Month: June 2020

Germany vs England 2001: Why was this game so special for Michael Owen?

Posted on June 23, 2020 by Hannah Fletcher - Blog, Uncategorised

As the pandemic has started to turn around, football is slowly coming back to Britain. The first match day of the return saw Aston Villa face off against Sheffield United and Man City beat Arsenal behind closed doors. It was certainly a different atmosphere to the time thousands of fans flocked to see England play football against Germany in the FIFA world cup of 2002. This match was one of the highlights of Michael Owen’s career and showed how talented he truly was. It is an honour for Gowing Law’s firm to be working alongside Michael Owen to help people all over the UK get justice for any injuries they may have suffered from.

With that said, let’s talk about what really matters: Football. Although the Germany vs England match was only to qualify for the world cup, it clearly left its mark on football history. Let’s find out why.

Sport Context: Germany vs England

As you can see from the image above, England and Germany in football have always had an intense rivalry against each other. In every game, they had strong players and usually relied on penalties to reach the winner. However, with Germany’s winning streak against England, it was clear that the 2002 English team had a lot to prove. Due to this winning streak, the old manager (Kevin Keegan) was forced to resign, and now England had more to lose than ever. This is why the Germany vs England match was such an important event

The two rival football teams had already met earlier that year for a final match in Wembley Stadium. Germany won again, Dietmar Hamann scoring the only goal of the match to grant Germany the victory of 0-1. Having been defeated so recently by the giants of the German team, England was the underdog. Many people didn’t believe that they could even make it to the FIFA cup.

With surmounting pressure coming from English fans for a win, it was clear that England’s team needed a change in their training regime and tactics in order to overcome the strength of Germany’s football style and professional players during the England vs Germany match.

The next match against Germany

Due to this defeat from Germany, England went into the Christmas second-bottom within their group division.Sven-Goran Eriksson, the new manager for the English team, announced:

“The Germany game is, of course, an extremely tough test for the players but we are looking forward to the challenge… It may be a hard task but it is certainly not an impossible one. We will not be changing our style because we are strong and have confidence in our own ability.”

Whilst Eriksson remained realistic in his tone, Rudi Voller (the German manager) presented himself with an air of confidence, practically declaring that Germany would be expected to “go through directly.” However, this time the English team was bolstered by a number of strong players, including strong Manchester players like Paul Scholes, Rio Ferdinand, Andy Cole, Gary Neville and David Beckham. At this point in time, Michael Owen was playing for Liverpool, meaning that the local rivalry between him and the others players was still there, but put aside in order to focus on the bigger picture: beating Germany.

The team trained as hard as possible and it was clear from the start that Michael Owen was a talented asset to the team.

Michael Owen & The Match

Although Michael Owen was suffering from a hamstring injury at this point, his dedication and love of football pulled him back and motivated him to keep working. He put his rivalry with Manchester United aside to focus on pulling England back into the world cup. This was a defining point in his career because it showcased his natural talent and how he thrived under pressure, making the match an unforgettable event in football history.

What happened in the 2001 FIFA World Cup Qualification match?

In the first half, it looked as if it was going to be a normal football match, both teams trying to maintain possession of the ball. Germany scored 6 minutes after the match started thanks to Oliver Neuville going down a lofted pass into England’s penalty area. However, Germany’s lucky streak was about to end.

Michael Owen was then fouled outside of the German penalty spot and England was given a free kick. David Beckham, the English captain, took the kick and managed to get the ball out of the distance of both the attacking and defending players. Gary Neville headed the ball into the penalty area, moving it to Nick Barmby who managed to head it down to Owen. He managed to slam the ball past Oliver Kahn, the German goal keeper.

By the end of the first half, England was up 2-1, meaning that they were at a great advantage with the next half. This was a morale booster to both the team and the fans of England in the stadium.

Literally three minutes into the second half, Beckham manged to pass the ball to Emile Heskey who headed it to Owen. Owen then managed to score another goal, meaning that England had a 3-1 lead.

Michael Owen’s Triumph during the Germany vs England Match

It was the next goal that saw Owen claim the title of the first English player, since Geoff Hurst, to score a hat trick against Germany. Gerrard gave a successful tackle to take possession of the ball. He then passed it to Owen who sprinted to the goal and kicked the ball straight over Kahn’s head into the net. At this point, it was obvious that Germany was not going to win the match. Michael Owen had performed a successful hat trick and the second half was nowhere near ending.

By the time the match was done, England had beaten Germany 5-1. This was the biggest victory England had since the Luxembourg win in 1999. English fans were ecstatic and England was off to the world cup. Take a look at some of these highlights below to see how intense the game actually was. You can see Michael Owen in action:

English vs Germany Football match: A Game Changer

This game gave Michael Owen international renown in the world cup. Not only had he proven that he was a strong sportsman, but he was clearly a team player that knew how to work well with other greats in the industry. This allowed him to move forward with his career. He eventually played for a range of different teams, including Real Madrid, Newcastle United and Manchester United. However, he could never forget his roots playing for Liverpool.

Nowadays, Michael Owen is renowned for his skills on the playing field and his honesty about the game in general. Although he was injured during his time as a football legend, he always managed to overcome it. That is why you will now find him working for charities, speaking about his experiences. We are proud that such a national treasure is working alongside us.

Four Years of Charity Work

Without Michael Owen’s help, our own charity foundation, “Together in Football” wouldn’t be where it is today. This charity exists to encourage children from different backgrounds to come together. This will be in professional stadiums to enjoy a game of football. Michael is the face of this campaign. He has worked with us to encourage the younger generation to follow their dreams. Please click the link above if you would like to learn more information about our foundation.

Working with Gowing Law Solicitors

Michael has had an impact on the world of sport and charity. That is why Gowing Law Solicitors have been working alongside Michael Owen to advertise the skills of our experienced solicitors. No one should have to deal with an injury on their own. Michael had the support of his family, friends and team mates whilst he was recovering. We want to provide the same support to anyone in the UK who needs it. If you need help with your accident compensation claim, please feel free to contact Gowing Law Solicitors for more information. We work on a “no win-no fee” basis and can offer you free advice and consultations.

Call 0800 041 08350, email info@gowinglaw.co.uk or directly message us through our contact page.

We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Collaborating with Michael Owen and Communicorp

Gowing Law Solicitors is delighted to announce that we are partnering with Michael Owen and Communicorp. This is to spread our radio advertisements around the UK. That way we can help as many people as possible get justice. Check out our advertisements below:

Michael Owen: A Life in Football

Posted on June 23, 2020 by Hannah Fletcher - Blog, Uncategorised

Hasn’t it been the dream of every young boy to become a world renowned football player? It’s a career path that takes skill, dedication, planning and leadership. Not everyone can succeed in this career, however Michael Owen did. Even Brazilian Football legend Pele claimed that “my favourite player is Michael Owen.” His confidence and natural ability on the pitch spoke for itself, that is why Gowing Law Solicitors is proud to be working with Michael Owen on a number of projects, including the “Together in Football Foundation” and advertisements to help people find the justice they need if they are faced with an injury.

With that said, it’s time to learn a little more about the man behind the ball and his golden years as not only a striker for Liverpool, but a sports icon for many other teams, including Newcastle United, Real Madrid, Manchester United and Stoke City. We are truly proud to be working with such a football legend that has given back so much to his community.

The Early Years

There is a reason why Michael Owen is known as a “boy wonder”, practically being the Harry Potter of his age. He was born on the 14th December 1979 to Terry and Janette Owen in North Wales. Football had always played a big part in the Owen’s lives. After all, his father was a professional Football player at, ironically, Everton, the rival of his son’s future club Liverpool. Seeing the talent of a sportsman in his son, Michael went to study at the Football Association’s School of Excellence at Lilleshall in Staffordshire when he was only 14 years old. By the time he was 17, he was already signed up as a full professional, playing for Liverpool and debuting for England’s football team.

He appeared in the public eye when he was 18 years old, the world’s focus eventually settling on him when he scored the “wonder goal” against Argentina in the World Cup. He became the BBC sports personality of the years and an international football legend.

The Football Triumphs of Michael Owen

Now, after his amazing debut, you would think that Michael had reached his peak. However, despite suffering from his injuries, he still led an extremely successful career. Take a look at the timeline below to get a glimpse of the high standard that Owen set for himself and the other players around him.

