Start your claim Request call back
01614138765

TELEPHONE UK Based Experts
Open 7 Days a Week 8.00am - 7.00pm

UK Based | Open 7 days a week 8:00am - 7:00pm

Author: Jonathon

Accidents in Restaurants 

Posted on by Jonathon

 Many of us visit restaurants on a regular basis. We don’t expect anything to happen to us when we do so. The vast majority of restaurants across the UK are diligent in their duty of care towards their customers. However, there are situations when accidents in restaurants can occur as well as illness.  

All restaurant owners must make sure they follow the rules set out in the Occupiers Liability Act 1957. They must do this to minimise the risk of accidents happening. If you have an accident in a restaurant, and it is due to the fault of the restaurant owner, then you may be eligible to make a personal injury claim. 

Common Accidents in Restaurants

  • Slipping on wet floors 
  • Trips and falls 
  • Badly maintained facilities 
  • Food poisoning 

Restaurant owners must ensure that the restaurant is fit for purpose and a safe environment for those invited or permitted to be there.  

Restaurant operators need to be vigilant, display clear warning signs and not only abide by the Occupiers Liability Act 1957 but also their duty of care to customers and those invited onto the premises. 

It is worth noting that this obligation also takes in any surrounding premises for which the restaurant owner is responsible. So, if any incidents were to occur in the restaurant’s car park or the entrance to the restaurant this might also leave open a potential case for compensation. 

accidents in restaurants

Accidents in Restaurants for Staff 

If you are a staff member working in a restaurant, you may also have an accident at work. Restaurant kitchens can be very unsafe places if owners do not maintain and clean them properly. If restaurants aren’t kept safe for staff, and you have an accident, then your employer may be at fault, and you may be able to make a claim. 

Some of the most common accidents in restaurants for staff include: 

  • Slipping in spillages 
  • Burn injuries  
  • Injuries with kitchen equipment 

If you are using any kitchen equipment, such as cookers or knives, and you haven’t had the adequate training to be able to use them, then your employer may be at fault if you have an accident. 

We understand that you might be worried about losing your job or being treated differently if you make a claim against your employer, but this isn’t true. In fact, when you make any type of accident at work claim against your employer, you’re protected by law. This means you can’t be dismissed or treated differently just because you’ve involved solicitors. 

When you make a claim against your employer, it is also worth noting that it is their insurer who pays any compensation. All businesses in the UK must have business insurance in case accidents at work happen. 

How We Can Help 

Here at The Compensation Experts, we work with solicitors who have years of experience dealing with personal injury claims. This includes accidents in restaurants. Contact us today by filling in our contact form. Or call us on 01614138765 to speak to one of our friendly experts. 

New driving law means cyclist accidents may increase 

Posted on by Jonathon

New driving laws came into effect on 29th January, which aim to give more protection to cyclists and pedestrians. The government hopes that this will decrease the number of cyclist accidents, and improve road safety. With the new guidance, the Government has set out a new “hierarchy of road users”. Therefore, those who are a greater risk to others on the road will have a greater responsibility to keep more vulnerable users safe. 

However, recent reports show that two in three UK drivers were unaware of the new changes. This could mean that there is an increase in cyclist accidents and other road accidents. 

cyclist accidents

The New Driving Laws 

The new “hierarchy” is included in H1 of the new rules, which looks to ensure a more mutually respectful and considerate culture of safe and effective road use. 

Rule H2 focuses on new priority at junctions – meaning motorists, horse riders and cyclists must give way to pedestrians waiting or crossing at a junction. 

The final major change, Rule H3, sets out new guidance for drivers and motorcyclists. It advises them to “not cut across cyclists going ahead when turning into or out of a junction or changing direction or lane”. 

Motorists should “stop and wait” for a safe gap in the flow of cyclists if necessary. 

Safe passing distances have also been updated to account for the increase in protections of the most vulnerable road users. 

