a much lower reduction, or none at all. Do not decide for yourself that you cannot claim before a solicitor has assessed the circumstances.
I offer free initial assessments and deal with contributory negligence arguments regularly. The conversation costs nothing and the claim may still be worth pursuing.
Speak directly with Chris Hutchinson: 01204 263147
Whiplash Reforms
In 2021, the UK government introduced the Whiplash Reforms and the Official Injury Claim portal. The reforms were intended to reduce fraudulent claims, simplify the process and lower insurance premiums.
What changed?
Compensation for qualifying soft-tissue injuries was reduced to fixed tariff amounts and injured people were encouraged to manage claims without a solicitor. In practice, many people still feel they need professional assistance because the system is not as straightforward as expected.
A fall in claims
The number of motor injury claims has fallen significantly. That does not necessarily mean roads are safer; many injured people may be discouraged from claiming or may struggle with the process.
Mixed injury claims
Claims involving whiplash together with another injury, such as a concussion, wrist fracture or knee injury, can still require careful legal and medical assessment. If you are uncertain about your rights, it is worth seeking advice before deciding how to proceed.
Nobody should suffer in silence simply because the system has become more difficult to navigate.
Speak directly with Chris Hutchinson: 01204 263147
No Win No Fee Solicitor – A Personal Approach
My name is Chris Hutchinson. I’m the founder of Inson Legal Limited, a specialist personal injury law firm serving Bolton, Greater Manchester and beyond.
Years ago, I was the injured person in hospital, with both arms in plaster after breaking both elbows. I know how it feels to be unable to work, uncertain about bills and overwhelmed by paperwork and insurers when all you want is to recover.
A service that puts you first
- No Win No Fee representation.
- Direct contact with me as your solicitor.
- Fast, compassionate action, including interim payments where appropriate.
- Support for serious and life-changing injuries.
- Detailed negotiation aimed at achieving the best possible settlement.
Local solicitor with national reach
Although my office is in Bolton, I represent clients across England and Wales. Technology allows us to speak face to face wherever you are, while medical assessments and rehabilitation can be arranged close to your home.
No gimmicks and no middlemen — just straightforward legal support from a qualified, SRA-authorised solicitor who understands what injury and recovery feel like.
Speak directly with Chris Hutchinson: 01204 263147
Amputation After an Accident in Greater Manchester – What to Expect
Losing a limb or part of the body in an accident is devastating. The physical trauma is only the beginning; there can also be psychological shock, long-term pain and a complete upheaval of work, family life and finances.
A serious injury claim is about rebuilding a life
- Urgent interim payments where income has stopped and household bills are at risk.
- Evidence from a range of medical and rehabilitation experts.
- Prosthetics, orthotics and replacement costs throughout life.
- Adapted footwear, equipment, transport or accommodation.
- Treatment for phantom pain and psychological trauma.
- Past and future loss of earnings and care needs.
A personal approach
Complex claims require detailed investigation and long-term planning. The aim is not only to compensate the injury, but to identify the support, treatment and equipment needed for the future.
If you or someone you know has suffered an amputation or life-changing injury, I can take the legal pressure away so you can focus on recovery.
Speak directly with Chris Hutchinson: 01204 263147
Motorway Accident M60, M6 and M62
Motorway crashes on the M60, M6 and M62 happen regularly. At high speeds and around heavy goods vehicles, even a minor lapse in attention can cause a catastrophic event.
Why these motorways are dangerous
- The M60 circles Manchester and connects with other major routes.
- The M6 is the backbone of the motorway network from the Midlands to the Scottish border.
- The M62 carries heavy traffic across northern England.
- Congestion, poor driving, blind spots and large vehicles increase risk.
If an HGV moves into your lane
- Stay calm and ease off the accelerator.
- Brake progressively and avoid sudden steering movements.
- Move lanes only when you can see that the space is clear.
- Use the horn if needed and increase the following distance.
If you break down
- Move left to the hard shoulder or an emergency refuge area if possible.
- Turn on your hazard lights.
- Exit using the left-hand door when safe.
- Stand behind the barrier and away from traffic.
- Use the SOS phone or contact National Highways.
Stay calm
Shock and adrenaline make decisions harder. Breathe, keep control of the vehicle and follow a clear plan. If you are involved in a motorway collision, seek medical attention and preserve evidence as soon as it is safe to do so.
Speak directly with Chris Hutchinson: 01204 263147
Trip and Fall Claims
Tripping accidents are among the most common personal injury claims and can happen in an instant. Uneven paving, loose materials, defective steps, poor lighting and wet floors can cause serious and lasting injuries.
Can you make a claim?
If you were injured because someone failed to keep a public or private space reasonably safe, you may be entitled to compensation. Time limits normally apply, so early advice is important.
What a claim can include
- Compensation for the injury and pain suffered.
- Lost earnings.
- Private physiotherapy and rehabilitation.
- Travel, medication and other accident-related expenses.
At Inson Legal, you speak directly with Chris Hutchinson rather than a call centre or changing claims handler.
Speak directly with Chris Hutchinson: 01204 263147
Industrial Disease Claims
Industrial diseases can develop gradually after exposure to unsafe conditions at work. Symptoms may appear long after the exposure began, making detailed employment and medical evidence especially important.
Examples of workplace exposure
- Dust, fumes and harmful chemicals.
- Excessive noise.
- Vibration from tools or machinery.
- Repeated physical strain.
- Unsafe substances or inadequate protective equipment.
How compensation can help
A successful claim can include compensation for pain and disability, treatment, rehabilitation, care, lost earnings and future financial losses. If you believe your work has caused or worsened an illness, seek specialist advice.
Speak directly with Chris Hutchinson: 01204 263147