Police in Derbyshire have been praised following a considerable increase in the number of people caught drink driving over the festive period.

According to the BBC, throughout December officers stopped 1,011 people, 121 of whom tested positive or refused to provide a sample. That is an 11% success rate. This compares exceptionally well with the previous year where they stopped 4,500 motorists and only achieved a 4% positive test rate.

Police targeted persistent drink drivers or acted on information from informants and the general public.

Chief Inspector, Tim Frohwein, conceded to being disappointed to find that such large numbers of people were still drink driving, despite a campaign to crackdown on the numbers by distributing posters and leaflets in pubs and clubs, but was pleased with the response of the general public, stating that “People who suspected others of getting behind the wheel after a drink called the police to tell us” and “We are grateful to these callers for their assistance”.
Read More

According to sources from the BBC (source) the volume of errors the NHS are making in drug treatments for minors is hospitals is, rather disturbingly, high, experts have warned.

According to the report, a University of London study of five hospitals in the capital concluded that 13% of 3000 prescriptions examined had were subject to errors. More worryingly, a fifth of these drugs given to children in 2004 and 2005 were “administered incorrectly”. Most errors were deemed to be non-harmful, however a small number were potentially fatal according to the Archives of Diseases in Childhood reports.
Read More

A passenger has been killed after a train hit two cars on a level crossing. The 50 year old woman was airlifted from the crash, which happened on Saturday in Moreton-on-Lugg, Herefordshire, to hospital but doctors were unable to save her.

According to the BBC, there was originally some confusion as to how the two vehicles had ended up on the track and Network Rail has been investigating the incident in conjunction with British Transport Police. Following the accident, rail services in the area have been suspended and a replacement bus service provided.

Reports state that the safety barriers for the level crossing may not have come down prior to the accident, although following checks the level crossing has now been declared fully operational.
Read More

Yes, you heard me right…good news for coffee drinkers.

Researchers have considered 18 different studies, involving over 500,000 people and have concluded that tea and coffee drinkers may reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

The risk can be cut by a fifth or more if you drink three or four cups of coffee (or tea) a day.

The protection is not down to the caffeine content in coffee as decaffeinated coffee had an even bigger effect with risks being reduced by a third in these cases.
Read More

Susan Carnwell from Hardwick in Cambridge was only 18 when the tragic accident happened at indoor go karting track in Caxton.

Susan is believed to have gone to the raceway with a group of people who had been invited by one of the staff ‘after hours’

The raceway company secretary has confirmed that the marshal who arranged the out of hours session has been sacked and the company is considering taking legal action against him.
Read More

I was surprised to read that during a morning rush hour, earlier last month, a double decker bus had tipped over after being involved in a collision with a lorry. The accident happened in Clapham, South London and firefighters from Battersea and Wandsworth had to cut 3 passengers free!

It is understood that there were 5 serious injuries with the driver of the bus was also seriously injured in the incident.

13 other passengers were also taken to Accident and Emergency units at Chelsea and Westiminster, St Thomas’ and Charing Cross hospitals to be treated for more minor injuries.
Read More

Generally when it comes to a victim claiming for compensation, the damages (money) awarded is generated from the offending party or their representatives; which is usually the insurers for the third party defendant. So what happens when it isn’t possible to claim against the offenders? Say for example, in terror attacks abroad?

Current legislation allows victims of terrorist attacks who are injured in the UK access to compensation, but up until recently  many victims of terror attacks abroad have been unable to claim unless they are a part of a scheme in that country. According to the BBC (source) long awaited new legislation has been announced that now allows for victims of terrorist attacks abroad to access the compensation they require.

Although the measures are reportedly not retrospective, they will allow for victims as far back as 2002 to make a claim. Current campaigns relevant to this factor include the Bali attacks back in 2002, the Sharm al-Sheikh incident in 2005, and more recently the attacks in Mumbai in 2008.
Read More

What should you do now? If you have been injured in an accident, particularly a road traffic accident, you may just be about to be hailed with offers left right and centre from companies who want to deal with your claim! And with so many lawyers out there, what should you do!!??

Well, we here at The Injury Lawyers like to do one thing for people out there who are thinking of claiming; give you free, honest, no obligation advice! So here’s some now:

No Win No Fee and 100% Compensation – How it Works….
Read More

Councils have been left with huge bills of up to £100 million for repairs to roads following the extreme cold snap Britain has suffered.

The weather conditions have left more than one million potholes, with some craters up to a metre wide. Estimates state that there is a now one pot hole every 100 yards.

According to The Mirror, in the worst hit areas these potholes are equivalent to craters, with huge drops befalling cars that try and negotiate through them. This has already led to damaged exhausts and suspensions, and numerous punctures.
Read More

Sky News heard that thousands of holiday makers will be stranded as the low budget airline formally known as globspan group PLC has gone bust!

The Edinburgh based airline has gone into administration and their administrators PriceWaterhousCoopers (PWC) confirmed they have failed to secure a new investor.

Not only will passengers be stranded, but over 800 employers will lose their jobs.

It is estimated that 4,5000 passengers alone are in Egypt and the Mediterranean and there are no flights home with the Airline.
Read More