Presumed liability petition nears 10,000 mark

The Scottish Government calling for a Member's Bill for presumed liability between motorists, cyclists and pedestrians is close to reaching the 10,000 mark that ensures a response from the Scottish Parliament.

According to Road Share, introducing presumed liability would rectify a system that is “out of date and inherently unjust”.

Brenda Mitchell, the founder of Cycle Law Scotland and Road Share, said Holyrood should act to keep up with law changes elsewhere.

She said: “When it comes to road traffic collisions where a cyclist is hit by a car, or indeed where a pedestrian is knocked over by a cyclist, we have an archaic system where the odds are frequently stacked against the vulnerable and receiving compensation quickly and fairly in many cases is impossible without resort to litigation which adds to the distress of those who have been injured through no fault of their own.

“We think it is right for Scotland to lead the rest of the UK by changing its civil law to respect and protect the vulnerable in society by moving to a system of presuming liability to support cyclists and pedestrians injured in road traffic collisions.