PERSONAL INJURY COMPENSATION SPECIALISTS BELIEVE ROAD ACCIDENTS INVOLVING CHILDREN ARE DECREASING

August 17th, 2009 Hinchliffes

Hinchliffes Solicitors, a leading firm of personal injury compensation claims solicitors, say that recent research shows the number of children and young people injured in road traffic accidents in the morning rush hour has reduced considerably. Between January and June 2008 there were 344 road accidents involving children, but for the same period in 2009 this number dropped to 228. Some commentators suggest the recession may be linked to the reduction in this type of accident, occurring at the time of the morning “school run”.

Solicitor Steven Hinchliffe, who is the Principal and owner of Hinchliffes Solicitors, said: “Fuel prices and the other overhead costs involved in running a car have become a great burden on many families during the current economic downturn. Many parents are now walking their children to school rather than travelling in the family car. Fewer car journeys have resulted in a reduction in accidents, and which is a good thing.”

The statistics from the Department of Transport also reveal that the number of children who are either killed or suffer serious personal injury in this type of accident has decreased by 9% in 2009 when comparing the figures for the same period in 2008.

Phillip Roberts, an Associate Solicitor with the firm, says: “Traffic is at its busiest first thing in the morning and this may well be the most dangerous time for anyone to be driving, particularly for those taking children to school, as they are often distracted by the demands of the children or are having to rush because they are running late.”

Many personal injury claims following a road accident involve multiple parties, for example with the driver and passengers from one vehicle seeking personal injury compensation from the driver of another vehicle, who may have caused the accident due to their lack of attention and carelessness. Sometimes personal injury claims are made by passengers against the driver of the car they are in, even if it is friend or relative, if that person has caused the accident. Whatever the situation, the passenger will almost always be an innocent party and their personal injury claims are usually straight forward to deal with. Therefore, a child who is injured while a passenger would always have a strong claim for personal injury compensation against the guilty party, which would be met by their insurers - even if the guilty party was the parent!

Adults involved in accidents only have 3 years from the date of the accident to pursue personal injury claims, but for a child this period is extended until their 21^st birthday, even if the accident occurred when they were very young. Nevertheless, it is always best to consider making a personal injury compensation claim as soon as possible, while the evidence is fresh and the guilty party can be traced.

If you are in any doubt about how to make personal injury claims, discuss the matter with solicitors Steven Hinchliffe and Phillip Roberts, who can be contacted free on 0800 138 1348. Alternatively, they will respond to enquiries made via the firm’s website www.hinchliffes.co.uk.

Author: Steven Hinchliffe, Principal of Hinchliffes Solicitors

13^th August 2009

ENDS

PERSONAL INJURY CLAIM SOLICITORS:-

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Call now on 0800 138 1348 to speak direct to one of our specialist claims solicitors or go to our Start Your Claim Now page to submit details of your accident compensation claim online.