Pedestrian Accident Claims

Updated: December 8, 2025

Reviewed by: Claire Jenkins

Updated: December 8, 2025

Reviewed by: Claire Jenkins

Slips, Trips and Falls Lawyer

Clare is a Slips, Trips and Falls Lawyer from one of our panel law firms.

Find a pedestrian accident attorney 

The Compensation Experts have successfully helped pedestrians who have been injured in road traffic accidents. We can help connect you with a specialist pedestrian accident lawyer who can support you in making a claim to recover the compensation you’re entitled to. Call us on 0800 182 2193 or contact us online today.  

What is a pedestrian accident? 

A pedestrian accident is any accident where a person is injured by a vehicle while they’re on foot.  

These types of accidents often involve motor vehicles such as cars, trucks or motorcycles, but pedestrian accidents can also involve bicycles, electric bikes or e-scooters.  

Can pedestrians claim compensation for a road traffic accident? 

Yes, if you were injured in a pedestrian accident and it was someone else’s fault, you could be eligible to make a pedestrian accident claim.  

Our friendly team can advise whether you have a valid claim and can put you in touch with a leading personal injury lawyer to start the compensation process.  

What does a pedestrian accident compensation claim include? 

As with any personal injury compensation claim, the purpose of a pedestrian accident claim is to compensate you for any pain and suffering caused by the accident, as well as any losses you’ve experienced.  

Pedestrian accident compensation can be broken down into two categories: general damages and special damages.  

General damages aim to compensate for the impact the accident has had on your life and any pain and suffering you’ve experienced due to your injuries.  

Special damages cover the financial losses you’ve incurred due to the accident. Monetary losses might include medical expenses, lost earnings or travel expenses. 

What does a pedestrian accident lawyer do? 

A pedestrian accident lawyer’s role is to help you make a personal injury claim for compensation against the negligent party or parties.  

As part of the process, your lawyer will pull together and review the evidence available. They may request medical evidence, CCTV footage, or police reports if available. Your solicitor will also notify the negligent party that you wish to begin claim proceedings.  

Your pedestrian accident lawyer will need to demonstrate how the other party was at fault and prove they were negligent. They will ask the other party to acknowledge responsibility and work hard to bring your case to a resolution.  

Your solicitor will ask for damages to compensate you for your physical injury and for any financial losses. They will gather information on the impact the accident has had on your life and will showcase the nature and severity of your injury, consulting with medical experts where necessary.  

Your solicitor will negotiate to get you the right amount of compensation for your injuries, based on your injuries and losses.  

Personal injury cases are often settled without the need to attend court, but if the case does go to court, your pedestrian accident attorney will support you through the process.

What causes pedestrian accidents?  

The most common causes of pedestrian accidents involve a driver, rider or pedestrian who:  

• Failed to look properly  
• Was careless, reckless, or in a hurry  
• Failed to judge other person’s path or speed  

When both the pedestrian and the driver are partly to blame, you may still be able to claim pedestrian accident compensation. If this is the case, you will be awarded a percentage of the compensation, dependent on the split of liability.  

What injuries can pedestrian accident claims cover? 

Pedestrians are classed as among the most vulnerable road users. Pedestrian accident injuries can vary but they may include:  

Bruises and contusions: You may experience tenderness, swelling, and discolouration where you were struck by the vehicle, soon after the accident has happened.  
  

Cuts and lacerations: Some car accidents result in open wounds ranging from grazes to deep cuts.  
  

Fractures: If a car hit you at speed, or you fall over after being hit, you may have broken one or more bones. This will cause extreme pain, an inability to move that part of the body and intense swelling.  
 

Head injuries: Again, depending on the speed of the car and how you feel, you may experience a head injury. Head injuries can range from a mild concussion to a traumatic brain injury.  
 

Spinal injuries: Depending on where you were hit in the spine and the force with which you were hit, you may suffer pain and numbness. More severe injuries to the spine may result in paralysis and long-term disability.  
  

Internal injuries: It’s  important to check in with A&E after an accident, even if you feel OK. Internal injuries, such asinternal bleeding  can be life-threatening.  
 

Psychological trauma: Not as reported on as much as it should be, pedestrians involved in a road accident may experience shock and anxiety after an incident. In the most severe cases, they may experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or depression.  

