Posts Tagged ‘road traffic accidents’

Dodgy Claims On The Up

April 18th, 2010

We’ve all heard of No Win No Fee compensation claims, and how they have made claiming much more accessible to those who have suffered an injury through no fault of their own. However not everyone who claims is a genuine victim, and in the last few years there are more and more con artists getting caught setting up compensation claim scams.

One such scam has been pulled across the North West of England and involves staged road traffic accidents, and the culprit-Mohammed Patel- defrauded over 1.6 million pounds worth of compensation over a three year period.

Patel targeted accident hotspots such as roundabouts and drove in such a way that another motorist would crash in to the back of him. Then he, and whoever else was in the car with him, would get out clutching their necks and complaining they felt dizzy or lethargic.

One such motorist told how the men then got out of the car, holding their necks in an almost comical manner, and also commented on how calm they were considering they’d just been involved in a crash.

An investigation was launched after Patel had a number of crashes on the same roundabout, which workers in a nearby office had seen. They alerted the police who questioned Patel leading to his eventual conviction, including a prison sentence.

At the end of the investigation it transpired that 24 other men were involved in the ‘accidents’ and compensation claims, but Patel was involved in all of them and was sentenced to prison time.

This type of scam is not just morally unsound and illegal; they are also highly dangerous and put the welfare of innocent road users and pedestrians at risk. Furthermore they can also lead to an increase in insurance premiums across the board, meaning sensible and honest drivers suffer too.

This news item is brought to you by specialist no-win no-fee solicitors Oliver & CO who have years of experience gaining compensation for those who’ve made a head, body or neck injury claim.


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Road Traffic Accidents Produce Uneccessary Deaths

December 17th, 2009

Road traffic accidents continue to kill, maim and ruin the lives of their victims. What is the reason that there has not been an elimination of this deadly highway scourge? There is not one answer to this question, but some patterns are obvious. Speed plays a major role in accident statistics. Driver distraction is increasingly a factor, as is impairment of judgment by drugs or alcohol. Weather conditions often play a part, but the most rapidly growing cause of accidents today is the operation of vehicles by people who feel entitled to defend their position of “King of the Road.”

As a society we must make the practice of road rage politically incorrect and worthy of severe punishment. We cannot afford to accept any excuses for this deadly behavior if we want it to stop. There should be provisions for special deterrents to be imposed on drivers who choose to throw their weight around on the highway. All drivers have to put up with the frustrations of the commute. No one should feel free to threaten the safety of other travelers just because he dislikes the highway congestion.

Some drivers seem to see themselves as participants in the Indy Five Hundred as they rush to their destinations. Their speeds are totally inappropriate to their location, and they feel no need to signal their intentions or consider the reaction times of other drivers. No wonder speeding is frequently cited as the cause of accidents. Heavier fines and driving suspensions would slow them down.

Henry Ford could not have anticipated the luxury and the high-tech nature of today’s vehicles. We increase the gadgets in our vehicles at out own risk, because they distract us and make us inattentive to the movement of other vehicles. The human eye should be trained directly on the road while operating a vehicle. We should not be punching in phone numbers or texting, not ever.

There has been a significant decrease in impairment related accidents in recent years. However, there is still a need for further reduction in this type of accident. We could reduce it to zero, with effort.

We cannot affect the weather conditions. But we can prevent accidents by driving appropriately for the weather situation. We can even stay off the road if things are truly precarious.

Clearly, most road traffic accidents are preventable. All it would take is a sincere commitment on the part of all drivers to change their driving habits. That is all it would take. However, so far, this kind of thinking does not appear to be catching on with the drivers we see tearing down our highways.

Jo Wilson is an expert in accident claims. If you want more information about road traffic accidents claims or are looking for a trusted law firm please visit http://personalinjury.ffw.com


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What Do You Do When You Get Into A Road Traffic Accident

November 30th, 2009

On Memorial Day Weekend, every year there are thousands of Road Traffic Accidents. For your sake, I hope that you are not one of those people. If it happens that you are, do you know the proper way to save further damage and injury? If you know what to do, you can speed up the time on the claims and repairs also.