These are only a few of his triumphs in the UK. Michael has also played successful seasons with Newcastle United and Manchester United. Internationally, Michael Owen also proved that he had the skills to represent England against some of the best players in the world. One of his most famous triumphs is against Germany in the world cup qualifier.

Germany vs England: 2001

Let’s set the scene here. Michael had been trying to recover from a hamstring injury at the same time as continue his football career. He bounced back into action when he played with England in 2001 against Germany. Not only did he perform a hat-trick against Germany, scoring a goal in the process, but he also became the first England player to score three goals against Germany since Sir Geoff Hurst in 1966 during the World Cup final. No injury could keep Michael down, he was ready to become a football legend.

International Triumphs

Of course, Michael’s main international triumph came from his match with Germany, but he also became England’s captain when David Beckham was injured. This meant that he was the youngest captain in 40 years. With Michael’s help, England managed to get to the quarter finals of the World Cup. They defied the odds and showed England was not to be messed with on the football field.

Michael also went on to play for Real Madrid in 2008. The club paid around £8 million for this famous Liverpool striker and Michael was extremely proud of this achievement, stating:

“My Dad has been telling me about the great Real Madrid teams of the 1960s… Gento was the quickest No 11 he had ever seen. Today I’m so proud to be wearing his No 11 shirt.”

Although he did go on to score a number of goals for this amazing team, Owen struggled to settle into the team dynamic. By 2005, he had returned to the English Premiere League to play alongside his friend Alan Shearer at Newcastle United.

What was his best goal?

Honestly, there are a number of goals we could choose. After all, he is one of only nine players to have scored over 150 goals in the premier league! But to us here at Gowing Law, there is one goal that stood out in particular and that is the goal that brought him his notoriety in the first place. In 1998, Michael was only 19 years old and was playing in the World Cup against Argentina. Fighting against a number of older and more experienced players, Michael triumphed in a display of speed, dexterity and grit to score the second goal for England.

As you can see from the video above, it was a moment to go down in the history books. Some may even claim that it was one of the most glorious moments in Michael’s young career. After all, it showed how his natural skill elevated him above any other player and predicted his future triumphs when he played on the pitch.

What do you think was Michael Owen’s best goal? Let us know!

Overcoming Injuries

Now, one of the things that we do admire about Michael Owen is how open and honest he is about his career in football. He presents his moments of triumph with great dignity, but is also exceedingly honest about some of the difficulties that life on the pitch entails. Michael was injured a number of times on the pitch and opened up about these injuries in an interview with the BBC:

“I was petrified of running into a channel. I just knew I was going to tear a muscle. The worst thing about it is your instinct is to do what you have done all your life but you start thinking: ‘Oh no, don’t.'”

One thing we can learn from Michael is how to overcome the odds. Although he had these fears, he never let them interfere with his work. Although he did suffer from a hamstring injury, a striker’s nightmare, he proved that he was resilient enough to fight back. Despite his injuries, he managed to score a hat-trick against German in the historic 5-1 match in the 2001 World Cup qualifier.

No matter what sort of injuries a player may suffer, they endure it for the sake of their fans, livelihoods and their own personal devotion to the game. This is what we truly admire about Michael. He never gave up and even now he serves as an inspiration to those who are injured to keep following their dreams and ambitions. Working with Gowing Law Solicitors, we can spread this message to a wider audience to ensure they get the help that they need.

Charity Work

Not only has Michael Owen worked with Gowing Law Solicitors to support the “Together in Football Foundation”, helping children of all communities enjoy a game of football together, but he is famous for his kind heart and charity work. Not only did he take part in the Ascot Charity Race, but he is known for spreading the word about different charities on his Twitter, such as The Lewy Body Society. Make sure to check out his Twitter for more information on what he is doing in the present and the different causes he supports.

Gowing Law Solicitors & Michael Owen: Working together

Gowing Law has had the pleasure of working with Michael Owen for over four years. He is a kind man who is truly an inspiration to those who want to follow their dreams, just as he did all those years ago. Not only has he visited our office but he has become the face of our brand. We are proud that he has chosen to champion our firm.

If anyone knows the pain of what an injury can do when trying to progress a career, it is Michael Owen. That is why we urge you to contact us if you have had an injury that is not your fault. We can help you get the justice that you deserve. Not only can you find out more information about our different services on our website and law blog, but we can offer you free advice and work with you on a “no win, no fee basis”. Feel free to call our Manchester law firm at 0800 041 08350, email info@gowinglaw.co.uk or directly message us through our contact page.

Gowing Law is delighted to announce our radio collaboration with Michael Owen and Communicorp Radio Station

In order to help as many people as possible get the justice they need in the UK legal system, Gowing Law Solicitors has partnered up with Communicorp and Michael Owen to spread our message around the UK. Check out our radio advertisement below!

Health & Safety in Retail: Avoiding Accidents

Posted on June 16, 2020 by Hannah Fletcher - Accidents in Public, Blog, Covid-19, Employment, Work Place Accidents

Health and safety in retail is a big issue right now. As of June 15th 2020, the UK government has now allowed for non-essential stores to re-open. Non-essential stores, including clothing and book shops, have been closed for over three months. This was to help lower the rate of infection of Covid-19. However, you may be feeling a little nervous about going out and about so soon. The corona virus is still a major health & safety risk with a lot of businesses having either moved online or to remote work to remain open. That’s why at this moment you may be thinking that it is just safer to shop online.

Boris Johnson has stated that we should ”shop with confidence”, but do you know precisely what you would do if you had an accident in a public place? If you work in retail, you may have no choice but to return to your store. That’s why, whether you are a customer or a consumer, it is essential that you know precisely what rules and regulations are in place to keep you safe. That way you can avoid accidents.

Read on to learn more about how you can protect yourself and the others around you from accidents in a retail store, and what you should do if you do suffer from an accident.

What is happening in the UK?

As you can see from the BBC’s latest update video, the UK has undergone a number of changes in the last 24 hours. Whilst this may not immediately get things back to the way they were, it can help workers in the retail industry have their livelihoods restored to them. Although essential stores have remained open, like food stores, pharmacies and banks, most non-essential stores have been shut since March.

Now, what’s important to take from this is that not only will stricter shopping measures be in place, but you will have a choice about whether or not you should return to your work environment. If you have proven that you can do your job from home without any problems, then it will be quite hard for an employer to outright say that you should go back to the office. However, if you can only do your work by being in a certain building, you will have to go in to do your work. Should you tell your employer that you are not going in because of fears of Covid-19, you will not be entitled to sick pay.

According to David D’Souza, from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, he has listened to the complaints of people being forced to go back to work by their employer and believes that it is:

”Of huge concerns in terms of people’s physical and mental well being…Any return to work should only be done if these criteria are met: It’s necessary, it’s safe and it’s mutually agreed.”

It is up to you to decide how you feel about returning to work. If you are worried about catching Covid-19, you will need to discuss this with your employer. That way you can get an outcome that would suit your situation.

Safety in a retail: Covid-19 Edition

For both employees and consumers, new safety measures have been put in place in order to prevent the spread of Covid-19. So, if you are going out today, it’s important that you adhere to the following rules:

These rules have been put in place in order to help the public get used to shopping outside again. However, there is controversy about this move. The World Health Organization has warned against further lock down easing in England. According to Hans Kluge, the WHO’s European director, the UK is still in a “very active phase of the pandemic”. This means that there is still a chance that Covid-19 could be spread around through public contact.

If you do choose to go out to shop, make sure you do it with caution. There have been hundreds of people queuing already to visit large retailers like Primark, therefore take social distancing regulations seriously and try not to approach people within 2 m. You may also want to wear face-protection and have your own personal supply of hand gel.

Public Accidents in a Retail Store: Health and Safety

Despite all of the health and safety regulations that have been put into place, there is still a chance that both consumers and workers could be involved in an accident in the store. Yes, employers need to make sure that social distancing measures are put in place, but with all of this focus on Covid-19 safety regulations, it is more likely that smaller problems may be overlooked. There is still potential for one of the following accidents to take place in a store or retailer:

Slips and falls from unmarked puddles.
Trips over hazards/objects on the floor.
Poorly built shelves falling over.
Mannequins and display items falling down.
Bad Lighting.
Bad carpeting.
Violent customers

All of these accidents can help due to employer negligence. Each business has a duty of care towards their customers and employees to keep them safe. Therefore, to have an unsafe work environment, and to not keep it clean and tidy, is to breach that duty. You deserve to feel safe when you are shopping, therefore if you have had an accident in a public place, you could claim compensation for the fall. This is due to the fact that the retailer themselves has been negligent.

