Road Accident News

18th May 2012
Cycle accidents in Nottinghamshire increase by a third
Road accidents involving cyclists have increased sharply over the past year in Nottinghamshire.

18th May 2012
Surgical procedure provides hope after Spinal Cord Injuries
Surgeons in the USA have successfully carried out 'Nerve Bypass' surgery on a patient who had been paralysed from the neck down in a road accident two years previously. The result of the surgery and the intensive physiotherapy which followed is that the man now has some movement in his hands and arms enabling him to hold objects, feed himself and also write to some degree.

11th May 2012
Cyclist’s double wrist fracture leads to early retirement and compensation
A Norfolk County Council worker and UNISON member who was forced to take medical retirement after she suffered nasty fractures to both her wrists after a cycling accident has received a significant sum in compensation.

2nd May 2012
Call for widespread 20mph speed limits to reduce pedestrian and cyclist injuries
The road safety charity Brake are campaigning to have 20mph speed limits implemented in all communities across the UK, replacing the 30mph speed limits often seen around schools and other built-up areas.

22nd April 2012
Woman left with serious injuries after a car crashes into Good Hope Hospital
A car which collided with a shop wall at Birmingham's Good Hope Hospital has left a woman with serious injuries.

2nd April 2012
Cyclist hit by car receives damages
A cyclist who was involved in an accident after he was hit by a car has received £18,000 in compensation.

29th March 2012
Young man left with crushed legs by drunk driver receives compensation
A teenager whose life was dramatically changed when his legs were crushed when a drunk driver ploughed into him as he stood with friends outside a nightclub has received a six figure sum in compensation.

14th March 2012
Lorries involved in one fifth of serious cycling accidents
A study has found that one fifth of cyclists seriously injured in an accident have been involved in a collision with a heavy goods vehicle (HGV).

7th February 2012
The threat of injury runs the risk of putting off the commuter cyclist
Cycling boasts a range of benefits, and in today's society commuters are encouraged to cycle to and from work where possible. However the risks involved in cycling on Britain's road are putting many commuters off using a bike.

25th January 2012
Cyclist Killed on North East Road
The dangers faced by cyclists from a lack of awareness by some motorists has been highlighted following another death.

23rd January 2012
Motorcyclists given permanent access to bus lanes
Motorcyclists have permanent access to 'red route' bus lanes in central London from 23rd January 2012 and aall road users are being urged to take extra care.

12th January 2012
UNISON member compensated after damaging spine in car accident
A UNISON member who was involved in a car accident and was left needing spinal surgery has received compensation after help from her trade union's lawyers.

21st December 2011
Cyclist seriously injured in accident receives six figure sum in damages
A father of three who was left for dead after his bike was hit by a car on his way to work has received a six figure sum in damages after help from his trade union lawyers.

13th December 2011
Fatalities on the A590 in Cumbria
Statistics compiled by Cumbria Constabulary have revealed that 30 people have been killed on the A590 between the end of 2000 and the end of 2010.

7th December 2011
Sixteenth cyclist death in London
A former art student and charity volunteer became the sixteenth cyclist to be killed on London's roads so far this year.

6th December 2011
Mobility scooter collision leaves pensioner with serious injuries
A 79-year-old woman has been left with serious injuries after a van collided with her mobility scooter.

21st November 2011
Fatal Cyclist Accident
Cyclists are at greater risk as the winter months are upon us, and the dangers were highlighted by the tragic death of a cyclist in Stockton on Tees.

18th November 2011
Car accident victim receives £850,000 after disabling injury
A man left needing more than 30 operations on his seriously injured leg following a car accident has received £850,000 in compensation after help from Thompsons Solicitors.

28th October 2011
Interactive guide - Explains what rights you have as a cyclist and what laws you have to observe

26th October 2011
Launch of child road safety campaign
The Department of Transport has launched a new road safety campaign aimed at children.

25th October 2011
Cyclists urged to be doubly careful as nights draw in
As the nights, and mornings, get darker cyclists are being urged to be doubly careful by one of the specialist solicitors often called in to help deal with the consequences of accidents.

