Personal Injury Law Blogs

European Commission Proposes Legal Action to Reduce Road Traffic Accident Fatalities

A key priority of the European Commission’s recently announced Third Mobility Package is to bring about a significant reduction in the number of people killed or seriously injured through road traffic accidents across Europe.

In support of this aim, the Package includes a proposal that within three years all new vehicles brought to the market must have 11 advanced safety features fitted as standard, such as advanced emergency braking, lane-keeping system, over-ridable intelligent speed assistance or driver’s distraction recognition.

Road Casualty Figures

Figures from the Commission show that as many as 25,300 people were killed on EU roads in 2017 and another 135,000 were seriously injured. It claims that its proposals, which also include support for Member States to identify dangerous road sections and to target investment more effectively, could save up to 10,500 lives and avoid close to 60,000 serious injuries over 2020-2030. This would bring the EU closer to achieving its long-term goal of moving close to zero fatalities and serious injuries by 2050.

In addition to its proposals on mandatory safety features for vehicles, the Mobility Package also includes a strategy on automated and connected mobility systems, which covers the development of fully autonomous vehicles. The Commission believes that higher levels of automation in vehicles could help to compensate for driver error and therefore improve safety for all road users. It acknowledges however that autonomous vehicles also bring their own set of safety concerns that will need to be addressed.

Criticism over Lack of Progress

The Commission’s proposals have been warmly received by safety organisations across Europe, many of which have been critical of the lack of recent progress in reducing road casualties. The 23,500 fatalities that occurred in 2017 amounted to a 20% reduction compared to 2010’s figures, however in recent years reductions have stalled, with no significant improvement in fatality numbers since 2013.

“Taken together, today’s announcements could represent the biggest step forward in road safety in Europe since the introduction of the seat belt,” commented Antonio Avenoso, Executive Director of the European Transport Safety Council. “Road traffic injury is still the number one killer of young people across the continent so these essential measures cannot come soon enough.”

“Today’s announcements alone will not make the difference; it is absolutely crucial that EU Member States and the European Parliament give their backing to the plans and that they do not give in to pressure from car manufacturers, who are already attempting to weaken parts of the vehicle safety proposal.”

Vehicle Safety Features Must be Mandatory

Road safety organisation Brake is another body that has welcomed the proposals, and in particular the idea that the inclusion of safety technology should be mandatory for vehicle manufacturers, rather than leaving it for drivers to select and pay for these features.

It recently conducted a survey of drivers in the UK, which found that nine out of ten drivers were in agreement with the principle that all new cars should be fitted with the latest lifesaving safety features as standard. However, the majority also said that if they were buying a new car, they would not spend more to ensure it had AEB or ISA technology.

“These technologies are proven to save lives, so this announcement should be warmly welcomed by all who are truly committed to improving road safety,” said Joshua Harris, director of campaigns at road safety charity Brake. “Drivers want their vehicles to be safe, but the reality is they rarely opt to spend more on safety features as optional extras. This decision puts the onus for safety back on the car manufacturers and in one swoop, will dramatically improve the safety of our roads forever.”

What is wealth management and can it benefit me..

Wealth management is a form of investment advisory which aims to combine services such as financial planning, investment portfolio management and additional financial services to develop a clear plan allowing individuals to manage their money more effectively. Wealth management consultants can also become independent certified financial planners, chartered wealth managers or any form of credential professional money manager who aim to increase the wealth of longterm investors.

When is a professional wealth management required?

Many small business owners often seek the assistance of wealth management consultants to coordinate their retails banking, estate planning, legal resources, taxation and investment management. By enlisting the services of a estate planning attorney, strategic, personal finance director people can make their money work harder for them allowing them to enjoy their time more. Many people who have considerable wealth have limited time and a personal financial planning service can help them translate their material worth into a more enjoyable life.

How it is achieved?

. By preparing regularly updated financial data such as balance sheets, profit and loss and cash flow.

. Creating cash flow projections and a reassessment overtime

. Assessing the viability of current, ongoing projects and the potential return on investment in new ventures.

. Helping to manage balance sheet assets

. Analysing income to determine cash flow and assessing how best to utilise additional incomes.

. Analysing current outgoing costs with a view to minimising wastage and reducing inefficiency

. Identifying potential risk and creating a means of effectively managing risks.

. Managing tax and identifying the most effective of ways of reducing taxation.

