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It’s estimated that Mr
Harding can now expect to get damages in the region of £5.5m, much higher
than he would got in Australia.
Andrew Scott, head of the
personal injury department at Andersons Solicitors in Nottingham, says the
ruling is a great relief to British
travellers
injured abroad but it also has serious implications for the person causing
the accident.
“This is because car hire
insurance abroad may not cover the cost of damages awarded in British
courts which are among the highest in the world.
“Many comprehensive motor
insurance policies available in other countries limit their pay-outs to
relatively low figures of between £250,000 and £500,000 because that is
the maximum likely to be granted by their local courts. However, if an
injury case is now heard in Britain as it can be following the House of
Lords ruling then the victim could be awarded far more than that.
“It means the person who
caused the accident would have to pay for the extra compensation
themselves.”
Mr Scott urged holidaymakers
hiring cars abroad to study the insurance policy offered and ask what the
maximum pay-out would be in the event of an accident. “It may be possible
to increase the cover by paying extra on the premium, but this varies in
different countries so people need to check the policy carefully.”
For further
information contact Andrew Scott , Tel 0115 9886729, e-mail
Andrew Scott.
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are free to instruct a Solicitor of your choice. Most insurers recognise this and will indemnify your chosen Solicitor to act on your behalf. We will apply to them on your
behalf. If they refuse to indemnify us at the outset, they are legally obliged to do so when proceedings are issued.
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Carly Williams. | 
