Free Traffic Legal Advice

Hi all, I am in hospital with a broken leg following a road traffic accident a few days ago and need some advice.

The accident occurred on a main road, I had just merged onto the main road (30mph road) after attending a shop at 23:15 on Thursday night. After merging onto the road, a speeding car swerved/lost control and hit my car head on. Luckily I wasn’t going very fast (around 5-10mph) upon impact, and I’d guess the speeding car was doing around at least 50 mph. It was raining heavily so I suspect their ABS kicked in and they skidded/couldn’t slow down at all.

Anyway, the driver of the speeding car fled the scene after the crash, witnesses said he looked around 15 years old. Police informed me today that the owner of the vehicle (it was a hired vehicle) had reported it stolen 5 minutes after the accident (surprise surprise)

There was myself and my partner in my car, my partner has been discharged with sprained ankles and whiplash symptoms. I’ve come out much worse with a snapped shinbone which required surgery and a grazed elbow. I’m still in hospital recovering.

The cars have both been taken to the compound by the police for investigation. Police said the shop they tried obtaining CCTV from were not cooperating with them and didn’t give any footage.

This is my first accident and injury and want to know what to do /happens next in this situation?

My car was a lease car (PCH) worth 40k brand new. There were 3 months left on the lease contract, then it was due to go back (Company called ALD are the leaser) Luckily I have fully comp insurance and GAP insurance.
I’ve informed my insurance of the accident on Friday. They said they’ll give me a ring on Monday during office hours.

What happens next in this situation? Do I inform the lease company too and would they sort everything out liaising with police? What do I do about claiming for my injury, the police mentioned something about going through Civil Claims / Break Charity who would help us with the claim?

It's vitally important to report it to your insurers as soon as possible and the police within 24 hours. Once you've filled in the insurance forms the insurers will deal with most matters including personal injury. If the other party doesn't have insurance which seems unlikely "if" the car was "stolen" the insurance brokers association will deal with that part of the claim.

I would have thought the insurer will handle any issues with the accident bar personal injury unless you have personal injury in the policy too. You could have injury covered by other insurance or by your employer if you have a job.

Failing that, you could approach one of those no-win, no-fee personal injuries claim companies. They will assess if you have a case (their business model is not to chase lost causes).