Latest news with #HDClaims
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mirror
'Law is clear' as drivers face £5,000 fine for 'rude' action
Driving through a puddle and splashing pedestrians is not only rude but can also be dangerous - and can land a driver with a huge fine if they're caught doing it Drivers could face penalties of up to £5,000 for carelessly soaking pedestrians during wet weather. Speeding through puddles and drenching nearby pedestrians is not merely thoughtless but can also pose risks, whether carried out deliberately or accidentally. While the Highway Code doesn't explicitly reference splashing pedestrians, legislation exists regarding driving with due care and attention. Section three of the Road Traffic Act 1988 makes it an offence to speed through puddles and drench pavement users, as this constitutes driving "without reasonable consideration for other persons". This means motorists caught committing such acts could face substantial penalties. Penalties for soaking pedestrians Usually, drivers caught drenching pedestrians will be issued a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) of £100 and possibly three points on their licence. Nevertheless, if proceedings reach court, the driver faces a significantly steeper fine of up to £5,000. Penalties are typically determined by various considerations, including the degree of distress caused by the incident and the extent of inconvenience suffered. Adam Jones, a legal expert at HD Claims, said: "Most people think it's just rude – but the law is very clear. Splashing someone deliberately, or failing to slow down and causing a soaking, can lead to a fixed penalty or even a court summons. At best, it's £100 and three points. At worst, it's five grand and a criminal conviction." How to avoid splashing pedestrians and receiving a fine By following some basic safety guidance, it can be easy to avoid splashing pedestrians and therefore avoiding a hefty fine. Generally, a car will make a large splash when going over a puddle at high speeds. Firstly, the driver should consider whether it's safe to avoid the puddle and not drive through it at all. However, if the road conditions mean that the car has to go through the puddle, reducing the speed slightly can significantly lessen how large a splash from a puddle will be. Jones added: 'Failing to take care in wet weather can land you with more than just a fine. You risk points on your licence, higher insurance premiums – and if you cause injury, even civil claims.' HD Claims also advises drivers to drive cautiously through flooded streets, especially urban areas where there is a higher risk of splashing pedestrians.
North Wales Live
4 days ago
- Climate
- North Wales Live
Splashing a pedestrian could land drivers with a hefty fine expert warns
As torrential rain lashes parts of the UK under a yellow weather alert, a legal expert has issued warning. Adam Jones from HD Claims told drivers that soaking pedestrians by driving through puddles could lead to prosecution – and in the worst case scenario fines of up to £5,000. Under Section 3 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, driving through standing water in a way that shows 'no reasonable consideration' for pedestrians is classed as careless and inconsiderate driving. That includes splashing someone with muddy rainwater at a crossing or bus stop. 'Most people think it's just rude – but the law is very clear. Splashing someone deliberately, or failing to slow down and causing a soaking, can lead to a fixed penalty or even a court summons,' said Jones. 'At best, it's £100 and three points. At worst, it's five grand and a criminal conviction.' With roads expected to remain waterlogged throughout the week, Jones is urging motorists to: Jones added: 'Failing to take care in wet weather can land you with more than just a fine. You risk points on your licence, higher insurance premiums – and if you cause injury, even civil claims.' And what to do if you are deliberately splashed? HD Claims advises any pedestrian who's been splashed to:
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Yahoo
The 1 Boarding Pass Mistake You Should Never Make—It Could Cost You Your Vacation
Experts recommend against sharing photos of a boarding pass on social media. A family had their seats and meals changed, after sharing a selfie with their boarding pass, according to press reports. Luggage tags and baggage claim tags can also have a significant amount of personal information. Snapping photos and posting them on social media is a fun way to share a travel adventure. However, experts are sounding the alarm on one type of photo that could turn a dream vacation into a travel nightmare. Security experts have published a warning against posting screenshots or photos of boarding passes on social media. In recent years, online scammers and thieves have been able to extract significant personal information from a boarding pass, even if the confirmation number is obscured. As an added precaution, experts also advise not posting photos of luggage tags which can also contain additional personal information and other traveler information. The warning was authored by the United Kingdom-based law firm HD Claims, which says that advanced scammers can scrape the personal data from a QR code or a barcode on the boarding pass, even when the main personal information is concealed. In addition to not sharing the information on social media, the firm recommends shredding and destroying all travel documents, as they have observed cases where tickets had been picked out of hotel trash cans. 