Lawford Kidd, Personal Injury Solicitors

In response to the safety and practical challenges created by the coronavirus pandemic, the All-Scotland Sheriff Personal Injury Court (ASSPIC), as well as the Court of Session and Sheriff Appeal Court, are conducting hearings virtually where possible – and it is likely digital ways of working, to some extent, are here to stay.

COVID-19 continues to have a significant impact on many areas of our lives. In the world of personal injury claims, the restrictions on travel and face-to-face meetings, and the pause on court operations, has led to delays and a backlog of hearings.

In the last year, there has been a 70 per cent increase in the number of fatal workplace accidents in Scotland, according to recent figures from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

In a landmark ruling, two cyclists who were left injured after crossing the tram tracks in Scotland's capital have been awarded damages of an undisclosed amount.

Despite a 10 per cent drop in the total number of crashes where people were injured or killed, there was a rise in the number of deaths in road accidents across Scotland; from 145 in 2017 to 160 in 2018, according to recent statistics.