Can I make a pedestrian accident claim?  

When a pedestrian is hit by a car or other vehicle, they are entitled to claim for compensation as long as they were not entirely to blame for the accident.  

Can I claim compensation for a child in a car accident?  

If your child has been involved in a pedestrian accident on the road, you can make a claim on their behalf. Children are among the most vulnerable road users, and drivers have a duty of care to all pedestrians.  

Additionally, you may have also had to take time off work to look after your child, meaning the  accident has impacted you both. 

The pedestrian accident lawyers we work with can assist you to pursue compensation for both your loss of earnings and your child’s accident.  

How much time do I have to make a pedestrian accident claim?  

Typically, you have up to three years from the date of your accident to make a personal injury claim.  

A judge may decide to extend this statutory time limit depending on the circumstances surrounding your accident. However,   this can’t be guaranteed.  

Uniquely, a child has longer to claim for a road accident than an adult. Usually, you have three years, but a child would have until they turned 21 to make a claim through a pedestrian accident lawyer.  

How much does it cost to make a pedestrian accident claim?  

Pedestrian injury claims are normally charged on a ‘no-win, no-fee basis’. This means that if your pedestrian accident lawyer is unsuccessful in securing compensation for you, you’ll pay nothing to them. If they do win your case, they charge a fee of the total compensation amount you receive.   

Our service is free of charge. Typically, customers pay 25% including VAT of the compensation amount that is recovered by our third-party law firms, although this is subject to your individual circumstances and the actual fee may be more or less than this.  

Termination fees may apply if you do not keep to the terms of the agreement.   

Why choose The Compensation Experts?  

Here at The Compensation Experts, we work with pedestrian accident attorneys who deal with pedestrian injury compensation claims every day. They have the experience and expertise you need so you get the pedestrian accident compensation you deserve.   

Contact us today and speak to one of our friendly knowledgeable agents. You can contact us by filling in our contact form, or by calling us on 0800 182 2188.  

Frequently Asked Questions  

Can I claim pedestrian accident compensation if I didn’t go to the hospital after the accident?  

We would strongly advise you to go to A&E after being in an accident. Sometimes, it can take a while for symptoms to appear and it’s better to be safe than sorry. Attending hospital also means there is a medical record showing that you sought help after the accident.  

Please contact us to tell us about your accident, even if you didn’t go to hospital. We’ll then contact one of our partner law firms for a legal opinion on whether you can make a claim.  

Can I claim pedestrian accident compensation if my accident involved a hit-and-run driver?  

If you are hit by a car as a pedestrian and you do not get the details of the driver, you may still be able to make a claim for compensation from the Motor Insurers Bureau.  

The Motor Insurers Bureau is an organisation that insurance companies pay into, in the event of an accident where one of the parties is an uninsured or untraced driver.  

This would be the case if the driver involved in your pedestrian accident either drove away or they were uninsured.  

However, you must report a pedestrian accident claim to the police at the time of the accident, or soon afterwards.  

What should I do if I’m involved in a road traffic accident as a pedestrian?  

If you’re involved in a road traffic accident as a pedestrian, you should:  

• Seek medical help. If you need an ambulance, call 999. If you don’t the need emergency services, report to A&E as soon as possible. Even if you feel OK, you may have injuries that you’re not aware of yet.   

• Tell the police about the accident so that there is an official record it took place. This is another important document of evidence you can use if you claim compensation.  

• Try to collect the driver’s insurance and contact details as well as their registration number.   

• If there were witnesses to the accident, ask them for their contact details. Their recollections will be valuable in helping claim compensation later on as they are independent.  

• If it’s safe to do so, try to take photographs of the scene, the vehicle that hit you, as well as any injuries you’ve sustained. It’s best to take the photographs straight away. There is no guarantee that there’s CCTV coverage in the area where you had your accident.  

• When you’re ready, seek legal advice if the accident was not your fault. Choose a pedestrian accident lawyer with experience in road traffic accidents to manage your case. This will ensure you have the best possible chance of a successful outcome.  

Related Information and Guides  

For more information, The Compensation Experts have the following resources relating to pedestrian accident claims:   

The most dangerous pedestrian locations  

How the new Highway Code affects pedestrian road safety  

Children’s road accidents  

What compensation is available for fatal accident claims