Drivers will now need to leave a minimum distance of 1.5 metres when overtaking motorcyclists, cyclists, horse riders and horse drawn vehicles at speeds under 30mph. 

When driving over the 30mph threshold, the safe overtaking distance is increased to a minimum of two metres. 

A spokesperson for the Department for Transport explained why the changes were being made. 

They said: “The proposed upcoming changes to The Highway Code will improve safety for cyclists, pedestrians and horse riders, with those who present the most risk to other road users given the greatest responsibility in creating a safer travel environment for all. 

“The Department has established a working group of key organisations to ensure that messages about the changes are as widespread as possible and our well-established THINK! campaign will continue to ensure all road users are aware both when these changes come into effect and beyond.” 

Cyclist Accidents 

Cyclists lack the same level of protection as car drivers if there’s a collision. They are susceptible to injury if a pothole throws them off their bike. We deal with thousands of cyclist accident claims every year, with injuries ranging from minor lacerations to life-changing impairment. With this in mind, we aim to make your cyclist accident claim as stress-free as possible. 

How We Can Help with Cyclist Accidents

Here at The Compensation Experts, we work with solicitors who have years of experience dealing with personal injury claims. This includes cyclist accidents. So contact us today by filling in our contact form. Or call us on 01614138765 to speak to one of our friendly experts. 

Accidents in Retail Work

Posted on by Jonathon

When accidents at work are mentioned, many people naturally think of building sites, warehouses, and factories. Whilst it’s true that these sectors have a lot of accidents at work, a person can have an accident in any profession. Therefore, accidents in retail work may be more common than people realise. 

Causes of Accidents in Retail Work 

There are two main causes of accidents in retail work. These are: slips, trips, and falls and manual handling. 

Slips trips and falls are the most common cause of any accident at work. According to the Health and Safety Executive, these accidents account for around 40% of all reported accidents in the retail industry. They can happen because of spillages, wet floors, uneven flooring, equipment or stock on the floor, damaged flooring, and much more. 

There are a number of health and safety guidelines that your employer must follow to stop accidents like this happening. 

Manual handling accidents often happen due to inaccurate or inadequate training. If someone does not have the proper training to lift stock or deliveries and they injure themselves whilst doing so, then their employer may be responsible. There are health and safety rules which employers must follow to minimise the risk of these accidents happening. 

Accidents in retail work

Your Employer’s Responsibility 

Employers must make sure that they do everything in their power to make sure their employees do not have any accidents whilst working. There are health and safety guidelines that they must follow to do this. These guidelines include the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 and the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. 

Employers must also ensure that they conduct regular risk assessments. These risk assessments cover both working practices and working environment. For example, risk assessments must be carried out on any carpeted areas at work to ensure that they are not damaged and safe to walk on. They must also carry out risk assessments for how the employees work, such as safe lifting and handling. This ensures that employees are trained safely on how to do their jobs. 

If employers fail to carry out these risk assessments and an employee has an accident, then they may be to blame for the accident. 

Claiming Against Your Employer 

When you make a claim against your employer for an accident at work, the claim is made against an insurance policy. This is known as Employer’s Liability Insurance. All employers in the United Kingdom must have this insurance. It protects them when accidents happen, as the compensation comes from the insurance. Therefore, it is the insurance company that pays the compensation; it does not come directly out of your employer’s pocket. 

How We Can Help 

Here at The Compensation Experts, we work with solicitors who have years of experience dealing with personal injury claims. This includes accidents in retail work. Contact us today by filling in our contact form. Or call us on 01614138765 to speak to one of our friendly experts. 

The UK Cities With the the Most Accidents

Posted on by Jonathon

The UK might be one of the safest places to live and work in the world, but that doesn’t mean we’re not still accident-prone. Using data gathered by The Office of National Statistics (ONS), we’re breaking down the top 10 most accident-prone cities in the UK based on accidents and population.

