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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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At some point or another we have all bought something that ends up not working, but perhaps not so many of us have bought a product that ends up being a hazard to the user. It can come as quite a shock, especially if your harmed by something you have only just bought.
It’s quite clear cut when it comes to the law’s governing the sale of products; The Sale of Goods act 1939 determines that the goods must be safe and they must fit the description given for the product. They must also be of satisfactory quality and fit the purpose intended. If the product requires assembling or installing, the customer must be supplied with adequate instructions. If you receive a demonstration of the product prior to purchase, the product must also fit that demonstration. It’s also worth noting that the law states that the fault lies with the retailer and not the manufacturer, even for website based sales.
When you purchase a new product, most of us would expect it to have gone through the necessary checks in order for it to go on sale to the public. This is the case for the majority of products; however there are the odd few instances when products have slipped through the net and in actual fact they are unsafe to be on the shelves for purchase.
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Can I Make A Claim For Being Electrocuted?
The answer…yes (dependent on the circumstances of course!)
To clarify; you wouldn’t be able to claim for the shock or ‘snap’ you feel from the static on your carpet or when you shut your car door now and again. If you had misused a product in an unreasonable manner which had caused the shock to arise then again it is unlikely you will be able to make a claim.
But what if a product you have purchased is faulty and caused you a serious electric shock? What if your apparatus at work is faulty and you have experienced a shock which has resulted in severe injuries?
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We have all experienced that ringing or buzzing sound in our ears at some point; whether it’s after a concert, being at a club or at a party. It’s rather annoying for the time it hangs around but generally by the following morning it’s gone and you wonder what all the fuss was about.
But what if that annoying little buzzing or ringing stayed around for longer? What if it was with you continually, day and night and you just can’t shake it?
I don’t know about you but I can only imagine that it would be nothing more than torturous.
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It’s quite surprising how many accidents occur due to the state and condition of Britain’s pavements. It seems that many slips and trips for the general public are the result of poorly maintained surfaces, pot holes (which can be very hazardous!), and ill fitted man hole covers. It’s crucial that pavements are maintained on a regular basis to avoid the cost of accidents. It’s often very important to write letters of complaint to your local council should you feel an area of pavement is unsafe to use.
According to statistics published by Unison (source – please be aware that this a link to a PDF page), slips and trips are responsible for 33% of all major accidents at work which have been reported to the HSE. Sources quote that 20% of absences at work for a period of longer than three days are due to slips and trips. They also make up 50% of all accidents reported by the general public. Slip and trip accidents occur once every three minutes and 95% of major slips and trips result in broken bones.
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Third Party Capture and Your Injury Claim
If you decide to claim after being involved in a road traffic accident, you must be aware of something called Third Party Capture. This is basically steps taken by the insurance company to settle your claim directly with you. This provides an opportunity for the insurers to make a financial gain by under settling your claim.
Here’s how it works.. If you have been involved in a road traffic accident you’ll find that you’ll be contacted by many different parties in an attempt to have a hand in your compensation claim. Even the insurance company for the person at fault may contact you to try and persuade you to make a claim directly through them. The third parties insurance company will tell you that it will be in your interests to make a claim with them. They will tell you that; your claim will be settled in a short amount of time, perhaps a matter of weeks. You could have your compensation in your bank account almost immediately.
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Road Traffic Accidents – Speeding!
Road traffic accidents – there pretty straightforward when it comes to claiming compensation for them. In fact they are the most clear-cut claims for injury there can be. The reason is that in a road traffic accident the blame is usually quite easy to establish. And there are many ways a road user can be liable for compensation through negligent driving. One of the more regular driving offences that can lead to accidents is speeding :
Speed limits are there for a very good reason – to save lives! Speed limits are set for roads according to the type of road in question. For example most city roads and populated areas (I’m sure you already know!) have 30mph speed limits given that they are densely populated with other drivers and pedestrians. A motorway of course is set at 70mph as the intended purpose is just for motor vehicle travel between the junctions – there aren’t any pedestrians or turns and cross roads to navigate. So it’s safe to travel at a higher speed.
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I’ve Had An Accident, What Should I Do Next?
It’s probably best to firstly consider how the accident has affected your life. Perhaps you have had to take time off work, in which case you may have lost out on your earnings. You might have needed to be cared for in the period of time it took for you to recover. In all of these cases it would be most advisable to get the help of a specialist injury lawyer. But, who do you chose?
The best help you can get is from an independent firm of solicitors that have not paid a referral fee for your claim. Always go direct to real Injury Lawyers and not “middlemen” and that way you will know that your claim hasn’t been bought by the highest bidding Law firm from claims resellers (middlemen). Make sure you then look around and choose a company that is dedicated to its clients and to achieving the best result for you.
In a lot of Road Traffic Accidents, Legal Expense Insurance will probably crop up. Your Insurance Company will tell you that they will pay for all your legal fees when pursuing your claim and that they will refer you to one of their own expert solicitors – sounds quite reasonable on the surface, and it may even seem as though they are saving you a lot of time and hassle.
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