Zebra crossing accident claims

If a vehicle failed to stop at a zebra crossing and you have suffered an injury, you could be entitled to make a personal injury compensation claim.

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Zebra Crossing Accident Claims

If you or a loved one were involved in a zebra crossing accident without being at fault, you might be eligible to make a zebra crossing accident claim.

A zebra crossing is a pedestrian crossing marked with white stripes where pedestrians have priority over vehicle traffic. All road users, including buses, motorcycles and car drivers, are required by law to give way to pedestrians who want to cross the street at a zebra crossing. Otherwise, they risk being subjected to a fine and possible licence penalty points.

Zebra crossing accidents might happen when drivers don’t pay attention to the markings or pedestrians carelessly rush into the road. As long as the accident was not your fault, you might be able to claim compensation.

If you feel you may have a valid zebra crossing accident claim, call 0800 470 0474 or request a call back to receive a free consultation with a legal adviser.

Find out if you can claim

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Table of Contents

Can I make a zebra crossing accident claim?

All road users, including pedestrians, have a duty of care to act in a way that doesn’t endanger other road users. Pedestrians have priority at zebra crossings, but they still have to pay reasonable care when crossing the street. Even if a vehicle hits a reckless pedestrian, the driver might still hold liability.

To qualify for a zebra crossing accident claim, you should be able to prove that:

the accident happened in the last three years
you suffered an injury as a result
another person who owed you a duty of care acted negligently

The three-year limitation date does not apply in every situation, so getting expert legal advice might be fundamental to a successful claim. Furthermore, a solicitor can help you prepare the relevant evidence required for claiming and give you advice regarding your compensation prospects.

If you have a valid case, a solicitor will usually support your claim on a no win no fee* basis. A conditional fee agreement is a fundamental financial safeguard. Not only do you not have to pay any upfront fees, but you are protected even if you end up losing your claim.

Your solicitor will take out After the Event insurance on your behalf that covers all the expenses incurred during the claiming process. Even if your opponent wins, you won’t have to pay a single penny.

If you receive compensation, your solicitor will take a success fee that you previously agreed on, which can’t be more than 25% of the compensation award.

For more information about claiming compensation for a zebra crossing accident on a no win no fee basis, speak to a trained legal adviser by calling 0800 470 0474 for a free consultation.

What is the law regarding zebra crossings?

The Highway Code is valid across the UK and applies to pedestrians, drivers and riders. Many of the rules stated in the Code are legal requirements, and disobeying them is considered a criminal offence. You might get a ticket, receive penalty points, have your driving licence revoked, or even go to prison.

In the UK, failing to give way at zebra crossings is punished with a £100 fine and three licence penalty points. The penalty rises to £1,000 and the possibility of disqualification if you don’t stop for a school crossing patrol. Other countries enforce fines of up to £2,000 for failing to stop at a zebra crossing.

Vehicle drivers should comply with a series of regulations regarding pedestrian crossings to help prevent road traffic accidents, such as:

you cannot park on a zebra crossing or in the adjacent area
it’s forbidden to overtake the moving vehicle nearest to the zebra crossing or one that stopped to give way to pedestrians
keep the crossing clear in queuing traffic
do not harass pedestrians and allow them plenty of time to cross
take extra care when there’s poor visibility of either side of the crossing due to traffic or incorrectly parked vehicles
be ready to slow down or stop as you approach a zebra crossing
give way when a pedestrian steps on the zebra crossing

A series of rules also apply to pedestrians wanting to cross the street:

give drivers time to see you and to stop before crossing the street
remember that traffic doesn’t have to stop before someone walks onto the zebra crossing
only cross over the zebra markings and not at the side of the crossing
if there are traffic lights, do not cross before the pedestrian light turns green
if there is an island in the middle of the crossing, stop and make sure traffic stopped before you walk the second half of the road
if an authorised person is controlling the traffic, do not cross until they signal you to do so

Disregarding the above regulations can significantly increase the chance of an accident occurring. If a vehicle hits a pedestrian on a zebra crossing, the driver might still hold liability if they failed to take all the necessary precautions.

Zebra crossing accidents caused by drivers

Pedestrians always have the right of way at a zebra crossing, but drivers are obliged to stop only if a pedestrian has moved onto the crossing. In some zebra crossing accidents, both the pedestrian and the driver hold some degree of responsibility.

Sometimes, however, it can be the driver’s negligence alone that causes a zebra crossing accident. Some examples of car accidents where the driver may be at fault include:

failing to stop at a light-controlled zebra crossing when the light is red
not stopping when a pedestrian sets foot on the crossing
driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
ignoring bad weather or poor road conditions
approaching a zebra crossing carelessly, with no intention to slow down
ignoring traffic signs
overtaking a vehicle close to a zebra crossing
speeding

According to government statistics, there were 3,603 pedestrian casualties on zebra crossings in 2018. Another 1,819 pedestrians were hit within 50 meters of a zebra crossing. The 5,422 zebra crossing related accidents amount to 24.5% of all pedestrian casualties in 2018.

Most pedestrians (3,886) suffered only minor injuries like bruising, scratches, sprains or strains. Nonetheless, 1,433 casualties suffered severe injuries like fractures, damage to internal organs, head, brain and spine injuries, or even paralysis; 103 of all accidents were fatal.

More than a quarter of the victims (947) were between 8 and 19; children remain the most vulnerable pedestrians due to acting more carelessly and impulsively. Their smaller size can also make children more different for drivers to see them.

If you suffered an injury in a zebra crossing accident, you might be entitled to claim compensation. For a free consultation with a legal adviser, call 0800 470 0474. They can let you know if you may be eligible to make a claim and answer any questions you may have.

