Injured in a road traffic accident whilst a passenger in a taxi?

Have you been involved in a road traffic accident whilst travelling as a passenger in a taxi, and as a result of this sustained injury and/or incurred losses, you are not sure of your rights, or you are contemplating submitting a claim but do not know the process?

As a passenger you are seen to be an innocent party as you are not the driver of the vehicle and you are likely not at fault. You are entitled to submit a claim for compensation up to three years from the date of the accident whether it was the taxi driver at fault or another driver involved.
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When we refer to an accident at work, most people think only of a severe incident which has resulted in broken bones or worse – but accidents do not have to be as major as this and can also be psychological as well as physical.  If you have had an injury at work, it should be reported to a manager or senior within the company as soon as possible.

It is the responsibility of your employer to ensure that all staff know the health and safety rules within the workplace, and what the procedure is in the event that an accident occurs.

There should be a qualified first aider within the work place who attends to the injury, and unless the business is a very small concern, there should also be an accident book where all injuries occurring within the work place are recorded.  Employers are also responsible for reporting certain accidents/injuries to the Health & Safety Officer, and you as the employee have the right to receive sick pay if you are entitled to it.
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Motorcyclists make up less than 1% of vehicle traffic according to statistics, yet riders suffer 14% of total deaths and serious injuries on Britain’s roads (Source).  The most common type of motorcycle accidents involve right of way, loss of control on bends, and overtaking manoeuvres gone wrong.

The motorcyclist is vulnerable, and every year there are thousands of casualties following motorcycle accidents, of which many are sadly serious.

The most common compensation claim for motorbike accidents usually involves other vehicles where the drivers do not see the bikers; this is followed by pothole accidents (cases against councils for failure to maintain the roads that cause severe motorbike accidents), and then there are the cases where a spillage on the road has been the cause of the accident – with this type of accident usually claimed through the Motor Insurance Bureau as the vehicle responsible for the spillage cannot be traced.
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Have you ever bought a product and realised after the purchase that the product is defective? Or that when using the product, it has caused you an injury?

Every year, thousands of people experience injuries, through the purchase of a defective product bought from outlets including the large, well known retailer, toy shops, and even the small corner shops. 

Products or produce such as food, toys and baby products, electrical goods, and cosmetics can easily fall into this category, and even if you have eaten at a very well-known restaurant and then fallen ill, the restaurant or its providers are still accountable for your consequential suffering.
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For any drivers out there, you’re probably aware that priority is given to the circulating flow or traffic in the UK, and there are usually signs directing the traffic when approaching the junction to slow down and to give the right of way accordingly.

Roundabouts can reduce collisions compared to other junction types; however, this does not include those involving cyclists.  The most common accidents involving cyclists involve motor vehicles entering the roundabout and colliding with a cyclist who is already on the roundabout.  This is closely followed by the next common accident;  a motor vehicle leaving the roundabout and colliding with the cyclist who is continuing further on the roundabout.  As a result, some cyclists may feel safer walking their cycle round on the pavement or verge.
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Having a car accident is a bad enough experience; but when you find out the person that crashed into you is uninsured, you fill with dread and worry about the financial burden of damages.
However, this does not need to be the case anymore – the Motor Insurance Bureau (MIB), a not for profit organisation, is able to stand in for the defendant and allow you to make a claim for your injuries and losses. The MIB has a central fund which is contributed to by motor insurers. In effect, these contributions come from insurance premiums paid by the public. You will be contributing a small amount to this fund through your own insurance premium.

If the defendant refuses to give insurance details then this should be reported to the police immediately, as it is a criminal offence to withhold insurance details under the Road traffic Act. This is one of the key criteria you can proceed with in order to claim through the MIB. If you think you can claim through the MIB, ensure you follow the steps on the following link.

http://www.mib.org.uk/Customer+Services/en/Accidents+in+the+UK/Uninsured+Drivers+Agreement/Uninsured+Drivers.htm
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The BBC have recently reported on comments from the Former Justice secretary, Jack Straw, about the referral fee system in Britain.

It is believed that the increasing cost of insurance is as a result of referrals made to personal injury lawyers without the permission of the client.  Recommendations had been made last year to implement the banning of referral fees, and there is now a further request to follow this through.

Once a referral is made, clients are often hounded by interested parties to put in a claim for compensation after an accident – even when the client has said they do not wish to proceed.  This can be very distressing and frustrating for the client.
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Some people feel that it is too much hassle to claim compensation when they have been involved in a car accident; especially when at the time they feel okay, but just a little shaken.

The most common injury sustained is whiplash as a result of a car accident, and the symptoms of whiplash may not be evident until a few days after the incident – at which time you may feel it is too late or not worth bothering about.  These delayed symptoms could have a severe effect on your future lifestyle, short or long term.

Although a medical report is required, the appointment is usually no longer than 15 – 30 minutes, during which time the expert will discuss the accident with you and explore the pain and suffering that you are experiencing.  On receipt of his report, your injury lawyer will value your claim and liaise with the third party insurer.
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If you are ever unfortunate enough to be involved in a road traffic accident, you will find that your phone never stops ringing with calls from interested parties offering their services to assist you with your claim. In addition to this, you will probably also receive a call from the third party’s insurer with a proposal for you to accept an offer directly from them.

At the time, this may appear to be a good idea: a quick settlement with no medical involved, and without the hassle of seeking out a reputable injury lawyer to do this for you.

However, there is a downside to this early settlement.  The insurance companies can make you an early offer of compensation without identifying the extent or the seriousness of your injuries, and without explaining to you the full meaning of ‘full and final settlement’.  Once paid out, if your injuries persist and you have further treatment and losses (including loss of earnings), there is no way to reopen the claim and you will be responsible to pay for these bills.
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When you have suffered an injury, either motor related, (the most common being neck injuries known as whiplash), at your place of work, from tripping and falling over in a public place, or perhaps you have been injured as a result of faulty goods or services, you are entitled to submit a claim to the person(s) that caused the injury. If the incident, and therefore your injures, could have been avoided by the person(s) responsible, you should have a claim for compensation.

Compensation is designed to recompense you for your pain and suffering, and to repay you any losses that you have incurred as a result. Your legal representative will break down compensation in to two heads of damages – general and special damages.

The general damages will be compensation for the injuries sustained, loss of amenity, inconvenience, and the inability to do normal day to day tasks.
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