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If you were injured while walking because a driver or rider was negligent, you may be able to make a claim under Scots Law. This page is for people in Scotland who have been knocked down, hit while crossing, injured on the pavement, or affected by a serious or fatal pedestrian accident. According to provisional figures from Transport Scotland, 867 pedestrians were killed or injured on Scotland’s roads in 2025, around one in six of all reported road casualties. Of these, 27 people died, and 402 were seriously injured. These types of accidents happen everywhere, from well-used routes in Glasgow city centre and busy crossings in Edinburgh or Dundee, to school roads in Aberdeen and quieter residential streets across the Highlands and Borders.
If you are wondering whether you can claim, how the process works, or what compensation may be available, we can help you understand where you stand. We work alongside specialist personal injury solicitors suited to your case, while keeping you updated so you can focus on treatment and rehabilitation. If you want a free case assessment, get in touch before speaking to the other side’s insurer.
Claims in Scotland follow Scottish rules on fault, funding, time limits, and court procedure. That can affect how a case is valued and how quickly the right steps are taken.
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What Should You Do Immediately After a Pedestrian Accident in Scotland?
Look after your health first, then protect the evidence. What you do early on can make a real difference later.
Get medical treatment as soon as you can, whether that means seeing ambulance staff, visiting A&E or a minor injuries unit, or booking an appointment with your GP. Some injuries are obvious straight away, but others can take time to show up. This is especially true for head injuries, internal pain, soft tissue damage, and fractures.
If police did not come to the scene, report the accident to Police Scotland yourself. Keep the accident reference number. That record can help confirm when and where the collision happened, who was involved, and what was reported at the time.
If you are able to, try to gather:
- The driver’s name, registration number, and insurer details
- Photos of the road, crossing, pavement, damage, and any visible injuries
- CCTV footage, dashcam footage, or nearby doorbell footage
- Names and contact details for independent witnesses
- Receipts for travel, medication, and other immediate costs
Keep hold of hospital letters, A&E paperwork, GP notes, prescriptions, and wage slips. These documents often help show what treatment you needed, how the injury affected you, and whether you have a claim for lost earnings.
Be careful if the driver’s insurer contacts you quickly. Insurance companies often get involved before the full picture is clear, and will usually try to settle the claim quickly for far less than it is actually worth. If you are unsure what to say, speak to us first or read our guide on road traffic accident claims in Scotland.
Who Can Make a Pedestrian Injury Compensation Claim?
You can usually claim if you were injured because another road user failed to take proper care. That includes being hit on the road, on the pavement, in a car park, at a junction, or at a pedestrian crossing such as a zebra or pelican crossing. The same applies to crossings outside Scottish schools, shared-use paths like the Clyde Walkway in Glasgow or Leith Links in Edinburgh, and pavement routes running alongside A-roads in towns and rural areas across Scotland.
You do not need a driving licence to make a claim. Many people also worry that they are to blame if they were not on a designated crossing, or if they were wearing dark clothing at the time. You do not automatically lose your right to claim in these situations. The main question is always the same: did another person’s poor driving cause your injuries?
Pedestrians are among the most vulnerable road users in Scotland. According to Transport Scotland’s key findings for 2025, they were the second-largest group of road casualties (867) after car users. That is one reason the law expects drivers to take particular care around people on foot.
You may be able to bring a claim if you were injured:
- While crossing the road
- While walking along the pavement
- By a turning vehicle at a junction
- By a reversing vehicle in a driveway or car park
- By an uninsured driver or a driver who left the scene
Understanding the Highway Code Hierarchy of Road Users in Scotland
The Highway Code gives more responsibility to the people who can cause the greatest harm. That means drivers of cars, vans, buses, and lorries are expected to take extra care around pedestrians and other vulnerable road users.
This can matter when fault is being decided. If a driver turns into a side road without checking properly, fails to give way at a crossing, or focuses only on other traffic instead of people on foot, that may support your case.
Can You Claim Pedestrian Compensation If You Were Partly at Fault?
Yes, you still might be able to claim. Being partly to blame does not always end the case.
In Scotland, this usually comes down to contributory negligence. If you crossed the road outside a marked crossing, stepped into the road too quickly, or were distracted at the time, compensation can be reduced to reflect your share of the blame. But if the driver was also negligent, a claim may still go ahead.
People often assume they have no case because they were not perfect. That is not how these claims work. When fault is shared, it is simply a case of working out how much responsibility belongs to you, and how much belongs to the driver.
Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents on Scottish Roads
Most pedestrian accidents happen because a driver was not paying proper attention. Sometimes it is speed. Sometimes it is poor observation. Sometimes it is a driver looking at traffic and forgetting to look for the person on foot right in front of them.
