Accident Archives - Page 2 of 2 - The Compensation Experts

We are all familiar when it comes to common accidents, from an injury at work to needing to make a whiplash injury claim. Perhaps you tripped and fell at work, strained your muscles from repeated actions, were hit when trying to reach a file box too high up. Crashes, cuts, toxic fumes, sound-related injuries, clumsiness, and even fights are common.

What about the uncommon accidents? Though rare, they can be devastating in their consequences. Knowing first-aid, how to respond, and more importantly, your rights afterwards can help you recover from these extreme incidents faster, so that you can successfully move on with your life.

Uncommon Accidents at Work

The top uncommon accidents at work include:

Fire-Related Accidents

Fires are still relatively rare, though certainly not unheard of. From smoke inhalation to burns, a fire that breaks out in your workplace can pose serious dangers to your health and even your life. Then there are the psychological damages that can occur from being trapped, facing the very real reality of either choking to death on the smoke, or dying from being burned alive. If this happens to you, seeking out compensation is critical. Most fires are not flukes and instead caused by a fault.

Dangerous Chemical Absorption

When the chemicals or products you use, as per your employers’ instructions, cause serious disease, illness, or disability, they are at fault. They are especially at fault if they did so with the knowledge of the dangers their product possessed.

Building Collapse

Another employer fault that is, thankfully, rare in the UK is a building collapse. This occurs when the building is not kept up to code or worse, unlawful and unsafe extensions are added. A building collapse can result in immediate tragedy, and even if you manage to make it out of the building unscathed, can cause severe psychological trauma.

Animal Attack

Almost 75 farmers have died in the last few years not from dealing with a dangerous animal but instead dealing with a cow. We tend to forget docile creatures are inherently dangerous due to their size and strength. That is why, though animal attacks are uncommon at work, they do still happen, and sometimes even result in death.

Robbery

Robberies are incredibly uncommon but do still happen. The worst part is that those who are conducting the robbery are very unlikely to be calm and organised. One wrong move or a loud noise could set off their nerves and you could be harmed in the proceeding. It is your employer’s responsibility to provide you with a safe working environment, which is why you will see banks, post offices, and similar institutions have glass guarding their employees against the customers.

What to Do if You Have Been Injured at Work

If you have been injured at work, you will want to:

Learn your Rights
Contact a Lawyer
Build a Case
Get the Compensation You Deserve

If you have been injured at work, then contact us today to see if you have a case. From making claims at work to personal injury claims, there is a solicitor for you. If you do, we will work for you until you have the compensation you need to move on from your injury and recover successfully.

Suffering a head injury is a traumatic experience that can take time and patience to recover from, and how long it takes will depend on the severity of the injury. Aside from the physical aspects of a head injury, you are also likely to have to contend with emotional difficulties too. A head injury that causes damage to the brain may also mean that you find day to day life different than before, and you may have problems with cognitive functioning. Suffering a head injury is a difficult thing to go through, but there are some things you can do to help you get your life back on track.

First Responses

There are many different types of head injury, from cuts and lacerations, bruising, to severe injuries like skull and brain damage. Any injury to the head must be treated seriously, and be thoroughly checked. Sometimes you may be able to do this yourself, or you might need the help of a medical professional.

When you first suffer a head injury, there are some steps to follow to check that you are ok. If you are injured and remain conscious, you need to stop what you are doing and rest. Aside from pain, if you have symptoms such as dizziness, changes in vision, ringing in the ears or abnormal breathing, you may have a concussion and need emergency treatment. If you can, call an ambulance or ask someone to call for you.

Minor head injuries can be treated at home with rest and pain relievers, as well as applying ice to reduce any swelling and inflammation. However, you need to monitor your symptoms closely. Sometimes, symptoms of a head injury might not show for a few hours, or even a day or so later, so seek emergency advice if you are vomit, find yourself irritable, or have a headache that won’t subside after taking paracetamol.

