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The big wheel, hook a duck, and – my favourite – the dodgems, are all attractions you will often find at your local fairground. Fairgrounds attract a lot of people every year, and unfortunately, amongst the excitement, there is the strong possibility of an injury occurring.

The major areas that stand out as possible causes of injuries are poorly maintained rides, slips and trips from the area which the funfair is responsible for, and unfortunately food poisoning from the numerous food vans and onsite vendors. I will address each of these individually:

1- Poorly maintained rides – As some fairgrounds are temporary and therefore travel around the country, it is a possibility that rides are either poorly maintained or not set up properly and are therefore unsafe. For example; the harness on a ride may be loose and consequently not hold you in as safely as it should; I don’t need to say how serious injuries could be in this occasion. Another scenario can arise where parts of the ride have broken or come loose; for example; if a screw comes loose and is in the dodgems arena, this could then cause a dodgem to veer uncontrollably.
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Mesothelioma is a form of cancer which is more common in men than in women. This is not surprising as mesothelioma can be caused as a result of exposure to asbestos. Although a rare form of cancer, mesothelioma is actually on the increase and is expected to continue rising over the coming years.

If you have been exposed to asbestos in your working life you are at an increased risk of developing mesothelioma. You may have worked with asbestos and think that you have been lucky enough not to contract mesothelioma. Unfortunately, people generally find out that they are suffering from mesothelioma a number of years after the exposure to asbestos. If you are unfortunate enough to suffer from mesothelioma you may be entitled to make a claim for compensation.

So, what is asbestos? How do you know if you have been exposed to asbestos fibres? Asbestos is an insulating material that was often used in the building industry.  Many older buildings may still contain asbestos and therefore people need to be extra vigilant when carrying out any demolition or renovation work.
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A faulty equipment claim can arise in a number of different circumstances. From equipment at work to equipment in your gym, faulty equipment can result in serious injury and consequential loss. If you have been injured whilst using equipment that is found to be faulty, you may be able to claim compensation to cover the cost of medical expenses and recover any loss of earnings.

Faulty equipment at work.

Employers owe a duty of care to employees to ensure any work equipment they are required to use is safe and properly maintained. It is also expected of employers to provide adequate training to employees to ensure equipment is used in the correct way and does not cause unnecessary injury.
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As someone who can walk across a flat surface and fall over my own feet, the pavement outside can often be an obstacle course.

From broken, missing or raised paving stones, dodgy curb stones, to grates or manhole covers that are protruding or even caving in, these are all hazards that most of us face on a day to day basis on our streets.

Although tripping can sometimes be laughed off, most people do actually hurt and injure themselves.
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Swimming is a past time enjoyed by many of us – and with the Olympics just around the corner, I’m sure many of us will feel the urge to go to our local swimming baths and enjoy a quick dip! Whether you are lane swimming or just having a leisurely swim, the last thing you want to happen is to get injured whilst in or around the pool.

Injuries sustained whilst swimming can be serious as you have a larger amount of your body exposed than you normally would do. The first thing that comes into my mind is  that your feet are exposed and therefore any defects in the flooring are going to cause more damage than when you are wearing a shoe and step on something walking down the street.

Loose, broken and chipped tiles are often culprits in swimming pools that can cause cuts and slices to the skin, but there are also other potential hazards such as loose or uncovered drains.
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There is no doubt that electricity is a wonderful thing. The device you are reading this blog from is going to be using it, and no doubt if you looked around it may surprise you to realise just how much we actually depend on it.

As we all come into contact with it and use it so often, it is hard to forget that it is potentially a very dangerous force of nature.

Of course, the main injury that can be caused by electricity is an electric shock and at its worst- electrocution.  In this blog I hope to discuss two things (mainly focussing on the second):
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If you are unfortunate enough to sustain injury while doing your shopping, you may be entitled to make a claim for compensation.

There are many hazards at the supermarket to look out for, from spilt goods to high stacked shelves; and let’s not forget all the trolleys whether it be other shoppers or staff frantically transporting goods throughout the store. Such accidents come under the Occupiers Liability Act 1957. This law deals with lawful visitors whereas the Occupiers Liability Act 1984 deals with unlawful visitors or trespassers.

Obviously, as you visit the supermarket to do your shopping, you are a lawful visitor under the 1957 Act. This means that the supermarket owes you a duty of care to ensure that you are safe whilst in their premises.
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Burns can be one of the most painful injuries a person can sustain, and one of the worse things about this type of injury is that it can leave horrific scaring and possible disfigurement.  It is because of the possible severity of these injuries that makes bringing a claim for them of PARAMOUNT importance.

Burns can be caused in several ways and in differing circumstances. Here at The Injury Lawyers we have dealt with a vast majority of them! To name a few:

•  Burns caused by faulty products – I.E= Hair straightners and dryers.
• Burns sustained at work – I.E = hot substances or faulty equipment
• From cosmetic procedures- I.E= Laser hair removal.

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We are lucky in the UK to have rather strict Health & Safety rules to make sure we are not come to any harm. However, there are microbes and gases that can’t be seen by the human eye – and when they’re breathed in or consumed, the human body’s reaction can be painful.

People endure poisoning of some kind all the time and on a daily basis. The most common form is probably from food poisoning from poorly cooked, contaminated, or out of date food. If it’s your own fault, there’s not a great deal you can do about it – but if you get it from a restaurant or from contamination that was out of your hands, you may have a claim.

There are certain things that you need to consider though – for one, it can be very difficult to actually prove that poisoning has occurred in some way that is out of your hands. If you get food poisoning from chicken, how do you prove that the producer had caused the meat to be contaminated or spoiled as oppose to it coming down to your cooking skills? I’m not saying anyone would lie, but the burden of proof for claims is generally on the victim – so it can be very difficult.
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When the weekend comes, many of us take the opportunity to leave the cooking and washing up behind and head out for a three-course meal at our favourite restaurant. Having worked as a waitress myself, I know firsthand the fast-paced nature of the industry- people rushing round with plates of food, clearing an empty table (and perhaps been a little too adventurous carrying everything) and of course dropping and spilling food and drink on the floor!

With so much happening, accidents do occur that can result in injuries no-one expected when they were ordering their starters.

There are two circumstances that are often brought to our attention here at The Injury Lawyers, which are:
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