20th October 2011
Family of car crash victim receives damages
The family of a teenager who was killed in a car crash has received damages for his death from the car driver's insurers.

20th October 2011
Campaign for improved road safety
A mother from Sheffield is campaigning for an improvement in road safety after her nine-year-old son was seriously injured on a road in the Manor area of the city.

13th October 2011
Pedestrian crossing injuries result in £110,000 in damages
A GMB Northern member, who was seriously injured when he was hit by a car on a zebra crossing, has received £110,000 in compensation, with the support of the union.

12th October 2011
Civil servant condemns hounding by car insurers after accidents
A civil servant who was hounded by insurers just hours after being injured in a car crash to accept £1,000 for her injuries when it was worth five times that sum has warned others not to get conned into settling before they get independent advice.

7th October 2011
Bus driver loses second leg
A London bus driver who lost his right leg at the age of 5 but used a prosthetic limb, led a full life, and many people did not know he was an amputee. He fears he may never work again after losing his second leg in a horrific accident.

3rd October 2011
Blind spot motorway accidents increase
The amount of road traffic accidents caused by drivers failing to check their blind spot has risen by almost half over the last two years, a study has revealed.

27th September 2011
Interactive guide - Explains what safety equipment you are required to have on your bike

23rd September 2011
Thompsons Solicitors celebrates 90 years fighting for justice for injured people
Thompsons Solicitors, the most experienced personal injury law firm in the UK, is celebrating 90 years since being established in September 1921.

22nd September 2011
School Bus Crash in Darlington
This morning in Darlington, a school bus carrying approximately 50 students hit a low railway bridge, resulting in many of the passengers requiring hospital treatment.

8th September 2011
David Miliband MP highlights dangers of cycling without a helmet
South Shields MP, David Miliband will be highlighting the dangers of cycling without a helmet during a visit to Harton Primary School on Friday, September 9, 2011.

31st August 2011
Statistics released from study into the leading causes of fatal road accidents
Everyday in the UK 6 people are killed in motor vehicle collisions, 68 people are left with serious injuries and a further 535 people are left with minor injuries.

19th August 2011
Motorcycle pillion passenger killed in collision
Police investigations are under way after a 48 year old woman was killed on the 15th August.

15th August 2011
Cyclists and HGV’s
Cyclists face danger of serious injuries such as brain injury or even death in accidents with HGV's.

9th August 2011
Changes to pothole repair rules on major roads
From 2015, potholes on roads operated by the Highways Agency will need to be at least 15cm wide or 4cm deep before repairs are classed as urgent. These new regulations mean that smaller potholes may be left for weeks or months before a repair is made.

4th August 2011
Car accident victim receives damages for whiplash injuries
A business woman who was forced to give up her career after she was involved in a car accident has received £309,500 in compensation after help from Thompsons Solicitors.

13th July 2011
Brain Injuries Awareness
Brain injuries can affect anyone, but it can be particularly prevalent amongst children and young adults. David Robinson, specialist brain injuries solicitor at national firm Thompsons Solicitors, is working with partner groups to help raise awareness amongst school children as to the particular dangers of not wearing cycle helmets.

30th June 2011
Students set off on cycling challenge to raise money and awareness
A group of students from Stockton are tackling the Coast to Coast bike ride in a dual effort to raise money for the school and awareness about cycling safely.

24th June 2011
Road Safety Awareness: Reducing Brain Injuries
David Robinson, a solicitor who works as part of a team of specialist brain injury solicitors at national law firm Thompsons Solicitors, has recently attended an assembly at Ayresome Primary School, Middlesbrough, to mark the end of their 'Stay Safe Week'.

15th June 2011
Family welcomes law aimed at uninsured drivers
The family of a teenager, who suffered a brain injury after being hit by an uninsured driver, has welcomed a new law which makes it illegal to own a vehicle without insurance.

15th June 2011
One in 20 drivers do not wear seatbelts, according to a survey carried out by the AA
The AA has carried out the biggest ever Streetwatch survey of driver behaviour conducted in Britain. The findings were compiled by 400 volunteers who observed 40,000 vehicles in April and May this year.

