The BBC have reported of a fatal road traffic accident which occurred on the A96 in Scotland on the Forres to Elgin Road in Alves.
The incident involved a van being driven by an anonymous 20 year old from Urquhart, Moray and a minibus carrying 10 individuals to work.
The collision happened at 07.20 and rendered the road closed for 8 hours whilst investigations took place and the road was cleared. It is also believed that another motorist also had to be taken to hospital in order to be treated for shock.
Three of the individuals travelling on the minibus are believed to be seriously injured and are being treated at Dr Gray’s Hospital in Elgin. Unfortunately, the young driver of the minibus lost his life in the incident.
It is not clear how the accident happened but it looks as though it took place on a narrow country road. The weather was very cold this morning and it the roads were wet which means these could have been contributing factors in the collision.
It is very important at this time of year to alter your driving technique in order to take in to consideration the road conditions;
- Think about setting out a few minutes earlier in order to give yourself plenty of time and ensure that you are not rushing to reach your destination.
- Reduce your speed! Breaking distances are greatly increased when the roads are wet, icy or covered in snow so slow down and make sure you leave yourself plenty of room between you and the car in front.
- Carry out regular maintenance on your car to ensure that all of your lights are in full working order. It only takes 5 minutes (if that) to carry out these checks.
- Don’t even think about drinking and driving! This time of year the number of drink related accidents sores as people have a festive tipple and think they will be ok to make the short journey home. The best advice is; do not drink anything if you are the designated driver for the night. This way you can be sure that you are 100% sober and your judgment is not even slightly disorientated!
If you do find yourself involved in a road traffic accident which was not your fault and you have been injured then you are entitled to make a claim for damages. You can be compensated for not only your injuries but also the damage caused to your vehicle and any out of pocket expenses incurred as a result of the accident.
Even if you are not sure about the liability aspect you should still seek legal advice as you may be to seek some compensation even if it is not the full amount.
The injury lawyers offer years of experience in dealing with road traffic personal injury claims so do not hesitate to contact us for some free legal advice!