. Constructing a team of specialist advisers who cover a number of different fields from tax to legal.

. Regular meetings with board members to ensure clear lines of communication, cohesion and to provide direction.

. Regularly monitor performance and provide detailed reports and benchmarking against the initial plan

. Take every action to ensure that financial and legal responsibilities are continually met

. Assist with the management of financial administration.

Professional wealth management and setting up a Junior ISA from The Children’s ISA is one of the most effective ways in which to secure your children’s financial future. By securing a financial future for yourself and your family you’re free to do the things in life you enjoy and the things we should all live for. Too many people in high income positions lose track of the bigger picture and neglect to consider the true value of life that can be realised through using a personal finance director.

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A Game-Changer For Personal Injury Lawsuits: Recent Changes To New York Summary Judgment Rules Benefit Accident Victims

In April of 2018, the New York Court of Appeals – the highest court in the State of New York – decided the case of Rodriguez v. City of New York, 2018 NY Slip Op. 02287 (N.Y., April 3, 2018) which fundamentally changed the way in which New York personal injury cases are litigated and tried.  The Rodriguez decision can be summarized as follows:  Plaintiffs in New York personal injury lawsuits no longer have to prove that they were not “comparatively negligent” in connection with an accident for a court to award “summary judgment” in their favor on the issue of a defendant’s liability for an accident.  While this may sound like a mere technical point that is only of interest to New York personal injury lawyers, this decision will palpably impact the way in which personal injury victims’ cases play out in court; and, ultimately, will provide a strong strategic advantage to personal injury accident victims who bring cases in New York.

WHAT IS “SUMMARY JUDGMENT” AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT? 

“Summary Judgment”, in layman’s terms, refers to a procedure by which a court evaluating a personal injury case determines certain issues in the case, or the entire case, “as a matter of law” in favor of one party or another.  Summary judgment is determined by motion to the court overseeing the personal injury case, which means that the lawyers submit papers to the court and ask it to decide a particular issue, or the entire case, without submitting the case to a jury at trial.  Essentially, when personal injury lawyers make motions for summary judgment, they argue to the court that there are no disputable questions as to the facts surrounding a particular issue (which would require determination by a jury), and that the court itself can decide the issue without submitting the case to a jury.

Summary judgment is a critical tool in the personal injury lawyers’ toolkit to narrow the issues that will be presented at trial, or to prevent the entire personal injury case from ever being decided by a jury at all by obtaining a complete dismissal of the personal injury case.  Generally, the conventional wisdom among New York personal injury lawyers is that the fewer questions that a jury has to answer at trial, the better.  Summary judgment motions in personal injury cases accomplish this by allowing a court to answer key questions in the case that would otherwise be submitted to a jury at trial; these questions are decided before the trial ever begins when summary judgment motions are granted.

At trial, after the close of evidence, a “verdict sheet” is submitted to the jury, and lists a series of questions that the jury must answer.  The answers that the jury provides to each of these questions decide the personal injury case.  Take, as an example, a personal injury case wherein a pedestrian was struck by a truck and seriously injured while walking in a crosswalk in New York City, and the injured pedestrian sues the truck driver for negligence.  Generally, at the trial of such a case, the jury would be asked the following five questions:  (i) Was the defendant truck driver negligent? (ii) Was the negligence of the defendant truck driver a substantial factor in causing the accident?  (iii) Was the injured pedestrian negligent?  (iv) Was the injured pedestrian’s negligence a substantial factor in causing the accident? (v) What are the injured pedestrian’s damages due to the accident?

If, for example, the injured pedestrian’s personal injury lawyer were to move for summary judgment, the lawyer could ask the court to decide the first four questions without submitting them to a jury.  If the motion for summary judgment were successful, at trial, the jury would be instructed that the defendant is responsible for the accident, and the jury would only have to determine the amount of the plaintiff’s damages (i.e., how much money to award the injured accident victim) at trial.  It should be noted that, in personal injury cases in New York, the question of damages is almost never decided without submission to a jury at trial; questions of responsibility (liability) are usually the subject of these motions.

WHAT WAS THE LAW REGARDING “SUMMARY JUDGMENT” IN NEW YORK PERSONAL INJURY CASES BEFORE THE RODRIGUEZ CASE WAS DECIDED?