Recovery

Rest is crucial when recovering from a head injury and most minor head injuries should get better within a week or two. However, it may be a long process if your injury is more serious. An injury to the brain can cause physical and mental impairment that may require a variety of different treatments, from speech therapy to physiotherapy.

Having access to the best treatments might help increase your rate of recovery, yet can be a drain on your financial situation. If this is the case, you could consider searching for injury lawyers for you, to see if you are eligible for a no win no fee claim. A good solicitor will be able to advise you on the best course of action should you wish to pursue an injuries claim.

Any head injury is a cause for concern, and one that causes a concussion needs prompt medical attention. Don’t put off seeing a doctor even if your symptoms are mild. Full recovery from a head injury can take time, so be patient and don’t overexert yourself even though you feel fine. Get support from your family and friends, and ask for help if you need it.

So many of us take the ability to hop into our car and travel wherever we like as a given. That is until we lose that very freedom to do so. In short, knowing your rights in a car accident is important.

Effectively, it can be an extremely traumatic occurrence, especially if it wasn’t your fault. As a result of the collision, you may have suffered serious injury and damage to the vehicle. If so, it’s essential that you understand and protect your rights in a car accident. Particularly if the accident comes down to someone else’s carelessness.

The first step to getting a resolution to your case is:

knowing what these rights are, and;
the next steps that you’ll need to take.

Here are your rights in a car accident

To call 999

Whether or not you’re at fault, you have every right to call emergency services and receive necessary treatment. Even if the other party:

pleads with you not to phone for emergency help, or;
is keen to resolve the case between you both.

Regardless, it’s still essential that you call the police or emergency services, as you may suffer from internal injuries. A police report is also an important form of evidence in dealing with insurance and making a claim. Therefore, don’t let the other party talk you out of it: think about the best interests of the other party.

To receive compensation

If you were injured in the accident or your vehicle was damaged, you have the right to make a claim against the person or group of people responsible for the incident. Always be sure to take as many photographs as you can. Namely, pictures of the damage to both vehicles, as well as external injuries you may suffer from. If you think you’re suffering from a severe injury, it’s wise to make a medical injury claim. Also be sure to capture photos of road conditions, streets signs or anything other potential collision factors.

To talk to witnesses

If you notice that there are any witnesses around, you need them on the record. Take note of their name and contact details, as it’s information you may need these for insurance or compensation purposes. You should always encourage any witnesses to recall their point of view of what they saw to the police. In turn, their testimony is a vital aspect in the police report and result in you getting what you deserve.

To remain silent

After the accident has occurred, you have the right to remain silent. You don’t have to contact the other party, their insurance company or solicitors. If the other party continuously and needlessly harasses you over the case, you need to alert the police.

Not to apologise

Although you’re in shock after the accident, try to maintain calm. Above all, continually apologising to the other party is a No-No. Such a simple phrase can determine whether or not you will end up taking full responsibility for the accident. Therefore, even if you believe you’re in the wrong, wait until the release of the details before you settle on taking the blame.

Though great for your health and the environment, cycling poses several risks of its own. The lack of protection from other drivers and even unsafe road conditions could turn your comfortable bike ride to work into a disastrous accident. Therefore, cycling accident compensation claims are a difficult reality in the UK.

In many cases, these injuries might occur due to the negligence of another party.

For example, say the driver of a car doesn’t check their blind spot and strikes you. You can subsequently sue them for compensation. An improperly paved road that caused you to lose control could mean you have a case against the city.

The difficulty in these cases, and why you should always hire an experienced attorney, is that in most cases the furthest a plaintiff can go with their case of negligence is contributory negligence, which puts both parties to blame for the accident. Not know how to make personal injury claims? Read on.

Can You Claim for Cycling Accident Compensation?

Indeed, you can. Just as you can claim compensation after a driving accident. Or, if a car strikes you as a pedestrian.

So, too, can a person claim compensation as a cyclist. In fact, you’ve mostly the same rights, too. Not a moment too soon, either: there exists significant cycling accident statistics in the UK. In 2018, RoSPA reports 4,106 serious injuries and over 13 thousand slight injuries amongst cyclists.

