road traffic accident
Road traffic accidents on Scotland’s rural roads are all too common. One of the worst blackspots in Scotland for road traffic accidents is reported to be on the A9 Perth to Inverness route. Although the overall death toll as a result of road...
Road traffic accidents are common all over the world so much so the UK Foreign Office has introduced a road safety campaign aimed specifically at British nationals who drive abroad. The campaign is intended to reduce the number of Brits who are in...
Although road deaths as a result of road traffic accidents appear to be on the rise in parts of Britain, the EU has just reported the lowest ever number of road deaths across Europe as a whole.
According to the European Commission, deaths caus...
It is relatively common knowledge nowadays that if you are injured in a road traffic accident that is not your fault you can claim compensation.
The legal basis behind compensation is that the person injured should be restored to the position t...
I was shocked and saddened to read about the death of a spectator at a recent Highland Rally who sustained fatal injuries while enjoying the event. The circumstances of the road traffic accident, which lead to the spectator’s death, make for...
In the last few months it seems every time I read the news there is another report of someone, be they a driver, passenger, cyclist, motorcyclist or pedestrian, suffering injury as a result of a road traffic accident. I was not surprised therefore...
Any one who has been involved in a road traffic accident or knows someone who has been in a crash will be all too aware of the impact that this can have on the victims and their families and loved ones.
Rather worryingly, a police chief has wa...
A good Samaritan might be regretting her good deed after attempts to help two car accident victims has left her possibly needing her own car crash lawyer. Janice Dunlop may need legal help to ensure an insurance payout to replace her car after she...
Last month in the UK 15 cyclists perished on our roads. Out of the 15, some 13 of those fatal accidents involved motorised vehicles; Ford Fiesta, Honda Accord, Toyota Aygo, Renault Trafic, Range Rover Sport, Peugeot van, Ford Transit van, BM...
I was interested to hear that holidaymakers in England and Wales were warned to take extra care when driving on 1st September. According to AXA, summer car accidents have peaked on that date for three years in a row.
Last year, the insura...
It has been reported that annually there are almost one million road traffic accidents in Britain that are a result of drivers being distracted by attractive pedestrians.
Direct line have reported that there are around 2525 road traffic acciden...
Scotland’s Chief Statistician announced the release of Key Safety Camera Statistics 2011. The publication reports on statistics relating to road traffic accidents and offences at safety camera sites in Scotland. These sites inclu...
Crash barriers should be redesigned to make them more motorcycle-friendly, according to the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM). The road safety organisation warns that while crash barriers have saved the lives of thousands of drivers, hitting a crash b...
Last week saw the European Commission hold its 4th annual Road Safety Day in Cyprus.
This year the conference, aimed at decreasing road traffic accidents within the European Union, focused specifically on youth road safety.
Statistically tho...
Nearly two out of five adults have suffered life-threatening experiences, with the average person cheating death at least once, according to new research from MetLife. The nationwide study found that 39% of adults have nearly died in accidents, wi...
Good news from Transport Scotland - the number of people who were injured on the roads in Scotland fell to a record low in 2011. The new statistics reveal that road casualties are 4% lower than in 2010, and include an 11% drop in fatalities over the same ...
I’m quite looking forward to the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee – Mrs Thom has been planning some sort of street party, and I’m sure we will all have a good time.
Road safety group the Institute of Advanced Motorists is also ce...
I was pleased to read recently that the number of people suffering personal injury on Scotland’s roads fell to a record low last year according to official figures published by the Scottish government.
There were 13,324 reported road cas...
As a car accident claim expert I am familiar with most of the medical injuries inflicted on drivers.
In minor low velocity road traffic accidents (especially as a result of rear end shunts) the most common form of injury is a ‘whiplash re...
My friends were aghast recently when they asked me what would happen if I was involved in an road accident that was caused by Mrs Thom. My wife is an excellent driver with an unblemished record, however, if we were involved in an accid...
