Presenta(on  to  IAM  Glasgow  North  January  14th  2016  

Glasgow  

Road  Traffic  Collisions  and  Civil  Law  

RTAL(S)  LLP  •  Provides  an  innova(ve  and  dynamic  legal  service  to  all  road  users  injured  in  road  crashes.  

•  Specialist  legal  representa(on  •  Cover  ALL  of  Scotland  from  4  offices  

•  Work  on  a  “No  win,  no  fee”  basis  

Civil  Law  

Balance  of  probability  –  injured  as  a  result  of  the  negligent  act  of  another.  

Injured  party  must  prove  fault  

Adam  Wagner  

Adam  Wagner  

Adam  Wagner  v  Thomas  Grant  and  another  

•  60%  Driver  •  40%  Motorcyclist  

Adam  Russell  v  NFU  

NFU  v  Adam  Russell  

NFU  v  Adam  Russell  

Lady  Stacey  

Driver  100%    to  blame  

•  Jackson  v  Murray  (2015)  

Contributory  Negligence  

Burden  of  proof  –  permiZed  inference  

•  Sobolewska  v  Threlfall  (2014)  

Principles  of  Highway  Code  (1)  

•  do  not  treat  speed  limits  as  a  target.  It  is  o\en  not  appropriate  or  safe  to  drive  at  the  maximum  speed  limit.  

•  take  the  road  and  traffic  condi(ons  into  account.  Be  prepared  for  unexpected  or  difficult  situa(ons,  for  example,  the  road  being  blocked  beyond  a  blind  bend.  Be  prepared  to  adjust  your  speed  as  a  precau(on.  

•  where  there  are  junc(ons,  be  prepared  for  road  users  emerging  

Principles  of  Highway  Code  (2)  •  in  side  roads  and  country  lanes,  look  out  for  unmarked  junc(ons  where  nobody  has  priority..  

•  be  prepared  to  stop  at  traffic  control  systems,  road  works,  pedestrian  crossings  or  traffic  lights  as  necessary.  

•  try  to  an(cipate  what  pedestrians  and  cyclists  might  do.  If  pedestrians,  par(cularly  children,  are  looking  the  other  way,  they  may  step  out  into  the  road  without  seeing  you.  

Expect  the  unexpected  

•  McCracken  v  Smith  

Children  and  road  crossing  

Eagle  v  Chalmers  

Eagle  v  Chambers  •  Lady  Jus(ce  Brenda  Hale  

Destruc(ve  disparity      “The  Court  has  consistently  imposed  upon  the  drivers  of  cars  a  high  burden  to  reflect  the  fact  that  the  car  is  poten(ally  a  dangerous  weapon.”  

Cyclists  |  Taxi  Drivers  

WhiZle  v  BenneZ  

Beware  of  the  “Coincidence  of  loca(on  fallacy”  

NOW  ITS  YOUR  TURN!  

Legal  Expense  Protec(on  

To  register  for  FREE,  go  to  www.motorcycle-­‐lep-­‐reg.co.uk  or  pick  up  a  card  tonight  and  ac(vate  it.  

Q  and  A  

brenda.mitchell@motorcyclelawscotland.co.uk www.motorcyclelawscotland.co.uk www.cyclelawscotland.co.uk www.pedestrianlaw.co.uk