Before the Rodriguez case was decided in April of 2018, personal injury accident victims would, in order to be granted summary judgment in their favor, have to definitively both that (i) the defendant was negligent and proximately caused the accident, and also that (ii) the plaintiff was free of comparative negligence in connection with the causing of the accident.  Put another way, in the pre-Rodriguez world, personal injury accident victims bore the burden of establishing the negligence of the defendant, as well as establishing their own freedom from comparatively fault, in order to obtain summary judgment in their favor.  In terms of the aforementioned five questions that are submitted to a jury in a personal injury trial, before the Rodriguez decision, the plaintiff had to be able to definitively answer questions (i) and (ii) in the positive, and questions (iii) and (iv) in the negative, to obtain summary judgment and thus be entitled to proceed to a jury trial on the question of damages only (i.e., to have the jury decide only question (v) regarding damages, and to have the judge decide the other four questions without the involvement of a jury).

To understand how the pre-Rodriguez rule worked, take our earlier example of the pedestrian accident with a truck in New York City.  Imagine that the pedestrian had begun to cross the street in the crosswalk after the “Walk/Don’t Walk” signal had changed from the white “Walk” signal to the blinking red “Don’t Walk” signal before the pedestrian had completed crossing the street and before the pedestrian was struck by the truck.  Imagine further that the pedestrian testified that she had not looked in all directions before beginning to cross the street, and that the truck driver testified that he did strike the pedestrian in the crosswalk while making a right turn across the crosswalk.  In this example, though the pedestrian would certainly be able to show that the truck driver was negligent, her failure to look in all directions as well as her having been in the crosswalk when the “Walk” signal was not clearly in her favor might be construed as comparative negligence.  Thus, under the pre-Rodriguez rules of personal injury lawsuits, the injured pedestrian might not have been able to obtain summary judgment, as, though she could easily show the truck driver to have been negligent, she might be unable to definitively prove that she was not negligent.

HOW DOES THE RODRIGUEZ DECISION BENEFIT PERSONAL INJURY ACCIDENT VICTIMS IN NEW YORK? 

The Rodriguez decision benefits personal injury accident victims in that they now can obtain summary judgment on the issue of a negligent defendant’s liability for an accident, even if they are themselves comparatively negligent.  In terms of the five questions discussed above, this means that an injured personal injury accident victim can now ask a court to decide questions (i) and (ii), thus leaving only questions (iii) through (v) for decision by a jury at trial.  This benefits personal injury accident victims by simplifying the questions to be answered by the jury at the personal injury trial, thus reducing the chances of a verdict in favor of a defendant and against a personal injury accident victim.  Also, because the court will instruct the jury at trial that the defendant has already been deemed to be legally responsible for an accident, the personal injury victim will get the benefit of the psychological effect that this type of jury instruction will have on a jury (i.e., the jury will be, in many cases, subtly persuaded to favor the injured victim, as the court will instruct jurors that the defendant has already been found to be responsible for an accident, and this can encourage a jury to be more willing to ignore comparative negligence or award greater damages in some cases).

In summary, the Rodriguez decision, though somewhat technical in nature, does have real consequences for accident victims who bring personal injury cases in New York.  While the ruling is still very new, it seems that, on the whole, it will benefit injured accident victims at trial, and will also be a useful tool in convincing defendants and their insurance carriers to settle personal injury lawsuits without the need for a trial, which is beneficial to all involved.

Personal Injury Legal Update in E&W – Civil Liability Bill Continues its Progress Through Parliament

The Government looks set to forge ahead with its controversial Civil Liability Bill, with the legislation recently having its second reading in the House of Lords. The Committee stage, which is the first real chance to amend the Bill, is scheduled to begin on 10th May.

Purpose of the Bill

The Bill, which will apply mainly to England and Wales, has two key purposes:

  • to reform the claims process for whiplash claims with injuries lasting up to two years as a result of road traffic accidents, and
  • to make changes to the way the personal injury discount rate, applied to lump sums awarded for future loss of income, is set.

It was unveiled by the Government in March this year with the justification that the legislation is needed to reduce the high number of whiplash claims and allow insurers to cut premiums. It highlighted that road traffic accident related personal injury claims are 50% higher than a decade ago, despite a fall in the number of reported accidents and the UK having some of the safest roads in Europe. According to the Government, this can be attributed in part to “predatory” sections of the claims industry that encourage minor, exaggerated and fraudulent claims, including many suing for emotional distress.

