A teen passenger secured fair compensation after a road traffic collision

With the dedicated support of our road traffic accident claims team, our client, a student and part-time worker, was able to move forward from his injuries with greater clarity and confidence. With sensitive legal guidance and careful handling of his case, he gained a clearer understanding of his entitlement to fair compensation. Through our advocacy his varied injuries were properly recognised, and our road traffic accident solicitors helped him get back to focusing on everyday life again and the activities he enjoys.

What you’ll find in this case study:

• The circumstances of the road traffic collision and the injuries our client sustained.
• How the experience affected our young client’s extracurricular activities, social life, and physical and emotional wellbeing.
• Why the defendant insurer’s initial offer failed to properly reflect the extent of his injuries.
• How our legal team challenged the third party’s incorrect tariff-based approach.

• How our road traffic collision solicitors secured a fairer compensation award, nearly three times the original offer.
• How the final outcome meant more than just a monetary settlement.

A young passenger injured in a road traffic collision

Our client was a teenage student balancing his education with part-time work when he was injured as a passenger in a car accident.

He was commuting to college in a friend’s car, when another driver pulled out unexpectedly into their path, causing a crash. The collision left him with a range of injuries that disrupted his physical health and daily life, including his ability to socialise and take part in hobbies such as hockey, tennis, and attending the gym, activities that were particularly important to him, as they are for many people of his age while balancing academic commitments alongside work.

The extent of our client’s injuries

• Soft tissue injuries to the neck, shoulder, and upper back
• Injuries to both knees, with the right knee being more severe
• A minor head injury with temporary psychological symptoms

Although his physical symptoms improved over time, the experience of being injured in a situation entirely outside his control remained significant.

Initial insurer offer undervalued the claim

The case came into dispute when the defendant’s insurer, attempted to treat most of his injuries under a tariff approach. With their final offer being a settlement of £1,540, our road traffic collision solicitors felt that this did not rightly reflect the more serious right knee injury or the cumulative impact of his varied injuries. It was not in our client’s best interest, and this offer failed to properly assess or acknowledge the full extent of his pain, suffering, and the disruption caused to his life.

Securing a fair compensation

Our road traffic accident solicitors challenged the insurer’s tariff-based approach to valuing our client’s injuries.

We argued firmly that the Defendant insurer’s offer did not properly consider the more serious right knee injury or the head injury. We maintained that each injury required separate and proper assessment in order to reflect the true impact on our client.

As the parties could not agree on valuation, the claim proceeded to a Stage 3 hearing. In personal injury claims, this involves the matter being considered by the Court, with a Judge reviewing the evidence before determining the appropriate level of compensation.

Following the hearing the Court awarded:

• £3,200 for the right knee injury, reflecting its greater severity
• £800 for the left knee injury
• £400 for the minor head injury
• £260 for neck, shoulder, and upper back injuries
• £90.84 for reasonable travel for whilst being supported by physiotherapy

Resulting in total compensation awarded being more than double the insurer’s initial offer. This represented a significantly fairer and more accurate outcome for our young client.

The outcome: validation, acknowledgement and closure

For our client, this revised higher settlement represented more than a financial outcome. It provided a young person with important validation and reassurance that his experience and all his injuries were recognised and taken seriously. The outcome also gave him a sense of fairness, knowing his claim had not been incorrectly valued under an inappropriate tariff.

Through thorough legal advocacy, we ensured that his physical injuries were properly assessed, including appropriate recognition of the more serious right knee injury, allowing him to move forward with a sense of closure.

Moving forward after a road traffic collision

This case demonstrates the importance of accurate injury assessment, strong evidence and skilled legal representation securing fair compensation for a road traffic collision.
If you or a family member has been injured in a road traffic accident, whether as a passenger, driver, pedestrian, or cyclist, our specialist solicitors are here for clear guidance and committed legal representation.

Contact our team to start your No Win No Fee car accident claim today 

More than just road traffic accident solicitors

At Fletchers, our approach extends beyond legal representation, we support not only the recovery of compensation but also our client’s overall recovery journey, including physical, emotional, and practical needs after being seriously injured in a road traffic collision. This includes close collaboration with rehabilitation specialists to help clients recover, rebuild, and thrive after injury.

We also have an in-house Court of Protection Team, offering specialist support for clients who may lack the mental capacity to manage their financial affairs or make decisions about their health and welfare.

Our personal injury department is one of the largest in the country, with dedicated solicitors experienced in handling complex road traffic collision claims. We regularly represent client in serious cases involving extensive rehabilitation needs and significant compensation values, including severe spinal and brain injuries to amputations and fatal accidents.

The bigger picture:

Our car accident lawyers are also proud to closely with road safety charities, to support the campaign for safer roads, some of these include:

• Road Victims Trust
• Aftermath
• Brake