'This isn't just about social embarrassment, it's a serious data protection issue,' legal expert at HD Claims Adam Douglas shared in a statement to Travel + Leisure. 'If your ID or travel account is compromised as a result, you could end up footing the bill or losing your holiday altogether.'In May 2025, a family who innocently posted photos of their boarding pass online to celebrate an upcoming international trip became victims of a travel nightmare, according to a report detailing the alleged 'sabotage' from Wake Up Singapore. The Hong Kong-based family claimed in the report that their seats were re-assigned, and special kosher meals were replaced from their initial requests. Worst of all, the parents were separated from their two children, according to the report. When former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott posted his boarding pass for an upcoming flight on his Instagram account, his personal information was obtained by a third party. However, the self-described hacker who obtained Abbott's passport details and number used it as an opportunity to spotlight the importance of internet security, versus any negative outcome, according to a BBC report. In addition to not posting a boarding pass, there are many other easy tips to enhance safety when traveling. The United States Department of State recommends carefully researching a destination, not telling strangers where you are staying, locking windows and doors, and avoiding carrying anything expensive. Read the original article on Travel & Leisure
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Travel + Leisure
14-07-2025
- Travel + Leisure
The 1 Boarding Pass Mistake You Should Never Make—It Could Cost You Your Vacation
Snapping photos and posting them on social media is a fun way to share a travel adventure. However, experts are sounding the alarm on one type of photo that could turn a dream vacation into a travel nightmare. Security experts have published a warning against posting screenshots or photos of boarding passes on social media. In recent years, online scammers and thieves have been able to extract significant personal information from a boarding pass, even if the confirmation number is obscured. As an added precaution, experts also advise not posting photos of luggage tags which can also contain additional personal information and other traveler information. The warning was authored by the United Kingdom-based law firm HD Claims, which says that advanced scammers can scrape the personal data from a QR code or a barcode on the boarding pass, even when the main personal information is concealed. In addition to not sharing the information on social media, the firm recommends shredding and destroying all travel documents, as they have observed cases where tickets had been picked out of hotel trash cans. 'This isn't just about social embarrassment, it's a serious data protection issue,' legal expert at HD Claims Adam Douglas shared in a statement to Travel + Leisure . 'If your ID or travel account is compromised as a result, you could end up footing the bill or losing your holiday altogether.' In May 2025, a family who innocently posted photos of their boarding pass online to celebrate an upcoming international trip became victims of a travel nightmare, according to a report detailing the alleged 'sabotage' from Wake Up Singapore. The Hong Kong-based family claimed in the report that their seats were re-assigned, and special kosher meals were replaced from their initial requests. Worst of all, the parents were separated from their two children, according to the report. When former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott posted his boarding pass for an upcoming flight on his Instagram account, his personal information was obtained by a third party. However, the self-described hacker who obtained Abbott's passport details and number used it as an opportunity to spotlight the importance of internet security, versus any negative outcome, according to a BBC report. In addition to not posting a boarding pass, there are many other easy tips to enhance safety when traveling. The United States Department of State recommends carefully researching a destination, not telling strangers where you are staying, locking windows and doors, and avoiding carrying anything expensive.