It says that the proposed changes will allow compensation to be awarded in a more balanced way, so that victims of catastrophic accidents, including the most vulnerable, can be fully compensated while also ensuring that issues around overpayment can be addressed.

Law Society Raises Access to Justice Concerns

However, the measures contained within the Bill have attracted significant criticism.

The Law Society of England and Wales has warned that the legislation risks creating a “paradox”, where someone hurt in a road traffic accident will be entitled to less compensation than if they had sustained the injury another way.

It has also expressed concern over the difficulties road traffic accident victims will face in trying to access justice.

“We are concerned about the lack of clarity because fixed levels of compensation are set to be imposed for whiplash injuries,” explained Law Society president Joe Egan. “The Law Society is therefore calling for the definition of whiplash to be set by medical experts.”

“When combined with Ministry of Justice plans to increase the small claims limit, the amount of legal advice and guidance that can be obtained from a solicitor in these cases will be severely restricted,” he said. “Our concerns about the legislation were echoed by peers, who stated that the increase in the small claims limit will ‘deny very large numbers of genuine claimants legal advice and representation’.”

“This legislation has a long way to go and we will continue to oppose these reforms,” he added.

Principles of the Bill Discredited

The Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) has also criticised the Bill. It points out that the number of personal injury motor insurance claims has actually fallen to the lowest level in almost a decade and claimsvery clearly that the cost to insurance companies of motor injury claims has been falling for a long time, by 21% since 2013 to be precise.”

“This Bill will not achieve its aims to lower premium costs for motorists,” he added. “The insurance industry will get away with using injured people as scapegoats. Any concept of fairness or compassion or help for genuinely injured people will be sacrificed for the empty promise of cheaper car insurance.”

What is the time limit for bringing a personal injury claim in England?

If you have suffered an accident or injury and another party was at fault, you are entitled to make a personal injury claim. However, it is important to note that the law imposes strict time limits on bringing a personal injury claim, whether you’re bringing a general accident claim or a more specific type of action, such as a road traffic accident claim. Precisely how much time you have to bring your claim will depend on your general circumstances and so it is always prudent to contact an expert personal injury solicitor as soon as possible. However, this post looks at some of the main time restrictions and considerations when making a personal injury claim in England.

General Time Limit

Normally, you will have three years from the date of your injury to bring a claim. This sounds straightforward, but in practicality there are many things which can affect this general time limit. For example, if you are involved in an accident and you do not discover your injury until a later date, this may affect when your time limit will run from.

Under 18s

One of the exceptions to the three-year time limit is for those aged under 18. If you were injured before you were 18 years old, the time limit for bringing a personal injury claim does not begin until your 18th birthday, as a result, you must commence your case before your 21st birthday to prevent your claim from being time-barred.

Disease Claims

If you have contracted a disease as a result of someone else’s negligence, for example an asbestos related disease, the time limit begins from when you knew or ought to have known that you have contracted a disease. Typically, this will be from the date when you first started showing symptoms, or where a medical professional diagnosed you with the disease before you noticed any symptoms of illness. This will be determined by the court on a case-by-case basis, and so it is crucial to bring your claim as soon as possible.

Failure to diagnose / delay in diagnosis

Where a medical professional has failed to diagnose your injury or illness, and this results in further injury, the time limit will generally run from when you discovered that the medical professional had failed in their obligations to you. Again, this will be assessed on a case by case basis.

Worsening of an injury or condition

Where an injury or condition substantially worsens at a later date, the time limit will normally run from the date you discover the severity of your injury. Say for example, you are involved in a car accident and believe you have escaped with minor cuts and bruises. If this injury later develops into a more serious internal injury, even months down the line, the time limit will generally run from when you discovered that you have a more serious injury than you believed. If your injury ends up going to an extreme, please be sure to contact a Personal Injury Attorney right away.

It is always best to consult a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible, and not to rely on the time limit for your specific circumstances beginning at a later date.

And if you’ve had an accident or injury in America as a result of someone’s negligence, see our best personal injury attorneys page here.

Involved in a Rideshare Accident (Taxi, Uber, Lyft) – Do You Need a Personal Injury Lawyer?

The chances are that you have used or are using a rideshare app such as Uber or Lyft as a means of transportation. Thanks to its ease of use, reasonable pricing, and convenience, ridesharing has become the preferred means of traveling from one destination to another. Although its popularity continues to soar, there is no escaping the fact that rideshare drivers can cause accidents or unintentionally be on the receiving end of a fatal collision. If you get injured in a rental car accidents in las vegas nv, you will need to contact a las vegas car accident attorney to help you with the compensation you need.

