Car Accident Claims

Serious Car Accident Claims We Handle

Our car accident lawyers specialise in complex, high-value claims where the injuries sustained have a profound and lasting impact on your life. We represent drivers, passengers, pedestrians and cyclists injured in collisions, including those involving uninsured, untraced or commercially insured drivers.

Brain and Head Injuries

Traumatic brain injuries are among the most serious consequences of a car accident. Whether you’ve suffered a mild concussion or a severe acquired traumatic brain injury requiring lifelong care, the impact on your cognitive function, personality and independence can be devastating. Our brain injury specialists work closely with neurological experts and rehabilitation consultants to build claims that account for every aspect of your long-term needs.

Spinal Cord Injuries and Paralysis

Spinal injuries sustained in car accidents can result in partial or complete paralysis, fundamentally altering your independence, career and quality of life. Claims of this nature require careful calculation of lifetime care costs, specialist accommodation needs, and long-term loss of earnings. Our spinal injury team has extensive experience managing these complex cases and securing the financial security our clients need.

Amputations and Multiple Fractures

Severe car accidents can cause traumatic amputations or complex fractures requiring multiple surgeries, prolonged rehabilitation and, in some cases, permanent disability. We work with medical and occupational experts to ensure your claim reflects both your immediate treatment costs and your future quality of life.

Psychological Injuries and PTSD

Serious accidents don’t just cause physical harm. Post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety are recognised consequences of traumatic collisions and can be just as disabling as physical injury. Our car accident lawyers ensure psychological injuries receive the same rigorous attention as physical ones, supported by independent psychiatric and psychological evidence. We will fight to get you the therapy you need, which may not be available to you on the NHS.

Fatal Car Accident Claims

If you have lost a loved one in a car accident, our team offers compassionate, specialist support through the claims process. We handle fatal accident claims under the Fatal Accidents Act 1976 and the Law Reform Act 1934, recovering compensation for bereavement, dependency, and the long-term financial impact on surviving family members.

Uninsured and Untraced Driver Claims

If the driver responsible for your injuries was uninsured or fled the scene, you can still make a car accident claim through the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB). Our car accident lawyers are experienced in MIB procedures and will ensure you receive the full compensation you’re entitled to, despite the added complexity these claims involve.

What Compensation Can You Claim After a Car Accident?

A car accident claim can recover two categories of compensation: general damages for your pain, suffering and loss of amenity, and special damages for the financial losses your injuries have caused. For serious injuries, these figures can be substantial.

Your car accident claim may include:

• Medical and rehabilitation costs — including physiotherapy, occupational therapy, neurological treatment and psychological support
• Care and assistance — including the value of care provided by family members, as well as professional care costs
• Loss of earnings — both past losses and future earning capacity where your injuries affect your ability to work long-term
• Adaptations to your home or vehicle — to accommodate any disability arising from your injuries
• Travel costs — to and from medical appointments and court hearings
• Pain, suffering and loss of amenity — compensation for how your injuries have affected your quality and enjoyment of life.

We provide a realistic assessment of the value of your claim during your initial consultation, so you understand what you’re working towards from day one.

How Your Car Accident Claim Works

Making a serious injury claim can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re focused on your recovery. Our car accident lawyers handle the legal process, so you don’t have to.

1. Free Initial Consultation: We’ll talk through the details of your accident and injuries, explain your options clearly, and advise whether you have a viable claim. Most serious injury cases are taken on a no win, no fee basis.

2. Investigation and Evidence Gathering: Our team collects police reports, CCTV footage, witness statements and accident scene evidence. We act quickly in the critical early period after a serious accident to preserve evidence before it’s lost.

3. Medical Evidence and Expert Assessment: We instruct leading independent medical experts, neurologists, orthopaedic surgeons, rehabilitation consultants, to assess the full extent of your injuries and their long-term impact. The strength of medical evidence is critical in serious injury cases; we take the time to get it right.

4. Calculating Your Claim: Working with financial and care experts, we build a comprehensive schedule of your losses, including lifetime care costs and future loss of earnings, to ensure your settlement genuinely reflects your needs.

5. Negotiation and Settlement: Most car accident claims settle without going to court. We negotiate robustly with insurers on your behalf. If a fair settlement cannot be reached,  we are fully prepared to take your case to trial.

6. Ongoing Support: For catastrophic injuries, securing compensation is just the beginning. We can help you access interim payments during the claims process, connect you with rehabilitation services, and ensure your award is structured to protect your long-term financial security.

Why Choose Nelsons as Your Car Accident Lawyers?

• Recognised expertise: Our personal injury team is ranked by The Legal 500 as one of the leading teams in the country, with specific recognition for severe and catastrophic injury cases. We are also recommended by Chambers and Partners and commended in The Times Best Law Firms 2025.
• Accredited specialists, not generalists: We are members of the Law Society Personal Injury Panel, a specialist accreditation held only by solicitors with significant experience in personal injury law. This means when you instruct Nelsons, you are working with car accident lawyers who are formally recognised for their expertise, not a general practice team handling injury work on the side.
• Support that goes beyond the legal claim: Serious injuries rarely resolve neatly when a settlement is reached. We work alongside rehabilitation consultants, occupational therapists and care experts to ensure you access the right support throughout your recovery, not just at the end of it. We also partner with Headway, the brain injury association, and other specialist organisations, connecting clients with practical help when they need it most.
• Over 40 years serving the East Midlands: We have represented car accident victims across Derby, Leicester and Nottingham for more than four decades. That depth of local knowledge, combined with national-level expertise, means we understand the courts, the experts and the insurers you are likely to face. We have offices in all three cities for face-to-face consultations at a time and location that works for you.

Speak to Our Car Accident Lawyers Today

You don’t have to face this alone. Call our specialist car accident team on 0800 024 1976 or complete our online enquiry form for a free, no obligation consultation.