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On average, someone in the UK will suffer two broken bones in their lifetime. A fracture is the medical term for a broken bone; but they both mean the same thing.

A broken bone can range from a barely noticeable hairline fracture through to a bone that has been completely snapped into separate pieces. Healthy bones are generally very strong and will actually bend under pressure. But sudden or very forceful impact can cause the bone to fracture. Young children’s bones break more easily because they are still growing, but they will also heal more quickly. Unfortunately, as we get into old age, our bones become more brittle and will break more easily.

Doctors refer to broken bones in a number of different ways depending on the type of break or fracture. The most common include:
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Some people who are entitled to compensation for injuries that they have sustained in road traffic accidents caused by the negligence of third party drivers choose not to make a claim for compensation because they are of the view that the process is time consuming and ultimately not worth it. 

At the end of the day, it is up to you whether you want to make a claim for compensation – no-one can force you into this – but the reality of claiming for compensation in what are considered as straightforward road traffic accidents, for instance where someone drives into the back of you, is actually equally straightforward and takes little time at all.

At the end of April 2010 a new protocol was introduced which streamlined the claims process for low value road traffic accidents.  Under previous rules it could take up to 4 months for the Defendant to admit or deny liability, and then several months thereafter to settle your claim.  This was far too long; under the new protocol the Defendant has 15 business days after they are made aware of your claim to come back with their decision on liability.  This is a vast, vast improvement from 4 months.  So if people tell you that the claims process is a big hassle, all I can say is that it has improved significantly – and with the right injury lawyer on your side you won’t have to lift a finger.
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… sadly, its kicking off in a way similar to Jonny Wilkinson’s in England’s Rugby World Cup opener against Argentina last Saturday; in the wrong way!

My recent articles have centred on the fantastic news that insurer’s referral fees will finally be banned following a parliamentary plan to initiate the practice becoming an illegality in the (hopefully) near future.

We, as an independent firm of specialist personal injury lawyers, have always spoken out against the practice of referral fees. We firmly believe, and have seen evidence proving the fact, that referral fees not only add no value to the claim of an injured victim, but they have the potential to destroy it.
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At The Injury Lawyers we deal with all sorts of personal injury claims on a daily basis.  In the main they concern the innocent victims of the negligence of third party drivers.  Road traffic accidents are unfortunately a common occurrence – but when it comes to claiming compensation they are relatively straightforward matters and can be dealt with very quickly.  In most cases you will be able to provide the third party’s details and we can get the ball rolling on your claim straightaway.

But what happens if the third party was uninsured, given that it is the third party’s insurer that will normally be providing your compensation?

Naturally you can still make a claim for compensation; it is just that your compensation will be provided by the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (‘MIB’) and not the third party’s insurer as they do not have one.  It would simply be unfair if you were injured like anyone else but could not be compensated because the third party had committed the criminal act of driving with no insurance.  That is why the MIB was set up in 1946 – to provide compensation to victims of uninsured drivers.
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Making a claim for compensation for injuries sustained at the hands of a negligent third party is not something many people do.  In the main, this is because they have not been injured.  But for those who have been injured, nowadays they are more aware that they are able to make a claim for compensation.  Yet, in the vast majority of cases, they have never done this before.  It is not uncommon then that such people wonder how to go about making a personal injury claim and what it entails. 

So – Here is a quick guide.

Claiming for compensation is easy and in the most part you will not have to do much; your lawyers will do the hard work for you.  What you will firstly need to do is find a quality injury lawyer that you are more than happy to instruct.  You should seek an injury lawyer who will not charge you a penny for their work, can help you out with some free medical treatment, and who have vast experience in dealing with these types of claims so they know what they are doing and can progress your case in the best way possible. 
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It is important to stress that the below information is only a generally guideline; to ensure you make your claim in time, speak with an expert injury lawyer as soon as you can.
If you have had an accident and have been injured through no fault of your own, the general rule is that you have three years from the date of the accident to make a claim for compensation.

At The Injury Lawyers we believe that the best thing to do is make your claim for compensation as soon as possible after the accident.  This is for the very simple reason that events will be fresher in your mind and we may even be able to provide you with some no cost private medical treatment which would mean that you could recover from your injuries sooner rather than later.
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If you have been injured in an accident that was not your fault, whether it be a road traffic accident, slip and trip, or an accident at work ( to name but a few), you can work out how much compensation you may be awarded for your injuries by using the compensation calculator.

The independent ‘Injury Lawyers’ calculator is there for you to use free of charge.  Key in the details of your injury and let the calculator work out a rough guideline amount of compensation for you.  The calculator is purely for working out compensation for your injuries based on the JSB (Judicial Studies Board) Guidelines, which are referred to as General Damages. 

In addition to this you may be entitled to further compensation for any losses that you have incurred as a result of the accident; Time taken off work, any future time off work, and damage to material goods that will require replacing.  These losses are referred to as Special Damages and will be in addition to the compensation calculated by the compensation calculator.
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The roads and streets can be a dangerous place – having worked in this industry for as long as I have, you tend to pick things up most people would miss. Next time you are out and about shopping, walking your dog, or visiting your friends and family, take notice of what’s on the ground you are walking on. It goes without saying that I ask you not to concentrate too hard to ensure you don’t walk in to anything or walk in to the road; but, if you can, just have a look at what’s around you on the streets and roads.

You will probably notice raised paving slabs, cracked concrete, gaps in the kerb, or the dreaded pothole in the road. Normally, these aren’t things you would look out for or particularly spot when you are out and about; but, if it’s in the back of your mind, you will probably begin to notice a lot of dangerous defects out there.

That, ladies and gentleman, is the reason why people end up making a claim against the council. Claims for compensation in general, but particularly council tripper claims, have a bad reputation for some unknown reason (although it probably has something to do with the way our lovely media paint a council claim). If you work in this industry, consciously try and look out for, or have tripped over a defect in the past, you will likely notice the extent to which they litter our pavements and traffic routes.
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If you are injured or experience ill health because of a faulty or defective product, you may be entitled to claim for compensation.

The Consumer Protection Act 1987 (CPA) provides important safeguards to protect consumers from defective products. It makes it easier for a person to claim compensation if they are injured because of a fault in a product.

Nearly everything we buy could be a product that is covered by the CPA.  The CPA recognises that, if not manufactured or sold properly, any product could potentially be harmful to a person’s health. Product liability covers a wide range of products including everyday items such as food, cosmetics or clothes, through to one off items such as electrical goods and children’s toys.
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At The Injury Lawyers, we strive to get our clients the maximum compensation they deserve in the shortest time possible.  We are able to do this because we are experts in our field and have the knowledge and professionalism to know how to progress your claim in the best possible way.  That said, our clients can go a long way in helping us get their compensation in the fastest time possible as well.

In most personal injury claims, excluding those which arise from relatively straightforward road accidents, a Letter of Claim will be produced and sent to the opponent.  This is in most cases is the first bit of correspondence between your legal representatives and the Defendant, and outlines the details of your accident, the injuries you suffered as a result of the Defendant’s negligence, and why we consider the Defendant was indeed negligent.  It is therefore key that the Letter of Claim is thorough and that it provides as much detail as it possibly can.  This way the Defendant should be able to get on with their investigations sooner and come back with an admission of liability.

So how can you help make the Letter of Claim as clear as possible?
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