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Case Studies
Towing Hitch Failure
A Landrover, descending a hill was towing a trailer, using a proprietary towing hitch.
As the linked vehicles shook when they passed over a bump on the road surface, the trailer separated from the Landrover and careered into the path of a car driving up the hill. The occupants were killed in the impact and the owner of the Landrover faced criminal charges.
Using our expertise, we were able to establish the cause of the accident as a towing hitch failure, resulting from flawed design. During the course of the investigations, we uncovered in excess of 40 similar cases using the same design of hitch resulting in death or injury. One user was a police force who lost a trailer from the back of a police vehicle!
In establishing a Latent Defect, the owner of the Landrover and his insurers were found not to blame for the tragedy, while the hitch manufacturers were compelled to meet the claims and withdraw the design from use.
Tyre Failure
In the course of investigating the sudden loss of control of a car on the M4, it was established that a rear tyre had deflated without warning. On further forensic analysis which we initiated, the tyre was found to be substantially defective in design and dangerous in use. Extensive background investigation followed, leading to the exposure of a series of incidents involving this design of tyre.
The catastrophic injuries which the occupants of the car had suffered, lead to a case for compensation and the ending of the manufacture of that design of tyre. The manufacturer’s product liability insurers met the claims. Many similar cases were referred to us as a direct result of our findings.
Vehicle Fires
We were consulted by insurers who were concerned about the origins of a fire on an exotic and expensive car.
Although it often is difficult to establish the seat of a fire, we were able to isolate significant evidence, which, combined with evidence arriving from other, similar fires we had been asked to investigate, led to the discovery of a Latent Defect in the fuel supply system, which could not be readily detected by routine maintenance.
The commencement of a Class Action resulted in the settlement of all the claims and a redesign of the vehicle fuel system.
Structural/Building Fires
When a large public building went up in smoke while undergoing renovation work, it appeared that builders employed on site had caused the fire through negligent misuse of a blowtorch. Indeed they readily confessed and accepted responsibility in the belief that they were properly insured against errors and omissions as well as product liability.
In fact their cover expressly forbade the very work they were undertaking. Once we had investigated the full background leading to the fire, it was clear that the builders were never in a position to bid for the work and no contract should have been awarded.
In another large warehouse fire where we were called into investigate the ensuing stock and building loss claims, we established a chain of likely causation and motive which led to forensic examination of material on site and documentary proof off site.
The owner of the stock was charged with attempted fraud.
Latent Defects
A groundsman charged with closing the ornate Victorian gates of a large country estate, was crushed when one gate fell from its hinges as he attempted to pull it shut. The gate had to be lifted using heavy machinery. He was partly paralysed.
When we were asked to investigate, we found the maintenance and inspection records of the estate to be in order. Close examination of the offending gate, which weighed over two tons, however, revealed strange marks and fragments of paint. By a process of extended enquiries, we established that the gates had been struck earlier that day by an earthmoving machine loaded on the back of a heavy plant trailer which was being removed from the estate by contractors. The fragments of paint matched the earth mover, which in striking the gate had fractured an upper hinge, some three metres from the ground.
LACA has been involved in many similar cases as well as routine accident investigations both on the public highway, in the factory, worksite, the home or even the motor race track.
Our clients include:
- Insurers
- Employers
- Brokers
- Solicitors
- Unions
We also take on private commissions.
We can:-
- Investigate
- Arbitrate
- Negotiate or
- Litigate
to achieve a result compatible with the best interests of the client and justice
E-mail us by clicking here for further information
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