Pedestrians have no protection when a vehicle hits them, so the injuries are often serious. If you’ve been hurt as a pedestrian in an accident that wasn’t your fault — at a crossing, on the pavement, or in a car park — you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries and everything the accident has cost you.
This guide explains how a pedestrian accident claim works in England & Wales: who can claim, what you can recover, how the updated Highway Code helps you, and what happens if the driver didn’t stop.
Can You Make a Pedestrian Accident Claim?
You can usually claim if you were injured as a pedestrian in the last three years and the accident was wholly or partly a driver’s fault. The claim is normally made against the at-fault driver’s insurer. You may still be able to claim even if:
- you were partly to blame (your compensation is simply reduced to reflect your share);
- the driver failed to stop or was uninsured (a claim can be made through the Motor Insurers’ Bureau); or
- the person injured was a child — drivers owe children a particularly high duty of care.
Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents
- Drivers failing to stop or slow at pedestrian crossings;
- vehicles reversing in car parks and driveways without looking;
- cars mounting the pavement or cutting corners;
- speeding or distracted driving, including using a phone; and
- failing to give way when turning into a road where people are crossing.
What Can You Claim For?
A pedestrian accident claim is made up of two types of compensation — the injury itself, and the financial impact:
| Type of compensation | What it covers |
|---|---|
| General damages | The pain, suffering and loss of amenity from your injury — from fractures to serious head, spinal or life-changing injuries. |
| Lost earnings | Income lost while you recover, including future loss if you can’t return to the same work. |
| Treatment & care | Physiotherapy, rehabilitation, medical costs, and care and assistance (even if provided by family). |
| Mobility & adaptations | Mobility aids and, in serious cases, adaptations to your home or vehicle. |
| Other expenses | Damaged personal items, travel to appointments and other reasonable out-of-pocket costs. |
For a guide to typical injury figures, see our article on compensation payout amounts in the UK, or try our compensation calculator.
The Highway Code and Priority for Pedestrians
Changes to the Highway Code in 2022 introduced a hierarchy of road users, placing the greatest responsibility on those who can cause the most harm. Drivers must now give way to pedestrians waiting to cross or crossing at a junction, and take extra care around people on foot. Where a driver has ignored these rules, it can strengthen your claim.
What If I Was Partly to Blame?
You can often still claim. If you shared some responsibility — for example by stepping out without looking — your compensation may be reduced to reflect that (contributory negligence), but it doesn’t automatically stop a claim. Where the injured person is a child, the courts are slow to blame them, and drivers are expected to anticipate that children may behave unpredictably.
Are Pedestrians Affected by the Whiplash Reforms?
No. The 2021 whiplash reforms — the fixed tariff and the Official Injury Claim portal that apply to most car occupants’ minor injuries — do not apply to pedestrians. As “vulnerable road users”, pedestrians (like cyclists and motorcyclists) are exempt, so injuries are valued in the traditional way rather than under the fixed tariff.
Hit-and-Run and Uninsured Drivers
If the driver failed to stop and can’t be traced, or had no insurance, you can still claim through the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB), which exists to compensate people injured in exactly these situations. We can handle an MIB claim for you.
How Long Do I Have to Claim?
In England & Wales you normally have three years from the date of the accident. For children, the three years runs from their 18th birthday (so a claim can be brought up to their 21st), and different rules apply where someone lacks mental capacity. Acting early helps, while CCTV, dashcam footage and witness memories are still available.
How Din Solicitors Can Help
Pedestrian claims often involve serious injuries and disputes over who was at fault. Our team gathers the evidence — CCTV, witnesses and the Highway Code duties owed to you — and fights for the full compensation you’re owed, on a No Win No Fee basis. Learn more on our pedestrian accident claims page, or see our wider road traffic accident claims. We also help injured cyclists and motorcyclists.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I claim if I was hit by a car as a pedestrian?
Yes, if the accident was wholly or partly the driver’s fault. The claim is made against the driver’s insurer, and covers your injury plus financial losses such as lost earnings and care.
What if the driver didn’t stop?
You can still claim through the Motor Insurers’ Bureau, which compensates people injured by untraced (hit-and-run) or uninsured drivers.
Can I claim on behalf of my child?
Yes. A parent or guardian can claim for an injured child, and the three-year time limit doesn’t start until the child’s 18th birthday.
What if I stepped out without looking?
You may still be able to claim. Compensation can be reduced to reflect your share of responsibility, but drivers are still expected to drive carefully and anticipate pedestrians.
Is a pedestrian accident claim No Win No Fee?
Yes — Din Solicitors handles pedestrian accident claims on a No Win, No Fee basis, so there’s nothing to pay upfront and nothing to pay if your claim is unsuccessful.
Start Your Pedestrian Accident Claim
If you’ve been injured as a pedestrian through no fault of your own, our specialist solicitors are here to help. Din Solicitors acts for people across England & Wales on a No Win, No Fee basis. Learn more about pedestrian accident claims, start your claim today, or call 01422 647175 for free, no-obligation advice.
This article is general information, not legal advice for your specific situation. Din Solicitors is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA No. 8008984). Last reviewed: July 2026.