Case Studies:

Incident Details:

Mr. GM was involved in a serious road traffic accident whilst driving a motorcyle along along the Ligonel Road in Belfast in 2015. The accident occurred when a driver in a car performed an illegal 'u-turn' manoeuvre, causing Mr. GM to collide with the vehicle.

Criminal Proceedings:

Following the accident, Mr. GM was arrested for dangerous driving as he had been driving a vehicle not deemed safe for the road. After his release from hospital, he was interviewed under caution by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). During the police interview, CCTV footage was presented, and Mr. GM was charged with the offence of Dangerous Driving.

Defence and Trial:

Upon careful review of the CCTV footage, we advised Mr. GM to plead not guilty to the charge, as we had concerns regarding the driving of the third-party vehicle. Two years later, represented by Ciarán Toner, Mr. GM was found Not Guilty of the offence at Laganside Crown Court.,

Civil Proceedings:

Subsequent to the criminal trial, we initiated civil proceedings on behalf of Mr. GM for personal injury against the third party driver. The third-party driver's claim was addressed initially, and upon its conclusion, medical evidence was obtained from various consultants on behalf of Mr. GM.

Settlement:

Nine years post-accident, liability was agreed on a 50/50 basis. An offer of £112,500 was made to Mr. GM, reflecting the 50/50 liability agreement. Jack Dowling dealt with the civil aspect of this matter.

Outcome:

Criminal Charge: Not Guilty

Civil Settlement: £112,500 (50/50 liability basis)