Dead woman's son sues over road gritting on Caithness road
The son of a woman who died in a crash claims her accident could have been avoided if Highland Council had gritted or salted the road in good time.
Anne Ryder, 36, of Huna, near John O'Groats, lost control of her car on the A99 near Freswick Burn as she drove to work in Wick in December 2008.
Her son Danny, 21, is suing the local authority for £50,000 in damages.
In his claim, Mr Ryder has said the road was not treated before his mother set off for work early in the morning.
He has raised an action at the Court of Session in Edinburgh.
Lawyers acting for Mr Ryder said that in the light of the forecast, and other information available to the council, the risks involved in not carrying out further gritting on the evening of 8 December - the day before the accident - were "too great".
Highland Council is contesting liability in the action and maintains that it fulfilled all duties placed on it.
It said it fully implemented its winter maintenance policy at the time which was similar to that of other rural local authorities.
The hearing before Lord Tyre continues.