Zebra crossing accidents caused by pedestrians

When it comes to awarding compensation in a zebra crossing accident claim, it is essential to establish negligence. In some occurrences, the pedestrian may be at least partially at fault:

using the zebra crossing even though the walk light is red
stepping out in front of cars
disregarding other road users
not following the rules of the road
wearing dark clothes at night, which makes them hard to notice by the drivers
being reckless, careless or hasty
being impaired by drugs or alcohol
failing to look properly for approaching vehicles
not using the zebra crossing in the appropriate manner

In situations such as these, it does not necessarily mean that the pedestrian is liable. You can make a zebra crossing pedestrian accident claim even if you are partially to blame for your injuries. Nonetheless, because of failing to exercise reasonable care for your own safety, your compensation award will probably be reduced due to contributory negligence.

If a pedestrian runs onto the zebra crossing at the last minute, making it impossible for a driver to stop, they can be held liable in a zebra crossing accident claim.

If you were involved in a zebra crossing accident as a pedestrian or another road user, you might want to find out if you have the right to claim compensation. An experienced solicitor will look into your case in detail and help establish liability. Speak to a trained legal adviser by calling 0800 470 0474 for a free consultation.

What should you do if you are injured in a zebra crossing accident?

If you were the casualty of a zebra crossing accident, there are a series of steps you should follow in order to build a strong case if you want to claim compensation.

Seek medical attention.

In most cases, getting hit on a zebra crossing will automatically result in a trip to the hospital. Sometimes, though, you might underestimate your injuries, or they might not become immediately apparent.

You should seek medical advice after being involved in an accident, no matter how minor your wounds might seem, as they could progress over time. That is recommended not only for health reasons, but it might also affect your claim. If there’s no medical record of your injuries, it’s unlikely that your case will stand.

Take photographs or video footage of the accident scene.
Take photographs of your injuries and your recovery process.
Note down the details of the accident, such as the date, time and location of the zebra crossing. Write down everything you can remember about how the accident occurred for future reference.
Get the details of the driver and any other people involved: name, address, contact information.
Get the vehicle plate number and insurance details of the driver.
Try to obtain any CCTV footage that might have recorded the accident.
Collect the contact details of any witnesses that might testify on your behalf later in the claiming process.
Report the accident to the nearest police station.
Contact your insurance company if you were the driver involved in a zebra crossing pedestrian accident.
Keep track of all expenses you incurred because of the accident.
Contact a solicitor.

It is advisable that you get professional assistance if you want to move forward with a claim for the injuries you sustained. They can help determine liability, collect relevant proof and provide support and advice during the claiming process.

You can reach a conditional fee agreement, meaning you will have to pay no legal fees if you end up losing your claim. This means you can make a compensation claim without putting yourself and your family at any financial risk.

If you feel you may have a valid claim for compensation, call 0800 470 0474 or request a call back to receive a free consultation with a legal adviser.

How much compensation can I claim if I’m injured at a zebra crossing?

As with every personal injury claim, the amount of compensation you can receive after a zebra crossing accident largely depends on the severity of your injuries and how they affected your life.

If you want to make a zebra crossing accident claim, you can ask for compensation for the following:

pain and suffering
emotional and psychological trauma
reduced quality of life
loss of companionship
impacts on social life or hobbies
cost of medical treatments, including hospitalisation
physiotherapy and rehabilitation expenses
lost earnings, including future wages
any other financial expenses you incurred

Every case is different, so there’s no fixed compensation amount to be awarded. When calculating a suitable compensation amount, a solicitor will consider all of the above factors and any other relevant losses. They will use the compensation brackets published by the Judicial College as a starting point. According to their estimations, you could receive:

Around £3,550 for mental anguish
Up to £11,110 for minor leg injuries like sprains and soft tissue damage
£26,050 to £36,790 for moderate leg injuries like tendon damage, dislocations or fractures
£90,320 to £127,530 for severe leg injuries that will permanently affect a person’s mobility and cause ongoing suffering
£90,250 to £122,860 for severe arm injuries
£2,070 to £11,980 for minor head or brain injuries
£264,650 to £379,100 for severe brain damage leaving the victim in need of full-time care
£11,730 to £36,390 for moderate back injuries
£42,680 to £139,210 for severe neck injuries that might lead to chronic conditions and permanent disability

An experienced solicitor can give you an accurate estimate of the compensation you might receive by making a zebra crossing accident claim. To speak to a trained legal adviser, enter your details into our online claim form or call 0800 470 0474 for a free consultation.

How long do I have to make a claim?

Generally, you will have a limit of up to three years from your zebra crossing accident to start making a compensation claim. This is known as the claim limitation date, after which your zebra accident claim will become statute-barred and will be no longer legally enforceable.

The three-year limitation date does not necessarily start on the day of your accident. If you become aware of a related injury later in time, the three-year countdown may begin on the day you were diagnosed by a healthcare professional.

If you want to claim compensation on behalf of a child who was the victim of a zebra crossing pedestrian accident, you can do so at any point before they turn 18. Afterwards, they will have another three years to start their own claim (if a claim has not already been made on their behalf).

There is no limitation date when claiming for people who lack the mental capacity to conduct legal proceedings. This could include people with dementia, severe learning disabilities and other conditions.

When claiming on behalf of victims of fatal accidents, the limitation date is three years from the day they died.

A free consultation with a legal advisor can clarify what limitation date applies to your unique situation. Speak to a trained legal adviser by calling 0800 470 0474 or enter your details to receive a call back.