Dog Mess – Youngster Faces Losing an Eye

For those of you that aren’t aware of this, dog faeces can have serious consequences if it comes in to contact with a person’s eye. I remember when I was a young lad, my mother always used to warn me to stay away from dog mess if I ever spotted it; warning me that I could go blind if I get it in my eyes. And let’s face it – it’s easy enough when you’re a kid to end up on the ground.

Because of the dangers, most public areas have signs up advising of fixed penalties in place for anyone who doesn’t clear up their dogs mess. Yet sadly, there are some dog owners that just don’t take heed of the warnings, and do not care for the potentially serious consequences. And this next tragic story from the Daily Mail is an example of consequences that can occur.

According to the source/, youngster Aimee Langdon could end up blind after contracting a rare infection from dog faeces in a playground. The report advises that surgeons will be forced to remove Aimee’s eye if the antibiotics do not stop the spread of the infection before it reaches her brain.
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Road Accidents – Speeding

Road accidents are so very common – and in most cases, they are just that: accidents. All it takes is for a driver to lose their concentration for just a second, and an accident is caused. In most instances, there is no intention involved – just a case of negligence. But when drivers speed and an accident is caused – they are blatantly at fault.

According to sources from the Mirror, Liverpool football star Joe Cole faces a possible driving ban after being caught doing 105mph on a police speed gun! He did not attend the hearing at Staines Magistrates Court; he was instead represented by a barrister instructed by Nick “Mr. Loophole” Freemans firm, who have represented the rich and the famous in countless cases.
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Claims Against the Council What You Need To Know

Potholes, protruding pavements, and poorly maintained pathways; they are all things that local authorities have a clear duty to ensure to protect the public from. But what is the extent of the duty the council has, and when can a claim be brought against them? To be honest, it can be somewhat of a grey area…

If a person is injured due to the state of the highways, then it is possible that they have a claim for compensation. Generally speaking, the defect has to be sufficient enough to warrant action from the local authority. It’s difficult to gauge – but if a hole is deep enough or a pavement is raised enough, and work clearly needs to be done, then a claim can be brought against the relevant authority.

So, what are the ins and outs of what has become the big battle between lawyers and councils?
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Motorcycle Madness – Police Powerless to Pursue

Motorcycles can be dangerous vehicles; without the added protection a car offers, coming off of a bike can lead to serious injuries. And unfortunately, the police are often powerless to pursue thieves if it is deemed that the rider could come to harm – even when the concern is for a thieving menace to society!

Now, I’m not having a dig at the police here. This story from the Daily Mail can be seen from both sides of the coin. According to the report, police were ordered not to pursue thieves making away with £20,000 worth of motorcycles because a chase would put the lives of the criminals in danger.

Police had to watch them ride in to the distance for fear of their safety, given that the thieves were not wearing helmets or protective gear. The officers involved were reportedly following protocol and procedure in not initiating a pursuit after the robbery at the Manchester Motorbike Store in Altrincham.
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Cyclist Accused of Assault

A cyclist has been accused of assault even though he claims the events of the incident are completely inaccurate. 39 – year – old Jared Kelly, a screenwriter, has been accused of assaulting a taxi driver in Oxford.

According to Mr Kelly, he was cycling west along Oxford Street on Tuesday 9^th March between four and five in the afternoon.  Mr Kelly reports that a taxi driver over took him and proceeded to cut up his path of travel when the taxi driver pulled over to pick passengers up, this resulted in Mr Kelly running into the back of the Taxi.
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Toyota Investigation – Drivers at Fault?

I’m sure many of you reading this are aware of the Toyota troubles with several models of their vehicles being recalled over alleged safety concerns. For those of you who are not aware of this, Toyota has recalled millions of vehicles after concerns were raised over faulty floor mats, accelerator pedals sticking when depressed, and braking and steering faults. It’s a story that has worried many Toyota owners; but apparently not affected their sales too much from what I’ve heard in other recent press!

But returning to the story at hand, it would appear preliminary investigations have illustrated some unexpected results. According to sources from the BBC, the investigation suggests that the data recorders in 58 cars involved in such incidents indicate that the brakes were not applied in 35 cases. Essentially, it is being suggested that driver error may have contributed to the “unintended acceleration” cases that are currently being reviewed with the US National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (US NHTSA).
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A Truly Tragic Case of Death by Dangerous Driving

Just the other day I authored an article on speeding and its dangers. And I will be covering the same topic again after reading this heartbreaking story of a young boy killed by a reckless, speeding driver.

According to the Daily Mail (source), a 12 year old boy who beat leukaemia and lived with several disabilities was tragically knocked down by a speeding driver doing almost twice the limit, as he was crossing the road on his bicycle. Steven Atkinson was reportedly born with a cleft palate and curvature of the spine, as well as being deaf in one ear and having an immobile eye. After a 3 year battle, this brave young boy beat leukaemia.
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Speeding Scam – Evading the Consequences

It’s no secret that speeding leads to accidents. The speed limit is there for a very good reason, and breaking it puts the offender and other road users and pedestrians in serious danger. That’s why it’s against the law, and the consequences are there to prevent people from doing it.

But it appears there can be loopholes in the system; in fact, this next story shows how one woman got away without consequence for a considerable length of time by employing a rather disturbing smoke screen to cover up her road traffic offences. According to the Daily Mail, a company CEO avoided speeding fines by blaming them all on her deceased mother!  It’s an unbelievable story. A leading business lady, turned somewhat amateur scam-artist, evaded points on her license by claiming her dead mother was behind the wheel of the car at the time of the offence.
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Assault Claims – The Camera Never Lies!

Assaults are sadly common in the later evening, especially on alcohol fuelled nights out. So, I, like many of you, I assume, feel a great deal safer with a police presence on the streets ready to deal with any incidents that arise. But who is there to protect us when it’s the police that cause the trouble… ?

Unbelievably, this next story from the Daily Mail (source) is a real example of police brutality! Now, I am in no way having a dig at the police in general here – which is something many people like to do – but the footage on the website is as clear as it can be. According to the report, a police officer is facing jail after he assaulted an off-duty solider, and then lied under oath to cover up his wrongdoing!

Forty year old Special Constable Peter Lightfoot may have got away with it if it wasn’t for that pesky CCTV camera! The footage on the site clearly shows the officer striking 24 year old Mark Aspinall whilst rubbing his face on the concrete in the road. Take a look for yourself – the camera never lies; even if the police do!
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Road Accidents – The Dangers of Drink Driving

Drink driving is a topic I have often covered in the past; primarily because I am strongly against the idea of anyone thinking it is safe to get behind the wheel of a car whilst over the legal limit. We all know the dangers, and it’s no secret that consuming alcohol impairs your judgement, and you simply are not capable to drive safely when you are over the limit. The law is there for this very good reason!

So not only does it continue to astound me when I hear about stories of drink driving related incidents, but is vexes me even more when the story is just utterly ridiculous – with potential consequences for disaster…

According to sources from The Mirror (source), a father with his three children in the back of the car failed to notice his vehicle was on fire because he was drunk behind the wheel! It’s absolutely crazy! Why a person would get behind the wheel whilst intoxicated is a conundrum enough; but when your three children are in the car with you, it’s nothing but shameful.
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