The Accident

In August 2024, Sarah M., a 34-year-old primary school teacher from Manchester, was stopped at a red light on the A56 near Stretford when her car was struck from behind by a BMW 3 Series travelling at approximately 35mph.

The impact pushed Sarah's Volkswagen Golf into the vehicle in front, causing significant damage to both the front and rear of her car. Sarah suffered immediate neck and back pain and was taken to Manchester Royal Infirmary by ambulance.

"I remember the moment clearly. I was stationary, waiting for the lights to change. Then there was this massive bang from behind. My head snapped back, and I couldn't move my neck properly for hours."

The Initial Claim — And the Problem

Sarah reported the accident to her insurance company and the other driver's insurer, Aviva. She assumed it would be straightforward — she was stationary at a red light, and the other driver had clearly failed to brake in time.

But within two weeks, Sarah received a letter from the third-party insurer disputing liability. The other driver claimed:

  • The traffic light was amber, not red, when Sarah stopped
  • Sarah had braked "suddenly and without warning"
  • The collision was caused by Sarah's "reckless driving"

Sarah was told by her own insurer that without independent evidence, the claim would likely be settled on a "50/50" basis — meaning she would lose her no-claims bonus, pay her excess, and receive only half of any compensation.

"I was devastated," Sarah recalls. "I knew what had happened. I was stationary at a red light. But it was my word against his, and the insurers were acting like I was the one at fault."

The Game-Changer: Dashcam Footage

Sarah had purchased a dashcam the previous year but hadn't thought to check it immediately after the accident. When she mentioned it to a friend three weeks later, she was urged to review the footage.

The dashcam footage was unequivocal:

  • Sarah's car was stationary for 4.2 seconds before impact
  • The traffic light was clearly red throughout
  • The other driver made no attempt to brake before the collision
  • Timestamps and GPS data corroborated Sarah's account

Sarah immediately contacted SafeClaim, who connected her with a specialist personal injury solicitor experienced in dashcam evidence cases.

KEY EVIDENCE

What the Dashcam Showed

The dashcam footage proved the other driver's statement was false. The video clearly showed Sarah had been stationary at a red light for over 4 seconds, and the collision was entirely the fault of the driver behind her. The footage was time-stamped and GPS-verified, making it impossible to dispute.

100% liability accepted within 10 days

The Settlement

Within 10 days of the dashcam footage being submitted, the third-party insurer accepted 100% liability. Sarah's solicitor then pursued a full compensation claim covering:

  • General damages: £3,800 for pain, suffering, and loss of amenity (whiplash and soft tissue injuries)
  • Loss of earnings: £4,200 (Sarah missed 6 weeks of work due to neck pain and physiotherapy appointments)
  • Medical expenses: £1,600 (private physiotherapy sessions to speed recovery)
  • Vehicle repair excess: £450
  • Alternative transport: £1,350 (hire car for 3 weeks)
  • Future care: £1,000 (estimated ongoing physiotherapy)

Total compensation: £12,400

The claim was settled in February 2025, six months after the accident. The case was handled on a No Win No Fee basis — Sarah's solicitor deducted a success fee from the settlement (capped at 25% of general damages as required by law), with no upfront costs to Sarah.

Sarah's Advice

"Check your dashcam straight away. I left it three weeks before even thinking about it — I could have lost the footage. The other thing I'd say is don't let the insurer's version become the default version. They sent me this letter basically saying I'd braked sharply and it was partly my fault. I nearly believed them. I was in shock, I suppose."