While for many of us last year and the year before was an incredibly quiet year, sometimes, accidents are entirely unavoidable. Based on data collected by The Health and Safety Executive, even in 2020, at least 400,000 people suffered an injury due to a workplace accident.

In fact, 10% of all UK accidents that year involved being struck by a moving object, making it the third most common accident type in the country behind trips, slips, and falls, and manual handling injuries.

Read on to find out which cities are the most accident-prone.

1. Kingston upon Hull

Though it was the UK’s city of culture back in 2017, it’s clear Hull still needs some work done to its roads. There were 603 reported-road traffic accidents in 2020. Combined with the 307 workplace accidents they reported, that makes for a total accident count of 910.

This might not seem like much, especially compared to some of the UK’s most populated cities, but with a population of 259,126, this puts Hull’s accidents per capita at 0.0035 – the highest across the country.

2. Peterborough

One of the more populous commuter cities in the UK, perhaps it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Peterborough takes the number two spot for accidents per person. Sitting at a comfortable population of 202626, Peterborough saw 327 road accidents and 232 workplace accidents in 2020.

While a marked step down from the number of accidents seen in Hull, Peterborough’s lower population actually increases its accidents per capita to 0.0028, making it a bit of an accident hotspot.

3. Portsmouth

Being a port town, Portsmouth sees a lot of traffic on a daily basis, but even the extensive safety protocols taken to avoid accidents in this setting couldn’t stop Portsmouth from seeing 427 road traffic accidents and 142 workplace accidents throughout 2020.

These 569 accidents give Portsmouth an accident per capita rate of 0.0027, putting it just below Peterborough but certainly showing that a little more care and attention is needed in this city.

4. Nottingham

While Robin Hood certainly had no shortage of danger in his line of work, it’s doubtful he ever had to deal with busy roads and traffic accidents. ONS data shows that Nottingham is the fourth most accident-prone UK city.

Nottingham suffered 553 accidents on the road and 319 overall workplace accidents across 2020, putting its accident per capita at 0.0026 thanks to its population of 337098.

5. London

You might be forgiven for thinking that the UK capital would be top of ONS statistics given its massive population of 29,989,531 when you include Greater London. To put that into perspective, the population of Scotland is around 5.5 million. With a population this big, it’s no surprise that London sees a lot of accidents.

Incredibly, despite having 49,386 road traffic accidents and 23,448 workplace accidents in 2020, London’s enormous population means that its combined accident total of 72,834 only puts its accidents per capita at 0.0024, which is perhaps the most surprising statistic of all.

6. Wakefield

Leeds might not fall into the top 10, but its accident-prone neighbour certainly does. As a commuter city on the way to Leeds, Wakefield certainly sees its fair share of road accidents, with 387 recorded in 2020. That being said, Wakefield is the only accident-prone city in the top ten to see more workplace than traffic accidents, with 451 over the course of the year.

Despite being less well-known than many of the other places on the ONS’s list, Wakefield has a healthy population of 351,592, helping to place its 838 accidents at an accident per capita of around 0.0024, only just being beaten by London.

7. Derby

It might be somewhat out of the way, yet Derby still sees plenty of through traffic thanks to its cathedral, galleries, and the popular Download music festival that takes place yearly at the nearby Donnington Park. But even with these places closed for 2020, Derby managed to rack up 415 road accidents and 190 workplace accidents in 2020.

Derby is the third city in a row to find itself with a 0.0024 accident per capita rating, due in no small part to its relatively small population of 256,814.

8. Brighton and Hove

Better known to most of us as the popular seaside resort of Brighton, this much-loved tourist location saw 553 road traffic incidents in 2020 despite seeing reduced tourism. When adding this to its 131 workplace accidents, Brighton saw an accident total of 684.

All this leaves Brighton with 0.0023 accidents per capita, something it shares in common with our last two accident-prone cities.

