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Record Breaking Wheelchair Compensation Win

Posted on 31st July 2019 by Jonathon

A Brisbane man who became wheelchair-bound after a car accident left him with severe brain injuries has been awarded a record $20.5 million in compensation.

Chrys Barker, aged 28, and his cousin, Bobby Hobbs, aged 20, were hit by a drunk driver in Caboolture near Brisbane in January 2014. Mr Hobbs was killed instantly in the collision while Mr Barker was flown by helicopter to a hospital. He suffered such serious brain damage that he can no longer speak and is in a wheelchair for life. While he can understand conversations, he can only communicate through eye movements.

The drunk driver was a former Navy man, Craig Edward Jones. At the time of the incident, the investigators estimated that Jones’ blood-alcohol reading was between 0.256 – 0.32%. He lost control of his vehicle and spun out into 3 cars. The people in the third vehicle suffered only minor injuries.

At the time of the incident, Jones was under a probationary driver’s license which required him to have an ‘alcohol ignition interlock’ fitted which would prevent the car from starting unless he had a zero blood alcohol reading. This device was not fitted at the time of the incident. Jones had 3 previous drink driving convictions. He was disqualified from driving for life and was sentenced to 8 years in prison in 2015.

A third-party personal injury insurer accepted full liability. The insurer originally suggested that Mr Barker should live in a care home for the rest of his life, which would cost $3 million. However, a neurosurgeon recommended that he would have a better chance at rehabilitation if he was cared for at home. Mr Barker’s family wished to bring him home, and the insurance company agreed to pay for the adaptations needed to move Mr Barker to the family home in Donnybrook.

The $20.5 million compensation figure, however, has taken 4 years to be settled upon as Chrys’ health needed to stabilise before the figure could be agreed upon. Queensland Supreme Court sanctioned the compensation earlier this year.

An independent trustee company will invest and manage the compensation to ensure Chrys has the care he needs for the rest of his life. The money received from the pay-out will be used to pay for Mr Barker’s rehabilitation, increased insurance, care costs, and home modification costs.

Mr Barker’s mother, Betty Barker, said: ‘To know that the funds are there now for Chrys to be looked after for the rest of his life… it’s just a relief.’

‘Every doorway had to be widened for a wheelchair. Chrys is a big strong boy, he’s in a good-sized wheelchair, and most average doorways are too small for Chrys.’

The insurance company’s head of communications, Paul Turner, said: ‘It has really set the boundaries for future settlements of this size, and a lot of that is based on Chrys’ age and the severity of his injuries. This was a really complex case medically, and we had to ensure that Chrys was covered for life and we got the best cover possible.’

If you have would like to discuss a similar accident or have been affected by this story, then it is in your best interest to get in contact with us at The Compensation Experts where we can discuss your legal issue and help you to make a claim.

Faulty Cutting Gear that Cost a Hand and £1.5 Million in Compensation

Posted on 24th July 2019 by Jonathon

A Glasgow firefighter has been awarded £1.5m in damages after an injury caused by faulty cutting equipment led to the amputation of his hand.

In 2014 Ian McDonald was taking part in a training exercise at Bishopbriggs fire station in East Dunbartonshire. The exercise involved simulating a rescue from a car accident. Mr McDonald was using hydraulic cutting equipment which malfunctioned and let out a jet of toxic hydraulic fluid at high pressure. The jet was so strong that it pierced his leather safety gloves and the liquid destroyed tissue in his hand.

Describing the incident, Mr McDonald said: “I had no idea what was going on – my hand felt like it was on fire and was swollen with a painful throbbing feeling… when blood tests revealed I was poisoned, we realised something happened with the cutting gear.”

Mr McDonald went through 4 years and 40 operations in a fight to save his hand. While medical specialists at Glasgow Royal Infirmary amputated the little finger with his ring finger being removed a year later.

“My dexterity remained pretty good, but the pain was agonising, and nothing would stop it. When I heard the full hand had to go, the idea of being pain-free made it easier to accept.”

Having tried numerous painkillers, botox and acupuncture, in June 2018 he was admitted to Queen Elizabeth University Hospital to have his right hand amputated at the wrist. The procedure took 18 days and six surgeries. Mr MacDonald now uses a prosthesis.

Solicitors conducted an investigation which found that there had been an inadequate system of maintenance and safety inspections.