The basis of any claim for compensation is negligence. The line between negligence, carelessness and bad luck is often blurry when it comes to Road Traffic Accidents (i.e. car crashes).
All of us who drive are likely to have a bash at som...
I am very against anyone drinking alcohol and driving but do you think that the new forfeiture penalties are too severe?
Now in Scotland, drivers who are caught three times over the limit or who refuse a breathalyser test, will face losing th...
Often when people think of compensation claims they think of car crash claims. Car accident claims make up almost 30% of the claims that I deal with on a daily basis.
I guess this makes me an expert car accident compensation Solicitor. I ...
I was interested to read that when Blackberry service was disrupted last week officials reported that road traffic accidents in Dubai fell by 20 per cent and 40 per cent in Abu Dhabi.
The United Arab Emirates, where both cities are locat...
I saw such an inspirational story today in the papers about an Aberdeen woman, Lorna Harper, who said she feels like the Bionic Woman after doctors practically rebuilt her after a road traffic accident. The series of operations she received ...
I was sad to hear that 22 people had to be taken to hospital following a bus crash close to Glasgow airport.
Early in the morning on the A726 Barnesford Road close to Glasgow Airport the bus crashed into a perimeter fence and ended up pe...
I saw recently that a van driver in Edinburgh ploughed into a woman’s parked car after he had a sneezing fit at the wheel. Luckily the woman escaped the smash as she was in a café nearby but her car was completely written off by the ac...
Speed cameras are something that are loathed by most drivers however many argue that they increase road safety as they force drivers to slow down at road traffic accident black spots. However many people argue that they are pointless as they...
I was pleased to hear that according to official figures the number of people who sustained injuries in road traffic accidents fell last year. The statistics published are however, only based on incidents, which were reported to the police.
Lo...
Is it just me or has there been a spate of cyclists and motorcyclists seriously injured in Scotland’s roads of late? It is regrettable that the most vulnerable on the roads are offered no protection from negligent drivers. The latest inciden...
I was reading with interest that although Scotland’s most heavily used roads have seen an increase in road safety they still remain the most dangerous in the UK.
A report by the Road Safety Foundation has found that the chances of having ...
Thank goodness my friends at Thompsons are there to stick up for all the people who have legitimately sustained whiplash injuries and have a right to claim compensation. I feel reassured to know Thompsons are not afraid to take on the big Insuranc...
A family have been awarded £270,000 compensation after the death of a loved one in a motorbike accident.
Paul Bellingham died in July 2008 after he was knocked off his motorbike while on holiday in Scotland. Paul and his brother Mark were...
Drivers are being urged to be more alert on the roads to avoid a risk of a road traffic accident due to deer on the road.
The number of road traffic accidents with deer peak between April and May each year as this is the time when young deer le...
The other day I read in the paper that a teenager was quoted almost £33,000 to insure his second-hand car. His car only cost £3,000 and was a 6 year old Vauxhall Corsa.
He used a comparison quotes website and received the quot...
I have been continuing to read the articles about the possibility of scientists developing an uncrashable car and it is really very exciting. Have you seen any of the ideas? The latest thing that I was reading about was an intelligent ...
I read with interest this week about the Jury award of £320,000 for a father and daughter who made a compensation claim following the devastating death of Caroline Hamilton in a road traffic accident. Mrs Hamilton died after she was involved...
Last year I was following the story about the research into uncrashable cars. My friends at Thompsons Solicitors and I are always interested in ways to increase health and safety and ways of reducing road traffic accidents so I was ple...
No-one gets in the car thinking they will be involved in a car accident. No one plans car accidents or prepares themselves for one, because it seems too unlikely to happen.
It is difficult to imagine being in a car accident, however if you are ...
I was very happy to read recently that work to reduce road casualties has seen accident fatality rates fall to their lowest level since records began. Recent statistics show that Scotland achieved the lowest road accident fatality rates sinc...
