Road Accident Claims
In their report published in March 2009, Road Casualties Scotland set out the following statistics about road accidents in Scotland during 2007 (these being the most up to date figures available):-
- 16,213 people were reported as being casualties in road traffic accidents (that’s nearly 312 people every week)
- nearly 1 in 5 of those casualties were killed or seriously injured
- on average, more than 5 people were killed every week in a road accident in Scotland
Clearly, these are very sobering numbers and it’s cold comfort to those involved in motor accidents in Scotland that the statistics for the period covering 1997 to 2007 show that our roads are becoming safer.
In general terms, each road user in Scotland has a responsibility to act as a reasonable person would in any given situation. If that doesn’t happen and someone else suffers an injury (whether a bodily injury or property damage) that could reasonably have been anticipated, the wrongdoer may be liable to pay compensation.
Recognising that all drivers of motor vehicles have that potential liability to pay compensation and the need to make sure that there is money readily available for those harmed, the law makes it compulsory for drivers to have insurance that covers liabilities flowing from the death, personal injury or property damage of a third party. This is known as “third party insurance.”
Many vehicle owners choose to increase the level of their insurance so that it also covers their own death, personal injury and property damage. This is known as “comprehensive insurance”. It does, though, come as a surprise to many drivers that comprehensive insurance cover will not usually give them or their family any payment in respect of their own death or personal injury if it has been caused by their own negligence.
There are special arrangements in place to protect anyone who has been harmed in a motor accident in Scotland by an uninsured driver or by an untraced driver.
If you’re unsure whether you may have a valid motor accident compensation claim in Scotland, call us now on 08448 700 800 to discuss how we can help or simply fill in the CALL ME box and we’ll ring you. Alternatively, you can start your road accident compensation claim in Scotland immediately by answering a few simple questions on the CLAIM NOW page and we’ll do the rest.
Remember – If you’ve been injured in a road traffic accident in Scotland, your claim is best dealt with by Scottish specialists and you won’t pay a penny for our help, whatever happens.
Unless stated otherwise, all road accident statistics quoted in this part of our website are from the Road Casualties Scotland report referred to on this page.