There are plenty of horror stories involving taxi and rideshare drivers being responsible for injuries and death of both passengers and pedestrians. In 2013, a 6-year-old girl died in San Francisco when an Uber driver hit her, her younger brother and her mother. He didn’t have a passenger onboard, but the driver was logged in to the Uber X app to search for rides at the time of the incident. Uber eventually settled with the family for an undisclosed amount with the help of a personal injury attorney.

Drivers Are Insured By The Rideshare Company

Most passengers and pedestrians are unaware that rideshare companies, particularly Uber and Lyft, offer an insurance policy worth $1 million per accident. This policy, however, comes into effect only when a passenger accepts a trip and until the time he or she exits the vehicle.

Therefore, if you have been injured by a taxi or rideshare vehicle as a pedestrian when there was no passenger inside the vehicle, then claiming money for medical expenses, lost wages and for the pain and suffering inflicted due to the accident might prove to be tricky. In such a situation, it is important to contact and hire the services of a competent and experienced personal injury lawyer.

In addition to the rideshare company’s insurance policy, the driver also has his auto insurance policy.

What Should You Do If You’ve Been In An Accident

So the pertinent question here is: What should you do if you’ve been in an accident involving a rideshare driver? The most obvious first step is to seek medical assistance immediately, even if it seems like you did not suffer from any injury. This is because some wounds like internal bleeding are difficult to determine by an average person.

Not only is seeking medical intervention important for your health, but many rideshare and insurance companies aim to minimize paying expenses and damages. If you do not seek immediate medical assistance, they could argue that your injuries were not severe enough to avoid being blamed for the accident or paying the injured party.

Remember to hire a personal injury lawyer after seeking medical assistance and before contacting the rideshare company. No matter what, an attorney must be present whenever your contact or meet a representative of the insurance and rideshare company.

Also, do not delay taking action. Hiring a personal injury lawyer and going to a hospital to tend to injuries is essential because the more you delay it, the more the rideshare company will argue that the wounds were not serious. And that would result in less blame being placed on the guilty party.

Even in hit and run cases, it is crucial to call for medical help and talk to a personal injury lawyer before giving a statement to the insurance company.

In Conclusion

In 2014, there were 4,129 car accidents involving taxis in Chicago. Out of this number, a staggering 830 of them resulted in injuries. Tragically, three of the 830 accidents proved to be fatal.

A slew of injuries can be caused by taxis such as broken bones, whiplash, internal bleeding and even death. Not only do these accidents inflict significant physical, psychological and emotional injuries, but they also result in substantial medical expense, lost wages because of taking medical leave and funeral expenses (in case of death). Moreover, loss of a loved one leads to ample pain for the family members.

If you’re using a rideshare app or taxi, be aware of what you should do in case of an accident. Ensure that you contact a law firm or attorney that specializes in personal injury, insurance claims, and accidents. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.

Scott Blumenshine’s expertise is based on years of experience representing people in personal injury and underinsured and uninsured motorist claims, arguing the facts and law in court, writing on the subject and presenting materials at continuing education seminars. Scott has been practicing law in Chicago for over 20 years and is currently a managing partner at the Blumenshine Law Group. You can learn more at https://www.blumenshinelawgroup.com.

More Women Taking Legal Action for Mesh Implant Complications

https://www.personalinjuryclaimsblawg.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Pelvic-mesh-legal-implant-lawyers.jpgOver 800 women are joining together to sue NHS and leading transvaginal mesh implant manufacturers based on complications experienced post-procedure. The medical community in the UK has had a longstanding discussion surrounding the effectiveness of mesh implants to treat incontinence and pelvic prolapse in women, with some arguing for their continued use and others calling for a widespread ban. A recent report published by the NHS highlights that although many women have successful results from mesh implant surgery, one in 15 are forced to go back to their provider to have the mesh implant removed. The new statistics are cause for concern for women in need of treatment in the UK.