An investigation into the incident by the solicitors revealed that, although the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service knew about the potential risks involved, there was an inadequate system of inspection and maintenance for equipment. In addition, protective coverings which would have prevented the injury were not in use.

Solicitor, David Nellaney, said: “The SFRS is undoubtedly a safety-conscious organisation that provides an invaluable service, but on this occasion, it failed in its duty of care to an employee.”

While Mr McDonald was offered legal representation, he chose his own lawyers to access a specialist prosthetic, instead of a “hook” which was being offered by the NHS.

Mr McDonald added: ” I’ve still a way to go, but after the support of my family, the doctors and colleagues I finally feel like the dark days are behind me.”

Mr McDonald has four children and is recovering at home with his wife Claire currently.

The deputy chief officer of SFRS, David McGown, said commented that it was, “extremely heartening to see that he continues to make a strong recovery”.

He also added: “Following a robust investigation into Mr McDonald’s injury, we undertook a review of equipment and related safety checks and have taken appropriate steps to minimise the risk of similar incidents happening in the future.”

What’s the Average Personal Injury Claim?

Posted on 21st June 2019 by Jonathon

There are a number of factors that will need to be taken into account when calculating your potential compensation amounts. In order to work out the value of your claim, these aspects will be factored into the final decision:

The type of injury you have received
How serious the injury is
Expected rehabilitation time
Psychological issues that may have been caused by your injury
Any financial losses you have suffered from due to your injury

At their foundation, all personal injury claims are made with the intention of redressing your injury. The intention is to ensure that you are better equipped to get your life back to how it was before the injury happened. As a result of that guiding principle, all claim amounts will be set dependant on your level of pain and suffering.

The more seriously you have been injured and the longer that your recovery will take, the higher your compensation payout can be.

Special and General Damages

Courts will look at the facts of your claim. As well as the pain and suffering that you have suffered, they will also evaluate expenses that have occurred. This could mean medical expenses, travel costs of getting to and from hospitals, or any other expenses that have been made or expected. If your injury has cost you money, then special damages compensation is intended as a way to reimburse you. Special damages will always depend on your specific case.

General damages are intended to compensate you for any pain that you have experienced as a result of your injury. The seriousness of your injury will vary the compensation amounts that you might receive, although the Judicial College Guidelines do have some set criteria for compensation levels. This will mean a medical evaluation but can result in much higher compensation totals.

Average Compensation Amounts

Due to the fact that all personal injury claims are different, it can be very difficult to make a general statement about average compensation amounts. A different injury will result in a different payout amount. The body part that has been injured will also be factored in, but some examples of average payouts include:

Neck injuries: For minor neck injuries, you should expect to get no less than £1,000. Even for minor neck injuries, there have been payouts as high as £6,920. The more serious your neck injury the more money you may receive in compensation. For severe injuries, there have been claims made for between £114,000 and £130,000.
Vibration White Finger (VWF): An increasingly common injury, VWF can widely vary when it comes to compensation. Minor cases have seen payouts between £2,500 and £7,500. Even a moderate case of VWF has seen compensation as high as £14,690. Serious cases of VWF can even go as high as £33,000.
Poisoning: This covers food-related poisoning, and compensation amounts can be very unpredictable. Minor cases can see payouts of around £1000, while moderate cases can fall anywhere between £3,400 and £16,800. If you suffer a serious case of food poisoning then you might get as much as £46,000.

All types of personal injury claim compensation amounts are intended to get you back to a fully recovered state as quickly as possible. While the average claim can widely vary, the best way to get the settlement that you deserve is to speak to legal experts. They can advise you on what to expect. That will make your recovery much easier to deal with, no matter how serious your injury might be.

Injury In The Office and Knowing Your Rights

Posted on 31st May 2019 by Jonathon

With an office injury, the rights of the individual are definitely worth knowing and understanding. It’s a more common occurrence, too: nearly 30 million work days in the UK were lost due to injury in 2018-19.

Certainly offices are generally safer than areas in which you have to commit to manual labour tasks. But these days, offices still have common workplace injuries that you should be aware of. This guide will help those suffering injury in the office to know their rights. In addition, it will explain how you can prevent some of the most common workplace injuries.

What are the Most Common Office Injuries?