9. Birmingham

The only other member of the UK’s largest cities to make the list, Birmingham’s 1,140,525 strong population had a surprisingly low total accident count when compared to the likes of London. Birmingham saw 2,653 total accidents in 2020, 1,802 road accidents and 851 workplace accidents respectively.

This leaves Birmingham’s accidents per capita drawing with Brighton at 0.0023, which isn’t too bad for a city with such a large population.

10. Wolverhampton

Last on the ONS’s list is the populous Northern city of Wolverhampton. Wolverhampton shares its accidents per capita with Brighton and Birmingham at a respectable 0.0023.

It might have a population of 264,407, but between them, they only saw 376 road traffic incidents and 238 workplace accidents for a total accident count of 614.

Did your city make the list? Did you suffer a road traffic or workplace accident in one of these cities in 2021 and are yet to make a claim? If so, then you should get in touch with The Compensation Experts.

If you’ve suffered an accident due to someone else’s negligence in the last 3 years, then you’re entitled to compensation. Here at The Compensation Experts, we work with expert solicitors in all fields of personal injury. We’re here to make sure you get the compensation you deserve. Speak with our experienced team today and we’ll start the claims process at a pace that suits you.

Fatal Children’s Road Accidents: Child Suffered ‘Catastrophic Injuries’

Posted on by Jonathon

A seven-year-old boy suffered “catastrophic injuries to his head” after a school minibus hit him. This is important for fatal children’s road accidents, as, according to reports, the inquest is still ongoing. This may help highlight road safety for children.

He had been travelling home from school on the bus with his brother and one other passenger on 13 January 2020, an inquest jury was told.

The minibus was operated by CDS travel on behalf of Monmouthshire Council.

It was driven by its regular driver, who was well known to the boy and his family.

The bus was running ahead of schedule and reached the boy’s home earlier than usual, meaning his mother was not there to meet it, the inquest heard.

The assistant coroner said the boy and his brother “opened and closed the minibus doors themselves” before the bus driver drove away.

The driver “heard a bump” as he drove away. He assumed was the minibus clipping the curb, he told the jury. However, the boy had been caught under the minibus.

The coroner added the boy’s mother was “scrambling to get her shoes on” to meet her sons off the bus, and when she got outside, she initially only saw the boy’s brother before seeing him lying on his side.

His mother “knew instantly” that the boy had suffered “catastrophic injuries” and he died shortly afterwards, the inquest heard.

Fatal Road Accidents

There are many causes of fatal road accident claims. However, at the Compensation Experts we have found that the most common cause of fatal road accidents is from another person’s careless driving. This includes errors, lack of concentration, driving whilst under the influence of drugs or alcohol, speeding, using mobile phones or other technology whilst driving, and not taking care of lights and signs whilst driving.

A fatal car accident or fatal motorcycle accident can also be caused by poor conditions. These include

  • Inadequate lighting
  • Large potholes
  • Unclear signs
  • Other distractions such as smoke from a bonfire in a neighbouring field blowing across the road
children's fatal road accidents

Motor Insurers Bureau Claims

If the fatal road accident was caused by an uninsured or untraced driver, you may still be able to make a claim. This claim is from the Motor Insurers Bureau. The Motor Insurers Bureau is an organisation that insurance companies pay into in an accident with these drivers. This would be the case if the driver drove away from a fatal road accident, or if they were uninsured. A fatal car accident must be reported to the police at the time of the accident, or soon afterwards. The Motor Insurers Bureau will then pay the compensation rather than the insurance company.

How We Can Help With Children’s Fatal Road Accidents

Here at The Compensation Experts we work with solicitors who have years of experience dealing with personal injury claims. This includes fatal children’s road accidents. Contact us today by filling in our contact form. Or call us on 01614138765 to speak to one of our friendly experts.

Companies Fined After Employee Suffers Leg Injuries at Work

Posted on by Jonathon

A contractor and a water management company have been fined after a worker was injured when he was hit by a 1.5 tonne water valve. The worker suffered leg injuries at work, and the two companies have been found to be at fault for the injury.