Mesh Implant Prevalence and Use

Vaginal or pelvic mesh implants have been a staple in the medical market for a number of years, manufactured by medical device giants Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiary, Ethicon throughout the UK. More than 92,000 women from April 2007 through March 2015 had mesh implant surgery to help treat the problems associated with incontinence and pelvic prolapse. For patients experiencing incontinence, or leaking from the bladder after movement like sneezing, coughing, running or jumping, mesh implants are meant to work as a strengthener for the pelvic floor. Mesh implants are also used in the correction of pelvic prolapse – an issue many women experience due to aging or another cause of a weakened pelvic floor. Prolapse may cause pain and discomfort during intercourse or toileting or high levels of sensitivity that make leading a normal life a challenge. For each common medical condition, mesh implants are surgically attached to the pelvic wall and over time, attach to the tissue to promote strength.

Vaginal mesh implants are often the go-to recommended treatment for women who experience incontinence or pelvic prolapse, before or in lieu of any other viable treatment option. The reasons cited by medical professionals has to do with the prevalence of successful surgeries of hundreds of thousands of women. When a mesh implant surgery is successful, patients experience fewer or less severe symptoms of incontinence and prolapse, allowing them to function without discomfort or embarrassment. Unfortunately, recent reports show that the number of mesh implant surgeries that do not go as planned have a negative impact on a patient’s quality of life.

Risks Outweighing the Rewards

The risks of vaginal mesh implant surgery are not widely discussed in a patient-provider setting, leaving women under the assumption that the course of treatment is the most optimal choice. However, a representative from a medical negligence specialist firm shares that this is not always the case. Reviewing an increasing number of cases involving failed mesh implant surgeries, the representative explains that complications can arise quickly post-procedure, leaving women in a vulnerable position. Instead of experiencing a reduction in symptoms, a mesh implant may effectively tear through the skin. This can cause ongoing pain and discomfort during intercourse or while walking, or an infection that can be a challenge to treat correctly and in a timely fashion. Moreover, women who return to have the mesh implant removed may find that a second surgery cannot be done without causing permanent damage to the nerves. In either case, women are left in a worse condition than they started because the risks of the procedure or a feasible alternative were not shared up front.

The increase in the number of women joining the fight against the NHS and leading mesh implant manufacturers is telling, and it is likely to cause of outcries among medical providers in the UK. Several doctors and experts in the field have come together to show their disapproval of the prevalent use of mesh implant surgery to treat incontinence and pelvic prolapse, given the known risks and negative outcomes experienced by patients. In recent meetings, a request to ban mesh implant surgery was made, pointing to the growing tension over the procedure as the go-to option for patients. Some argue that taking away mesh implant surgery as a treatment option ultimately removes patient choice at the same time, leaving women without all the options on the table.

Instead of shutting out mesh implant surgery as an alternative to more invasive surgery, the NHS may consider requiring providers to offer suitable treatment plans that do not involve mesh implants in addition to implant surgery. Patients visiting the NHS for treatment for incontinence and pelvic prolapse need guidance from their providers on which treatment is most appropriate for them, and they must have an understanding of the risks involved with mesh implant surgery so a sound, informed decision can be made.

Raising Awareness during Road Safety Week

road-safety-week-lawyers-updateEach year, Road Safety Week takes place in late November. Running from the 20th to the 26th of November in 2017, the road safety initiative is meant to shed light on the growing problems faced by road users, not only drivers but pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists as well. Brake, the UK’s leading charitable organisation focused on road safety coordinates Road Safety Week, and it has been utilising its resources to further the discussion around road safety concerns since 1997. This year, Road Safety Week has directed its campaign for fundraising and community education on the most common plight threatening the lives of drivers and other road users in the UK: speeding.

According to recent reports, nearly 90% of all drivers on UK roads admit to breaking the speed limit at least once in the past twelve months. Speeding, no matter how fast over the speed limit, is one of the most prevalent causes of serious and fatal accidents to drivers and non-driving road users alike. Research shows that 20% of serious injuries and 29% of fatalities that are the result of vehicle accidents are correlated to driving over the speed limit. This is due to the fact that drivers have less time to react appropriately to hazards in the road when they are driving too fast, leaving themselves, their passengers, and other unknowing road users at a great risk. Road Safety Week is meant to showcase these dangers to residents of the UK so that more attention is paid to speed limits and education is provided about what responsible driving looks like.

