Transport Scotland statistics show that 168 people died in road accidents in Scotland in 2019, while 2,001 were seriously injured and over 5,425 suffered minor injuries.
As dreadful as these accident figures are, they are much better than they used to be. In 1980, for example, 29,286 people were killed or injured on Scotland’s roads.
So what has made the difference? Since 1980 there have been a growing number of road safety campaigns, advances in car safety technology, improved road design and a general increase in road safety awareness among the general population. These have all contributed to the fall in the number of casualties.
But these changes and campaigns have been implemented in different ways and times across the country, and this means that the number and type of car accidents in Scotland varies as you move from one region to another.
Car Accidents in Scotland – Legal Support in All Regions
Car accidents in Edinburgh
It is no surprise that the majority of all traffic accidents take place in city centres. This is because there are simply more people in cities – those who live there and those who commute in – and they all have to get from place to place.
Edinburgh is no different. In fact, 35% of all the employees in Scotland’s capital commute into the city every day, adding to the chaos and increasing the risk of having a car crash.
Last year, for example, 1,159 people suffered a slight injury in car accidents in Edinburgh, according to provisional figures from Transport Scotland. Nearly 130 people were seriously injured and eight people were killed.
The figures confirm that the injuries that result from city-based car accidents tend to be minor, because the cars involved are subject to a low speed limit. These injuries tend to include:
You will find other examples of common road accident injuries here.
Regardless of the type, if you have suffered an injury in a road accident that was caused, at least partly, by someone else, you could be entitled to compensation.
Car accidents in Glasgow
Six people died in road accidents in the Greater Glasgow area in 2013, according to the latest provisional figures from Transport Scotland. Four of these deaths took place in the city itself, while two occurred in East Renfrewshire.
Compare this to the figures for Ayrshire. Over the same period, twelve people died in accidents in Ayrshire – a region with a much smaller population density than Greater Glasgow. But why the difference? Are Ayrshire’s roads that much more dangerous?
In short, the answer is yes. Many of the roads in Ayrshire are country roads and it is well known that fatal road accidents are much more likely to occur on rural roads than on roads in towns and cities. It is one of the recognised common factors in road accidents.
This is partly because of the speed limits involved - fatal accidents are much more likely at 60 mph than at 30 mph – but it is also because rural roads have more hazards. Examples include:
- Dips and bends
- They can be very narrow
- Mud
- No street lighting
- Unexpectedly slow traffic
But this does not mean that urban roads are safe. Most accidents actually occur on urban roads, although they take place at lower speeds and so those involved tend to suffer less serious injuries. So, for example, Transport Scotland’s figures also show that in 2013 143 people were seriously injured in car accidents in Glasgow city. A further 1,081 suffered minor injuries.
If you or a loved one have been injured in a car accident, even if you were partially at fault, you may be able to claim compensation for:
- Your pain and suffering
- Loss of wages
- Any help provided to you by your family because of your injuries and
- Other financial losses, such as having to buy a wheelchair or installing a stair lift
Car accidents in Aberdeen
The roads around Aberdeen and throughout the north-east of Scotland are notorious. Barely a day goes by without news coverage of a road accident somewhere in the region.
This is because much of the region is rural countryside and, sadly, car accidents are most dangerous on country roads where the speed limit is higher but the roads are narrower, steeper and winding. Adverse weather conditions, farm traffic, mud on the road and a lack of street lamps all add to the problem.
This helps to explain why 25 people died while on the roads in Aberdeenshire and Moray in 2013. According to the figures from Transport Scotland (which are provisional at the time of writing) a further four people were killed in Aberdeen itself.
In comparison, in the more urbanised region of Greater Glasgow, there were six fatalities over the same period.
If you have been injured in a road accident that was not your fault, then you may be entitled to claim compensation, not only for the injury done to you but also for any financial losses you have suffered as a result.
You may also help to ensure that lessons are learned and justice served on the person or persons responsible.
