Archive for April, 2009

The law relating to vehicle insurance is to be tightened in an effort to reduce the number of motorists driving without insurance cover, which is currently around 6% of road users.

Alarmingly, statistics show that approximately 160 people are killed each year in road accidents in the UK involving uninsured drivers, with a further 23,000 people suffering a personal injury.

The innocent victims of these drivers, who suffer a personal injury and related financial loss, are still able to pursue car accident compensation claims through the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (“the MIB”), which is a body financed by all insurance companies.  However, that financing is actually provided by law abiding motorists as an extra £30 per year is added to their own insurance premium.

In future, it will become an offence not only to drive without vehicle insurance, but also to keep an uninsured vehicle.  Breach of this law will result in a penalty of up to £1,000 and may also lead to Court action to seize the vehicle in question.

Shopper Jeanette Plummer has received almost £30,000 in a personal injury compensation claim following an accident in a Marks & Spencer store in Bath when she slipped on 2 grapes and broke her shoulder.  The slipping accident resulted in her needing surgery for a shoulder joint replacement.

A spokeswoman for Marks & Spencer said “The safety of our customers is a priority for M&S and we are pleased the matter has now been resolved.”

Similar accidents to this one happen in stores near to displays of fresh flowers, where water can drip onto tiled flooring creating a slipping hazard.  Where this is a potential problem there should be matting by the displays to soak up any spillages.  However, if the store does not provide matting and an accident happens, they may find it difficult to avoid a successful personal injury claim.

Published in Truckstop News – April 2009.

In this month’s issue Steven Hinchliffe of the specialist Personal Injury firm Hinchliffes Solicitors will consider “SLIP SLIDING AWAY – SNOW AND ICE RELATED ACCIDENTS”.

Few people will have had the experiences of the Ice Road Truckers, whose polar exploits have recently been seen on TV.  However, the snow and ice that has been affecting the UK’s roads this winter may well have caused you significant problems, both while driving and when on foot.

The majority of ice and snow related accidents happen on public roads or pavements, and generally fall under the responsibility of the local council’s highway authority.  There is considerable debate about how far a council’s duty of care extends as far as gritting and salting is concerned.

It would be an impossible task for any council to make every highway, pavement and public area entirely safe during icy conditions.  However, in theory if a council fails to grit a road or public area during busy times of the day when the weather is exceptionally cold and someone suffers an injury because of this, the injured party may be able to make an accident compensation claim.  In practice, it is extremely difficult to succeed in such claims, as the council will probably defend all the way to a trial, and the Courts are increasingly reluctant to find against public authorities except in the very worst cases of neglect.