Who was to blame for the accident?

All retailers have to keep their employees and customers safe when they are on their premises. This is normally through risk assessments. This includes keeping the place clean and tidy and ensuring any spills or hazards are fixed before customers can fall victim to them. Employees must also ensure that all staff are trained to carry out their work safely. If these duties are not fulfilled then they could be liable for a compensation claim, especially if they do not enforce social distancing regulations.

Customers: What to do if you have suffered an accident in a public space?

It can be nerve-wracking building up the courage to go back out in public to go shopping. That’s why you don’t deserve to be hurt when you finally enter a store. If you do unfortunately get injured, you need to report it to a member of staff. This injury can then be written down in the store’s accident book. You should be given a copy of the injury statement.

If you do not have to go to hospital due to your injury, remember that you will need to collect as much evidence as possible. This could include:

Photographs
Videos
CCTV Evidence
Witness Statement
Diary Entry (made on the same day)
Police reports
Medical Statements

If you want to make a personal injury claim, you will need to make it within three years of the accident occurring. Make sure to seek help from a solicitor as these types of injury claims can get extremely complicated if you are looking for compensation on your own. A solicitor can explain how much compensation you could be owed, what pitfalls you need to avoid and how long it may take to get an outcome from your claim. Be patient with your solicitor and make sure to keep in contact with them about your claim.

Employees: Health & Safety in retail stores

Customers are not the only people who get injured in a store. As an employee, your employer owes you a duty of care, especially in regards to health & safety in retail environments. That means you should have received official training to help you cope with the latest social distancing laws and safety in general in the work space.

So, you have a responsibility towards customers to keep them safe. But you may be wondering, what should you do if you get hurt? An accident at work could put your livelihood at risk, as you may not be able to keep working and claim your wage. You can experience the same accidents as a normal customer, worse still you may be more at risk of Covid-19 if your store has not put in health and safety regulations to ensure the safety of their employees.

In order to keep safe in the work environment, remember to:

Your employee must be trying to implement social regulating laws, perhaps even communicating through walkie-talkies or phones instead or face-to-face contact. If there is no evidence of a risk assessment, you could be owed compensation for your work-place accident.

How much could I earn from an accident at work compensation claim?

Now, this depends on the type of accident you have had and how severe it is. If your retailer employer has not carried out sufficient health assessments or thought of the risks of returning employees to work, you could be owed thousands if you recently had a work accident, aka. a breach of health and safety in retail.

To use an example, perhaps you work in a clothes shop. They implemented a one-way system to help customers get around the store. However, you did not think of aggressive and messy customers. So you slipped on the clothing and fell over. If you broke your leg this may mean a higher pay out than if you pulled a muscle.

Talk to your trained solicitor about your injuries and how much you could be owed. The amount you receive will depend on your losses and injuries. Therefore, they will be able to give you a good estimate.

How to handle a breach of health & safety or a work accident?

The same way a customer must alert staff to an injury in a store, you must alert your employer or manager about your injury. They will record your injury the accident book. Make sure to ask for a copy! You must also find evidence of your accident that can prove that it was your employer that was liable for your accident. This could be through their lack of a risk assessment, a dangerous environment or perhaps a lack of training. Either way, keep calm and simply follow procedure to ensure that you can collect your evidence and alert your employer to your accident.

Gowing Law Solicitors can help you with your work accident claim!

The transition from complete lockdown to social-distanced work can be quite scary. You want to support your family, however what happens if bring something home nastier than intended. If you have been injured at work, or health & safety guidelines have been breached, Gowing Law Solicitors can help you get the compensation that you deserve.

We can work with you remotely and can offer you free advice or consultations to talk about your accidents. Our trained work accident specialists can then get to work on your case. If you are happy working with us, we work on a “no win-no fee” basis. That means that even if we do not get a positive outcome, you will still come out on top. Let our trained specialists help you get the best amount of compensation to allow you to recover from your injuries.

Contact us now by calling 0800 041 8350 or emailing info@gowinglaw.co.uk. You can also directly message us through our contact page.

Want to learn more?

Do you want to know more about Covid-19 and UK legislation? Our blog is has the latest legal stories and information. That way you will always know what to do if you are faced with a legal battle. That includes information about work safety and your worker’s rights.

If you have a blog topic that you want us to discuss, let us know by contacting info@gowinglaw.co.uk. We would be happy to write about it!

We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Can I make a public transport accident compensation claim?

Posted on June 11, 2020 by Hannah Fletcher - Blog, Covid-19, Traffic Accidents

Public transport accident compensation is not the normal type of claim that you would think of if you get injured on the road. Usually, you would think of car accidents or collisions on the road. You don’t usually associated public transport with accidents. That’s because you see them as having a “duty of care” towards commuters who utilize them. You pay to use public transport, therefore, you should not be scared about what will happen to you if you get into an accident.

In 2019, the UK government survey indicated that 4,513 buses and coaches were involved in accidents over the year. That is not even accounting for the amount of accidents that could have been involved on trains, ferries and taxis. Public accidents are more common than you think. That’s why you can get compensation to help you with your injuries.

You do not need to suffer in silence. Gowing Law Solicitors are here to make sure that you can recover, having all of your financial worries taken care of. It’s time to learn how we can help you with your public accident compensation claim!

What sort of public vehicles can I claim compensation for in an accident?

If you are using public transport, you may instinctively feel safe when you get on to the vehicle. This is because public transport drivers have received specific training to ensure the safety of all passengers when they in the vehicle. They know how to manoeuvre a large vehicle through traffic to ensure the safety of everyone on board, as well as other vehicles and pedestrians on the road. That is why when an accident does happen, it can come as a bit of a shock for everyone involved.

One of the most important things you need to know is that if a vehicle is registered as a form of public transport, then you can claim compensation if you have been involved in an accident. This could include:

Buses/Mini Buses
Trams
Taxis/Private Hire Vehicles
Ferries
Trains/Metros

It is important to remember that accidents do not need to solely happen on the road to have a public accident compensation case. They are not the same as car or motorcycle accidents because accidents can also happen in the interior of the vehicle. Most public forms of transport have large interiors because they need to transport a number of different people around the city. That means there’s more chance of their being a hazard during the commute. Our infographic below will have a little look into some of the examples of what sort of accidents you could encounter:

Different Types of Accidents

As you can see from our last, using any sort of public transport comes with its dangers. However, what is important is to distinguish the differences in these accidents. That way you can decide who is liable for your accident. In some cases it will be the company that owns that form of transport. For instance, if you were injured on a ”northern railway”, you may want to launch your complaint to them. However, if it is a violent passenger then you may want to involve the police and ask them to pay for your compensation. Each situation is completely different, therefore you will need to decide carefully who you wish to pursue. This may change the amount of compensation that you can claim.

The main cause of your accident could be due to:

A fellow passenger
The vehicle driver
Other drivers on the road
The manufacturer of the vehicle
The environment (aka. the responsibility of local government)

Be aware of the environment and what impact it could have on your claim. You may think that the cause of your accident was due to your driver. However, the accident may have occurred due to a broken traffic light. Lots of factors can make up a public transport accident case, this is why you make need a lot of different witness statements to build up a clear picture of what has happened. From there, you can go to your solicitor and they can help you find the real cause of your accident.

Covid-19 & Public Transport Accidents

Recently, the UK government has announced that new rules are being made in order to prevent the spread of Covid-19 amongst commuters. Although you may have your own private vehicle you will be legally required to wear a face mask if you do have to use public transport. This will be from the 15th June 2020.

You should be trying to stay at home as much as possible in order to lessen the spread of Covid-19, including working from home if you can. However, if you have no choice but to use public transport then you will need to:

Plan your journey to avoid busy commuting times.
Be prepared for delays due to less vehicles being on the road.
Keep a 2 m distance from different people on and off the vehicle.
Mix up the different types of vehicles you may be using.
Carry the right PPE for your journey, including hand gel, hankies and gloves.
Be aware of any surfaces that you may touch whilst on your journey.
Wait for other passengers to board and leave before you do.
If the public transport looks busy, you may want to consider waiting for the next vehicle to arrive.