One company had contracted another to connect a 1.5 tonne water valve in a confined chamber at Kielder Reservoir, Northumberland. The valve was suspended from a lorry mounted crane when it swung across the chamber and struck the worker. His injuries include an open compound fracture of his tibia and fibula.

A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found that both companies had failed to risk assess the work and the additional hazards introduced by a change in the scope of work. They failed to implement suitable safety measures and safe systems of work; and provide adequate supervision to the workers.

Speaking after the hearing, the HSE inspector said: “Companies must understand that work activities involving confined spaces, work at height and lifting operations must be subject to a robust risk assessment. Furthermore, risk assessments should be reviewed if the scope of work changes and additional hazards are introduced.

“Companies must also ensure that they have suitable safety control measures and safe systems of work in place to address the identified risks. Appropriate arrangements should be in place to supervise and monitor work.”

leg injuries at work

Leg Injuries at Work

When it comes to leg injuries, there are many different types, of varying severity. Any kind of leg injury has the ability to negatively impact your daily life, no matter how serious. You may find that you are in pain, unable to walk or struggling to perform your usual activities.

If the incident that caused the injury wasn’t your fault, you may be able to make a leg injury claim. Claim types include:

  • Strains
  • Fractures
  • Sprains
  • Leg amputations

If you suffer leg injuries at work, then your employer may be at fault. Employers must ensure that they keep their employees safe from accidents at work. They must conduct risk assessments on any work that their employees undertake to ensure the employees can carry out their work safely.

Employers must also make sure they follow the correct guidance on health and safety in the workplace. They must follow the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) to keep their employees safe from accidents at work.

If you have an accident at work and it is the fault of your employer, because they did not conduct thorough risk assessments or did not follow the correct health and safety guidelines, then you may be able to make an accident at work claim.

How We Can Help

Here at The Compensation Experts we work with solicitors who have years of experience dealing with personal injury claims. This includes leg injuries at work. Contact us by filling in our contact form. Or call us on 01614138765 to speak to one of our friendly experts.

Accidents During Workouts

Posted on by Jonathon

Now that the new year has started, many people will be making resolutions. One of the most popular resolutions involves exercising, however, this may mean that the number of accidents during workouts increases in January.

accidents during workouts

Accidents During Workouts in Gyms

We recently surveyed 1,000 gym members to find out which gym equipment causes the most accidents. Taking the top spots as the two pieces of gym equipment that pose the most danger, with around a quarter of all injuries attributed to each of these types of workout, we have the weight rack (25.4%) and treadmill (25.0%). Both are likely as a result of individuals pushing themselves before they’re ready to progress, highlighting the importance of steady improvement.

Next up, it’s the bikes, which contribute to 17.1% of all gym-related injuries, from strains and sprains to overexertion, while the cross trainer (15.3%) and pull-up bar (15.2%) complete the top five most dangerous pieces of exercise equipment.

If you have an accident in a gym, then you may be able to make an occupier’s liability claim. The owner of the premises should ensure that they put measures in place to avoid accidents like this from happening. They must also follow rules set out in the Occupiers Liability Act 1957 to minimise the risk of accidents happening. If they fail to do this then they may be liable if someone has an accident on their premises.

Accidents During Workouts at Home

If you have an accident whilst working out at home, then making a claim can prove tricky. It may even be the case that you cannot make a claim if you have an accident during a home workout. However, there may be examples where you can make a claim; the main reason being due to faulty home workout equipment.

We know no one expects products to cause injury, but if a product is faulty or malfunctions, then you may be able to make a claim. You may be able to make a claim for a faulty product if there is a fault in the design or manufacture of the product. You may also be able to make a claim if the product was not maintained correctly. This includes accidents on workout equipment that is defective.

All product manufacturers must follow The Consumer Protection Act 1987. It states that people who buy a product may recover any losses caused if it was defective and caused injury.  Manufacturers must also make the consumer aware of any risks of the products.