Repetitive strain injuries include muscle, tendon sprains and vision hindrances. These often happen through the intensive use of certain body parts. For instance, you may get wrist pain if you are typing for extensive periods. Alternatively, you might also suffer eye strain from using the computer for lengthy amounts of time. To prevent these, you should adjust your workstation to your own needs. For instance, by adjusting the angle of your keyboard or turning down the brightness on your computer, if possible.

Sprains and fractures often happen in the workplace by falling, tripping, or slipping. Moreover, many of these sprains and fractures are reasonably avoidable. Especially with better health and safety precautions. To prevent these, you should ensure that your workplace has:

thorough health and safety regulations and;
full awareness of your surroundings at all times.

Not only this, but you should ensure that communal areas are left tidy. Moreover, signs are clearly left if a floor or surface is slippery or dangerous.

What Are Your Office Injury Rights?

As a worker, you have the right to make an injury at work claim against your employer if they are at fault for causing your injury. You also have the right to get medical attention immediately for any injury that you contract in the workplace.

Additionally, you have the right to get compensation for your injury and have time off work in order to recover. However, you also have the right to return to your workplace without harassment when you recover from the injury. In terms of your legal rights, you also need legal representation to appeal any court decisions made in injury cases.

What Should You Do in the Event of Injury?

If you have sustained a workplace injury at the fault of your employer, you should seek a solicitor who can discuss your claims at work and help you to gather the appropriate evidence in order to gain compensation. You should also request your medical records so that you have proof of your symptoms and their causation.

In short, this will make your case stronger in court even if your injury heals quickly. Solicitors will be able to guide you through your work accident claim UK according to your individual situation and help you to begin a court case if necessary, and if your employer fails to accept the liability or the terms of your compensation claim.

Although making an injury at work claim is fairly common, by following this guide, you will ensure that you know your rights and that the process can cause as least stress for you as possible.

E-Cigarette Risks: What To Know

Posted on 17th May 2019 by Jonathon

The evolution of smoke-free e-cigarettes (or vaping) as an alternative to tobacco is a relatively recent phenomenon. Therefore, many of their side-effects and long term risks are either unknown or still subject to research. Still, e-cigarette risks are many, complete with ingredients that we may never fully appreciate the true danger of. Even vaping products themselves present significant levels of danger and consideration.

Despite e-cigarette risks, most think vaping is an excellent alternative to avoid the health risks of smoking. However, the risks of vaping still remain. Moreover, the product itself can be dangerous in some circumstances, resulting in personal injury claims in the UK.

Personal Health Risks

You may believe you’re avoiding tobacco’s health risks by switching to e-cigarettes. With long term implications, the jury is still out on whether that’s actually true. For all intents and purposes, research is struggling to keep up with the rise of vaping. However, e-cigarettes remain potentially harmful in the short term, with one of the significant dangers being popcorn lung.

Popcorn lung is the medical term for damage to the bronchioles. Bronchioles are essentially the smallest airways in your lungs and can be caused by vaping. Damage to these can cause scarring to your lung tissues and cause difficulties with your breathing, leaving you feeling breathless. Symptoms include a cough, wheezing, and exhaustion.

Studies suggest the ingredient diacetyl within e-cigarettes brings on such side effects. Furthermore, diacetyl has a strong link to serious lung disease in tobacco products.

Harmful Ingredients

However, e-cigarettes also contain several other harmful substances. Although they do not contain tobacco, e-cigarettes contain a much higher percentage of nicotine than in normal cigarettes.

Experts don’t tend to view nicotine as a cause of the diseases common with smoking. Furthermore, it’s less harmful than smoking for your health.

Yet vaping also releases other harmful toxins, which vary by the type and brand of e-cigarette that you invest in. Additionally, the vapour contains a small assortment of toxic chemicals found in cigarette smoke. Thankfully, the chemicals are at a lower concentration at a much lower rate than in cigarettes.

Product Risks

However, it is not just the effect that e-cigarettes have on the user that is dangerous. Just like with tobacco smoke, e-cigarette risks also extend to the products and the after-effects themselves. Some faulty e-cigarettes can cause electrical fires within homes, leading to injury or property damage.

