Zebra Crossing Rules and Claims

I’m sure we all remember the lessons we were taught in school about crossing the road safely. Stop, look, and listen! Whilst there are several crossing we can use, there are still accident claims that we take on on a daily basis that involve innocent pedestrians being hit by vehicles whilst using a safety crossing, such as a zebra crossing.

The thing is, zebra crossings are perhaps not as safe as a crossing where there are lights to stop traffic moving. There are those lovely big orangey / yellow balls which are usually clear to see; but apparently, drivers still miss them.

So, what can you do if you have been injured from being hit by a vehicle at a zebra crossing?
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Road Traffic Accidents by Uninsured Drivers

If you have been involved in a road traffic accident which was not your fault then it is highly likely that, if you have been injured, you will be able to make a claim for compensation. 

For instance, if someone has collided into the rear of your vehicle and you have sustained whiplash then you will probably have a claim; or if you were a passenger in a car which was involved in a collision, again you are likely to have a claim.  In most circumstances it would be the Defendant’s, that is the negligent third party’ insurer who would pay you this compensation.  But what happens if the Defendant was not insured? Does that mean you cannot be compensated?

Well there is always the option of suing the Defendant directly, but in all likelihood they won’t be worth suing – in other words, they don’t have any money to recompense you with, and so it would be a waste of time.  There is, though, another option – to make a claim from a compensation fund held by the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (‘MIB’).
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Colder Weather Sets In!

Personally, I never know whether to be a little saddened by the disappearing warmth and the fading of the lighter hours, or looking forward to the “C” word that we will be able to think about in the coming weeks! Although I think I answered this question last night when I was battered by those wet and cold blustery winds that attacked me as I escaped the outdoors last night…

One thing you should all be doing is taking the opportunity to prepare yourself and your vehicle for winter. I grabbed my thick patchwork camping blanket from my rucksack last night in preparation to wash it to be used as an emergency blanket in case we see a repeat of the arctic conditions we endured last year. I suggest you all do the same.

So, what should you do? Here’s my advice, based on what I’ve started doing:
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Injury Hazards Caused by Potholes

With the winter months almost upon us, we can still see the damage that last winter did to our roads and pavements.  On our daily journeys to and from home, it sometimes feels as if we are driving on an obstacle course, weaving around the holes in the ground, trying to avoid damage to our vehicles.

There is not just the issue of what damage a poorly maintained road can do to our vehicles, but there is also the issue of public safety.  A pothole can be a tripping hazard to pedestrians.  Motorbikes, mopeds and bicycles are extremely vulnerable to these defects of the road.  Any incidents involving these types of highway users could be catastrophic.

It is the duty of the Councils to keep our highways as safe as possible by carrying out regular inspections and maintenance checks. So – when are the counsels going to fix the holes properly and not just lay a bit of tar to cover the hole to get us through the next couple of months?
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Back Injury Compensation

As I am sure you are no doubt aware, your back is one of the most important areas of your body. It’s responsible for carrying the weight of the rest of you! As a result, it’s important to look after it – but it can’t be helped when you end up with a back injury as a result of someone else’s negligence.

That’s where we step in…

You are eligible to make a claim for compensation if you have ended up with a back injury that was caused through no fault of your own. Here’s a quick guide using the three step approach we have to claiming here at The Injury Lawyers to fill you in on your claim for back injury compensation:
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Forklift Accident Claims and Pallet Truck Accident Claims

As specialist injury lawyers, dealing only in claims for compensation for personal injury accidents, we really believe we have seen it all. There is no accident claim that we will not have a look in to for you to see if we can help out.

One such specific type of accident is those involving forklift and pallet trucks. Normally, these are accidents at work; however, they can be from visitors to warehouses or perhaps at a large cash and carry type store.

But the main question on people’s lips is – do you have a claim for compensation?
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Claims Against Uninsured Drivers

One of the questions that sometimes crops up here at The Injury Lawyers relates to claims against uninsured drivers.  The usual course of action in a road traffic accident is to pursue the insurer of the negligent third party driver who has caused your injuries. 

In most cases the other driver will have insurance and it really is a simple process of submitting a claim form online and receiving their admission of liability within a couple of weeks.  But what happens if the other driver is not insured?  Well you could pursue the other driver themselves personally, but in the vast majority of cases they will not be worth suing (in other words, they do not have enough money to recompense you).  Instead, what you can do is make a claim through the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (‘MIB’).

In 1946 the MIB was set up to provide compensation for those who have been injured by the negligence of an uninsured third party driver.  Instead of saying that they cannot be compensated because the other driver broke the law and drove with insurance, the MIB can dip into their compensation fund and pay out for your vehicle damages and injuries.  The reason they can do this is because each year every motorist contributes roughly £30 through their insurance premium to set up this fund.  Although you may not like the sound of that, at the end of the day, one day it could be you that requires this fund.  In fact, each year over 50,000 people are compensated by the MIB.
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Compensation Claims – Work Accidents, Public Accidents

Claiming for compensation for injuries that were sustained in accidents which did not involve motor vehicles is different, but still nevertheless straightforward.  Here is a quick guide:

The first step is to produce what is known as a ‘Letter of Claim.’  It outlines who you are, your accident, the injuries you have sustained in this accident, and why it should be considered that the Defendant was negligent and should provide you with compensation.  This is a simple document which, so long as we have as much detail as possible, can be submitted to the Defendant straight away. 

The Defendant then has a period of 21 days in which to acknowledge the Letter of Claim.  In most cases they will write back to your legal representative to inform them that they have noted your wish to pursue a claim and that they will now investigate your claim or will pass the claim to their insurers / claims handlers / solicitors (a typical practice) who will investigate on their behalf.  Once the Defendant has acknowledged the Letter of Claim they have 3 months to come back with their position on liability; i.e. whether they will admit or deny liability.
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Motorcycle Accidents – Pulling out of a Side Road

One of the most common sorts of accidents that involve motorcycles and / or bicycles arise from drivers pulling out of side roads without checking that the road they are turning in to is fully clear!

It’s normally quite easy for a car to spot another car or similar larger vehicle on the road; motorcycles and bicycles are harder to spot, despite the best efforts of the riders to make themselves visible with illuminated clothing and well lit vehicles.

We will not broach the reasons as to why this happens, as I think it’s pretty simple to work it out: some drivers simply do not pay enough attention and do not keep a special lookout for motorcycle and bicycle riders. Unfortunately, the end result is a collision and a potentially seriously injured rider.
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Accidents on a Bus

There’s a general rule when it comes to making claims for compensation – if you were a passenger in an accident, you pretty much have a dead cert definite winner of a claim for compensation if you have ended up injured. So, is this the case for bus passengers too?

Unfortunately not – bus claims can actually be very difficult to win; dependant on the circumstances.

Collisions
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