What are the Complications When Making a Claim?

Even if this is the case, there are some complications. A pedestrian struck on the pavement has no responsibility in the accident. Accordingly, the vehicle that hits them violates the rules of the road.

As cyclists and motorists share the road, however, this can make compensation claims a bit more tricky. This is because the cyclist faces distractions at the time of the accident.

As a cyclist, it’s your responsibility to be attentive at all times. Other elements can also be a distraction when making a compensation claim.

For example, listening to music on the way to work or;
Alternatively, taking a drink from your water bottle.

Although this may be true, this does not rule out your ability to win a claim. However, it does increase the likelihood that the amount you receive will be deducted. This is what often happens because these cases are contributorily negligent. In other words, you were partly to blame for the accident. The case is, if you face no distractions, you will be able to stop in time or avoid the accident.

The other complication is that judges, in general, aren’t very familiar with cycling injuries and accidents. That is why hiring a knowledgeable lawyer can help, as they will explain in legal terms the case in a way the judge can understand.

The Issue of Distractions

Contributory negligence does not mean you won’t receive compensation. It just means the total amount they award you is subject to a discount, sometimes by as much as 25%.

However, the exact amount will depend on how complicit the judge believes you were in the accident. The argument holds then that – if you face distractions – you can, therefore, ride away, stop, or otherwise minimise the accident from occurring.

If a driver breaks the law while injuring you (instead of, say, turning lanes without checking their blind spot), then you have a very solid case.

What to Do If You Have Been a Victim to a Cycling Accident

If you have been the victim of a cycling accident that wasn’t your fault, then you will want to:

Seek Out a Lawyer.
Seek Out Professional Rehabilitation.

By doing so, you give yourself the best chance of being compensated for a personal injury accident claim.

If you have recently suffered an arm injury, one of the first things that may have come into your mind after seeking medical advice is whether or not you are able to make a claim for compensation, primarily if the injury was the fault of someone else.

From a legal point of view, an arm injury can be present anywhere in the arm itself; from the upper arm to the forearm, wrist or elbow. If this is the case, you may be able to claim back thousands of pounds in compensation. In the most severe cases, the impact of the injury may prevent you from carrying out everyday activities, both in your personal or working life, which may stop you from earning an income. For those it affects in this way, it will increase your chances of claiming back any money that has been lost.

In order to claim for an injury, you need to prove that the accident was caused as a result of negligence from another person or organisation, which put your safety at risk. If on the other hand, the injury was caused yourself and there is no-one else to blame, then it’s usually impossible to claim any compensation.

If a third party, such as a workplace is to blame and you are now suffering from any of the following injuries, there is a high chance you can make a claim by getting in touch with a professional solicitor who could look into your case on your behalf. The most common injuries for claims include:

Burns
Muscle tears
Tendonitis or sprains
Broken bones
The loss of limbs

Time limits

Be aware that there is typically a time limit for negligence claims to be made, which includes any court proceedings that need to be issued. However, if you sought medical advice and received your diagnosis of any of the injuries mentioned above quickly, it would be wise to make that claim as soon as the accident occurs to stand you in a better position.

Making the claim

As part of your compensation claim, you will need to have some form of supporting evidence to prove you were at no fault and was a result of the third party’s negligence. It will help avoid any long-term complications which may arise, such as if the third party denies responsibility. Getting hold of your medical records will act as hard evidence, as the notes were written by a medical professional who witnessed the extent of the injury as soon as the incident occurred. You should also try and get hold of any CCTV footage, contact details of witnesses, photographs of the scene and the injury, with immediate effect. The more evidence you can gather on your accident, the stronger your injuries claim will be when put to solicitors. You could also put together a timeline of events within a folder, so those in charge of your case are more aware of what happened and can provide you with an accurate figure on how much compensation you could receive.

Tag: Accident

Five Uncommon Accidents at Work