Road Safety Week 2024: Your Cycling Safety Guide
As we observe Road Safety Week 2024, it is crucial to focus on the safety of cyclists, who are among the most vulnerable road users. At Gildeas Solicitors, we emphasise that understanding and applying safety measures can significantly reduce the risk of accidents and enhance the cycling experience. This blog aims to provide essential tips for cyclists, highlighting the importance of road safety and awareness while riding.
The Importance of Cycling Safety
Cycling is an excellent way to stay fit, reduce your carbon footprint, and enjoy the outdoors. However, it also carries inherent risks. According to government statistics, collisions with motor vehicles pose a significant threat to cyclists, often resulting in serious injuries or fatalities. Understanding the current laws and safety measures can help cyclists protect themselves while navigating the roads.
Key Risks for Cyclists
Motor Vehicle Collisions: The most significant risk cyclists face is being involved in a collision with a motor vehicle. Many accidents occur due to drivers failing to look for cyclists. To mitigate this risk, always follow the Highway Code, signal your intentions clearly, and maintain a safe distance from vehicles.
Dooring: This occurs when a car door opens unexpectedly into a cyclist's path. To avoid this, keep a safe distance from parked cars and slow down as you approach them.
Poor Road Conditions: Potholes, debris, and slippery surfaces can pose serious hazards. Always keep an eye on the road ahead and be prepared to adjust your speed and direction accordingly.
Right Turns Across Traffic: This manoeuvre can be particularly dangerous. Always signal your intentions well in advance, and if in doubt, dismount and use pedestrian crossings.
Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) and Buses: These large vehicles have significant blind spots. Stay out of their path and avoid stopping on the inside of them at junctions.
Distracted or Aggressive Drivers: Not all drivers will be attentive or courteous. Always remain vigilant and be prepared to react to unexpected actions from other road users.
Essential Cycling Safety Tips
To ensure a safer cycling experience, consider these practical tips:
Wear Protective Gear: Always wear a well-fitted helmet and consider additional protective gear, such as knee and elbow pads, to minimise injury in case of a fall.
Use High-Visibility Clothing: Wear bright or reflective clothing, especially in low-light conditions, and use lights on your bike to enhance visibility.
Stay Alert and Focused: Be aware of your surroundings, anticipate potential hazards, and avoid distractions such as mobile devices.
Signal Your Intentions: Use hand signals to indicate turns and stops, giving other road users ample notice of your movements.
Ride Predictably: Maintain a straight line and avoid sudden manoeuvres to help drivers anticipate your actions.
Follow the Highway Code: Adhere to all traffic rules, including speed limits and road signs. Understanding your rights and responsibilities as a cyclist is crucial.
What to Do If You're Involved in an Accident
If you find yourself in a cycling accident that was not your fault, it’s essential to seek legal advice. At Gildeas Solicitors, we can help you navigate the process of claiming compensation for:
- Medical expenses
- Loss of earnings
- Bicycle repairs or replacements
- Psychological trauma
Conclusion
During Road Safety Week 2024, we urge all cyclists to prioritise safety by following these tips and remaining vigilant on the roads. By taking proactive measures and being aware of your surroundings, we can all contribute to making our roads safer for everyone.
For more information on Road Safety Week 2024, please visit: https://www.brake.org.uk/road-safety-week
Gildeas Solicitors is a recognised law firm specialising in personal injury claims, supporting you throughout Scotland from our offices in Glasgow and Edinburgh. We’re passionate about what we do, whilst putting our clients’ interests first. That’s why we make personal injury personal.
Considering our services? Call our dedicated New Claims team today on 0141 331 6070.
Road Safety Week 2024: Motorbike Safety Tips
At Gildeas Solicitors, we recognise the unique challenges faced by motorcycle riders, who are among the most vulnerable road users. For Road Safety Week 2024, we're highlighting how crucial it is for motorcyclists to prioritise safety on the roads. This blog provides essential motorbike safety tips to enhance your riding safety and awareness, helping to prevent accidents and protect lives.
