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Author: Daniel Kirk

Expert reveals important garden safety tips every parent should know

Posted on by Daniel Kirk

The Compensation Experts reveal parenting top tips on how to keep your children safe in the garden.

With the warmer weather finally here, playing outside in the garden is a parenting dream with so many activities to keep your little one busy. But it can only take a couple of seconds for that fun to turn into a disaster. With an increase in searches for ‘garden safety tips’ by +380%* it seems that many parents may be wondering how to keep their child safe in the garden during the summer months.

From garden tools to trampolines and BBQs, there are several high-risk hazards that parents should be aware of in order to make it safe for children to play.

To help, The Compensation Experts have teamed up with Thomas Goodman, property and construction expert at MyJobQuote.co.uk to provide top tips on how to keep your children safe in the garden:

Safety proof your trampoline

Fit a safety net to your children’s trampoline and make sure there’s adequate padding over the metal framework. If it hasn’t been used for a while, check it over thoroughly before your children step onto it. To avoid collision injuries, it’s sensible to have a one-at-a-time rule for using it.

Ensure all tools are locked away

Return tools to the shed straight after using. Even items without sharp blades can be painful for bare feet or cause kids to trip when they’re running around.

When storing tools or chemicals in the shed, keep the door locked or install a bolt that’s out of reach of curious youngsters’ hands.

Add barriers to ponds, hot tubs and paddling pools

Make a garden pond safe by covering it with a metal guard or fencing it off. And keep hot tubs and paddling pools covered up when they’re not in use.

Check that play equipment meets safety standards

If you’re buying any new play equipment for the garden, check it meets British safety standards.

Buy a retractable washing line

Take down washing lines and other dangling cords where kids are playing to prevent anyone from getting tangled up in them. A retractable washing line is ideal.

Double check the plants in your garden

Some plants can be toxic if ingested or cause skin irritation if touched. So, double check what plants you have in your garden. And if your children like to help with the gardening, get them some gloves to wear so their hands are protected.

Keep BBQs sectioned off

While fire pits and barbeques are cooling, keep them sectioned off and never leave them unattended by an adult. If you do need to leave, make sure you ask another adult to take care of the fire source.

Data on searches DIY related terms taken from keyword.io. Data correct as of 17/05/2022

Almost two-thirds of Brits underestimated their compensation pay-out

Posted on by Daniel Kirk
  • The Compensation Experts polled 500 Brits who have previously claimed compensation
  • Nearly half of those surveyed were considering not claiming compensation after sustaining an injury
  • Two-thirds of the polled underestimated their compensation pay-out

A new study reveals nearly half of people (49%) who sustained an injury were considering not claiming compensation, although almost two-thirds (63%) of Brits underestimated their compensation pay-out!

To gauge what pay-outs Brits may be missing out on, The Compensation Experts polled 500 people1 who have all previously claimed compensation.

Although almost half (45%) forgot to claim for ruined items of clothing and 40% did not consider earnings, bills, receipts, or multiple injuries when filing the claims, Brits still received a considerable sum of £5,400 on average. The highest compensation pay-outs were received by 35-44-year-olds (£7,036), whereas 45-54-year-olds on average received by far the lowest with £3,039.

When claiming compensation over half (56%) did not claim for travel expenses and taxis, although they may be entitled to. Additionally, after sustaining an injury some may need rehab to fully recover, so this should be considered when making a compensation claim, but almost 40% forgot to do so! Even though almost half of the polled felt uncertain to claim compensation, in the end, 75% were glad to have made the claim.

Glaswegians received by far the highest compensation pay-outs with an enormous average worth of £21,285, whereas people from Edinburgh received a comparably small amount of £1,700 on average. In Leeds and Bristol, a majority (66.7%) were considering not claiming compensation, and close to half of Londoners (44.7%) simply forgot to claim for rehab after sustaining an injury!

A spokesperson at The Compensation Experts comments on the study: “The study shows that many people are still unsure about compensation claims and may dread the process, so we hope that our compensation calculator is a great help to gauge how much someone can potentially expect in compensation if they put in a claim.”

To find out more about The Compensation Experts’ Compensation Calculator follow this link: https://the-compensation-experts.co.uk/

1 Survey of 500 people who have recently taken out compensation for a personal injury. The survey was conducted in March 2022 by The Leadership Factor.

