DURING winter, hazardous driving circumstances can improve the danger of being concerned in a street site visitors accident.
There are nonetheless various sensible steps you’ll be able to take to minimise this threat. Earlier than setting off you must be sure that your car is in a roadworthy situation, clear all windscreens of ice and snow and guarantee that you’ve topped up your washer fluid ranges.
You will need to plan your route prematurely and to make sure you are carrying a torch and any obligatory provides. While driving, you must make sure you depart loads of room to cease and brake gently to keep away from skidding.
The PSNI has lately launched its annual winter driving marketing campaign. Superintendent Gary Busch suggested the important thing message from police this yr is to “decelerate, pay higher consideration to your environment, at all times put on your seat belt and by no means drive after ingesting or taking medicine”.
Regardless of the perfect endeavours of all, accidents can nonetheless occur. In case you are concerned in a street site visitors collision your preliminary concern can be to examine the wellbeing of anybody concerned within the accident, and to hunt fast medical consideration if obligatory.
As soon as any accidents have been handled, there are a variety of useful issues you are able to do which can help you, your insurance coverage firm and solicitor in coping with the matter.
The police must be notified of the collision and can often attend the scene if there’s suspicion {that a} prison offence (akin to drink driving) has been dedicated, or if the automobiles are obstructing site visitors.
Whether it is protected to take action, you must take images of the automobiles concerned earlier than they’re moved.
You also needs to be sure that you document the identify of different driver(s), and particulars of the make, mannequin and registration variety of their car(s).
You will need to contact a specialist street site visitors accident solicitor as quickly as attainable after the accident to acquire authorized recommendation.
A solicitor will have the ability to advise you all through any police investigation, and assess whether or not you might have a viable declare for the harm to your car or in relation to any accidents sustained.
If you happen to intend pursuing a declare, a solicitor can cope with the opposite driver’s insurance coverage firm in your behalf and be sure that cost on your car harm is made promptly.
If legal responsibility for the accident is disputed, the case could progress to a courtroom listening to and your solicitor will guarantee you might be correctly guided via this course of.
If you happen to had been injured a solicitor will prepare medical examinations in your behalf and make sure you obtain the compensation you might be entitled to.
Being concerned in a street site visitors collision might be an upsetting and irritating expertise. On the threat of showing biased, my high tip is to contact a solicitor to assist information you thru the method!
:: Harry McAleese (harrym@mtb-law.co.uk) is a private damage solicitor at McCartan Turkington Breen Solicitors (mtb-law.co.uk)