A team of injury lawyers in the UK, Fletchers Solicitors, is taking part in Road Safety Week along with several other schools, employers, companies, and community organisations. The firm has a unique perspective on road safety issues and the need for greater awareness given its work with individuals who have been negatively impacted by a road incident. A representative from Fletchers explains that vulnerable road users are those who use UK roads to walk, bike, or ride a motorcycle, and they are at far more risk than drivers for a myriad of reasons. Without adequate protection of airbags or a heavy vehicle surrounding them, vulnerable road users are more likely to be seriously injured when struck by a driver. The results of a road incident can lead to life-altering circumstances for a pedestrian, cyclist, or motorcyclist, drastically reducing their quality of life and their confidence in using the roads moving forward.

Participating in Road Safety week is a necessary step in educating the masses as to what can be done to safeguard vulnerable road users, such as maintain the speed limit as a driver and being on the lookout for non-drivers on the road.

The tagline for this year’s Road Safety Week is Speed Down, Save Lives, intended to focus on the problems breaking the speed limit causes on the road for all road users. Several organisations are promoting the messaging for the campaign through social media stories and articles, and educators, parents, along with charities and employers are giving detailed resources to educate individuals about the dangers of road accidents. Through the Road Safety Week website, anyone has the opportunity to download free tools to boost their understanding of road safety issues or to share with those close to them. Downloadable lessons, activity sheets, and posters are available at no cost, and listings of community awareness and fundraising events are listed directly on the site. All individuals who use UK roads, either as drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, or motorcyclists, should be aware of what it means to be a smart, responsible road user, and Road Safety Week promotes this cause to the fullest.

Driven to Distraction: Making a Foreign Car Accident Injury Claim

New contribution regarding foreign car accident injury claims – Many of us love to take our cars or our leasing car (Buzzwords, De-buzzed: 10 Other Ways to Say Ford Transit Custom Sport) with us on trips abroad, or hire one at our destination. But how many of us even know the rules of the foreign roads we’re driving on? Or how to make a car accident injury claim in the event of something going wrong?

Millions of Brits take to foreign roads in their own car or in a lease car each year, drawn by the freedom and independence of exploring a new or familiar country under the own steam. But even though there’s something of a boom in foreign driving underway, a surprising number of us don’t bother to check articles and the rules of the roads we’ll be driving on before setting off; not even a quick Google search. This leads to accidents just waiting to happen, opening up the possibility of car accident injury claims.

In fact, driving laws around familiar destinations in Europe can often be far different from what we’re used to back home. Fall foul of them and you could not only be in trouble with the law, but you could cause an accident. Worryingly, one major survey found that 71% of British motorists planning road trips on the Continent did not know the road rules in their destination of choice.

It’s all the more perplexing for British drivers on foreign roads, given that we drive on the left and, well, practically everyone else drives on the right. The survey, carried out by Dutch satellite navigation firm TomTom, also discovered that many British people (26% of those surveyed) have actually driven on the wrong side of the road while abroad; didn’t know which lane was best to drive in (22%); are unaware of the speed limit (19%); and don’t understand road signs in the country they’re driving in (18%).

Those Crazy Europeans and Their Barmy Road Rules

So it’s safe to assume that the average Brit thinking about heading out on foreign roads just blithely assumes everything is the same there as it is at home. But, this assumption could prove extremely costly. Practically every country has its own different, somewhat quirky regulations concerning driving on their roads. If you do end up having to make a car accident injury claim, you’d better be aware of them.

Take France, for instance; one of the most popular destinations for British people driving around in their own or rented cars. France is so near and yet so far, in terms of road use culture. There, you’ll be required to have a breathalyser in your car. In neighbouring Spain, also a perennial British favourite, you’ll need to carry a spare pair of glasses in your car — if you use glasses for driving, that is. Meanwhile, motoring without your headlights on at all times will certainly get you into trouble in Sweden.

Additionally, how many of us know that our British driving licence might not be enough for the country we’re planning to drive in? You may be required to also have an International Driving Permit, which you can easily get from the Post Office for very little cost. Not having one, if the driving law of the land you’re in calls for it, could mean trouble if you’re considering a car accident injury claim.

Making a Foreign Car Accident Injury Claim

If you are involved in an accident while driving abroad, it’s vital that you immediately call the police. It’s a legal requirement in most countries when a vehicle involved in the incident is from another nation. Remember: across Europe, it’s not 999, but 112. It’s also important that you do not apologise or admit liability for what happened, even if you’re feeling nervous or intimidated by others on the scene. That could certainly affect the outcome of a car accident injury claim.