Have you ever heard of “National Drivers Education Week”? This is the week that falls just in front of Memorial Day Holiday that the Consumer Protection Association has dedicated to driver awareness. The Association has come up with a checklist of things to do when you are involved in an accident.

The most important accessory to carry in your car is a DocuDent Kit that is endorsed by AAA. You will find everything you need to keep safe and document the accident. There is reflector triangles, road cones, flashlight, a camera, and a list of the things you need to document at the accident scene.

The first thing you should do when you are involved in an accident is move the cars to the side of the road. If you can not move the cars, the driver and passenger should stay in the car with the seat belts on. First, you should make sure you have the cones and the reflective triangles out so other drivers can see you.

In the aftermath of the accident, the drivers should exchange information. Insurance policy number and company, names, addresses, phone numbers, and driver’s license numbers are the articles of information that are most important. The license plate numbers of the cars and drivers names are very important.

You should then take pictures of the cars involved in the accident. You want the pictures to show the damage to the vehicles. You should also take a picture of the scene of the accident to make things easier to explain to your adjuster. If there are witnesses, see if you can get them to write a statement, this can clear a lot of confusion.

When you are done at the scene, you should file an accident report at the DMV. The formal accident report, in many cases, helps the insurance company move the claims process along.

You should always be ready for anything on the road. If you have an accident, know what to do to avoid any further injury or damage to property. Best of all it is always good to drive safe and avoid the accident.

You should always practice defensive driving techniques and pay attention at all times. You never want to drink and drive or drive while on medication that affects you in any way as to interfere with your driving.

Matthew Kerridge is an expert in accident compensation. If you would like further information about types of road traffic accident compensation or are looking for a trusted law firm please visit http://personalinjury.ffw.com

categories: road traffic accident,road traffic accidents,road traffic accident claim,road traffic accident claims,personal injury claims,personal injury,legal


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The Toll Of Road Traffic Accidents

November 30th, 2009

The severity of road traffic accidents is still the number one cause of serious, irreparable bodily harm in this country. If you are under the age of 35, your chances of being in a serious accident are twice as high as they were just ten years ago. The increased speed at which we live and the constant distractions of music, cell phones, and increased populations create a recipe for judgment errors.

Everything in your life tends to change and even become hindered once you have been involved in a serious traffic accident. Everything from your ability to earn a living to the hobbies you engage in can become altered. The state of your health may very well be compromised for the long term, and family members often have to make adjustments that you never thought were part of your picture.

Since your daily life is suddenly in a position that can be considered to be significantly compromised, you may end up looking toward a future that is no longer as secure as it seemed just days or weeks before. Paying bills, raising your family, and even issues of intimacy can all suddenly become one big huge question with no immediate answers.

While it is not easy to grasp the legal implications of a traffic accident, you will be well advised to delve into legal counsel as soon as possible. As the situation develops you will not just need legal advice, but that you will need legal representation in order to bring your case to court.

The stress factor after a serious accident that can be attributed to the financial and legal constraints you’ll experience can be really detrimental to your overall ability to recover. Physical pain is often worsened by stress and your body is not able to heal as effectively when you are not relaxed and well rested.

There will be many different facets of your life that you may have to work at adjusting and recreating. It can be done. Usually it can be done much more readily if you have someone watching your legal needs and your financial picture. It is much more difficult to adjust to your new physical needs if you are concerned about your electric bill.

Making sure that you secure high quality legal representation after road traffic accidents is the only way to ensure that you will be able to focus on healing while someone else worries about the legal factors. You don’t want to spend your time trying to deal with these issues by yourself. However, the earlier you find that you have strong legal representation the sooner you can relax and focus on your own health and recovery. It’s not easy but relieving what stress you can is an important first step.

Matthew Kerridge is an expert in accident claims. If you want further info about road traffic accidents or are looking for a reputable law company please visit http://personalinjury.ffw.com


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