Have you caught Covid-19 from public transport?

If you think that you have caught Covid-19 from the unsanitary/crowded conditions of the transport, then you will need to prove that you specifically caught it from that area. It can be classified as a public accident. The unsanitary conditions have caused a bio-hazard that have put commuters and the staff of the vehicle in danger. Make sure to take statements and evidence from people who traveled with you. You may also want to take video or photo evidence of the state of the conditions of the transport. This could be the deciding factor between claiming compensation from the owner of the company and not being able to any compensation whatsoever.

How much money could you claim from an accident on public transport compensation claim?

Now, one of the most important things to think about public transport accident claims is that each case is completely individualistic. It depends on the type of accident you have been in, the severity of your injuries and the type of losses you have made thanks to the injury. This can include:

Physical Injury
Emotional Injury/Trauma
Financial losses (i.e. from time spent off work)
Medical assistance (i.e. medication and recovery programmes)

The more severe your injuries, and the losses you have made, the more likely that you could receive a bigger claim. It is important to draw on the fact that a breach of duty has occurred. Therefore, it is their duty to compensate you from their insurance.

Overall, it depends on the extent on your injuries. The most common of traffic accident injuries is whiplash. For minor whiplash, you could claim over £3,000. However, for major whiplash you could claim between £50,000- $114,000. This is a rough estimate and, again, we would like to stress that it does depend entirely on the public accident injury case that you have been through. Build up your case with the help of an experienced RTA specialist.

How long should I wait to make a public transport accident compensation claim?

Do not wait to make your claim! This is one of the worst things that you can do. You are trying to recover from your injuries, therefore you need the appropriate funds to help you do this. Covid-19 may mean that there may be a backup of documents in the court system that could mean that your case is delayed.

To ensure that you receive the appropriate compensation in a reasonable amount of time, you should ask for compensation as soon as possible. You will have 3 years to claim compensation before your claim will become invalidated. So, make sure to speak to a trained solicitor about how you can approach your case. They will keep you updated about every move they make and how they are handling your case. That way you can get compensated for your injuries as quickly as possible.

How do I make a public transport accident compensation claim?

Although you may be tempted to make a compensation claim on your own, it is better to have the support of a solicitor to get you through the tricky jargon and court proceedings. You will need time to recover from your injuries.

If you are not injured at the scene of the accident, make sure to document evidence of what happened. This includes photographic and video evidence. You will also want to take witness statements from participants in the accident to show how the accident affected you. You can then write a letter of intent to the party who was responsible to let them know that you are going to press charges for the accident.

Once you have organized all of your information, it is time for you to get in contact with a trained RTA claims solicitor. A public traffic accident is not the same as being involved in a pedestrian accident, a car accident or any other type of road accident. They can help sort out your information and prepare you for your impending public transport accident compensation case.

Contact Gowing Law Solicitors to help with your case

All of our trained public transport accident compensation solicitors can help you with any sort of road traffic accident. You need to claim the compensation if you have been involved in an accident. This will give you the time you need to recover. Any sort of road accident can be a traumatic experience for passengers and staff on a vehicle. You deserve to feel stress-free when you recovery. So, let your trained solicitor take care of any difficulties that you may encounter. They can help understand what sort of claim you have and how you can move forward.

To contact Gowing Law, please call 0800 041 8350 or email info@gowinglaw.co.uk. One of our trained lawyers will then be in contact as quickly as possible. You can also visit our public accidents page for more information.

The most common types of pedestrian traffic accidents

Posted on June 9, 2020 by Hannah Fletcher - Blog, Traffic Accidents

Pedestrian traffic accidents are more common than you think. Did you know that around 25,000 pedestrian accidents are reported each year, with over 23% of them having serious injuries or fatal consequences? Pedestrians are extremely vulnerable and do not have the same protection that drivers have during an accident. This means a collision can have significant consequences and injuries that can effect the victims for the rest of their lives.

Drivers operate under a “duty of care” whilst they are on the road. This means they have to keep responsible and always do their best to avoid accidents on the road. If they fail, and have no evidence to prove that they tried to avoid the accident, this shows that they have breached this duty of care. The victim may then be entitled to pedestrian traffic accident compensation.

With the UK slowly opening up more stores and schools, you may need to consider how you are going to manage your commute safely to avoid accidents. This blog will help you understand the most common pedestrian accidents and how you can keep yourself, and any vulnerable people you are travelling with, as safe as possible. Gowing Law Solicitors will be there to support you if an accident does occur. Read on to learn more!

Why are pedestrian traffic accidents so common?

To be blunt about it, the reason there are so many pedestrian accidents is due to the fact that there are a wide variety of different accident types. If you are looking for compensation then you need to prove that you are not at fault, i.e. You need to show that you are not “liable” for the accidents. However, this will depend whether or not you were the one who incited the accident in the first place.

Now, the severity of the accident can depend on a number of demographic factors, including age and the type of vehicle that was involved in the accident. According to the UK’s Road Safety Data in 2019, around 10,552 contributory factors were due to the driver’s negligence. Pedestrians aged between 10-15 years old tended to be the most involved in these types of accidents, as were females over the age of 75. Take a look at the graph below for more information on the contributory influences on pedestrian traffic accidents:

Source: Road Safety Data December 2019

As you can see, there are many different reasons why an RTA between a pedestrian and vehicle could happen in the first place. It is important to consider what factors there were that built up to your accident. This could include the speed of the vehicle, what the vehicle driver was doing and whether or not any environmental factors could have added to your accident. Responsibility of your accident may depend on split liability, meaning that it was not only the other driver’s fault. Instead, there could have been a number of unsafe hazards that caused you to get hurt.

Keep an eye on these factors as they can affect how much compensation you could be owed once your case has gone to trial.

Can I claim compensation if I caused my own accident?

Unfortunately, if you were the main cause behind an RTA you will not be able to claim compensation. This is because you were negligent and breached your duty of safety to the drivers on the road. It does not matter whether you are using a vehicle or are a pedestrian. If you were antagonizing a driver, decided to run out into traffic or left a hazard on the road, this will mean that any accidents that occur for any vehicle, including motorcycles, then you have a responsibility to compensate the drivers who became victims of your negligence.

This may include:

Paying for hospital treatment
Financing future recovery treatment
Recovering lost wages
Repair costs on vehicles
Donations to fix contributed environmental damage (aka. roads)

You will not be able to ask for compensation if you have been injured. Instead, you will need to pay for it, and any other victims’ injuries, out of your own insurance. Make sure to be honest with your insurer. This will mean that the cost of your insurance policy may rise, however if you do attempt to mislead your insurer, or perhaps the court, then the consequences could be worse. Be honest and tell people exactly what happened. That way you can get it over with quickly and focus on recovering.

Every type of pedestrian traffic accidents case is different

No matter what sort of accident you have been involved in on the road, no two cases are going to be the same. You could have all the evidence in the world, but the liability of the accident will still depend on what actually took place in general.

When you go to court about your pedestrian traffic accident claim, how much you receive will depend on the:

Liability of the other driver.
Driver’s vehicle.
Environment of the accident.
Type of injuries you suffered.
Insurance of the other person.

You may find that several of these factors were the main cause behind your accident. For example, if you walked out on a green man, perhaps a traffic fault occurred in the traffic light and changed the colours too quickly. That meant that a speeding car misjudged your speed of travel, and therefore involved you in a collision. Clearly, the other driver was at fault, but the broken traffic light also had a role to play. Have a look at our infographic below to learn more about the role of these factors in your case:

The different types of pedestrian traffic accidents

Now that you have seen that there are many different types of road traffic accidents for pedestrians, and understand that your compensation case depends on liability, you need to understand what sort of accidents are clear cut and were clearly not your fault. Every driver learns that the pedestrian is a “priority hazard” on the road. If a pedestrian is in front of the vehicle, or on the road in general, then the vehicle should not be moving. That way the pedestrian can safely get off the road without there being an accident.

However, if this does not happen, and you have been involved in an accident, there are number ways you can go about it to get the compensation you deserve. Let’s begin by learning what sort of accidents could give you a compensation case:

Distracted Driving

The first responsibility of a driver on the road is to keep their attention on the road. That means they need to watch out for other vehicles, hazards and pedestrians. Drivers who are not fully focused on the road are more likely to be involved in an accident. For instance, if a driver is smoking or looking at their phone, it could be too late to notice a pedestrian crossing the street. This sort of distracted behaviour may also include talking to other people inside or outside of the vehicle.

