Personal injury experts train Gloucestershire Police

Members of Tayntons LLP’s personal injury team recently presented to a group of trainee family liaison officers at Bamfurlong Operations Department in Cheltenham. The workshop for 14 Gloucestershire Police FLO’s formed part of a week-long initial training course and came about as a result of Tayntons’s support of Brake, the road safety charity who provide support for road crash victims and carers.

Personal injury solicitor, Lisa-May Walton took the opportunity to explain the positive effect that a legal adviser can have in the event of a fatal road accident, helping to dispel the ‘ambulance chaser’ reputation that lawyers have. Warning trainees that the law can be a very impersonal process, Lisa stressed the importance of timing when discussing any potential fatal injury claim with the family of victims:

“Families will be grieving, stressed and often don’t realise that they are entitled to compensation. The fatality will drastically affect the family unit, both emotionally and financially and a legal representative can provide support, manage expectations and obtain interim payments and settlements to help with the financial losses,” she commented.

“A solicitor can also help with residual needs such as any employment problem caused by the stress of the accident, or stepping in with the management of any business interest that the victim has left behind.”

She also offered detail on the legal framework which governs personal injury claims and advised on who is entitled to make a claim and the funding options available to them.

Tayntons co-presented with a Brake volunteer whose husband was killed in November 1995 when a lorry crashed into his car. The volunteer gave an account of her experience, stating that the lorry had defective brakes which were so badly worn that they disintegrated when they were removed from the vehicle by the accident investigation team. She explained that of the two child passengers in the car, one child escaped unhurt and the other was in a coma, badly injured with fractured skull and broken limbs. 

Her account was aimed at achieving a best practice model that the FLO’s could follow, to help manage the future suffering of the families of fatality victims.

Tayntons LLP managing partner and head of the personal injury team Andrew Ollerenshaw commented: “Tayntons have been working with Brake for around four years. With them, our personal injury lawyers have been raising awareness on road safety issues in schools, colleges and public sector organisations across the country. With a focus on preventative measures, we’re hopeful that this work has helped to reduce the number of fatalities on the roads, particularly with young drivers.

“Accidents do of course still happen and a specialist personal injury solicitor can help victims and families to claim compensation if the accident wasn’t their fault,” he adds.

The personal injury team at Tayntons LLP advises on all types of injury claim. With the benefit of offering a free initial consultation; no win, no fee and insurance-backed payment options, you can find out more by clicking the link or calling 0800 389 7203. For more information on Brake, see www.brake.org.uk

For press enquiries, please contact Clare Berrisford, business development manager tel: 01452 509866, fax: 01452 505902 or email: clare.berrisford@tayntons.co.uk