Common causes include:
- Failing to stop at zebra or pelican crossings
- Turning at junctions without checking for pedestrians
- Reversing without checking blind spots
- Driving onto the pavement or over the kerb
- Using a mobile phone while driving
- Driving after drinking or taking drugs
Many of these accidents happen in towns and cities rather than on high-speed rural roads. According to Reported Road Casualties Scotland 2024, 94% of pedestrian casualties happened on built-up roads, which are roads with speed limits of 40mph or less.
This matches what we regularly see across Scotland’s major cities. We frequently handle cases where pedestrians have been hit on busy retail routes like Glasgow’s Sauchiehall Street and Argyle Street, or around Edinburgh’s Princes Street and Leith Walk. Major junctions in Aberdeen and Dundee, such as Union Street or Reform Street, also see a high number of collisions, as do school run routes, town-centre crossings, and areas with heavy delivery traffic.
If you were injured as a pedestrian during a larger multi-car collision, you might also find it helpful to read our guide on road accident support for injury victims.
Making A Personal Injury Claim In Scotland
Our panel of experienced personal injury lawyers excel in handling cases against well-funded insurance companies.
Our specialised injury lawyers will assist you with your claim, keep you informed throughout the whole process, and provide you with legal advice that is easy to understand.
01
Get In Touch.
Tell us your story, we're here to listen and provide you with an initial assessment based on your circumstances.
02
We’ll Prepare Your Claim.
We'll be by your side to take care of the legal process. We'll keep you informed of every step of the way.
03
Receive Compensation.
If your claim is successful, we'll ensure that you get your compensation as soon as possible.
"HD Claims Helped A Care Worker Secure Compensation After A Pedestrian Accident"
Kirsty MacLeod was walking back to her car after finishing a late shift when she was hit by a van while crossing the road.
This is when she contacted HD Claims. From the start, our team listened to Kirsty’s story and what she was going through in her daily life.
"Cracked Pavement, Broken Ankle: How HD Legal Helped Margaret Find Justice and Peace of Mind"
When Margaret tripped on a neglected crack in the pavement in Glasgow, she shattered her ankle and was forced to take months off work, unsure how she would manage.
“HD Legal were a lifeline for me. They took care of everything—from gathering crucial evidence to battling the council—and gave me the peace of mind I needed to focus on my recovery.”
"Blown Away: HD Legal Fights for Douglas After Faulty Washing Machine Explosion"
When Douglas’s new washing machine exploded, it caused a fire that damaged his kitchen and left him with painful burns.
“HD Legal fought relentlessly for me when it seemed like no one else would. They were thorough, professional, and supported me every step of the way, helping me recover both physically and financially.”
"From Misdiagnosis to Recovery: How HD Legal Fought for Eilidh’s Justice and Secured the Care She Needed"
When Eilidh’s severe abdominal pain was repeatedly misdiagnosed, her condition worsened, leading to the need for urgent surgery.
“HD Legal stood by me when I felt lost. They were thorough, professional, and fought tirelessly to get me the care and compensation I needed to heal.”
"Falling from Heights, Rising with Justice: How HD Legal Secured Compensation for Alistair After a Workplace Accident Involving Faulty Scaffolding"
Alistair Campbell’s fall from faulty scaffolding left him with serious injuries and months of recovery.
“HD Legal’s panel of solicitors fought for me, ensuring I received the support needed to move forward.”
Special Circumstances: Uninsured Drivers, Hit and Runs, and E-Scooters
You can still have a case even if the driver had no insurance or was never identified. In Scotland, those claims are often made through the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB).
If the driver fled the scene without stopping, report it to Police Scotland as soon as possible and keep the reference number. In hit and run cases, early reporting matters. It can also help if there is CCTV nearby or anyone managed to note part of the registration.
Cyclists and e-scooter riders can also injure pedestrians. These claims can be less straightforward because there is not always a motor insurer involved, but that does not mean you are out of options. In some cases, there may be personal insurance, household cover, or another route depending on the facts.
Claiming Compensation for Pedestrian Accidents Involving Children
Children are involved in a significant number of pedestrian accidents in Scotland. According to Transport Scotland’s figures on child casualties, 239 children under 16 were killed or injured as pedestrians in 2025, which was 28% of all pedestrian casualties. Of these, 97 were seriously injured, and one child died.
For children, the time limit works differently. The usual three-year period does not normally start until age 16, which means a claim can usually be raised until the child turns 19. A parent or guardian can also act earlier on the child’s behalf.