Before you cross the street, make sure to check the speed of the drivers coming towards you. They may not be entirely focused on you and so maintain their speed instead of slowing down to allow you to cross the road. Remember that you do have the right of way if you are at a public crossing or have obeyed the “green light” of a traffic signal. However, some drivers will simply not look up from the task that is distracting them. Judge the speed and appearance of the driver in front of the steering wheel. If they look like they will not stop then refrain from crossing the road. This will prevent one of the many types of pedestrian traffic accidents

“Dart-Outs”

Put yourself in this situation, there is a set of traffic lights that are warning that in a few seconds they will change to the “red man”. This means that pedestrians cannot cross. However, a few pedestrians may think that they can still make it. They have judged that they can run fast enough to make it across the street without being hit by oncoming traffic. This is a normal thing, however accidents can happen if a vehicle immediately speeds up to cross the lights.

This is where things can get complicated. After all, it must be the pedestrian’s fault for running out into the middle of the road and misjudging their timing. However, imagine if the person is a small child or perhaps an elderly person who is slower than the others who are crossing the road. Where does the blame lie then? It could fall on the driver who does not slow down in order to protect vulnerable pedestrians.

If this is what has happened to you then make sure to discuss it with your solicitor. It may mean that there is a split liability and that both parties may have to pay compensation.

Vehicle Turns

As you can see from the diagram, one of the major ways an accident can happen is when a pedestrian appears in a driver’s blind spot. This is especially prevalent around street corners, however it can include backing up or trying to park a vehicle. A driver can only see a small amount of what lies around the corner, therefore if a pedestrian is crossing just outside of the driver’s area of vision, this means that a collision may occur. This may not be the driver’s fault as there may have been objects or hazards blocking the driver’s vision. The pedestrian may also have not seen the pedestrian if they came around the corner quickly.

Have you been involved in a similar experience? This can be a complicated issue that will depend on both parties and whether or not they were fully attentive to the road. Speak to your solicitor to ensure that it does not turn into a split liability case.

Drunk Driving

This is an example of a cut and dry case. A driver has the responsibility to remain sober and observant when they are on the road. Any sort of alcohol or drugs can make it harder to concentrate and see pedestrians that are trying to cross the street. It may also make it less likely that they are able to do an emergency stop in time, if a pedestrian does appear out of nowhere. If a driver has been drinking then you have the right to claim compensation for their negligence and thoughtless endangerment of other people on the road.

Vehicle Blocks

Now, when you think about what could be in your blind spot, have you thought about whether other vehicles could become obstacles? Naturally, car accidents can happen between different vehicles, but they could also be an obstacle that pedestrians could walk in front of. If there is a large bus or truck in front of you and you try to bypass them, they may have stopped to allow a pedestrian to cross the street. Without realizing, the driver has moved passed them and has now collided with said pedestrian.

This can lead us on nicely to another example of pedestrian endangerment. Drivers should not encourage pedestrians to step out into the street if it is genuinely not safe. A driver will not know what sort of vehicles are behind. They will not know whether another car will dart out in front of them if they have stopped. This will put the pedestrian in danger if they walk into the road and another car moves forward as they are in a hurry. They will not know the pedestrian is there.

This would mean that there might be a split liability case. To put it bluntly:

The pedestrian should not have stepped out into the road if it was not entirely safe.
The first driver is also at fault as they should not have recommended that the pedestrian should step into the street when they did not know it was not safe.
The overtaking driver caused the collision as they were not aware that there was a pedestrian in the middle of the road. They did not act patiently and wait behind the first driver. Instead, they acted too brashly and decided that they had “right of way”.

What is a pedestrian traffic accident claim?

If you are not at fault for your accident, and have been seriously hurt as a result of it, you could be due compensation. The first thing you need to think of, outside of getting treatment for your injury, is collecting evidence of your claim. If you go to court with just a “he said, she said” statement then it is highly likely that you will not get the compensation you are looking for. Instead, consider the following:

Photographic evidence (your wounds, the scene of the accident, the vehicle and their registration number).
Video evidence (i.e. a phone recording).
Evidence of what you were wearing (i.e. bright clothing, protective gear that could be easily seen).
Witness Statements
Police Statements
Financial losses you have made due to the accident (i.e. Wages, medical payments).

Overall, your evidence needs to prove that you were acting responsibly when you tried to cross the street. If you were following all of the rules of the road, this shows that the accident is the responsibility of the other person involved.

How long do I have to make an accident claim?

You will have around 3 years from the time you received the injury to make a claim. From there, the amount of time needed to resolve the case may be months or even longer. Be patient with your solicitor as they will do their best to keep you as updated as possible about your claim. That way you will always know precisely where you stand with them.

How do I move forward with my pedestrian traffic accidents compensation case?

Before you even think about your case, the first thing you should do is put your evidence together and contact your insurer to tell them that you have been involved in an accident. If you are not to blame for the accident then your record will not be affected. Instead, this will prepare you for the legal battle ahead. Once you have put all of your evidence together then you should try and find a lawyer who would be willing to represent you in court. It may be tempting to go after compensation on your own, but these sort of traffic accident claims can be very complicated. A trained pedestrian traffic accident claims solicitor can make things simple and let you know about the best way forward. They will be trained to help you with these claims and so know the correct pathway to take.

A trained pedestrian accident Gowing Law solicitor can help you!

All of our solicitors specializing in pedestrian traffic accidents are experienced and know exactly how to handle any sort of case. They can offer you free advice and consultations about your accident. If you want to work with us, then we can offer our support on a ”no win-no fee” basis. That means even if you do not get compensation then you will still come out on top.

Should you want to speak with us about your pedestrian accident compensation claim, please call 0800 041 8350, email info@gowinglaw.co.uk or have a quick chat through our messaging system on our contact page.

Do you want to read more?

Gowing Law updates its blog every week with in-depth articles on a range of law topics. Whether you want to learn more about traffic accident evidence or want to know about your rights as an employee during the pandemic, we have blogs to suit every taste. If you have your own ideas about what you would like us to write about, please just let us know! Contact info@gowinglaw.co.uk now.

We look forward to hearing from you soon!

Covid-19 & Accidents at Work: What hazards do you need to look out for?

Posted on June 5, 2020 by Hannah Fletcher - Blog, Covid-19, Employment, Work Place Accidents

No one likes dealing with accidents at work. However, Covid-19 has changed the face of what it means to have a work accident in general.

On the 13th April 2020, the UK announced that it was going to begin easing down some of its lock down regulations. That meant workers who could not work from home could return to work. Currently, there have been over 280,000 cases of Covid-19 in the UK. That’s why there is currently so much debate about whether or not it truly is safe to return to the workplace. Some think it is far too soon, others believe that the first wave has passed, however it is entirely up to you about whether or not you think you can take the risk of working in a public environment.

Your business has a legal obligation to you (aka. a duty of care) to keep you safe. No matter what sort of business you work in, they must continue to uphold government hygiene regulations. You need to understand your rights, but more importantly you need to know how you can personally minimize the bio-hazards you may encounter on your way to and in the work place. If not, you have a higher chance of catching Covid-19 than someone who is currently working remotely.

Read on to learn how you can keep yourself safe. If you do end up getting ill because of your work place’s negligence, please contact Gowing Law Solicitors. We can help you make a claim for a work accident compensation or even represent you at an employer tribunal. All of this can be done remotely.

Remote Working

Honestly, one of the safest ways that you can avoid the virus is to work from home. If you have the chance to do this then take up this opportunity. It can truly help you avoid any accidents at work. Over 51% of the global population have internet, therefore if you think that a work environment is unsafe, it is your right to ask for changes or to work outside of it.

Not only will it protect you from the transmission of Covid-19 but you may find that it helps you create a more engaging work space that increases your productivity. For instance, if you are easily distracted by noise pollution in your work environment, your workspace at home can provide a peaceful place that you can retreat to.

