A man who sustained serious injuries when he was struck by a motorist has received compensation of £1,123,676.
He was cycling to work when a disqualified motorbike rider who was being pursued by an unmarked police vehicle hit him.
As a result of the impact, he suffered damage to his right shoulder which has severely affected his ability to use his right arm. In addition, he had to have his right lower leg amputated.
The motorcyclist, meanwhile, died as a result of the injuries he sustained.
Because the biker was disqualified and therefore uninsured, the claim was pursued through the Motor Insurance Bureau.
Established in 1946, the bureau enters into agreements with the government to compensate the victims of negligent, uninsured and untraced drivers.
By virtue of the Road Traffic Act 1988, every insurer that underwrites compulsory motor insurance is legally obliged to contribute to its funding.
Road accident victim awarded £1m in compensation
July 31st, 2008
Mistake sees pharmacist facing possible suspension
July 31st, 2008A pharmacist is facing possible suspension as a result of a mistake he made when giving out medication.
Achmat Rossier gave 71-year-old Anthony Peckham a dose of morphine ten times stronger than it should have been, the Cambridge Evening News reports.
Mr Peckham was found collapsed at his home in June 2006 and subsequently died at Addenbrooke’s Hospital.
In a new development, his family has called on the Royal Pharmaceutical Society – which aims to regulate, develop, lead and represent the pharmacy profession – to take action in order to prevent a similar incident occurring in the future.
The organisation has now launched an investigation which could potentially result in the suspension of Mr Rossier.
Earlier this year, coroner David Morris stated during an inquest that Mr Peckham would not have lost his life unless he had taken more than the prescribed dose of morphine.
He also alleged that the pharmacist had attempted to shift the blame on to his assistant.
Investigation after wall kills toddler
July 30th, 2008A joint police and health authority investigation has found that a wall which collapsed and killed a toddler did not have planning permission.
The wall, constructed from breeze blocks and mounds of earth, fell on three-year-old Meg Burgess as she walked past, reports the Daily Post.
Meg was taken to Glan Clwyd hospital where she was pronounced dead.
A spokeswoman for Denbighshire county council confirmed that the wall did not have the required permit, adding that planning regulations usually consider the visual appearance of the structure, rather than its structural integrity.
An investigation was carried out by North Wales Police and the Health and Safety Executive.
When questioned by the BBC, the owner of the property where the wall collapsed, Alan Jones, said: "I’m under legal advice not to make any comment at present. I’m very sorry."
North Wales Police said they are not treating the accident as suspicious.
MoJ publishes claims limit changes
July 30th, 2008Changes aimed at speeding up the claims process have been published by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ).
The ministry had been involved in a consultation process focusing on personal injuries claims procedures, with specific emphasis on introducing fixed fees and phasing out referral fees, TheLawyer.com reports.
Results of the discussions have been published, revealing that reforms – which would also apply to employment liability, road traffic accident and road traffic claims – are to be restricted to cases valued between £1,000 and £10,000.
The MoJ is also reported to be considering whether amendments should be made to how conditional fees are arranged, while a judicial review of costs is also due to be completed in the autumn.
Meanwhile, the ministry has also recently set out its key performance indicators for HM Courts Service for 2008-09.
GMC launches guidance for witness doctors
July 30th, 2008Doctors have been given more help in preparing for cases in which they are called as expert witnesses.
The General Medical Council (GMC) has published its Acting as an Expert Witness guide for such doctors, detailing recent high-profile cases.
It is hoped by the council that the guidance will give doctors more confidence in their roles and also clarify what is expected of them.
"Acting as an expert witness forms part of the GMC’s wider effort to provide supplementary guidance for doctors on specific issues," said Professor Graeme Catto, president of the body.
"This document will aid doctors in their role assisting the court and the public interest."
The GMC claims it has been increasingly difficult to find doctors who will come forward as expert witnesses, particularly in child abuse cases.
One of the GMC’s other responsibilities is towards patients who have a complaint against their own doctors – such practitioners can be referred to the council. 