The Importance of Motorcycle Safety
Motorcycle accidents can be frightening and, in severe cases, life changing. Despite advancements in vehicle safety and regulations, motorcyclists remain at a higher risk of injury or fatality on the roads. Recent statistics show that motorcyclists are involved in approximately 1 in 10 road traffic fatalities, highlighting the need for heightened awareness and careful riding practices.
Essential Safety Tips for Motorcyclists
To help ensure your safety, here are some vital motorcycle safety tips:
- Wear Protective Gear: Always wear a well-fitted helmet and protective clothing, including gloves and boots. High-visibility jackets can significantly increase your visibility to other road users.
- Check Your Bike: Before every ride, conduct a thorough safety check of your motorcycle. Ensure that brakes, lights, indicators, and tyres are in good condition.
- Stay Alert: Be aware of your surroundings. Anticipate potential hazards, including vehicles changing lanes, pedestrians, and road conditions. Avoid distractions, such as mobile phones or loud music.
- Ride Defensively: Always assume that other drivers may not see you. Maintain a safe distance from vehicles, especially in traffic, and be prepared to react to sudden stops or changes in direction.
- Adjust to Weather Conditions: Wet or icy roads can significantly affect your control of the motorcycle. Slow down and allow extra time for your journey during adverse weather.
- Avoid Riding in Blind Spots: Stay out of the blind spots of larger vehicles, especially lorries and buses. If you can’t see the driver in their mirrors, they likely can’t see you.
- Follow Traffic Rules: Adhere to all traffic regulations, including speed limits and lane usage. Use indicators to signal your intentions to other road users.
- Take a Riding Course: Consider enrolling in an advanced riding course to enhance your skills and knowledge. These courses can provide valuable techniques for safe riding and accident avoidance.
Recognising External Risks
Motorcyclists face specific external risks that can lead to accidents, including:
- Poor Road Conditions: Potholes, gravel, and debris can pose significant hazards for motorcyclists. Always scan the road ahead for potential dangers.
- Adverse Weather: Rain, snow, and fog can drastically reduce visibility and traction. Adjust your riding style to account for changing conditions.
- Inattentive Drivers: Many motorcycle accidents occur due to the negligence of other road users. Stay vigilant and prepared for unexpected actions from drivers.
What to Do in the Event of an Accident
If you find yourself involved in a motorcycle accident that was not your fault, it’s essential to seek legal advice. At Gildeas Solicitors, we are committed to helping you understand your rights and potential compensation claims. You may be entitled to compensation for:
- Medical expenses
- Loss of earnings
- Repair or replacement of your motorcycle
- Psychological trauma
Conclusion
This Road Safety Week, we encourage all motorcyclists to prioritise safety by following these tips and remaining vigilant on the roads. By taking proactive measures, we can all contribute to making our roads safer for everyone.
For more information on Road Safety Week 2024, please visit: Brake - Road Safety Week.
Gildeas Solicitors is a recognised law firm specialising in personal injury claims, supporting you throughout Scotland from our offices in Glasgow and Edinburgh. We’re passionate about what we do, whilst putting our clients’ interests first. That’s why we make personal injury personal.
Considering our services? Call our dedicated New Claims team today on 0141 331 6070.
Friday Rule: What is the Personal Injury Discount Rate and What It Means To You
The latest in our Friday rule series - from Ailie Brown, Trainee Solicitor at our Edinburgh office.
The Government has introduced recent changes to the Personal Injury Discount Rate, or Discount Rate. We break down what this all means, and why it matters.
What is the Discount Rate?
The Discount Rate is a figure used to help calculate how much defenders have to pay in higher value cases.
The Discount Rate is set as a percentage. It is a devolved matter, so it can differ between different parts of the UK. We will be discussing the rate in Scotland.
When personal injury cases settle, there is usually a lump sum payment made to the injured person – including on cases where their injuries or losses are very serious and going to continue into the future, or permanently. A Discount Rate is used to try and ensure that pursuers are compensated properly and to avoid over-compensating and under-compensating people. Most large damages awards are invested – and over time, that investment will generate returns. Those future returns need to be factored in when deciding on the lump sum.