Speak to your employer about continuing to work from home if you are suffering Covid-19 related anxiety. You may be a vulnerable person or simply don’t want to take the risk for the sake of your loved-ones, family and the people you live with. Any good employer will understand your worries and try to work with you to create a compromise where you can feel safe. This may mean that you work from home indefinitely or come into the office only a few times a week. You can also recommend that they look at the free remote safety courses that have been released by the government. They can help you manage stress and create an employee safety plan.

Keep in contact with your employer and stay inside as much as possible in a comfortable work environment. This will help you get the most out of working remotely.

Working Onsite: Lowering the Risk from accidents at work

If you have no choice but to go back to work, as you are an essential worker or perhaps your employer has put in safety regulations that include social distancing, you may be feeling scared about taking this risk. That’s why it’s essential to keep safe when you are:

Commuting to work.
Working in the office environment.
Using work office supplies.
Getting lunch/ using the kitchen.
Using the work bathroom.
Interacting with other employees/colleagues.
Commuting home.

You need to think about which areas in particular are going to be hot spots for germs. It is also wise to consider which of your colleagues may potentially be an asymptomatic spreader. Create a mental (or physical) plan that can remind you of how you can prevent the spread of Covid-19 and what biological hazards could harm you. This could be different depending on your work environment. For instance, construction workers may have different obstacles to office workers. Consider your environment carefully and what you can do to lower the rate of transmission.

Keeping safe on your commute to work

One of your biggest challenges is going to be actually getting to work. As the country has currently been in lock down for over 10 weeks, it is likely that many people have not been considering their commute. This includes using transport safely on the road, and claiming compensation if an accident happens. Naturally, to help with social distancing, some changes have needed to be made to the road, social transport and the amount of people who can go on transport at a time.

Private Transport

The first thing you need to consider, as you go on your commute to work, is what sort of vehicle you are going to use. If you are using a car then you do not need to worry about interacting with other people. However, you may want to avoid giving lifts or asking for rides from different people. If it is your car, make sure to keep sanitation products in the car with you. This includes hand gel, travel sized soap and napkins. You may also want to keep a mask in the car with you for you to wear when you leave the vehicle.

Remember, you will want to wash/ sterilize your hands before and after you touch the steering wheel. This will mean that you will not transfer germs to other environments. It will also help you avoid bio-specific accidents at works

Public Transport

Not all of us can be lucky enough to own our own cars. Instead, many commute to their place of work on either a bus or a train (i.e. The London Tube). According to Lloyds Banking Group, British workers actually spend around 492 days of their lives commuting to their work place. 33% of the people interviewed even said that the normal commute is usually crowded. In terms of catching the Corona Virus, this is where you can be most vulnerable.

A public commute can be a hazard in itself. You are mingling with a range of different people who come from all over your town, different cities or even from all over the country. Being in close proximity means that you have a higher chance of catching or spreading the virus. Remember to stick to social distancing rules if you can, or maybe ask if you can change up your working hours in order to avoid rush hour.

From the 15th of June, it will be mandatory to wear a mask on public transport. Make sure to combine this with hand gel when you get on and off your commute transport. That way you can avoid spreading germs you may have caught on the commute to work, especially as you are avoiding bringing germs into your work place.

Cycling

Recently, the UK government has advised that if people are going to commute to work, it should be through greener vehicles. This includes walking and cycling. If you are going to try and do this, one of the most important things you need to do is plot out your route. That way you will know precisely which the safest areas are to travel around your city. You can also time how long it will take you to get to work and back, as well as how you can avoid other people.

However, keep in mind you may need to think of the other dangers that the road could present, whether you are a bike or a motorcycle:

Judge the weather to ensure no accidents can happen due to slippery surfaces.
Watch out for other vehicles on the road, especially if there are aggressive drivers.
Watch out for unseen vehicles during busy commuting hours.
Wear appropriate cycling protective gear, like helmets, gloves and cycling shoes.
Make sure your bike has received full maintenance and can work (i.e. make sure its breaks are not broken or you have a flat tyre).
Oil your chains and keep them clean to ensure no problems happen whilst you are on the road.
Make sure there are no hazards on the road that cause you to fall from your bike

If you do end up in an accident due to a cycling accident, Gowing Law Solicitors can help you claim compensation if the accident was not your fault. You do not have to go through a RTA case alone. Instead, you can have the support of a trained solicitor.

In the Work Place

Unfortunately, the safety hazards do not stop when you arrive in the office. In fact, this is where social distancing may become more of a challenge. This is because you are going to spend most of your time trying to figure out ways of staying away from colleagues in your office. You can meet up with groups of up to 6 people as long as you keep your distance from them. However, if you do not want to risk this then you can tell your manager that you do not feel safe in your office. This could prevent accidents at work

If your workspace does not follow these regulations, and you do end up getting ill, then you have every reason to file an employer negligence complaint against them. After all, they have not taken the appropriate steps to ensure your safety. In fact, they have put you in harm’s way by asking you to come into an unsafe environment. That means accidents at work are practically imminent

The Three Categories of Hazards in the Work Place

Colleagues
Shared Work spaces, surfaces and equipment
Small work areas

Here is what you need to watch out for in relation to these different problems in the workspace.

Keep hygienic when you are in the office and remember to wash your hands whenever you touch a different surface or piece of equipment. You may also want to consider washing your hands if you are going to eat or drink anything. That way you can avoid picking up germs on your food or beverages. This may sound paranoid, but it is the best way to ensure that all social distancing practices can be maintained. That way you can avoid any type of accidents at work.

For more information on the best practices to avoid bio-hazards in the work office, check out the UK Government’s latest advice through their website. It contains different details on various work environments.

What to do if you get ill as a result of a hazardous work environment/accidents at work?

There is only so much you can do to protect yourself from Covid-19. If your work environment does not employ the latest sanitation advice from the government then it should not be open for business. They have breached their duty of care for you and your fellow employees, therefore you could potentially claim compensation from them, either as a personal injury or in an employment tribunal.

Just remember, if you have symptoms you will need to self-isolate for 14 days. The same will be true for anyone who lives with you.

Gowing Law Solicitors can represent you and get you compensation!

Getting Covid-19 at work could be classified as either employer negligence or an accident at work claim. You may feel a little worried about claiming compensation from your company. However, if you have the appropriate evidence to prove that their hazardous environment was the cause of your illness, you could be due compensation.

Before you leave your work space, make sure to take any notes or photographic evidence of any accidents at work. That way you can prove your company is not providing a safe environment. Working with a trained personal injury solicitor can help you figure out whether or not you could be owed anything. They work on a “no win, no fee” basis and also offer free advice and consultations. That way, you will always know what sort of claim you could make and what you could be entitled to.

Contact Gowing Law Solicitors now for more information about Covid-19 and your rights if you get ill. You need to be prepared for anything and we can help you remotely! Please call 0800 041 8350, email info@gowinglaw.co.uk or use our direct messaging system on our contact page.

We look forward to working with you soon to get you the compensation that you deserve. Just let us know the types of accidents at work you have experienced and we will help you.

Want to read more about work place hazards?

At Gowing Law, we are dedicated to bringing our customers the latest information about different law topics. This includes information about the rights of employees during Covid-19 and how to create a will if you are feeling anxious about the future. Keep updated about the latest laws by looking at our blogging page. We would also be happy to write about any topics you may suggest. So, feel free to let us know what you would be interested in by emailing info@gowinglaw.co.uk.

A Quick Guide to Road Traffic Accident Compensation Claims

Posted on June 4, 2020 by Hannah Fletcher - Blog, Traffic Accidents, Uncategorised

Road traffic accident compensation can really help you through a difficult time in your life. Being involved in an accident on the road can be traumatic and can leave you with both mental and physical scars. That’s why if you have recently been in an accident where you were not at fault, you may be considering claiming compensation from the other party. RTA claims can be very complicated and depend mostly on the evidence that is brought to the courts. You do not want to undertake them by yourself, especially if you have been injured.

If you learn about the basics of RTA compensation claims, you can leave the difficult parts of your case to your experienced solicitor. That way you can know exactly what sort of evidence you need, how to determine who was at fault and how much you could potentially receive from a successful RTA claim. This guide will help you get started with the basics of RTA compensation claims. Read on to learn more!

What is classified as a Road Traffic Accident?