Because you must use a USB cable to heat the liquid inside, exploding e-cigarettes present some frightening risks. These explosions can cause burns to the user’s face when they are smoking e-cigarettes. In essence, the risks are the result of the rechargeable battery overheating. Moreover, many devices do not have a cut-off point when they reach their maximum charge.

Trying to quit tobacco cigarettes

Quite often, traditional tobacco smoking cessation is the reason why vape pens turn up at every corner. This in itself might be the riskiest proposition of all. In short, the marketing of e-cigarettes presents an apparent short-term solution at the potential expense of long term health.

A short history of smoking health concerns

The Royal College of Physicians, Smoking & Health changed everything with a landmark report on smoking in 1962. Prior to this, few ever really considered tobacco’s harmful chemicals and the need to establish stop smoking services. Moreover, there was a major wall in getting the message of tobacco’s damage through to the public. In fact, in 1962, half of all adults (that’s 70% of men and 40% of women) smoked.

Nevertheless, the report’s PR effects (coupled with the 1965 Surgeon General report in the United States) were fast, lasting and widespread. Television commercials for tobacco products were banned by 1965. Health warnings began to appear on cigarette packs by 1971.

As electronic cigarettes entered the market around 2012, a mere 21% of Britons smoked tobacco. That figure surely includes those who want to quit smoking – a considerable audience, but certainly not the majority of adults like the old days.

Yet what it doesn’t include the emerging market of young people vaping companies are targeting. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention do not recommend vaping products for young adults and current non-smokers. Additional research may still reveal devastating conclusions about cancers and illnesses like heart disease.

For instance, the American College of Cardiology’s 2019 research shows the following.

Adults who report puffing e-cigarettes, or vaping, are significantly more likely to have

A heart attack;

Coronary artery disease, and;

Depression.

…Compared with those who don’t use them or any tobacco products.

What to do in the event of injury from e-cigarette risks

You can file a personal injury accident claim against the e-cigarette brand manufacturer if you suffer:

burns
injury or;
property damage at the hands of an e-cigarette.

To do this, turn to a lawyer who can represent your case and provide advice as to your next step. We recommend specialist solicitors capable of handling the intricacies of personal injury claims.

Explosions can leave you with a severe burn that leaves significant and permanent facial scarring. As a result, you can claim compensation by suing these manufacturing companies. You can start the process by assigning a lawyer to investigate these personal injury claims on your behalf.

Considering a claim for e-cigarette risks?

Here are two things to consider if you want to talk to a personal injury solicitor about e-cigarettes.

Did negligence take place in the production of a faulty e-cigarette?
Did that negligence cause you significant personal damage?

If the answer to both questions is “Yes”, you should instantly seek a personal injury solicitor after your medical treatment. If you have a particularly strong case, you can receive the personal injury compensation that you deserve. By claiming against the manufacturing company in question, you can recover something that no smoking product can ever truly replace.

Can You Make A Claim For Hearing Loss?

Posted on 3rd May 2019 by Jonathon

Hearing loss is often seen as an affliction of the elderly; the natural decline of the human body as it ages and becomes less efficient and more aged. This is, however, often not the case. Many occupations and events in life can directly influence the power of your hearing. In these cases, and especially in the case of industrial hearing loss claims, you’ll be able to fight for compensation with a claim through our specialist team.

The Time Limit

Bearing in mind that hearing loss is also a natural repercussion of ageing, you should talk to our specialists as soon as possible if you think that you have a claim to make. That’s because the hearing loss claim time limit can prevent you from a successful bid for compensation if it’s left too long or late in life. The best time to claim is while you’re still in the occupation that’s exposed you to the conditions that damage your hearing, or when you’ve just left your position.

The Conditions

Many companies expose their workers to conditions that can cause hearing loss. These jobs might include:

Exposure to heavy, noisy machinery in industry
Exposure to loud music in clubs, bars or at other events
Exposure to noise in the aviation industry or other transportation industries
Exposure to loud noise on construction sites

Hearing loss compensation is most likely to be assigned to those people who are repeatedly exposed to such conditions in their workplace or in their occupational career. To establish the liability of your employer for the hearing loss you’ve experienced, it’s important to reflect on the conditions of your workplace, and whether your employers were taking care of their workforce’s hearing.

