Presenta(on  to  EDAM    April  28th  2016  

Colinton  Bowling  Club  -­‐  Edinburgh  

Civil  Law  and  motorcycle  collisions  

Where  do  you  stand?  

Uphill  struggle  |  Experts  on  your  side  

Adam  Wagner  

Adam  Wagner  

Adam  Wagner  v  Thomas  Grant  and  another  

•  60%  Driver  •  40%  Motorcyclist  

Law  Reform  (Contributory  Negligence)  Act  1945  

•  “where  any  person  suffers  damage  as  the  result  partly  of  his  own  fault  and  partly  of  the  fault  of  any  other  person  or  persons,  a  claim  in  respect  of  that  damage  shall  not  be  defeated  by  reason  of  the  fault  of  the  person  suffering  the  damage,  but  the  damages  recoverable  in  respect  thereof  shall  be  reduced  to  such  extent  as  the  court  thinks  just  and  equitable  having  regard  to  the  claimant's  share  in  the  responsibility.”    

Motorcycle  Law  case  1  

Motorcycle  Law  case  2  

NFU  v  Adam  Russell  

NFU  v  Adam  Russell  

Lady  Stacey  Driver  100%  to  blame  

“I  have  come  to  the  view  that  the  accident  happened  because  Mr  Swinton  pulled  out  onto  the  main  road  once  the  pursuer  had  come  round  the  corner  and  should  have  been  visible  to  Mr  Swinton,  had  he  taken  due  care.”  

“On  the  maber  of  contributory  negligence,  I  am  not  persuaded  that  there  is  evidence  to  show  that  the  pursuer  was  guilty  of  contributory  negligence.”  

5  most  common  accidents  

! !

Bends on rural roads

!

Filtering

Collisions at junctions

! !

Overtaking Loss of control

Filtering  

Pell  v  Moseley  

         Driver  -­‐  50%                            Motorcyclist  -­‐  50%  

Davis  v  Schrogin  2006  

   

         Driver  –  100%  at  fault  

Motorcycle  Law  case  –  Mr  T  

         Driver  –  100%  at  fault  

Woodham  v  Turner  (2012)  

Woodham  v  Turner  

         Motorcyclist  –  50%          Coach  driver  -­‐  50%  

Road  surface  defects  

Overbanding  and  loose  gravel  

Diesel  Spill  

Travel  in  Europe  

What  to  do  in  the  event  of  an  accident?  

•  STOP  at  the  scene  if  the  accident  has  caused  injury,  or  if  there’s  damage  to  a  vehicle,  property  or  street  furniture  (such  as  a  street  lamp).  If  possible,  alert  oncoming  traffic.  

•  CONTACT  the  police  (999  from  a  landline  or  112  from  a  mobile)  if  anyone  is  injured,  the  collision  is  causing  a  hazard  or  someone  has  leg  the  scene  without  exchanging  details.  

•  OBTAIN  the  registra(on  number(s)  of  vehicle(s)  involved.  •  PHOTOGRAPH  the  scene  of  the  accident  and  note  road  

number/specific  loca(on.  Photograph  any  road  surface  defect  that  may  have  caused  the  accident.      

What  if  it  happens  to  you?  

•  It’s  your  choice,  NOT  your  insurer’s  •  Motorcycle  Law  Scotland’s  Legal  Expense  Protec(on  

To register for FREE, go to www.motorcycle-lep.co.uk or pick up a card tonight and activate it.

www.motorcyclelawscotland.co.uk

www.facebook.com/motorcyclelaw

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