A road traffic accident usually entails a collision between vehicles or a personal injury that someone has experienced due to driving on the road. There are lots of different ways that people could be involved in a traffic accident:

As you can see, there are many different types of hazards that come in the forms of other vehicles, people and stationary objects. These can damage you and the vehicle you are driving. Always be aware of the road and the different types of drivers that inhabit it. Your situation can change in a split second. This is when an accident can happen. There are several factors that can determine whether or not an accident can happen on the road. However, the main two that you need to understand are negligence and liability.

If you were involved in a road traffic accident, you need to prove that someone else was the cause of it. In other words, you need to prove that they hold the liability. This could include the other driver, the government for not ensuring your environment was safe or even your vehicle’s manufacturer. This is why RTA cases can get very complicated.

For more information about different types of vehicle accident compensation claims, please visit the following pages:

Determining who was at fault

Road traffic accident compensation is only given to those who can prove that they were not the cause of an accident. Instead, they did everything in their power to try and stop it. However, the situation was simply out of control. This is where your evidence will need to come into play. It will determine what the real factors were in your accident. Take a look at some examples of who may have been at fault in the first place:

When you make a road traffic compensation claim, you can ask for a pay out from any of these potential parties. If they were at fault then it is their responsibility to ensure you are helped financially. This includes helping you with:

Coping with your injuries.
Covering any financial burdens you may have thanks to being off work.
Any vehicle repairs

Do not worry about asking for this compensation. This is one of the main reasons why the UK government requires all vehicles to have some form of insurance if they are actively on the road. You will not be actively taking money from the person if they are protected by their insurer. Instead, you will simply getting help from another financial source. You will only be burdening them if they have not been insured.

Contributory Negligence

When you make a compensation claim about an accident on the road, you need to consider the reasons behind your injuries. If you are at fault for the accident, you will not get compensation for this. Instead, you may have to end up paying compensation to the other party. However, even if you are the main victim of the accident, there are factors that may lower the amount of compensation you receive.

For instance, were you wearing your seat belt? If you were not then this could mean that this was “contributory negligence.” You knew that not wearing a seat belt could worsen or prevent some of your injuries. But you still did it.

Just remember, the injuries you do receive depend on the medical opinion of a doctor. However, if you are found guilty of contributory negligence, you could lose up to 25% of your compensation. Try your best to keep as safe as you can when you are on the road. That way if you are in an accident, you can claim as much compensation as you can.

What if both participants in the accident were at fault?

Road traffic accident compensation claims are not always simply cut and dry. Instead, they may show that both parties were at fault for the accident. For instance, both may have been under the influence of alcohol or experiencing road rage that made them compete against each other.

If this is the case then liability can actually be shared. Each party must pay a certain percentage of the claims through their insurance. Make sure to discuss this carefully with your lawyer. If you were slightly at fault for the accident, it can still mean that you can get a small pay-out.

How do you make a vehicle insurance claim?

Any accidents you experience in your car will be traumatic. When you exit the vehicle you may not be thinking straight. You may immediately just want to get away as quickly as possible. However, it is essential that you take down the licence plate, time, location and insurance details of the other driver. You may also want to take pictures and call the police in order to have a police report filed to make sure no details are skipped over. You may also want to contact your insurer or the Financial Ombudsman Bureau so you can talk about making a claim or how you can take the case to court. This can also be done with an experienced lawyer.

Why should you claim compensation from a traffic accident?

Being involved in a RTA can be one of the most traumatic events in your life. It can cause physical and mental damages that can throw your world into disarray. You may feel out of control, especially if you have been forced to take sick leave in order to recuperate. It’s time for you to take back control and help yourself move on from your injuries.

Here are some additional reasons why you may want to file for road traffic accident compensation:

You are making a very good move claiming compensation, despite the bad situation that you have been thrown in. Sometimes accidents simply happen and it can’t be changed. You are legally entitled to the money, therefore, you should be able to take it and use it to help your recovery. You did not ask for someone else’s carelessness to injure you. In fact, you may be forced to endure constant treatments to help you get back on your feet.

Can you claim for more than just physical damages?

Yes! You can. If you have suffered any mental trauma, psychological issues or financial damages due to your injuries, you can reclaim this from your compensation. You can even use the compensation to hire out a vehicle whilst your own is being repaired. Think carefully about you want to use the compensation for. This will greatly affect your case.

What do you need for a successful RTA compensation claim?

Think of your road traffic compensation claim as a number of building blocks. You may start off with trying to figure out the main cause of your claim. This includes figuring out who was to blame for the accident. Remember, someone at fault is not the same as someone being liable. Road users have a duty of care towards others. Failure to take safety actions, e.g. to stop an accident, can mean that this duty of care has been breached.

Looking into The Highway Code can be a good way of determining whether someone is liable for an accident. For instance, an experienced driver would make sure to check all of their blind spots to ensure they can safely carry out a manoeuvre or enter into a junction. If not, then they have breached their duty of care for others on the road and, also, the passengers who have been in your vehicle.

All of these different factors will be determined by the type of evidence you have. You may want to consider using:

Photographic Evidence
Video Footage (Aka. a dash cam)
Witness Notes
Diary Entries
Police Reports
Insurance Reports
Doctors Reports
Expenses Receipts
Work Information (I.e. SSP or sick notes)

Make sure to take down as much detail as possible, especially if you are making notes about different communications with important figures in the case. This could include your lawyer, your insurance firm and any firms that require payment (i.e. medical recuperation specialist centers).

How much compensation could I claim from an accident?

Go on any sort of claims website and you will see them predicting that you could earn thousands in compensation. This is true, but it honestly depends on the type of case you have. You need to look at the evidence you have of liability, the severity of your wounds and whether or not the other driver accepts blame. Instead of predicting the amount of compensation on your own, it would be better to speak to a trained specialist who can estimate the amount you could be due, such as a Gowing Law solicitor in Manchester.

How long will it take to make a claim?

Again, this depends on the complexity of your case. If it is a simple case with clear evidence of who was to blame, it could be settled in a few months. However, more complicated cases could take longer, especially if the defendant wishes to also ask for compensation for damages. Speak to your lawyer about a timeline. They can help you figure out how long you will need to collect compensation and what obstacles could be in the way of it. Remember to ask for updates about your case! That way you can always know what is going on.

A Gowing Law Solicitor can help you with your claim

You need help if you are thinking about making a claim for road traffic accident compensation. These cases can get extremely complicated, even if you know all about the basics of making a claim. That’s where a Gowing Law Solicitor can help you. Our trained experts offer free advice and consultations. They can estimate how long your case will take and how much compensation you could be owed. If you decide to work with them, they work on a “no win – no fee” basis, meaning that you will always come out on top.

Each case is different, meaning that there is no guarantee that you will get the perfect outcome. However, if you have an experienced traffic accident lawyer on your side, you can improve the chance that you will be able to apply for compensation. Make sure to tell your lawyer as many detail and facts as possible. You may also want to present them with a file of your evidence. That way they can quickly let you know how likely it is that you can prove that you were the true victim of the road accident.

If you want to learn more about different traffic accident compensation cases, contact Gowing Law Solicitors today! You can do this by calling 0800 041 8350, emailing info@gowinglaw.co.uk or directly chatting through our contact page.

Let us know how we can help you win your case!

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What sort of evidence do you need to win traffic accident compensation?

Posted on June 1, 2020 by Hannah Fletcher - Blog, Traffic Accidents, Uncategorised

Traffic accident compensation cases can be complicated. Not only do you need to figure out precisely who was at fault for the accident but a lot of the time you may not have the right evidence needed to satisfy a jury that you were primarily the victim of a traffic accident. A verdict may come back that it was due to split liability or even contributory negligence, aka. Only partial negligence on the road. You need to be prepared for any sort of outcome. However, if you have appropriate evidence to back up your claim then it is likely that you will get an extremely high pay out. But you may be asking yourself what sort of evidence would stand up in court? That is where this blog can help you!

Gowing Law Solicitors can offer you expert advice on your claim and can go through your case to ensure the right evidence is presented at the appropriate time. Let’s learn precisely what evidence you need to consider if you want to have a successful traffic claims case.

What counts as a traffic accident?

Whether you have suffered a large or small injury due to a traffic accident, you could be legally entitled to compensation. This is available to any type drivers, including:

Road accidents can include whiplash, airbag and seatbelt injuries to anyone of any age. It does not matter whether you are a child or an adult. If you have been hurt during a traffic accident, you (or someone that you love) are due compensation. Here are the main causes of road accidents, if any apply to you then you may need to consider speaking to a solicitor about your claim.