Car accidents in the Scottish Borders
Every day people in the Borders make decisions that have an impact on both their road safety and those of the people around them. Whether it is a question of speed, route, clothing and whether we are drivers, pedestrians, passengers or cyclists, the choices we make have the potential to influence matters of life and death.
Tragically, there is a great deal of work to be done when it comes to reducing the rate of car accident personal injuries in the Borders. For example, in 2012/13, there were 263 cases of serious personal injury caused by road accidents in the area, with nine of these incidents involving cases of fatal personal injury.
It is thought that the rural and undulant nature of the roads around Scottish Borders presents particular challenges, all of which make road safety in the area a priority.
This duty to prevent road accidents is very much enshrined in law in the form of the Road Traffic Act 1988, a piece of legislation which obliges local authorities to take appropriate and adequate measures to reduce the risk and occurrence of road traffic accidents.
Furthermore, The Scottish Borders Road Safety Working Group unites the interests and expertise of groups including fire, police, council, camera partnership, and other groups and services to identify and address the most pressing and pertinent issues.
Scotland already leads the way in terms of drink-driving legislation and other road safety measures, and its guidance concerning the introduction of 20mph speed limits; however, one thing the statistics for car crash personal injuries in the Borders makes clear is the need for prolonged and meaningful action.
Making a claim for compensation can be a daunting prospect, but the experienced personal injury lawyers at Thompsons can help you negotiate the process as confidently as possible.
Car accidents in Dundee
If you or someone close to you has sustained an injury in a car accident that has occurred on the roads of Dundee or in the surrounding areas, the car accident claims team in Thompsons' Dundee office can help you secure compensation for the following:
- Pain and injury
- Lost earnings
- Loss of future earnings
- Medical expenses
- The cost of specialist equipment
- The help provided to you by your family
There are a number of common factors involved in road accidents in Scotland, but each claim for compensation is unique and we always listen carefully to the circumstances of your case and how the injuries have affected you.
Our funding model ensures that you have access to justice on a No Win, No Fee basis. This means that unless you win your case, you pay nothing at all and therefore incur no financial risk.
Car accidents in Dumfries
In 2021, according to Crashmap.co.uk, there were seven serious car accidents and three fatal accidents which occurred in and around Dumfries.
Of these ten accidents, six occurred in the urban areas of Dumfries, while four, including one fatal car accident, occurred on rural roads in the outlying area.
Road accident statistics have been significantly affected in recent years by the COVID-19 pandemic and various lockdown measures which were put in place to curb movement and halt the spread of the virus.
However, we believe even one car accident is too many, especially when innocent people have suffered serious and fatal injuries due to the negligence of another party. And we are dedicated to helping those injured in car accidents to seek justice.
The Thompsons' team in Dumfries can assist you whether you have been involved in a car accident as the driver, a passenger, or as a pedestrian. We also act for cyclists and passengers on public transport.
We can help you make a claim for personal injury compensation even if you were partially liable for your injuries. For instance, perhaps you were injured as a passenger in a car accident but were not wearing a seatbelt when the incident occurred. The court might decide that your injuries would have been less serious had you been wearing a seatbelt and will determine a reduction in the amount of compensation that can be awarded as a result of your own liability for your injuries.
Speak to the car accident claim team in Dumfries about the circumstances of your case.
Compensation Claims for Car Accidents in Scotland
It is well known that most car accidents take place at low speed, resulting in minor injuries such as whiplash. More serious or fatal injuries are most likely to occur when the car is travelling at speed. Thankfully these are much less common.
In either case, if you have been injured in a car accident through no fault of your own, you may be entitled to claim compensation for your pain, suffering and other losses.
Scottish Car Accident Lawyers
If you are thinking about making a car accident claim it will help to have expert advice from a lawyer who understands the issues involved. Thompsons' compensation solicitors are very experienced in investigating and advising on road accident claims.
We have an excellent success rate - we win over 90% of our personal injury cases and recover over £1 million every week for our clients. How much could you claim? Call 0800 0891 331 for free legal advice.