Child injury cases need to be handled with real care. We frequently see accidents happen on busy school routes, whether that is in the South Side of Glasgow, Morningside in Edinburgh, residential streets in Inverness, or town-centre roads in Stirling and Perth. While a child might seem physically better after a few months, they can still struggle with sleep, fear of roads, or limits on their daily activities. Any compensation claim must reflect this full impact, not just what was recorded at the first medical appointment.
How Much Compensation Can You Claim for a Pedestrian Injury in Scotland?
How much you receive comes down to two things: the injury itself, and the knock-on effect it has had on your life.
Under Scots Law, pedestrian injury compensation usually falls into two parts: Solatium, which covers the pain, distress, and effect the injury has had on your daily life, and Patrimonial Loss, which covers the financial losses caused by the accident.
A claim may include:
- Wages you lost while you were off work
- Travel costs to hospital, GP, or physiotherapy appointments
- Help provided by family members, friends, or paid carers
- Physiotherapy, rehabilitation, and other treatment costs
- Prescription charges and other medical expenses
- Future loss of income if your injuries affect your ability to return to work
- Ongoing care and support if your symptoms continue
Even similar injuries can play out very differently for two people. One person with a few broken bones might make a good recovery within six to twelve months, while another pedestrian with a severe leg injury could be left with permanent pain, restricted movement, and time away from work.
If you want a rough starting point, you can use our personal injury compensation calculator to check the value of your pedestrian accident claim. A proper valuation still needs a closer look at your medical evidence, finances, and recovery.
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No Win No Fee Pedestrian Accident Claims Scotland
A lot of people worry about legal costs before they do anything else. That is understandable, especially if the accident has already left you off work or paying for treatment.
In Scotland, No Win No Fee funding is usually arranged through a conditional fee agreement (CFA), under which any success fee is capped by law at 20% of your damages (excluding future financial loss), or another permitted funding model depending on the case. What matters to most people is knowing whether they need to pay upfront and what happens if the case does not succeed.
Before you agree to anything, you should be told clearly:
- Whether there are any upfront costs
- How any success fee is worked out
- Whether insurance is needed
- Whether anything may be deducted from compensation
- What happens if the case is unsuccessful
We make sure this is explained clearly from the start, so you know exactly where you stand before moving forward.
Why Choose Us for Pedestrian Accident Claims?
Pedestrian accident cases are rarely as simple as they first look. The driver might deny fault, crucial CCTV footage often needs to be secured quickly, and your injuries could easily worsen over time. On top of that, any early settlement offer from an insurer is unlikely to cover what your claim is actually worth.
At HD Claims, we streamline the process from the outset so your claim is placed with the right legal team immediately. We work alongside specialist personal injury solicitors suited to your case. Whether the accident happened on a busy Glasgow road, a crossing in Fife, a street in Perth, or anywhere else in Scotland, the claim needs to be handled under Scottish law and procedure from the start.
Scottish experience matters here. Time limits, court procedure, funding rules, and the way damages are handled are not identical across the UK. Your claim needs to be handled by people who know the Scottish system inside out from the very beginning.
Meet The Team
Maisie MacLeod
Senior Claims Manager
Ella Campbell
Head of Serious Injury
Freya Douglas
Long-Term Illness Specialist
Frequently Asked Questions About Pedestrian Claims in Scotland
How long do I have to make a pedestrian accident claim in Scotland?
You usually have three years to raise court proceedings under the Prescription and Limitation (Scotland) Act 1973. In most cases, the clock starts on the date of the accident, although there are situations where it may run from the date you became aware of the injury and its cause.
There are exceptions. A child can usually claim until age 19. Different rules can also apply where someone lacks capacity.
Will I have to go to a Scottish court or ASPIC?
Most pedestrian accident claims do not end in a full court hearing. If fault is accepted and the medical evidence is clear, many cases settle through negotiation.
If court action is needed, the case may go to the local Sheriff Court or the All-Scotland Sheriff Personal Injury Court. Higher-value or more complex cases may be raised in the Court of Session. If that becomes necessary, your solicitor will handle the legal work and preparation.
What evidence do I need to prove the driver was at fault?
While gathering substantial evidence strengthens your case, you do not need every piece of proof to start a claim. A police report, photos from the scene, dashcam or CCTV footage, and witness details all help to piece together exactly what happened. Your medical records are equally important, as they prove not only that you were injured, but the true severity of those injuries.
Can I claim if a cyclist or e-scooter hit me?
Possibly, yes, though these cases tend to get messy. If the rider was being negligent and caused the accident, there could still be a claim. The tricky part is that cyclists and e-scooter riders don’t always have insurance behind them, so it’s not as straightforward as going through a motor insurer.
Whether there’s a route to compensation depends on who was involved and what cover, if any, exists. It’s worth looking into rather than assuming nothing can be done.
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