If you have had an accident involving a faulty product, then you may be able to claim compensation. We recommend that you keep the product, or at least a photo of it, and the receipt if you still have it.

How We Can Help

Here at The Compensation Experts, we work with solicitors who have years of experience dealing with personal injury claims. This includes accidents during workouts. Contact us today by filling in our contact form. Or call us on 01614138765 to speak to one of our friendly experts.

The Compensation Experts in 2021

Posted on by Jonathon

2021 has been a very big year for The Compensation Experts. We started the year by launching our new website after a refresh and have ended the year with our parent company mmadigital receiving private equity funding. We have also helped thousands of people with personal injury, industrial disease, and financial claims throughout the year.

The Compensation Experts 2021

The Compensation Experts 2021: How We Have Helped

During 2021, The Compensation Experts have helped over 7,000 people to make compensation claims. These claims range from personal injury to industrial disease and financial mis-selling.

We have helped over 7,500 people make personal injury claims in 2021. These range from accidents at work, accidents in public and private places, to road traffic accidents. Even with the recent road traffic accident reforms, we have continued to help people with car accident claims.

Accidents at work was the accident type that we helped the most people with during 2021. Almost half of all the people we helped had had accidents at work, with the number standing at over 3,000. The next biggest category was accidents in private places, which we helped over 2,000 people with. We also helped people claim for injuries caused by accidents in public places and on the road.

We have also helped almost 400 people with industrial disease claims. These are people suffering with Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS)/ Vibration White Finger (VWF), industrial deafness and more.

How We Can Help

Here at The Compensation Experts, we work with solicitors who have years of experience in compensation claims. This includes personal injury, industrial disease, financial claims and more. If you or someone you know have suffered due to personal injury, industrial disease or financial mis-selling, contact us today.

You can contact us by filling in our contact form. Or call us on 01614138765 to speak to one of our friendly experts.

RAIB reveals Safety Digest following a rail accident involving a train and a lorry

Posted on by Jonathon

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) have released a safety digest after a rail accident involving a train and a lorry at Penistone earlier this year.

The accident took place in August, with the train reporting striking of a stabiliser leg of a lorry parked next to the track. The train was travelling at 20mph when it hit the stabiliser leg. The lorry was using its crane to move a portable toilet onto its flatbed, with the stabiliser legs deployed to enable the lift.

Following departure from Penistone station, the train was accelerating when the lorry became visible. The driver spotted a person close to the lorry and sounded the horn to provide a warning. The stabiliser legs were not visible to the driver at that time and continued to accelerate. As the train drew closer to the lorry, the train driver could see that one of the stabiliser legs was extremely close to the rails and applied the brakes and just 5 seconds later the train struck the lorry.

The accident took place in an area within the railway boundary which had been used by the Central Rail Systems Alliance (CRSA) as a base for track renewal work.

According to the railway Rule Book, GE/RT8000, work taking place within the railway boundary fence that is more than three metres from the nearest running line and can be seen by the driver of an approaching train is defined as being on the ‘lineside’. A new version of the Rule Book is due to be published in December 2021 and has simplified the definition of ‘lineside’ by removing the condition of being visible to the driver.

The contractor did not undertake a risk assessment for working close to a railway line.

rail accident

Rail Accidents

Rail accidents can have a variety of different causes. For instance, you can claim for compensation when there is:

  • Poor weather conditions such as ice, snow, or slippery leaves
  • Poor maintenance of train tracks and train cars by rail networks and train operators
  • An obstacle on the track, like a tree branch
  • Collisions with another train, or a vehicle at a level crossing
  • Slips and trips inside the carriage or on the platform due to wet or uneven flooring
  • Cuts from broken seats which sharp edges exposed
  • Slips, trips and falls on a train
  • Scalding from hot food and drink in the buffet car

Injuries caused by train crashes and derailments can have a devastating effect on victims and their families, in particular for those who suffer amputations or paralysis, or the families victims of fatal rail accidents leave behind.

