Injury claim news
31/08/2011

Police car blamed for causing road traffic accident

A woman has launched a claim for road traffic accident compensation against Northern Constabulary after suffering serious personal injuries in a car crash.

The 38-year-old woman from Scalloway, Shetland suffered severe head injuries, a broken collarbone and various cuts after her car crashed into a lorry travelling in front of her.

It was revealed that the lorry, which was trying to turn off of a three-lane road, had been prevented from making the turn due to the presence of a police patrol car.

The incident, which took place in August 2006, left the woman with psychological problems as well as physical personal injuries.

In a civil case at Lerwick Sheriff Court in 2010, the woman claimed the lorry had been unable to exit from the busy stretch of road because the police car was blocking the entrance into the yard in order to catch speeding drivers.

The claimant's Peugeot collided with the lorry after its tail end was exposed when it failed to make the turn. She had attempted to make an emergency stop and was forced to veer to the left to avoid a van which had also swerved to prevent a collision with the lorry. Unfortunately, the woman was unable to stop in time and collided with the lorry.

A final settlement of road traffic accident compensation has not yet been agreed.