Your Rights

As an employee, you’re due protection from harm. It is your employer’s responsibility to protect you from harm of any kind, and this includes a loss of hearing as a result of the conditions you’re forced to work under. This code is enshrined in law, and so you have the right to make hearing loss claims against your employers if you feel they have violated their right to protect you from harm. Our legal team is particularly well-versed in the compensation procedure when it comes to hearing loss, so you’ll be able to present your violated right to them for them to assemble a case.

Building Your Case

Once you’ve approached our legal team for a free consultation, we’ll be able to assemble your case. With the know-how gleaned from many years of claim management and successful compensation grants, our team will pursue those liable for your loss of hearing for just compensation. We’ll even be confident enough in this area to give you a predicted compensation figure, and our prediction as to whether your case will fail, reach a compromise, or succeed. Your part in the process is minimal; you’ll merely be required to give evidence and information about your hearing loss.

If you’ve experienced a loss to your hearing as a result of the conditions you’ve experienced in the workplace, then you may be due compensation. Approach our specialists for a consultation for us to establish your claim and win you the compensation you deserve.

Whiplash: What Are My Rights?

Posted on 26th April 2019 by Jonathon

Whiplash is an apparently minor injury sustained in the event of a car accident or collision that throws your spine, neck and head quickly forward and backwards. It’s a painful and inconvenient injury to suffer, and in many cases, it’s the fault of another party who’s collided with your vehicle from behind. If this is the case, it’s best that you’re made aware of your rights so that you can plan for compensation for what is a troubling and disruptive injury. This article looks at those rights, and how you can work towards a claim that’ll grant you compensation for your injury.

Was Another Party Involved?

The first question you have to ask in the event of sustaining a whiplash injury is: is someone else to blame? That could be the person you collided with, or who collided with you. It could be the person who walked in front of your car, forcing you to perform an emergency stop. Or it could be the driver with their lights on full beam who dazzled you while you were driving.

Think through if there’s anyone who might be liable in the event of your whiplash injury. If you are yourself at fault, and you accept 100% responsibility, then you won’t have the right to make a claim. But in many cases, it’s difficult to assign 100% responsibility to one party in a multi-party injury scenario, so for those others involved, you may well be able to assign liability. So, ask yourself: how much can I claim for whiplash injury?

Personal Whiplash Injury Rights

So, as you’ve established that there are other people or another person partially or fully liable for the injury you suffered in your vehicle, it’s time to talk through your rights. If you find you have whiplash (this often needs to be verified by a doctor), you have the right to claim compensation. Compensation not only for the damage to your vehicle, but for the pain of the whiplash, the hospital and pharmaceutical fees, and the effect the injury has had on your lifestyle.

The best way to go about seeking compensation is to approach an experienced specialist who’s worked on many hundreds of whiplash cases just like yours. Where you’ll only know your basic rights, they’ll know the ins and outs of the law, and what you’ll be able to whiplash injury claim for, and the percentage culpability you’ll be able to assign to those other parties involved in your accident. Don’t neglect your rights when you suffer whiplash: approach a compensation specialist to help you build a case.

The Outcomes

Now that you have an injury law expert helping you to fight your case, there’s little you’ll have to do other than discuss the various outcomes of your claim. The expert will already be aware of the compensation you’re likely to win, and in some cases, the insurance companies you’re claiming against will grant a whiplash injury claim without fighting them first. In any case, you’ll be in open discussions with our legal team about the compensation we expect you are due – so you can relax and await the compensation that your rights affirm you are due. Remember: it’s a no win no fee whiplash claim. If you don’t win any money, you’ll not owe any, either.

A Step By Step Guide To Personal Injury

Posted on 19th April 2019 by Jonathon

Personal injuries are sometimes difficult to handle. They require you to take time off work, spend time and money at the hospital, and to occasionally undergo painful and traumatic surgeries or rehabilitation. It’s because they’re such unpleasant experiences that those who suffer injuries are often capable of claiming personal injury compensation if they follow a specific set of steps that this guide expands upon. For those reading this article who’ve sustained a personal injury, it should only take following the step by step guide below for you to assess your ability to make a claim, and to approach the specialists who’ll guide you through the claiming process.

Think About Your Case

Personal injuries vary wildly. Some constitute situations in which you are due compensation; others are unlikely to be granted any. It’s up to the individual to understand their rights when it comes to claiming compensation. What’s more, they need to see their injury as a case in which evidence will have to be produced and used for your claim. Start building the proof right away in the event of a personal injury.