How We Can Help if You Suffer A Rail Accident

Here at The Compensation Experts we work with solicitors who have years of experience dealing with personal injury claims. This includes rail accidents. Contact us today by filling in our contact form. Or call us on 01614138765 to speak to one of our friendly experts.

UKMHA issues safety advice following fatal work accident

Posted on by Jonathon

According to recent reports, the UK Material Handling Association (UKMHA) has issued its advice to the industry on the importance of following correct procedures relating to tyre wear and inflation. This follows a court case in which the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) successfully prosecuted a concrete company after an agency worker had a fatal work accident when a tyre he was inflating exploded.

The contractor suffered fatal injuries while using an air hose/compressed air to inflate the tyre of an articulated wheel loader.

An investigation by the HSE into the incident, on 28 March 2019, found that the company did not have a safe system of work for inflation of the multi-piece split rim assembly wheels on the articulated wheel loader in place. The compressed air system had not been subject to regular and thorough examination and testing by a competent person.

UKMHA’s recommendation is a CFTS-accredited Competent Person should complete thorough examinations on lift trucks. The CFTS mark is a guarantee that a lift truck will be examined carefully, and that key components such as brakes and steering will also be checked along with the lifting mechanism.

“All MHE must receive a Thorough Examination at least once a year. However, trucks could require examinations more often depending on the type of truck and the application,” added Mr Goss.

“The process is governed by regulations enforced by the HSE. These state that Thorough Examination of industrial lift trucks is required under LOLER 1998, which covers lifting equipment. Additionally, employers must carry out safety inspections of other safety-related items, such as brakes, steering and tyres.”

Fatal Accident at Work Claims

Suffering a fatal accident at work can be devastating. According to the Health and Safety Executive’s latest figures, 142 workers suffered a fatal injury at work in 2020/21. These accidents can have a huge impact on loved ones. Employers must do all they can to minimise the risk of fatal injuries at work.

Your employer is responsible for keeping you safe at work. Your employer must make sure that they meet the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (1999). They do this by conducting risk assessments to ensure that they keep everyone safe.

If the business you are working for fails in their duty to keep you safe, then they may be responsible for the fatal accident at work.

Claiming on Behalf of Someone Else

If a loved one has suffered a fatal accident at work, you may be able to make a claim on their behalf. In these cases, it is usually the next of kin of the person who has suffered a fatal accident at work who can make the claim on their behalf. Those who represent the deceased’s estate can also make a claim.

We understand that when you lose a loved one, making a claim may be the last thing on your mind. The solicitors we work with are trained to deal with matters such as these. Therefore, they show the utmost compassion and understanding when it comes to making difficult claims.

How We Can Help

Here at The Compensation Experts, we work with solicitors who have years of experience dealing with personal injury claims. This includes fatal accident at work claims. Contact us today by filling in our contact form. Or call us on 01614138765 to speak to our friendly experts.

Christmas Season Accidents at work in Warehouses

Posted on by Jonathon

As the festive season continues, the amount of work in warehouses also ramps up. Warehouses are busier than ever during the Christmas period, especially since the rise in popularity of online shopping. However, with the extra work comes extra risk; therefore, Christmas season accidents at work in warehouses may increase.

Accidents at Work in Warehouses

Accidents at work in warehouses are very common. In the warehousing industry, there were over 23,000 injuries at work in 2019/20 according to the Health and Safety Executive. There are some injuries that are more common than others, with lifting and handling accidents being the most common.

The main causes of accidents at work in warehouses are:

Lifting and handling accounted for the most accidents to warehouse staff. This is especially true at Christmas when the workload is higher. When you are lifting and handling at work, your manager must make sure that they are following the manual handling safety rules. This is to minimise the risks of accidents at work and keep employees safe.