8th June 2011
Father’s Unite membership helps teenager claim damages after terrifying car accident
The teenage daughter of a Unite member whose back was broken in a horrific car accident has received compensation after help from the trade union's solicitors.

1st June 2011
Council pays damages to injured cyclist who hit massive pot hole
A keen cyclist has warned of the danger of pot holes in Bedfordshire after he dislocated his shoulder when his bike hit a 10 inch long hole on a busy road.

12th May 2011
Nurse compensated for crash caused by drunken driver
In a case at the Royal Courts of Justice (RCJ) today (12 May), UNISON, the UK's leading public sector union, has won £441,227 for a nurse who suffered disabling injuries after her car was hit by a drunken driver.

14th March 2011
Reckless driver hits pedestrian on Zebra crossing
A pedestrian hit by a car on a zebra crossing in a busy town centre has received almost £4,000 in compensation after help from Thompsons Solicitors

8th March 2011
Teenager warns of dangers of uninsured bikers
A survivor of a major motorcycle crash and his family from the North East are warning motorcyclists of the consequences of not getting insured and failing to wear helmets.

4th March 2011
Road Workers face Serious Injury every day
Statistics from the Highways Agency have shown that injuries to road workers have more than doubled between 2005 and 2009

7th February 2011
Broken Spine in car crash leads to £21,500 in compensation
A North East man who broke his spine when he couldn’t avoid hitting a jack knifed trailer on the A1 has received £21,5000 in compensation after help from Thompsons Solicitors.

3rd February 2011
Interactive guide - What to do following a road accident

2nd February 2011
Cyclist receives compensation after losing leg in accident
A Unite the union member who had to have his leg amputated after he was hit by a car while cycling has received £750,000 in compensation.

1st February 2011
Pedestrian scarred for life when crushed by car
A pedestrian who suffered horrific crush injuries to his face after he was hit by a car whilst crossing the road has received more than £200,000 in damages.

28th October 2010
Yorkshire Water compensates injured employee after ignoring safety concerns
Yorkshire Water Ltd has agreed to compensate a former employee for causing him injuries that forced him out of his job of nearly 30 years.

22nd October 2010
Grieving parents call for answers after Police admit fault for daughter’s death
The grieving parents of a young woman who was killed by a speeding police van only hours after she announced her engagement have welcomed Cleveland Police’s admission of liability, but say the police now need to come clean about the failures that led to her death

9th September 2010
Woman injured in car crash receives £4200 compensation
A Deeside woman has received £4200 compensation after she was injured in a car accident while driving home from mother’s house during the new year break.

3rd September 2010
Crash victim receives over £6,000 settlement thanks to husband’s FBU membership
A woman who was injured when a careless driver smashed into her car has received a settlement worth £6,353 thanks to her husband’s membership of the Fire Brigades Union

5th August 2010
Multiple head injury compensated
The son of a PCS member now aged 23 has received £950,000 for multiple head injuries sustained in a road traffic accident in February 2003.

15th June 2010
Lollipop man wins damages after hit and run
The 74-year-old, who was employed by Kirklees Council, suffered multiple injuries including a fractured wrist, fractured tibia and a back injury in the collision

2nd June 2010
Pedestrian knocked down on pavement receives compensation
A woman whose foot was reversed over by a car while she stood on the pavement chatting to a neighbour has received £40,000 in compensation after help from her husband’s trade union.

21st April 2010
Lorry driver forced to change career after accident
A self employed lorry driver, who has been forced to rethink his career after a car accident, has received a substantial sum in compensation.

14th April 2010
Commuter compensated for cycle accident
A cyclist has received almost £17,000 in compensation after she suffered serious injuries following an accident whilst commuting to work.

18th February 2010
Highways driver compensated for faulty brakes
A GMB member has received £5,000 in compensation after brakes on his work van that he had complained about failed and he crashed.

16th February 2010
Railways worker compensated after serious car accident
An ASLEF member who suffered a horrendous car accident has received £360,000 in compensation

4th February 2010
Police officer helped by federation’s legal service
A police officer who was forced to go on light duties after a car accident has received £7,000 compensation after help from the Police Federation.