Daily Mirror
03-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Bella Culley could be separated from her baby behind bars in 'traumatic' update
Suspected British drug smuggler Bella May Culley has raised grave concerns from experts who are raising the alarm about her bleak prison conditions. The 18-year-old, from Billingham, County Durham, is accused of trafficking cannabis into Georgia. If found guilty, she could be looking at life in prison, very far from home. The teen sobbed in court this week as she claimed she was "forced by torture". Bella said: "I didn't want to do this. I was forced by torture. I just wanted to travel. I study at the university… to become a nurse. "All I wanted to do was to travel and this happened to me. I'm clean - I had nothing in my blood test. I wanted to make my family proud. Thanks for listening." Brit gang 'threatened to decapitate' 'drug mule' Bella Culley 'and kill her family' For now, the British student awaits her fate at the notorious Women's Penitentiary Number Five in Georgia, close to the Russian border. It's understood that Culley, who is pregnant, is sharing a cell with two other inmates in the 'hellhole' jail known for its cramped and dirty conditions. The teen has claimed she's had no medical care in jail, despite her pregnancy. Her lawyer, Mariam Kublashvili said back in May: "She is pregnant and needs medical care which she complained she wasn't getting – there were no tests or checks or medical examinations done, she told me. She said she asked for a doctor, but the doctor wasn't speaking English and they couldn't understand each other." And campaigners and lawyers are now warning that Culley's apparent lack of medical care could "raise serious human rights concerns." Describing reports of Bella being denied medical care as "extremely worrying", Adam Jones, from law firm HD Claims, told the Mirror: "Even while incarcerated, individuals have the right to basic healthcare, and pregnancy care falls firmly within that. Georgia is a signatory to multiple international conventions, including the European Convention on Human Rights and the UN's Convention Against Torture. "These establish a minimum standard of care, especially for vulnerable individuals such as pregnant women. Day-to-day, Bella should be receiving routine antenatal check-ups, access to qualified medical professionals, proper nutrition, and immediate care in the event of complications. Denial of such care may breach Article 3 of the ECHR, which prohibits inhuman or degrading treatment." Human rights organisations have long had serious concerns about conditions in prisons in Georgia, particularly regarding healthcare access and the treatment of foreign nationals. Mr Jones added: "Vulnerable prisoners, especially young women, often face language barriers, limited access to legal support, and difficulty advocating for themselves in an unfamiliar system." The reported conditions of Women's Penitentiary Number Five make for grim reading. Multiple inmates are said to be squeezed into single cells, in a Soviet-era facility described as being in a state of decay. Although some improvements have been seen in recent times, thanks to funding, there have been distressing accounts from behind the prison's allegedly grimy walls. One inspection found that prisoners were forced to squat in front of guards, said to be particularly traumatic when they are menstruating. Meanwhile, a report from the latest inspection of the prison found that new inmates were spending up to two weeks in internal classification cells before being assigned to their block. According to this report, which followed complaints over hygiene from inmates: "Even though they are legally guaranteed the right to exercise, they are unable to benefit from this right. "The internal classification cells are located in the C residential building of the facility, and there is no designated outdoor space available for the inmates housed there to get fresh air." Although improvements in cleanliness were noted, "it was found that the facility frequently does not receive drinking water", with both staff and inmates forced to collect water in containers, which they would then store. It's clear this is a hostile environment for a young pregnant woman, and it's feared things could get even worse should Culley end up giving birth behind bars. According to Mr Jones: "If Bella were to give birth while imprisoned, her baby would likely be taken into the care of the state or handed over to relatives, depending on the circumstances and Georgian family law. Immediate separation after birth can have traumatic effects, both psychologically and physically, particularly without proper postnatal care or support systems in place. "Her case highlights a broader issue: the urgent need for transparent oversight in how prisons handle the care of pregnant women, especially foreign nationals. Without international scrutiny or legal intervention, individuals like Bella risk being left without even the most basic care, simply because of where they are.' The Mirror also heard from Kirsty Kitchen, Head of Policy at Birth Companions, a charity supporting women who face inequalities and disadvantages during pregnancy. Ms Kitchen warned that the organisation is "deeply concerned by reports that Bella May Culley has not been receiving appropriate medical care while held in Rustavi's prison number 5." She told us: "The United Nations' Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners, commonly known as the 'Bangkok Rules', are clear: pregnant women in prison must have access to healthcare that is equivalent to that which would receive in the community, along with a healthy environment, adequate nutrition, fresh water supplies, and regular exercise. "Yet the most recent inspection of the prison, carried out by the ombudsman of Georgia, found a range of issues with drinking water, proper ventilation, and long waits for medical services to address physical and mental health needs. "The UN rules also state that pregnant women should not be held in prison pre-trial, and should receive non-custodial sentences wherever possible. On these grounds, the refusal of Bella's application for bail, which would allow her to access maternity care in the community and have the support of her family, is a huge disappointment." Highlighting what needs to be done next, Ms Kitchen added: "We need to ensure her physical and mental health needs are being met, and work to secure her release from an environment that is clearly not a safe or appropriate place in which to navigate pregnancy." Bella was first arrested at Tbilisi International Airport on May 11, after being reported missing in Thailand. She has been accused of smuggling drugs into Georgia following her travels in South East Asia. Cannabis was legalised for recreational use in Georgia back in 2018, with limited possession also being decriminalised; however, the selling of cannabis remains illegal. The Mirror has approached the Georgian Ministry of Justice for comment.