I was sad to see another story in the press about a sat-nav device causing a road traffic accident. It has taught me not to rely on just the sat-nav as they sometimes can be wrong. This time the error proved fatal and a four year old g...
I was so sorry to learn of the recent death of the Polish student Milena Gott following a road traffic accident to her severe injury around 18 months ago. She has been fighting for her life for such a long time, however, finally succumbed to...
I was pleased to learn that my friends at Thompsons successfully negotiated a £17,000 settlement for an Aberdeen man who was involved in a hit and run incident. The man was socialising with friends in Aberdeen city centre when he was struck ...
I was really saddened to hear that a lollipop lady Audrey Williams, 79 from Ayr died after being involved in a road traffic accident involving a single decker bus while she was on duty.
The lollipop lady known otherwise as the Forehill Primary...
Although the snow was very good fun to play in and little Thom had some unexpected time off school; have you noticed that the snow has made a real mess of the roads?
Prior to the snow the potholes in the streets around the Thom household were b...
I have been pleasantly surprised with the weather recently and I thought that the bad weather had left us alone. We are just starting to get back to normal so I am a bit worried to see that freezing conditions are continuing to cause problem...
If you think you are having a hard time driving through all the potholes at the moment, imagine what it is like for me in my plasticine car!
The weather these last two winters has been a nightmare and has left our roads looking like the s...
I read in the papers that a woman was saved from her car as it filled with water after skidding into a Moray canal. Christine Rhodes, skidded her car on black ice, hit a verge and crashed down a steep embankment, landing upturned in the free...
I was dismayed to read that the pedestrian death toll on Scotland’s roads has reached five by the 6 January 2011. I was even more astonished to read that the deaths occurred within the space of 24 hours. It appears as though three of these d...
It may be a challenge for a cyclist to survive on the road when commuting daily, especially if you live in a big city with busy traffic. In order to avoid a hazardous and potentially fatal bicycle accident a few steps can be followed.
Firstly, ...
Aberdeen Solicitor Chris Gordon warns drivers that they are legally liable for the consequences if they crash their cars through skidding on snow or ice.
Mr Gordon a partner with Thompsons Personal Injury Solicitors based in King St, Aberdeen ...
The UK Department for Transport has released a forecast for post 2010 casualties. The purpose of the paper is to reduce casualties that may occur in car accidents.
The forecasting models have been updated annually, and the results have shown t...
Me and my friends at Thompsons are happy to see any initiatives which help reduce the number of road traffic accidents. This week is Road Safety Week and it is organised by Brake, the road safety charity, but is a community event open to all...
I was flicking through my motorbike magazine today when I read about Ruth, a fellow biker, who was involved in a nasty motorbike accident that was not her fault. She suffered an injury to her knee and had to get bone, hamstring and tendon gr...
I drive on Scotland’s roads every day and see all types of accidents and reckless driving but what most people are not aware of is that a major risk for serious car accidents is tailgating and this should be avoided at all times.
Not sure or ne...
Passing your driving test and getting a drivers licence serves as a proof that you are competent and knowledgeable to drive a car and participate in the traffic. However, the driving test is fairly basic and does not provide much information when ...
In theory bull bars are there to make driving safer for us, yet there has been a lot of discussion as to whether it really is the case. It is argued that quite a high number of pedestrian deaths and injuries are only increased by cars that h...
When we talk of road accidents we normally assume we are talking of car accidents, bus accidents, motorbike accidents or perhaps bicycle accidents. However, there is another group that should be considered, members of which may both be seriously a...
I was shocked to hear that golfer, Colin “Monty” Montgomery was involved in a road traffic accident on A80 this week. It is also a shame to learn that he suffered a personal injury by virtue of which, he will not be able to take part i...
Thousands of people suffer from injuries in car accidents in the UK every year. This is due to numerous reasons and knowing how to act when using hard shoulder can help you prevent one of the car accident causes.
A hard shoulder (also known as ...