15th December 2009
£800,000 for firefighter who lost his leg
A firefighter who had to have his lower leg amputated after he was knocked off his motorbike has received £800,000 in compensation.

10th December 2009
Union secures nine times more compensation for member
A GMB member who was advised to accept just £1,250 in damages after a car accident has received almost nine times the amount in compensation after help from her trade union.

9th November 2009
Army Captain receives£150,000 after car crash
Thompsons Solicitors has won £150,000 in compensation for an army officer who was seriously injured in a car crash within hours of returning from Iraq

26th October 2009
£350,000 for drayman in horrific accident
A Unite the union member has received £350,000 in compensation after his leg was crushed by a delivery lorry which ran over him twice.

7th October 2009
Car crash PC could have been paralysed
A police officer who suffered a slipped disc after being involved in a car crash while on duty has received £18,000 in compensation.

15th September 2009
Lifeboat volunteer forced to jump ship due to injuries receives compensation
A lifeboat volunteer, who received a royal honour for decades of life-saving, has been awarded compensation after a car accident forced him to quit.

14th September 2009
Compensation for newlyweds in head-on crash
Newlyweds on a once in a lifetime cruise of the Mediterranean have received compensation after their Italian tour bus was involved in a head-on collision in which one person died.

1st September 2009
Teenager's compensation trebled by Thompsons
A student badly injured in a car crash and who was advised by an insurance company that his injuries were worth just £5,000 in accident compensation has received almost three times the amount in damages after help from Thompsons Solicitors

30th July 2009
Teacher’s family receives £580,000
The devastated family of a dedicated teacher, who was killed while cycling home from work, has received £580,000 compensation, with help from UNISON.

16th July 2009
Cyclist receives compensation for accident
A keen cyclist who was badly injured when a car knocked him down has received £5,000 in compensation.

19th June 2009
Drivers warned to exchange insurance details
A Unite member has warned of the importance of exchanging insurance details with drivers when involved in a car accident.

19th February 2009
Compensation quadrupled for GMB member
A GMB member who was advised to accept just £800 in damages after a car accident has received more than four times the amount in compensation after help from her trade union

17th February 2009
Hero sought after Road Sweeper Crash
A road sweeper is on the hunt for the hero who saved his life by pulling him free from his faulty vehicle

21st November 2008
Union Trebles Compensation Payment to £6,500
A GMB member who was advised her case was worth just £2,000 in compensation after she was in a car accident has received three times the amount in damages after help from her union’s lawyers

14th November 2008
Responsibility Accepted for Highways Worker’s Death
A family’s fight for justice has finally come to a close after the insurer of the driver of a car who hit a GMB member has accepted the driver was partly responsible for his death

13th November 2008
Thompsons Works to Make Roads Safer
Thompsons Solicitors has backed an initiative to promote safety on the roads

14th August 2008
Unison Wins Compensation for Police Administrator in Road Traffic Accident
UNISON, the UK's largest public sector trade union, has won £90,000 compensation for a police administrator hit by an uninsured driver on Christmas Eve 1999

13th August 2008
Whiplash victim awarded compensation after bus shunts van into car
A woman whose car was shunted by a van which had been hit from behind by a bus has been awarded compensation of £3,000 after suffering injuries to her neck

26th June 2008
Bus driver from Newcastle who was medically retired following a car accident secures £30,000 damages
Mr Lansley, who is now 62 years old and retired, explains: “It was a horrifying experience. I was forced into the central reservation with hundreds of cars flying past me

4th June 2008
Anger of Hartlepool family following ‘accidental death’ verdict
The family of a Hartlepool council labourer who was struck down by a car as he put up signs has criticised the inquest process following a verdict of accidental death last week

29th May 2008
£200K for East Yorkshire man injured when road sweeper knocked him off his bike
A former British Energy employee from East Yorkshire, who was knocked off his bike by a road sweeper and then suffered a stroke, has secured over £200,000 in compensation.

23rd May 2008
Paramedic secures compensation for injury after van runs red light
David Fenwick, of Sunderland, suffered a serious shoulder injury that required two operations, when the van crashed into the ambulance at the traffic lights of Barnes Giratory System, Sunderland.