Were you at fault for the traffic accident?

Road traffic accidents (RTA) can be traumatic experiences for all victims involved. This includes the victims in the motor vehicles or any pedestrians. You may be feeling a bit shaken from your accident. However, it is essential that you consider whether or not it was your fault. That way you can figure out whether or not you could be owed compensation. These are the ways you may not be able to claim compensation, if you are found to be at fault:

If none of these apply to you, then your next step is to consider how much compensation you think you could be owed. Your compensation will depend on your injury severity and the cost of any resulting losses. This may include:

Earnings that you have lost (i.e. through time off work).
Any medical expenses that you received whilst in hospital or physio-rehabilitation.
Any travel expenses (i.e. being forced to travel to a distant specialized hospital).
Private support/care to help rehabilitate you.
Disability additions to your house.
Emotional & Physical damages.
Mobility assistance

Every traffic accident claims situation is different. Small details can make a big difference. For instance, were you wearing a seat belt during the accident? Whilst it is a legal requirement to wear a seat belt, it will not stop you from making a compensation claim. Instead, it will just affect the amount of compensation you receive if your claim is successful. Think carefully about the small details of the traffic accident you were involved in. This can potentially create a big impact.

The Evidence of a RTA Claim

Your case cannot be a matter of “he said, she said.” Instead, you need to have cold hard facts to back up your version of events. Yes, you may have vehicle insurance to protect your automobile financially, should it need repairs, but you need to think about what could count as evidence to provide you with additional compensation for your own personal injuries and to help fix your vehicle.

Let’s have a look at Mr Carl Claim’s story for some basic ideas of what we should be looking for:

Now, the first thing from this story that you need to consider is whether or not Carl Claims was at fault. If he has appropriate evidence then he can prove that he did try to prevent an accident by doing an emergency break, but the speed of the other car stopped it from being effective, this can show that he was the victim of the incident. This could mean that he is due compensation to help with the damages of his car and to get him through medical treatment. He clearly indicated that he had a job, therefore, it can also help him re-claim any costs he may have lost from not being able to go to work or claim statutory sick pay (SSP).

So, what could Carl use to back up his claim? Here are some examples of useful evidence:

Photographic Evidence

One of the most useful things that you are going to have for evidence are photographs. Most people have a phone nowadays, therefore you should have access to a camera! Now, don’t try and harass the other person involved in the accident with your photographs. Instead, snap the essentials. Take their licence plate number, pictures of the damages, any injuries you have suffered and, most importantly, your environment. You will need to prove that you were in a specific area at a certain time when the accident happened. If there are any road markings or witnesses, you may also want to use photos to capture them if they are happy to be photographed.

Why, you may ask? Well, all of these photos are to prove that the liability of the incident should either fall on the other person in the incident or on a factor that is outside of your control. For example, a pothole on a road may have burst one of your tires and forced you to swerve. This was due to government negligence, not your own driving ability. Try to take as many photos as possible to prove:

How the accident was not your fault.
What hardships you suffered due to the accident.
Who was there at the time of the accident.
How you tried to handle the accident in a calm and mature manner.

These photos corroborate your story. Therefore, you should aim to capture as many important images as possible. You will never know what you will find useful, especially if you take pictures of road signs and the other person is charged for negligence (aka. speeding!)

Video Evidence

There is only one thing that is more powerful than photographic evidence. That is video evidence! Nowadays, you can get “dash cams” that can attach to the inside of your car and record both you and the road. This can help you prove that you tried to implement basic manoeuvres to avoid the accident. You can show liability and point out evidence where you were the clear victim, including problematic driving, negligence or even dangerous environments. You can also video the incident after it happened. Make sure to film any injuries and the environment, and show the result of the negligence of the other driver or what happened to any other victims.

Police Documentation/Evidence

Were the police called at the time of your accident? Perhaps the other person in the crash became violent, or maybe you required urgent medical assistance. Either way, the police force can be witnesses in themselves. They take notes from both parties and evidence from the scene, and will file reports that talk about what happened for the accident to occur. As this is an impartial view, and is completely unbiased, this can add to your case if the documentation is in your favor. If you have been in contact with the police, make sure to alert your lawyer to this. They can ensure that you have their appropriate statements ready to be used for your case.

Witness Reports

Carrying on from the previous point, other drivers and pedestrians can make your case stronger by providing testimonies. If you know of anyone who witnessed the accident, and you do not require immediate medical attention, make sure to ask for their contact details. If you are worried that they might forget what they saw at the crash, you can ask for their statements to provide evidence to validate your case. Witnesses testimonies are impartial therefore they can really help with your traffic accident compensation claim.

Diary Events

It can be traumatic being part of an accident. When you are in one, the first thing you have to do is ensure that you are not hurt. The stress can make everything far more difficult, especially if you are trying to concentrate and make sure you are safe. But if you have put yourself in a safe place, and you do not require immediate medical treatment, make sure to write out your version of the events.

If it was written at the time of the traffic accident, this can show an account of what happened without your memory getting in the way. Whilst it may be biased, it can still detail specifics that you may forget about as time progresses. You may also have suffered from head injuries, making certain details more difficult to remember. If you cannot remember what happened, it would be wiser to rely on your witnesses for their testimonies.

Expenses/ Receipts

One of the main things that you need to prove after you have had a traffic accident is that the other person caused you more than physical damages. You may have financial damages that are due to the state of your vehicle and your inability to do your job. That’s why you need to provide documentation that showed you were forced to pay to help with your recovery. This could include medical bills and evidence to prove that you have lost your wage (i.e. a letter from your company.) Write down what expenses you have been forced to pay and then see what documented evidence you can produce to show that your injuries are causing you financial damage.

Doctor’s Notes

If you need additional evidence to show the extent of your injuries, it is always wise to seek the help of a medical professional. They can assess your injuries and let you know what help you might need to recovery. This can include physio sessions and different types of medication you will need to pay for. Having your doctor’s note can also prove the expenses that needed to be paid after you suffered from your accident.

How do you organize your evidence?

This is where you need the help of an experienced solicitor to organize your traffic accident compensation evidence. You need to decide what will be the most relevant to your case. You may want to consider:

Keeping a file of your evidence that can have different sections for photographs, lists, your documents and even your correspondence with the other victims and witnesses.
Organizing your letters so your know where to find your notification letters, insurance company letters, medical letters, “demands letter” and any other correspondence.
Creating an online file for your photographs and videos. Don’t forget to keep them secure on a transfer stick. That way if your computer breaks then you will still have your evidence.
Asking your solicitor to start organizing your evidence. However, you will need to bring them all of your documentation.

Your trained traffic accident solicitor will look at all of the details of your case and let you know which are the most important aspects of your case. That way, when you do go to court, you know which pieces of evidence will create the best impression of what happened during your accident, and how it has affected you now. Remember to take your notes effectively and be as specific as possible.

Gowing Law Solicitors can help you with your traffic accident compensation claim

Traffic accident claims can be extremely complicated. You can choose to file a compensation claim on your own by visiting the UK Government’s website, however you may find that you earn less compensation than you originally think you are entitled to. An experienced lawyer in Manchester can help you understand your case in detail and tell you what you are owed precisely. That way you can know exactly whether or not you should try and make a claim.

Gowing Law’s trained solicitors can offer you free advice and schedule in a consultation to talk about what happened to you. You can bring your evidence and they will make sure to look at everything in detail. If you decide to work with our team of experts, you will see that they work via on a “no-win, no-fee” basis. That means even if you do not win your case, you will not need to pay any fees to your solicitor. The solicitor that works with you will bring their experience and help you get the compensation that you decide.

To get in contact with Gowing Law Solicitors and our experienced traffic accident compensation team, please call 0800 041 8350, email info@gowinglaw.co.uk or chat via direct message on our contact page.

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Here at Gowing Law, we always want to make sure our clients are kept up-to-date with the latest law knowledge and information about the UK. We understand you may be feeling nervous about the recent pandemic, especially if you are being forced to go back to work. Make sure to learn about your rights as an employee and how to work in a safe environment. If you have a topic you would like to suggest for our blog, make sure to let us know by contacting info@gowinglaw.co.uk. We would be more than happy to write about it.

We look forward to helping you with your traffic accident claim soon!

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