Leading road safety charity BRAKE has said that it is supporting a campaign calling for the introduction of presumed liability in car accident claims involving vulnerable road users.

Under the proposals supported by BRAKE motorists involved in collisions with cyclists and pedestrians would automatically be presumed liable, with any such move having potentially profound implications for car accident compensation claims.

Under presumed liability rules it would be incumbent upon motorists involved in such incidents to prove that they were not responsible for causing injury.

Furthermore, in keeping with the rules' intention to protect less vulnerable road users, in incidents involving collision with pedestrians cyclists would be presumed liable unless otherwise demonstrated.

There are a number of reasons why BRAKE is supporting the move; including the fact that research has shown presumed liability legislation tends to be in force in countries where there are low rates of personal injury among pedestrians and cyclists.

"Studies of our own have shown that too many drivers do not concentrate at the wheel, often flouting road safety," commented Gary Rae of BRAKE.

"All too tragically, there are consequences to this, especially for the more vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists. A simple, and ultimately very fair and reasonable change to our civil law, would constitute a big step forward to changing attitudes on the road and would clearly show that, as a nation, we consider road safety a priority."

If you have sustained personal injury in a car accident, click here for more information from Thompsons Solicitors, Scotland's leading personal injury solicitor firm.