The other main areas of accident at work that are common in the warehouse industry are being hit by a moving vehicle, being hit by falling objects, slips and trips and falling from height. Your employer can help prevent these types of accidents by following correct procedures and policies.

accidents at work in warehouses

Your Employers Responsibility

It is your employer’s responsibility to ensure you are safe at work. This means that they must follow correct health and safety guidelines to minimise the risk of accidents and to keep all their employees safe. They must carry out adequate and frequent risk assessments on the machinery and equipment, and make sure that staff training is always up to date.

During the Christmas period, employers can also prevent accidents at work happening by ensuring that they have enough staff to manage the increase in workload effectively.

If you are a temporary or agency worker, your employer has as much of a duty to protect you as a full time, permanent employee. This means they must also ensure that your training is adequate and correct before you do the job. They must also ensure they maintain this training.

If your employer does not follow the correct health and safety guidelines, such as the Manual Handling Regulations and the Health and Safety at work regulations, and you have an accident whilst at work, then you may be able to make a claim. All employers must have Employer’s Liability insurance. This covers the business in case accidents at work happen. If you have had an accident and make a claim, then it is the insurance that pays the compensation.

How We Can Help

Here at The Compensation Experts, we work with solicitors who have years of experience dealing with personal injury claims. This includes accidents at work in warehouses. Contact us today by filling in our contact form. Or call us on 01614138765 to speak to one of our friendly experts.

E-scooter Injuries ‘Costing NHS £1k per Patient’ in Bristol

Posted on by Jonathon

According to recent reports, e-scooter injuries are costing the NHS an average of £1k per patient in Bristol.

The Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (Pacts) has been investigating e-scooter safety across the UK.

Under current UK law, privately-owned e-scooters, of which Pacts estimates there are 500,000 in the UK, are classed as motor vehicles and are illegal to use on roads or in public places without insurance and registration.

But in 2020 the government authorised official trial rental schemes of e-scooters and some 50 local authorities have introduced them.

Pacts estimates private companies have distributed about 20,000 of them across the UK. This is including cities such as London, Nottingham, Derby, Portsmouth, Oxford, Cambridge, Coventry, Sunderland, and Southampton.

It said it was hard to find exact figures of e-scooter accidents because of the way individual hospitals record injuries, but “casualty numbers are growing, and the severity of some casualties is high”.

In the first 10 months of 2021 PACTS found nine deaths involving e-scooters and more than 300 casualties.

e-scooter injuries

E-Scooter Injuries in Bristol

A new report by transport safety charity Pacts shows 90 e-scooter riders went to A&E units in Bristol for treatment in four weeks between May and June. Of those people, 96% were the e-scooter rider, and 80% of that group had been riding hired scooters.

The majority of those injured (71%) fell rather than collided with a pedestrian or other vehicle.

About a fifth came in with head injuries. Three patients had either a traumatic brain injury, haemorrhage or a fractured skull.

Professor Edd Carlton, a consultant in emergency medicine at North Bristol NHS Trust and an associate professor at the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, told the Pacts report: “Across emergency departments in Bristol over 40 per cent of patients who are treated after e-scooter accidents have fractures, a number also suffer life-changing injuries.

“The average cost of treatment to the NHS for these injuries is nearly £1,000 per patient.”

E-Scooter Accidents

Due to the fact that E-scooters must meet the same standards as motor vehicles, if you have an accident involving an electric scooter then you may be able to make a claim. If you have an electric scooter accident as a passenger, then you may be able to make a claim. You may also be able to make a claim if you were riding an e-scooter and you have an accident involving a car. There are other examples where the person riding the scooter is uninsured or untraceable. In these cases, you may still be able to make a claim. The Motor Insurers’ Bureau deal with compensation claims for people who have accidents with uninsured or untraceable drivers.

How We Can Help

Here at The Compensation Experts, we work with solicitors who have years of experience dealing with personal injury claims. This includes e-scooter injuries. Contact us today by filling in our contact form. Or call us on 01614138765 to speak to one of our friendly experts.