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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July 10th, 2009
A professional dancer who fell because the paving slabs on a footpath had become sunken is claiming compensation for her injuries.
Jennie Freedland, 31, stumbled and lost her balance on Chester Street on June 22nd because of the height of the slabs, sustaining sprains to her hand, knee and foot, the Chester Evening Leader reports.
She blames Cheshire West and Chester council for the "faulty design" and said it was a hazard to pedestrians. She also said that she has been unable to work in her beauty therapist business since the accident.
"Basic tasks have become really difficult. I have not even been able to drive," Ms Freedland added.
A spokesperson for the council said it cannot comment until an investigation into the matter is complete.
Councils and highways agencies are responsible for the maintenance of footpaths and roads and must carry out regular checks.
If anyone suffers an accident and can prove that the section of footpath had not been recently checked, they may be eligible for personal injury compensation.
Tags: Beauty Therapist, Checks, Cheshire, Chester Evening Leader, Chester Street, Claiming Compensation, Faulty Design, Footpath, Footpaths, Freedland, Highways, Leader Reports, Paving Slabs, Pedestrians, Personal Injury Compensation, Professional Dancer, Spokesperson, Sprains
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March 5th, 2009
A woman who narrowly escaped death when her car plunged through a roadside barrier into a river is considering seeking compensation from the council she holds responsible.
Alma Ryman was driving along Horseway Bridge between Chatteris and Manea in Cambridgeshire when her car skidded and went straight through the barrier, the Wisbech Standard reports.
She escaped from the vehicle – which plunged 40 feet into the ditch – unharmed, but has stated that she may seek compensation from Cambridgeshire county council for failing to install stronger barriers across Fenland drains.
Ms Ryman commented: "The accident was not my fault. The car just slid as if I was driving on ice. I have lost my car because the road was muddy and the barrier was not strong enough."
A council spokesperson said the safety of road users is paramount and it will be investigating the accident. However, the organisation was not prepared to comment further.
Anyone who is involved in a road traffic accident – including drivers, pedestrians and cyclists – may be able to make a compensation claim if the accident was not their fault and should seek legal advice.
Tags: Alma, Bridge, Cambridgeshire County Council, Chatteris, Compensation Claim, Cyclists, Ditch, Drains, Driving On Ice, Legal Advice, Manea, Pedestrians, River Plunge, Road Traffic Accident, Road Users, Ryman, Spokesperson, Woman
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January 23rd, 2009
A man who was hurt after slipping outside a branch of Tesco has been awarded compensation.
The unnamed victim was employed as a cash machine maintenance worker and had to visit the Jarman Park outlet in Hemel Hempstead, the Workplace Law Network reports.
However, unbeknown to him, the sewers had overflowed, coating the footpath in slime.
The man slipped, injuring his hip, spine and knee and tearing the cartilage in his knee. He had to take four months off work.
After pursuing his case through the trade union GMB, the victim has now secured £10,500 in compensation.
Rosie Conroy from the GMB said staff only attempted to put up warning signs after the accident.
"The area should have been cordoned off and hazard signs placed nearby to alert pedestrians to the problem," she added.
Anyone who is injured due to a slip, trip or fall because of the negligence of the occupier may be entitled to make a no win, no fee compensation claim and should seek the advice of a solicitor specialising in personal injury compensation claims.
Tags: Cartilage, Conroy, Footpath, Hazard Signs, Hemel Hempstead, Jarman Park, Machine Maintenance, Maintenance Worker, No Win No Fee Compensation Claim, Occupier, Pedestrians, Personal Injury Compensation, Personal Injury Compensation Claims, Sewers, Slime, Solicitor Specialising, Tesco, Warning Signs, Workplace Law
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