Anyone who has ever experienced a serious back problem will be able to tell you how excruciating the back pain can be, how it can affect your mobility, work abilities and how considerabily it can reduce the quality of your life.
Around 80% of t...
Every year around 30 million vehicles travel in Britain and around 10,000 accidents are reported every day. Even though these include minor scrapes, bumps etc, it is still a worrying number and suggests people are not taking all necessary precauti...
I was surfing the internet at the weekend and I saw that a champion cyclist has been awarded a record breaking £14 million in compensation after his career was destroyed when he was hit by a car.
As a result of the road traffic acc...
Ever since I started reading about the possibility of driving an uncrashable car I have been reading about the subject with great interest and I have been asking my friends what they think. I am happy to see any ideas which will make the roads a saf...
The risk of being involved in a road traffic accident for drivers who eat at the wheel is around twice that of drivers who don’t. This is similar to the risk involved in driving while using a mobile phone.
Research by Brunel University ha...
When I heard that Volvo were trying to make an uncrashable car I thought that this sounded like something from a science fiction film. How on earth can you have a car that doesn’t crash? Imagine if you were driving along on the motorway and yo...
I was sad to read that last weekend there were 6 fatalities and over 10 people injured as a result of road traffic accidents in Scotland.
Driving can be a dangerous every day activity and sadly I hear about hundreds of crashes on the roads ever...
There are more vehicles on our roads than ever these days and as a result there are more and more road traffic accidents occurring every day! Unfortunately road traffic accidents happen and it has been estimated that 1 in 3 people who die as a resul...
I was surfing the internet recently and came across statistics which to my astonishment show that crash-for-cash scams in which drivers deliberately cause crashes to claim insurance are on the rise. The Insurance Fraud Bureau reported that 30,000 ...
All car drivers and passengers are obliged to wear seat belts for their security and protection in a case of a car accident. This refers to pregnant women as well.
It is certain that by wearing a seat belt serious consequences of car accidents ...
I was pleased to see that recently a Judge has jailed 2 young drivers who caused the death of a 17 year old boy by racing their cars at 90 mph.
Young drivers are often criticised and many people don’t want them to be able to drive unsupervi...
A recent insurance company survey found that road accidents are decreasing but rear-end shunts are increasing and now account for almost a quarter of all accidents.
Typically the victim of a rear-end shunt will suffer whiplash injuries, usually to the...
One of our recent clients was a keen cyclist, he was a firm believer in its health and environmental benefits – even though cycling on Edinburgh city roads can be scary at the best of times between rush hour traffic and buses. One thing he couldn’t have anticipated was an unprotected sunken drain on the designated cycle path in the middle of Holyrood Park especially since he’d cycled this way to work every day for the past couple of years.
Last August, 8.30am concentrating on the traffic he hit the drain, was thrown across the road and, despite wearing a helmet, smashed his cheekbone. Unable to chew properly and with lasting facial numbness, he contacted Thompsons to claim compensation. Everyday life had changed, his confidence and enjoyment of cycling in the city had come to an end and all because of the carelessness and negligence of another party. Thompsons helped this client win £5,750 in compensation for his accident. It will never undo the physical trauma suffered, but this is an ever increasing problem in the city. If you have been hurt in a similar cycling accident let us know, you never know your call may help put an end to such carelessness and help others avoid being afflicted by a similar accident.
Compensation claims have increased 3 fold this month, particularly from cyclists. With more people opting to cycle to work in the rush hour the number of accidents on the roads involving bikes has been steadily increasing.
Most serious cyclists are prepared with well fitting helmets and quality bicycles, but educating drivers is another story. Roundabouts prove to be a paricularly dangerous environment for cyclists and how the City addresses these incidents and encourages people to cycle each day is difficult, but the incidents that have come to our attention most recently were almost fatalities which is worrying and these victims are going to need financial security over the next 12 if not 24 months before they are fit to work again. For this cyclist there was a least a positive financial outcome after successfully winning compensation for an accident that was not their fault.
