Firefighter awarded £1.5m after damaged equipment resulted in amputation
Ian McDonald, who had to have his right hand amputated following a training exercise in 2014, has now received £1.5 million in compensation. The 37-year-old from Bishopbriggs was taken to hospital with a swollen hand when the hospital staff noticed ‘a tiny red dot like a skelf’ during the examination. It turned out McDonald’s leather […]
Demand for reduced speed limits to help save cyclists
In order to make cycling safer, the Scottish Government has been urged by campaigners to pass legislation that reduces the speed limit from 30 to 20mph in residential streets. While this was first suggested in September 2018 by Mark Ruskell MSP – the Restricted Roads (20mph speed limit) (Scotland) Bill – the renewed calls come after the […]
‘Double injustice’ as children in poorest areas are 3 times more likely to be injured in road traffic accident
Recent analysis from Sustrans Scotland discovered that children in the 20 per cent most deprived areas are more than three times as likely to be involved in a road traffic accident when travelling on foot or by bike than those in the 20 per cent least deprived areas in Scotland. Though it is well-established that a higher […]
Judges reject appeal to stop destruction of dog
An appeal to challenge a sheriff’s decision to order the destruction of a pet dog following its attack against a passer-by and another dog has been dismissed. The Appeal Court of the High Court of Justiciary rejected dog-owner Moira Hunter’s argument that the sheriff should have imposed a “contingent destruction order”, meaning the Bullmastiff dog named […]
Appeal Court upholds decision to allow ‘time-barred’ claims for Glasgow bin lorry crash to proceed
Eight relatives of some of the victims of the Glasgow bin lorry crash have cleared a legal hurdle in their fight for compensation. Appeal court judges have dismissed an appeal by Glasgow City Council against a judge’s ruling and upheld the decision that the relatives’ damages action can proceed despite their claims being ‘time-barred’. The […]
Calls for stricter livestock worrying laws in Scotland
Emma Harper MSP has launched an online consultation with a proposal for a member’s bill, lobbying for tougher laws surrounding livestock worrying crimes. The proposed Bill aims to better protect livestock from worrying (attack, mutilation and trauma caused by uncontrollable dogs). The bill hopes to: According to NFU Mutual, the number of dog attacks on sheep has increased by 67% in two years, […]
Retail company fined £450,000 for young girls’ injury that was “foreseeable and avoidable”
A London-based company has been fined nearly half a million pounds after admitting a health and safety offence when a falling barrier struck a young girl at Silverburn Shopping Centre in Glasgow. Arcadia Group Ltd, which owns high street brands such as Burtons, Dorothy Perkins, and Miss Selfridge, pled guilty to a contravention of Sections […]
Personal injury compensation should achieve ‘fairness and transparency’, according to Holyrood Committee
An inquiry into the Damages (Investment Returns and Periodical Payments) (Scotland) Bill has led a Holyrood Committee to conclude the process of calculating long-term personal injury compensation should be both fair and transparent. Reforming the discount rate The principles of the Bill would amend the law so the discount rate would be set by UK Government actuary instead […]
Government called to prevent accidents on A92
A stretch of the A92 near Newtonhill has become the subject of scrutiny after a number of incidents have got politicians wondering how no deaths have occurred on the road. North Kincardine Councillor, Ian Mollison, as well as North East MSP, Mike Rumbles, have both raised the issue – with Cllr Mollison stating he was […]
Scotland introduces bill to reform personal injury discount
Scotland has introduced new legislation with the aim to create a simpler way of setting the rate of personal injury discount rates. The Scottish Government have brought forward this bill – The Damages (Investment Returns and Periodical Payments) (Scotland) Bill – to address concerns that the current process is not as transparent as is necessary, nor is […]
