With the increasing number of road traffic accidents, filing of road accident compensation claims are on a rise. It has become necessary for the average person to understand what he or she is eligible to be compensated for and the nuances of filing a road accident compensation claim.

A road accident may involve two motor vehicles or a motor vehicle and a pedestrian. A person involved in a road accident is entitled to filing a claim for compensation against personal injury. Such a road accident compensation claim can be filed by a person who is involved in a road accident against the person who has caused the accident resulting in personal injury or financial loss.

The first step after an accident is to call the police and ambulance. Details of the driver's name, address, telephone number, insurance details, vehicle registration and car make should be taken down. To make your road accident compensation claim easier, take photos of the accident scene covering the damage caused and the final resting position of the vehicles. If you do not have a camera in hand, it is wise to go back to the scene of the accident as soon as possible to take the photos. Visit your GP or a hospital for a thorough check-up. This will ensure that there is an official medical record of injuries sustained. Keep a diary of all physical symptoms after the accident. Notify your insurance company about the accident.

In order for a filed claim to be successful, the driver who is responsible for your injury will have to be proven to be guilty. The easiest way to prove this is to identify the highway laws that were violated, causing the accident. This will put the onus of the accident on the person who broke the law. A road accident compensation claim is then filed against the driver who is considered responsible for the accident.

One of the requisites of driving a vehicle is having an insurance policy that covers compensation for injuries caused. The driver's insurance company is therefore responsible for meeting the road accident compensation claim.

There are different types of compensations that a person may be granted when claiming for a road accident compensation claim. These broadly fall under four categories:

• Personal injury

• Financial losses

• Interests

• Legal costs

Under personal injury, a person is compensated for both physical injuries and psychological trauma-related injuries. Under financial losses, all expenses incurred directly due to the accident are reimbursed. This includes vehicle repair charges, medical expenses and compensation for loss of income. Interest on all monetary reimbursements due from the commencement of the claim to the payout date is awarded. If the personal injury claims are over £1000, then the claimant is entitled to legal expenses incurred while pursuing the claim.