PDA

View Full Version : Fatal accident lawsuit fails



Nwicker60
14-Jun-13, 08:16
Local authority not at fault rules Court of Session judge

A YOUNG hotel worker has failed in his lawsuit against Highland Council over his mother’s death in a car crash on an icy Caithness road, reports the Press and Journal today.
The local authority gritted the slippery carriageway just minutes after his mum Anne’s car went out of control as she drove to work, in Wick.
Danny Ryder launched a £50,000 civil action at the Court of Session in Edinburgh, alleging the council was in breach of its duty as roads authority to take reasonable care for her safety. But a judge has ruled that although the fatal accident was caused by ice, the local authority was not at fault and that rain most likely washed away any salt that had been spread before the crash.
Mr Ryder wanted compensation for grief and sorrow, and the loss of his mother’s society and guidance. The 22-year-old’s case included an attack on the council’s policy of not gritting between 9pm and 6am.
Mrs Ryder’s Toyota Aygo left the A99 John O’ Groats-Latheron road as she drove to twork at a Tesco store at Wick, from her home at Huna on December 9, 2008.