For example, if the Discount Rate is a low figure, that would anticipate future investment returns will be smaller and so will mean a higher lump sum payout is required to last the person until e.g. retirement. A higher Discount Rate suggests the investment will generate a higher return, indicating that the claimant will need a lower lump sum to cover their future financial needs.
Gildeas Director, David McKee explained: “When the Discount Rate was first introduced, it was assumed pursuers would invest in low-risk assets, such as government bonds – which seems sensible as most people would not wish to take risks with money that is intended to last them years or even decades into the future.”
In the government’s 2024 review, they have revised the assumptions made about how lump sums are invested. The default position now is that the investment will be assumed to be in a more diverse investment portfolio as per the example below:
| Asset Class: | Percentage Allocated: |
| Cash or equivalents | 10% |
| Nominal gilts | 15% |
| Index-linked gilts | 10% |
| UK equities | 7.5% |
| Overseas equities | 12.5% |
| High yield bonds | 5% |
| Investment-grade credit | 30% |
| Property | 5% |
| Other types, e.g., infrastructure, commodities, hedge funds, and absolute return funds | 5% |
Previous changes to the Discount Rate
The rate in 2001 was set at 2.5%, which reflected the economic conditions at the time, meaning that pursuers could expect reasonable returns on low-risk investments. This remained unchanged for some time, even through difficult economic times such as the global financial crisis in 2008.
Eventually, the rate was updated in 2017 to – 0.75% (negative 0.75%), which was a notable change. This meant higher compensation awards for pursuers, but the returns being generated were expected to be lower.
Finally, in 2019, the Damages (Investment Return and Periodical Payments) (Scotland) Act was introduced which formalised a new way to calculate the Discount Rate. This introduced a new process to review it every 5 years.
The 2024 Review to the PIDR
In June 2023, the devolved administrations in Scotland and Northern Ireland issued a consultation on whether changes should be made to the rate. The rate was reviewed by economic and financial experts, legal experts, and the government.
It was subsequently changed to +0.50%, to reflect current economic and market conditions.
What Does This Mean in Practice?
Understanding how a change to the Discount Rate could affect your claim might seem complicated. There are various factors considered which affect the actuarial tables and figures used: e.g. current age; expected retirement age; life expectancy; employment status; educational background, and so on.
A worked example might be a better way to understand the difference a change to the Discount Rate can make. Imagine a 45-year-old man who was earning £30,000 per year before his accident, expecting to retire at 65.
Using the previous rate of -0.75%, the actuarial tables produce a multiplier of 20.87, so the lump sum that pursuer might have expected to receive would be:
£30,000 x 20.87 = £626,100.
However, using the new rate of +0.50%, the actuarial tables produce a multiplier of 18.43, so the calculation changes to:
£30,000 x 18.43 = £552,900.
As we can see, the client would be awarded £73,200 less than before due to the new +0.50% rate being in place.
These figures are a simplified example and don’t consider all the factors which could make a substantial difference to the final claim.
Conclusion
The Discount Rate is not consistent across the UK, and the old rate was not reviewed for some time. However, Northern Ireland also recently updated its rate to +0.50% and a review is in progress in England & Wales.
Overall, changes to the Discount Rate are designed to ensure pursuers are properly compensated – and to avoid over or under compensation – by taking into account the prevailing economic circumstances at the time.
There is now a mechanism in place to make sure reviews are undertaken at least every 5 years, so we should not see situations where a review doesn’t take place for 16 years.
Established in 1989, Gildeas Solicitors is a Scottish law firm that specialises in personal injury claims, including motorcycle and cycling accidents. We make personal injury personal. We go the extra mile for our clients by providing services such as roadside assistance, vehicle repairs, and hire vehicles. Considering our services? Call our dedicated New Claims team to make the process easy for you at 0141 331 6070.