September 22nd, 2009
A new proposal put forward to the government has suggested that motorists should be liable for compensation for all crashes involving cyclists or pedestrians, even if they were not at fault.
The suggested changes have been outlined by the Department for Transport-funded body Cycling England, which has said it would encourage more people to get out of their cars and onto bicycles.
Under the proposed legislation, the party with the most powerful vehicle would become liable, for instance, the motorist in cases between a car and a bike, or the cyclist in crashes involving a bike and a pedestrian.
However, motoring groups have reacted with anger, stating that it would create disharmony on the roads.
Germany and Holland have both already adopted such laws.
According to statistics from the Department for Transport, 2,538 people were killed in road accidents in 2008. The number of cyclists involved in fatal road crashes totalled 115 during the same period.
Tags: Anger, Bicycles, Cars, Cyclists, Disharmony, England, Fatal Crashes, Germany, Holland, Motorists, Pedestrian, Pedestrians, Proposal, Proposed Legislation, Road Accidents, Road Crashes, Statistics
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May 19th, 2009
A man who had to have his leg amputated after he was hit by a motorist is seeking compensation of up to £300,000.
Alpesh Ramji, a former cobbler, was outside his shop in Harrow when a Volkswagen driven by David Pelton mounted the kerb and ploughed into him, the Harrow Observer reports.
The car crushed him against the building and Mr Ramji had to have his leg amputated below the knee.
He claims that he has still not come to terms with his injuries and that he has trouble with his prosthetic limb due to the tissue damage he sustained.
Mr Ramji is seeking damages of £300,000 in order to cover his lost earnings, his health care and the modifications to his car and his home.
Any pedestrian who is injured in an accident that was the fault of a car, bus, lorry or other vehicle may be eligible to claim compensation against the driver’s insurers.
Their case could be particularly strong if they were hit on the pavement or on a crossing, as Mr Ramji was.
Tags: Alpesh, Cobbler, Damages, Earnings, Harrow, Health Care, Kerb, Lorry, Pavement, Pedestrian, Pelton, Prosthetic Limb, Tissue Damage, Volkswagen
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October 31st, 2008
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has told operators of vehicles and machinery that they must adhere to safety regulations after a pedestrian was killed in an accident.
Colin Clifford, 50, was driving an excavator outside a house in London in 2007, when he raised the buckets over the pavement.
Joseph Johnston, 81, was walking past when Mr Clifford pulled the wrong lever and the buckets fell onto the footpath, striking Mr Johnston.
He subsequently died from his injuries and Mr Clifford has been prosecuted under health and safety at work regulations.
The HSE ruled that Mr Clifford should not have lifted the bucket on the vehicle and that he should have ordered colleagues to close off the footpath.
HSE investigating inspector Lisa Chappell said: "This case shows the worst case of what can go wrong when operators cut corners."
Pedestrians are one of the most at risk groups from being seriously injured if they are involved in a collision with any vehicle, which is why they must be given right of way.
A compensation claim can be made for injuries if it can be proven that the driver of the vehicle was responsible for the collision.
Tags: Buckets, Colin Clifford, Compensation Claim, Excavator, Footpath, Health And Safety, Health And Safety At Work, Health And Safety Executive, Hse, Joseph Johnston, Lisa Chappell, Machine Operators, Mr Johnston, Pavement, Pedestrian, Pedestrians, Risk Groups, Safety At Work, Safety Regulations, Worst Case
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September 12th, 2008
North Tyneside council is to be prosecuted following an accident in which a pedestrian was killed.
Brian Kindred was hit by a refuse truck in May 2006 in Allanville, Camperdown and died from his injuries.
Health and Safety Executive inspector Stephen Britton said the safety measures in place were inadequate.
"There was no supervision in place, training was cursory and did not cover guiding vehicles in any way," he commented.
Mr Britton added that had the truck operator been trained to warn pedestrians if they were close to the vehicle, the accident may not have happened.
The council pleaded guilty to a breach of Section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
Pedestrians are one of the most at risk groups from being seriously injured if they are involved in a road traffic collision, which is why pedestrians must be given right of way by motorists.
A compensation claim can be made for injuries if it can be proven that the driver of the vehicle was responsible for the collision.
Tags: Britton, Camperdown, Compensation Claim, Health And Safety, Health And Safety At Work, Health And Safety At Work Act, Health And Safety At Work Act 1974, Health And Safety Executive, Motorists, North Tyneside Council, Pedestrian, Pedestrians, Risk Groups, Road Traffic, Safety At Work, Safety Measures, Section 3, Traffic Collision, Truck Accident, Truck Operator
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