UK Drink Driving Hotspots Around the UK

Posted on by Daniel Kirk

Drink driving hotspots around the UK

Everyone has the right to feel safe on the road. But, despite us all knowing how bad it is to drink and drive, the UK consistently sees spikes in drunk driving cases and road traffic accidents around the Easter bank holidays and throughout the summer.

While certainly not an endemic problem, and the level of drink driving incidents has decreased slightly since 2019, there are still far too many people being caught over the limit behind the wheel. It makes the roads far more dangerous for pedestrians and cyclists alike, not to mention other drivers.

To help bring attention to this, we analysed government data from over the past five years to identify the UK’s drink driving hotspots, based specifically on the number of accidents per 100,000 people in each region.

We also assessed which age groups and genders most often drive drunk, and have provided useful driving tips that you can implement to keep yourself safe on the road.

The UK’s drink driving hotspots

Based on government data we’ve collected; the following list represents the various UK regions with the most drink driving incidents per 100,000 people:

  1. The West Midlands – 89.48
  2. The South East – 57
  3. The East Midlands – 56.32
  4. The East of England – 51.16
  5. The South West – 49.86
  6. Yorkshire and Humberside – 43.57
  7. Wales – 42.41
  8. The North West – 39.18
  9. The North East – 37.26
  10. London – 34.29
  11. Scotland – 28.05

Without a doubt, people in the West Midlands are the biggest culprits when it comes to getting behind the wheel after drinks. The region’s total of 89.48 accidents puts it a full 32 accidents higher than the South East, its nearest accident rival.

In fact, these stats show a surprising disparity between accidents in the West Midlands and the rest of the UK. While the majority of regions share fairly close accident levels, the West Midlands strides ahead, making it the drink driving capital of the UK.

Interestingly, London and Scotland have comparatively fewer drink driving accidents than the rest of the country, though this is likely due to London’s excellent transport network and Scotland’s laws on the sale of alcohol after hours.

Are young people more likely to drink and drive?

Typically, you might expect younger members of society to be responsible for committing drink driving offences, but this isn’t necessarily the case. While their age bracket is certainly high-up in the government’s data, they’re not the most likely age group, as shown below:

  1. 60-69 – 6.7%
  2. 25-29 – 4.4%
  3. 20-24 – 4.0%
  4. 30-34 – 3.8%
  5. 35-39 – 3.4%
  6. 70+ – 3.3%
  7. Under 20 – 2.8%
  8. 40-49 – 2.5%
  9. 50-59 – 1.8%

Shockingly, it’s actually those between the ages of 60-69 who most commonly fail breathalyser tests when stopped by police. That’s 2.3% higher than 25-29-year-olds!

But while those between the ages of 20 and 29 rank fairly high amongst government statistics, those under the age of 20 only accounts for 2.8% of accidents. That puts them below even the over 70s, who make up 2.8% of drunk driving accidents.

Ultimately, it would seem those between the ages of 50 and 59 are the most sensible when it comes to drinking and driving, only being included in 1.8% of all personal injuries on the roads relating to the consumption of alcohol.

Which gender is statistically more likely to get behind the wheel after drinking?

When it comes to gender distinctions in drink driving incidents, the statistics are heavily skewed in favour of women.

In the last 5 years, women have been involved in 5,930 accidents while drunk behind the wheel. This compares favourably to the 22,670 accidents involving men, which is over four times more. On average, men are involved in 4,534 drunk driving accidents per year compared to just 1,186 for women.

Top tips for staying safe on the road

First and foremost, the number one tip we can offer you to stay safe on the road is to not drive if you’re over the legal limit. If you’re unsure whether or not you’re over, the safer option is to avoid driving and take public transport or a taxi instead.

Another top tip, and one that should be obvious, is to buckle-up. We also highly recommend getting plenty of sleep the night before, particularly if you have a long drive the next day, and stay alert on the road to avoid potential accidents caused by other drivers.

Plan ahead, don’t text and drive, stick to the speed limit, and be patient.

The UK might be one of the safest places to drive in the world, but that doesn’t mean accidents don’t happen. If you’ve been involved in an accident that wasn’t your fault you may be entitled to compensation.

Here at The Compensation Experts, we can put you in contact with expert solicitors experienced in all fields of injury. Whether it’s an accident at work or a trip, slip, or fall, they’ll help you estimate your claims worth and guide you through the claims process.

Get in touch today!