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Road accidents; they’re as common as you can get! In fact, they’re the most common type of accident when it comes to claims for personal injury! And there really are a million and one ways you can be involved in a car accident and end up with an injury:

Although common anyway, according to sources from the Telegraph (source), wider cars are a “major contributory factor” in minor accidents on rural roads.  They are also reportedly an issue in urban streets where houses have been turned in to flats, causing cars to line the streets. The widening of vehicles is the result of added safety features that manufacturers have installed on their vehicles, with some models being widened by inches!
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Have you ever been involved in an accident at your local supermarket and the accident was not your fault? Depending on the circumstances of the incident, you might be eligible to make a claim against a supermarket for compensation. This is because the supermarkets have a duty of care to abide to when dealing with members of the pubic on their premises; if they do not abide by these rules and regulations and an accident occurs, then they are negligent and liable to compensate the victim. You should not have to suffer at the hands of someone else’s mistakes, especially in places open to the public; which is the reason the legislation exists –  to ensure accidents don’t happen as a result of their negligence.

Big retail stores should always have a complaints procedure in place; they should also have an accident book and first aiders on hand. If you have been involved in an accident, always report the incident; that way, should you wish to pursue a claim for compensation, there will be records to rely on. If the store doesn’t have the necessary requirements to record the accident details, you should try and record exactly what happened and also note the steps that the staff members took in order to help you, and also record anything that you felt was missing or which contributed to cause your accident.
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It can be a very challenging role when you are working in the armed forces; we hear of more and more regiments being dispatched to the worn torn countries all over the world that are required to fight in gruelling wars.   Not only is it horrible that our soldiers have to fight in these wars but it’s even worse when you hear of the horrific tragedies that occur on what seems to be a daily basis.

It can be a very difficult experience to be injured on or off duty in a country which is not your own. Not only are your physical injuries a worry but so are the emotional scars you may have, plus any future health concerns you might have as a result of any incident.  There are also, of course, worries for your future career path and how you might financially support your family.  Depending on the circumstances of the incident you may be eligible to place a claim for compensation; there may be numerous parties liable for your military accident.
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I note that some of my colleagues have previously posted blogs surrounding the issue of referral fees; what they are, how they affect you and why should look out for them.

Today I was reading an article on the Guardian’s website relating to this particular fact once again, as the Legal Services Board have been carrying out a lot of research in to the area. It is thought that by the end of the summer a decision shall be made about whether or not these fees should be banned altogether.

By next Monday the Legal Services Board will have released information about how the referral fee system is impacting on the economy. Shortly after this release they will also be confirming the results of the report carried out with the board’s consumer panel.
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If you have ever been bitten by a dog, you will understand how traumatic it can be. Not only is it an awful experience but it can leave you scarred for life – both mentally and physically.  You may never be able to go near a dog again as the experience has left you too scared.

Is there anything I can do?

It is horrible to have been bitten by a dog especially if the attack was unprovoked. Many people don’t always think about placing a dog bite claim; but you could have a potential claim for compensation. If your child has been bitten, you are quite within your rights to place a claim on behalf of your child.
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Have you had problems with your Landlord that have been difficult to resolve?

Sometimes the Tennant can find themselves in a very difficult position when it comes to renting from an unfair landlord. Often the situation is that if the tenant doesn’t comply with the landlord’s regulations, they can find themselves homeless. This shouldn’t be the case if the landlord’s requests are unjustified and unfair.

Sometimes the issues arise during the transition process; perhaps you have given your notice to move out and your land lord is being particularly unfair? Or perhaps you have moved out and you have received a number of unjustified bills for which you did not incur? Sometimes, the land lord may not comply with the maintenance of the property even after you have notified your land lord of the problems.  Your land lord may have stopped the initial bond from being returned to you and you don’t understand why.
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It is believed that there are now over 2 million people driving on Britain’s roads without any insurance cover and Police figures have revealed that the number is increasing at an alarming rate every year. Figures show that in the whole of 2007 14,520 cars were seized in London, however the most recent figures show that last year 14,133 were seized between April and September alone.

Driving without insurance is a particular problem with young drivers aged between 17 and 21, with 1 in 5 driving without insurance. It is believed that this is mainly due to the cost of insurance for young people being too high and many believe that it should be made cheaper to try and encourage more people into getting insurance. This is the view of one driver, Mr. Gary Street, who was hit by a young uninsured driver on his way to work. Mr. Street suffered neck and back injuries in the accident which kept him off work for a month and the accident also affected him financially as he had to claim on his own insurance costing him £900 for his policy excess and his premiums have also increased as a result of losing his no claims bonus.
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Who are the CICA?

The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority is a government run body that provides a free service to people who have been the victim of a violent crime. They are responsible for administering the Criminal Injuries Compensation scheme in England, Wales and Scotland.  They are also a part of the Ministry of Justice and provide a service on behalf of the Scottish Government.

Do you qualify to make a claim through the CICA?

Before you consider making a claim, you will need to find out if you are eligible; this means that you will need to know if your circumstances fit the necessary criteria.  You will find specific information and advice which we as expert lawyers are more than happy to provide you!
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When you choose to eat out at a restaurant you expect a certain level of service, if this service isn’t provided it can often be quite annoying and unpleasant. You would also expect the food to be cooked properly and the presentation and maintenance of the restaurant to be of a satisfactory standard.

If you have ever been involved in an accident or were injured or harmed when eating at a restaurant, it might be worth considering making a claim for compensation.  For example, if you became ill after eating food that wasn’t prepared correctly you may have a potential claim for compensation. If you fell over due to the negligence of staff i.e. you slipped on the floor due to spilt water or you tripped over some unattended items, again, you may have a claim for compensation.
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Each year many children are treated in hospitals for many accidents, often as a result of the child’s immaturity, boisterous or reckless behaviour. Most of the time, no one can be held accountable for the accident other than the child themselves. Sometimes however, if preventative measures were in place, the accident may have been less likely to happen.

Children are very vulnerable and the law recognises this, placing their safety and well being in the hands of adults. If your child has been involved in an accident as a result of a negligent person, your child might have a claim for compensation; depending on the circumstances of course.  Children under the age of 18 will have to be represented by an adult. If you are unsure as to whether your child has a claim for compensation, it’s always worth investigating it with a specialist injury lawyer.
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