Dallas McMillan's Glasgow Lawyers' Blog

The European Commission has launched a public consultation to help victims of cross-border traffic accidents, who may currently face difficulties because of varying time limits for claiming compensation for damage in case of an accident abroad in the EU. The consultation will run until 19th November.

Vice-President Viviane Reding, the EU's Justice Commissioner said: "There are around one million road traffic accidents in the EU every year and some of these inevitably involve visitors from other EU countries. A road accident is a stressful experience for anyone, but it can get even worse if the victim is denied compensation due to complicated rules on bringing a claim.

“The European Commission wants to find out more so that we can offer effective solutions and make sure all victims have proper access to justice. European Citizens should feel at ease when using their car to go on holiday in another EU country."

Currently, different national rules lead to a confusing situation for victims, who may miss the sometimes short deadlines and end up receiving no compensation at all. The aim of the consultation is to get a better idea of the scale of the problem and to assess potential solutions.

Possible solutions that are addressed in the public consultation range from improving information to victims of cross-border road accidents, to harmonising limitation and prescription periods (the time limits for bringing legal action for damages following an accident).

The consultation is aimed at road traffic accident victims, all those who travel abroad with their car, legal practitioners, insurers and any other interested individual or organisation.

We have been asked to explain what members of the public should do if they are unfortunately injured in an accident. There are three common types of accident that result in people making claims for compensation – road traffic accidents, accidents at work and slipping or tripping accidents. In each case there are three things you can do to maximise your chances of successfully recovering compensation.

Dallas McMillan are delighted to announce the launch of their revolutionary new App – Dallas McMillan RTA Assistance. We have developed the App to provide immediate assistance for all road users involved in road traffic accidents. Whether you are a commercial driver, a private driver, a cyclist, a pedestrian or even a passenger involved in a road traffic accident, Dallas McMillan RTA Assistance will give you all the legal and administrative help you need in the event of a road traffic accident.

An investment of around £200 million is urgently needed to tackle high risk sections of ‘A’ roads across the UK and reduce the number of people killed and injured on the roads.

Long-awaited plans to increase maximum sentences for drivers who cause death by speeding, racing or using a mobile phone have been announced by the Ministry of Justice.

Transport Scotland has published the final road casualty figures for 2016, which confirm that 191 people lost their lives in Scotland during that year, a rise of 14% compared to the previous year.

The UK Government has launched a review into cycle safety following a series of high profile incidents involving cyclists.

Transport Scotland has recently published figures giving an insight into the number of deaths and injuries that occurred on Scotland’s roads during 2016.

Road safety charity IAM RoadSmart has described using a hand-held mobile phone while in control of a vehicle as a fatal distraction.

The most recent road casualty figures from the Department for Transport have revealed a rise in the number of people killed or seriously injured, which has prompted road safety charity Brake to call for more preventative action by Government.

Road safety charity Brake has welcomed a recent police campaign targeting illegal mobile phone use behind the wheel.

The issue of drink driving is very much under the spotlight at this time of year, with the police, Government and various road safety organisations all launching their festive anti-drink driving campaigns in an attempt to reduce the number of injuries and deaths occurring on the roads.

The latest statistics from Transport Scotland have confirmed that one hundred and sixty-eight people were killed in reported road accidents in Scotland in 2015, which is a reduction of 17% compared to 2014.

The Supreme Court has recently been called upon to decide which country’s laws should be followed when determining the appropriate level of compensation to be awarded where a British citizen is injured in an accident abroad.

The UK Government is due to release detailed road casualty figures for 2014. According to the RAC Foundation, these are expected to show that last year in Great Britain 1,775 people died on the roads (a 4% increase on the year before).  A further 22,807 were seriously injured (a 5% annual increase).

Britain is still failing to adequately tackle its drink driving problem, leading to too many deaths and serious injuries on the roads, road safety charity Brake has warned.

Road safety charity Brake has recently set out its vision for a future free of the needless trauma of road death and injury.

Brake, the road safety charity, has called upon the Scottish Government to take steps to reverse an increase in the number of deaths on Scotland’s roads.