Assign Liability

Naturally, if you’re looking for compensation, you’re going to have to assign liability to a third party. In many cases of personal injury, this is fairly obvious: if you slip on a wet floor in a shopping mall, it’s the operators of the mall who are liable. If a product you purchase malfunctions and injures you, it’s the producer of the product you’ll be approaching for compensation. Establish who is responsible (if there is a liability) before you consider contacting compensation experts for assistance.

Approach Specialists

Compensation experts in the field of personal injury are at hand to help you in the above process. They ask you to describe your injury and how it came about and to produce evidence of the costs that it’s accrued for you since you suffered it. Once you’ve provided all the information and evidence that the specialist requires of you, your part in the process will be mostly complete; it’s over to our experts to fight your case in your personal injury accident claim.

The Case

Specialists will then work on your case, compiling the evidence provided to form a personal injury compensation claim. Their experience in many similar cases will mean they’re aware of the rulings on cases such as yours, which means they’ll be able to give you a predicted quote early on in your dealings. They’ll send this case through to the organisation you’re claiming against and will await their response.

Your Offer

When your case is in the hands of those you’re claiming against, they’ll weigh up whether they’re fit to fight a case or whether they’ll grant the full compensation you’re asking for. In some cases, they suggest a split-liability compromise, which you’ll be able to discuss with your representative in our team. In these circumstances, you may just wish to take what’s offered – or you may want to fight for 100% liability upon the person you’re claiming against.

These steps will help you go from the event of your personal injury to the achievement of your due compensation, with as little disruption to your life as possible.

What To Do After An Injury At Work

Posted on 12th April 2019 by Jonathon

With such a wide variety of workplaces in which employees spend the majority of their waking lives, it’s little wonder that occasionally hazard perception measures aren’t enough to prevent an injury. If you find yourself one of the unlucky people to suffer an injury at your place of work, no matter how severe, there are four steps that you should follow to ensure you’re being treated respectfully by your employer, and that you achieve any compensation that you’re due. The below guide applies to anyone who’s suffered any kind of injury in the workplace.

Assess the Damage

Injuries vary from person to person and from relatively straightforward injuries to those that have a significant effect on your life and your ability to work. The first thing you should do after suffering a workplace injury is to visit your doctor. Ask them to assess the severity of your injury, and to write a short report based on their findings. Those injuries that have caused you pain or trauma, even if you’re able to continue working, are nonetheless befitting of compensation. More severe injuries that prevent you from working need also to be signed off by a doctor.

Talk to Your Employer

Your employer is no doubt aware of the injury you sustained in the workplace. You should make them aware of your injury as soon as it takes place, and ensure that you have witnesses to the event so that you can prove that the injury was sustained while you were working. Discuss paid leave with your employer in the case that you need time off – and if you don’t, it’s still best that they know you’re pursuing a work accident claim in the UK.

Make a Note of Costs

Injuries are costly – that’s precisely why they’re life events that are due compensation if encountered at work. You may have to pay hospital or doctor’s bills, transport costs, and other expenses that are attributable to the injury you’ve sustained. Keep a note of these costs and proof of their existence where possible so that when you come to make your claim, you’re fully compensated for all the additional costs that the injury at work has created.

Talk to the Experts

Now it’s time to look into the compensation that you are due. Your injury, the trauma endured, and the effect it has on your lifestyle, and of course the doctor’s fees, will all be taken into account before you’re presented with a quote. You’ll be able to ask for a quote on your compensation figure and the likelihood that you’ll be granted this compensation, from our experienced experts.

From there, you leave the compensation in their hands: they’ll work on your case, build an argument, and will approach your employer with a request for compensation that they may either refute or accept. In this way, there’s no stress on you throughout the procedure, and you’ll be granted your compensation as soon as the process of your injury at work claim is concluded.

Injuries at work can be costly and damaging to one’s lifestyle; that’s why you should claim compensation through the four steps outlined above.

Five Uncommon Accidents at Work

Posted on 5th April 2019 by Jonathon

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.

What To Do After Suffering From A Head Injury

Posted on 29th March 2019 by Jonathon

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.

Knowing Your Rights In A Car Accident

Posted on 22nd March 2019 by Jonathon

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.