The latest Welsh Government figures show that the number of people killed or seriously injured in road traffic accidents has risen 9% year-on-year In 2025, police recorded 3,004 road collisions involving personal injury in Wales, resulting in 4,078 casualties. Of those, 91 people were killed and 1,116 were seriously injured.
A serious road collision changes lives in seconds.
The early stages
Serious collisions are often followed by several separate processes. There may be a police investigation, enquiries by insurers and, in some circumstances, criminal proceedings. Separately, an injured person may be considering whether they have grounds to bring a civil claim.
It is important not to assume that the existence of a police investigation or charge automatically determines who was legally responsible for a collision. Questions of fault can be complex and may take time to establish.
Evidence might include witness accounts, photographs, CCTV or dashcam footage, police material, vehicle information and, in some cases, expert accident reconstruction evidence.
For an injured person, practical steps can include keeping records of medical appointments, retaining receipts for expenses arising from the injury, noting time away from work and keeping a diary of how the injury is affecting day-to-day life. Photographs and other documentation also become relevant.
Rehabilitation may need to start early
In serious injury cases, rehabilitation is often one of the most important considerations and not available following discharge from hospital under the NHS. Securing legal representation at an early stage will provide you with support through the claims process, ensuring the injured person and family can concentrate on their recovery.
A person may require input from a case manager and rehabilitation team to include physiotherapy, occupational therapy, psychological support, neuro rehabilitation, specialist equipment, help returning home or to work. There may also be a need for professional care, home and vehicle adaptations.
A personal injury claim can take time, particularly where treatment is ongoing and the legal team instructs independent experts to prepare reports. Where appropriate, rehabilitation needs can be considered at an early stage and a request made for interim payment.
Establishing what happened
In a personal injury claim, the injured person must be able to establish another party was legally at fault. In a serious road collision, this can require detailed consideration of the evidence rather than relying on an initial impression of what happened.
There may be cases where liability is disputed or where more than one person’s actions are relevant. It is therefore important that the evidence is properly considered before firm conclusions are reached.
Dealing with insurers and interim payments
Insurers will usually become involved soon after a serious collision and may want information about the accident, the injuries sustained and the losses being claimed.
Where injuries are significant, their full financial effect may not be clear for some time. Someone may initially expect to return to work within a few months, only to find that their injuries affect the type of work they can do, the hours they can manage or their future earning capacity.
Serious injuries can also create immediate financial pressure. A person may be unable to work while facing additional costs for travel, care, treatment or equipment.
In appropriate cases, an interim payment may be available before the final value of a claim has been agreed. This is an advance against compensation that may ultimately be awarded. Whether one can be obtained depends on the circumstances, including the position on liability.
Looking at long-term needs
One of the most important parts of a high-value personal injury claim is understanding how the injury is likely to affect someone in the years ahead.
Compensation may include heads of loss such as future loss of earnings, care and support, treatment, specialist equipment, transport needs and accommodation or adaptations. Serious injuries and the claims process can also affect partners and family members who may take on caring responsibilities or make significant changes to their own lives.
For that reason, determining the value of a serious injury claim is not something that should be rushed. Medical and other expert evidence may be needed to build a clearer picture of the person’s likely future needs.
Taking things one stage at a time
For anyone involved in a serious road collision, the months that follow can feel uncertain. Medical recovery may be ongoing at the same time as police, insurance and legal matters are progressing.
Those processes have different purposes and should each be approached on their own facts. For an injured person, early legal advice can help identify what evidence should be preserved, whether rehabilitation support may be available and what needs to be considered before any claim is resolved.
At Gamlins Law, our Personal Injury team has experience in complex and high-value claims, including serious and catastrophic injury cases. We can advise on the practical and legal issues that can arise following a serious road collision and guide clients through the process according to their individual circumstances.
For further information please contact our friendly team at or visit our Personal Injury page