11th April 2008
Durham man knocked down outside his home by under age driver secures over £8,000 damages
Peter Ives, aged 60, was walking his dog outside his house when he was knocked down by a vehicle driven by a local 15 year old boy who didn’t have a driving licence and was not insured.

1st April 2008
Leicester fire fighter who was medically retired following hit and run accident secures £280K damages
The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has secured over £280,000 damages for a Leicester member who had to be medically retired after he was knocked off his bike by a hit and run driver

30th November 2007
Company Pay Compensation following Accident on Roundabout
The road traffic accident took place in December 2006. Stephen Marsh was riding his bicycle across a roundabout when a van, which was also travelling on the roundabout, collided with Mr Marsh.

13th November 2007
Traffic light worker awarded damages following car collision
A worker hit by a car at a road junction has been awarded compensation with the help of Unite the union and Thompsons Solicitors.

12th March 2007
GMB wins £32,000 compensation for North London worker injured in car accident
GMB has won £32,250, for a former employee of Securicor, in compensation for injury and loss of earnings resulting from a car accident which they were responsible for. The claim, for 32 year old Vishal Gopaul from North London, was taken by his trade union GMB and progressed by solicitors Thompsons – leading personal injury specialists.

16th February 2007
Keen sports enthusiast wins compensation for horrific injuries
Leading trade union Amicus has helped to secure compensation for an accomplished sporting enthusiast who enjoyed mountain biking, climbing and triathlon, following a severe road accident that left him with multiple injuries.

1st February 2007
GMB member and former Labour Party employee from Gateshead secures £25,000 compensation from Newcastle City Council
A GMB member and former Labour Party employee from Gateshead has secured £25,000 compensation from Newcastle City Council following an accident on his motor scooter caused by a poorly fitted drain cover.

28th November 2006
UNISON member from Kent secures compensation following Road Traffic Accident
Leading trade union UNISON has secured compensation for a member from Welling, Kent. The compensation was secured by UNISON’s free legal help scheme via personal injury specialists Thompsons Solicitors.

21st November 2006
Woman from Wirral secures compensation following Road Traffic Accident on the M53
Awoman from Wirral has secured compensation following a road traffic accident which took place on the M53 motorway.

13th November 2006
Union member from Devon secures £4,000 in compensation following accident at zebra crossing
A union member from Devon has secured £4,000 in compensation following an accident at a zebra crossing.

31st October 2006
UNISON member from Swansea secures nearly £2,000 in compensation following road traffic accident
The Highways Maintenance Officer from Swansea secured the compensation with the support of Unison’s free legal assistance scheme with Frizzell and union lawyers Thompsons Solicitors.

3rd August 2006
Trade Union member secures £4,000 in compensation following road traffic accident
BECTU member Dave Williams has secured £4,000 in compensation following a road traffic accident on the M40.

27th March 2006
Man from Middlesbrough secures £2.5M in compensation following horrific car crash
A 22 year old Middlesbrough man, Mark Cook, was today celebrating his £2.5M compensation settlement following a horrific car accident in 2001. The compensation was secured with the support of the Middlesbrough branch of national solicitors Thompsons.

20th July 2005
Welsh UNISON member receives £390,000 for road collision with trailer
UNISON member Douglas Phillips aged 61 from Brecon, Powys has obtained damages of £390,000 for multiple injuries arising from a road accident in December 1999.

14th March 2005
Road crash victim says keep small claims limit
The NUJ's legal service has won nearly £6,000 in damages for a member injured in a car crash, who was originally offered just £50 by the insurers.

14th March 2005
Union acts in negligent parking road smash
A primary school learning mentor who suffered 18 months of whiplash pain following a road traffic accident caused by a badly parked lorry has received £3,500 compensation through her trade union's legal scheme.

7th December 2001
Lawyers call for law change after farmer escapes jail for death of biker
Lawyers acting for the widow of Richard Fletcher, the motorcyclist who was killed by the unprotected forks of a farm vehicle, have called on the government to bring in tough new corporate killing laws.