Take out your phone and start taking photos and perhaps also videos of the vehicles involved. Capture the situation from a number of angles so it’s clear to all later if you need to make a car accident injury claim. If there are people around who saw what happened, approach them and ask for their names and contact details, as they may be valuable witnesses you can use as part of your case. However, if you check my reference you can easily get in contact with the best law firm in your town to work on your case.

When you’re back home, you’ll need the best legal advice you can get to help make your car accident injury claim succeed. Experienced firms like Mayiclaim have the expertise you need to win your case and get compensation. Their expert car accident lawyer will be able to unearth all the proof necessary and handle the often complex cross-border legal requirements involved in these types of claims.

Then, the next time you’re driving abroad, you’ll know what to look out for so an accident won’t put the brakes on your holiday.

Personal injury law firm management techniques that improve client intake.

Personal-injury-law-firm-management-strategy-tips

Contribution regarding personal injury law firm management techniques:-

The number of PI law firms in the United States is increasing at a remarkable rate. Every day a new firm is opened by some veteran PI lawyer or an ex-employ of previous firms.  This saturation, particularly in PI is making things more challenging for firms. The client to firm ratio is low, that is why firms have to do a lot more than before to survive. An extensive amount of money is being spent on marketing, advertising and building PR. From a profitability stand point, some are earning a lot and most of them are struggling.

Marketing is an effective tool to improve client intake but firms are spending too much on it than required. It seems that there is a competition among firms to spend more and more on advertising. Too much advertising sometimes become ineffective. It costs two valuable resources, time and money. There is a lot more that can be done to improve client intake. Executives are not paying attention on clients and firm’s management because they are more into ads and marketing. This is how a firm starts losing its customers. The basic advertisement for a firm is client satisfaction. A happy client is a positive advertisement and an unhappy client is a negative advertisement.

Management of any law firm affects client intake. Numbers of law firms have made their way successfully in the market because of effective management. They attract a good number of clients without spending too much on marketing campaigns. I was surprised by this, so I did a thorough research in finding their management strategies that made them successful. Of course, it’s a long list but I have filtered some of the best. These management strategies are common for all big or small firms.

  1. First of all, make a firm’s strategic plan. Have a deep study of market and set goals for yourself. Try to look over the horizon and see what’s coming next. For any firm, to make its place in market, it’s very important to make plans ahead of time.
  2. In any law firm, particularly in PI firms the flow of information in very important. In Personal Injury Claims information is a valuable resource and must be used effectively. Better flow of information helps in working and serves client efficiently. If anything obstructs the flow of information, try to eradicate it as soon as possible.
  3. Don’t improvise while taking information from clients, it leads to mistakes. In such cases, critical information is skipped and data gets very hard to interpret. Create a law firm management policy to regulate the process of getting information. It is recommended to interview clients using a checklist so that no important information is missed.
  4. Always keep the data and information of client safe and classified even after the claim is settled. It’s a double victory, firstly is a builds a relationship of trust and confidence and secondly, it keeps the flow of information running.
  5. There are a lot of information management soft wares available. They keep data safe and secure and chances of error are minimized. These soft wares copy data from one form and automatically fill the rest. Entering information separately increases the chances of error and loss of valuable information.
  6. Entertain a reasonable number of clients according to the number of attorneys available. Don’t burden yourself and keep the existing clients happy. Learn to say no. As mentioned earlier for any firm either law or consultancy, the satisfaction of existing client is the key. For instance, I am taking an example of a business consultancy firm that helps in business setup in Dubai. For a firm like this, it’s very important that their existing clients have no complaints from them. A Personal Injury claim is a very sensitive issue and clients demand to be dealt with full attention from their firms.
  7. Accurate budgeting of finances is very important. 8-10% is generally recommended for marketing.

Personal Injury Law Firms are going through a period of recession, however, things are expected to get better is coming years. The competition is tough but these management strategies will make you stand out from the rest.

About the author: Brenda-Cagara-Personal-Injury-Legal-WriterBrenda Cagara

Brenda Cagara has been writing for websites, articles and blogs for five years now. She had a fair share of writing on variety of niches but her main focus on law, business, finance and taxation. Currently, I am working with business consultants in UAE (Riz & Mona) which offers company formation and business setup services across all states of United Arab Emirates. Our other services are products registration, visa processing, bank account opening Dubai, trade license, trade mark, local sponsors and many more.

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