Scottish Highlands coach crash
On Monday 8th September more than 20 people were taken to hospital following a coach crash in the Highlands, Scotland.
Of the 46 Australian tourists on board the vehicle, four people were seriously injured, suffering head and chest injuries, and a further 17 passengers suffered minor injuries.
The incident took place shortly before 12:30 BST near Bettyhill in Sutherland, in which the coach, operated by Euroview Coaching, based in East Dereham, Norfolk went off the road and down a ditch.
Tourists on board the bus described how the front side of the coach went over the edge of an embankment, at which point the edge crumbled and sent the coach sliding down the embankment, overturning it in the process. It has been reported that driver of the bus has been charged with careless driving.
Clive Garner, Head of Irwin Mitchell's International Travel Litigation Group says,"This is a dreadful incident and one which could and should have been avoided if reasonable care had been taken by the coach driver. Sadly, I have had to deal with many similar coach accidents in the past and have seen the lives of many of my clients and members of their families ruined through no fault of their own. For several years I have been calling for improvements in coach safety, including better training for drivers, improved maintenance and coach construction and the more careful selection of coach routes. Legal changes should be made as soon as possible to reduce the risk of incidents like this in the future."
Clive Garner has acted for more than 100 clients and their families killed or injured in 10 separate coach crashes in the UK and around the World. Because the coach Operator is an English based company it will be possible to bring proceedings in England.
Clive continues, "As it is likely that claims for compensation can be brought in England, passengers who have been injured are likely to recover English levels of compensation which are normally substantially higher than those available in Scotland or in Australia. In addition to compensation, legal fees should also be recoverable from the insurers of the Coach company."
For free initial advice and assistance arising out of this incident please contact Clive Garner via e-mail at clive.garner@irwinmitchell.com or by phone on 0870 1500 100 or 07710 971244.