Archives

Had an accident at work, and wondering what to do? As well as being in pain, and perhaps being a little annoyed that you’ve ended up injured in the line of duty, you’re probably wondering why the accident has happened, and whether something should be done about it.

Well, read on for some quality advice as to where you stand legally, and what you should be doing after you have been involved in an accident at work.

Where Do You Stand?
Read More

If, in the eyes of the law, the road traffic accident you have been involved in which has led to your injuries is relatively minor and straightforward, claiming for compensation is a very straightforward process.  As of the 30^th April 2010 a new protocol was introduced for these sorts of road traffic accident claims which means that in a matter of weeks or a couple of months your compensation claim could be settled.

Nowadays making a claim for compensation for a road traffic accident involves submitting a simple form over the internet, waiting a day for the other side to acknowledge it, then giving them 15 days to investigate your accident. Once liability is admitted, getting a medical report compiled and settling your claim on the best terms is just as quick with the right lawyer on board for the claim. Your compensation could genuinely be sorted in a matter of weeks.

The first stage of your claim is to instruct a quality injury lawyer who specialises in road traffic accident claims.  They should know what they are doing and be able to get the ball rolling on your claim straightaway.
Read More

When you have suffered an injury, either motor related, (the most common being neck injuries known as whiplash), at your place of work, from tripping and falling over in a public place, or perhaps you have been injured as a result of faulty goods or services, you are entitled to submit a claim to the person(s) that caused the injury. If the incident, and therefore your injures, could have been avoided by the person(s) responsible, you should have a claim for compensation.

Compensation is designed to recompense you for your pain and suffering, and to repay you any losses that you have incurred as a result. Your legal representative will break down compensation in to two heads of damages – general and special damages.

The general damages will be compensation for the injuries sustained, loss of amenity, inconvenience, and the inability to do normal day to day tasks.
Read More

If you have been involved in an accident that was not your fault, you are probably aware that you are entitled to claim for compensation for your injuries. You may not be aware that you can also claim for any financial losses that you have suffered as a result of the accident. This is because compensation is meant to put you back in the position you would have been in had the accident not have occurred; therefore, recouping your financial losses is a crucial aspect to this.

I have listed below some of the more common types of loss which you may be entitled to recover:

1. Loss of earnings
2. Treatment costs
3. Care and Assistance
4. Travel expenses
5. Miscellaneous (call charges, postage costs etc)

Read More

If you’re at the stage of obtaining your medical report then it’s likely that liability has been admitted on your claim and now your solicitor is arranging for you to have a medical examination. This medical examination produces a report which forms a foundation from which your claim can be valued.

This is why at The Injury Lawyers we arrange all our client’s examinations with specialist private consultants and general practitioners.

We also advise our clients prior to their appointment to inform the medical professional of the accident circumstances as fully as possible, their injury symptoms, and the full effects of their injuries on their life.

This ensures that the medical report provides a comprehensive overview of the full extent of your injuries in order to truly value your claim.
Read More

Has your child been injured in an accident which was not their fault? Do you believe that they have a claim for compensation? Are you not sure how to proceed?  Here are a few points that may help you in this situation.

Where an individual is under the age of 18, they are required by law to have a litigation friend to represent them and deal with their claim for compensation.

A litigation friend is a responsible adult who acts on the behalf of a minor i.e. a person under the age of 18, for the claim for compensation. A litigation friend can be the parent, guardian, or a family friend.  The litigation friend must have the minor’s best interests at heart, and be in regular contact with them.
Read More

There has been a lot of publicity in the media lately with regards to personal injury claims suffered from a road traffic accident.  The most common injury being whiplash.

What is Whiplash?

It is an injury to the cervical vertebrae, or the neck as it is normally known, and it is most commonly caused when you are involved in a road traffic accident.  It is as a result of the movement of the head / neck that is caused during the collision of vehicles involved.
Read More

At The Injury Lawyers, we come across many people wanting to make claims for their whiplash injuries on a daily basis.  In the most part they have sustained these whiplash injuries through road traffic accidents – in particular where a negligent third party has driven into the rear of their vehicle.

In such scenarios, it is highly likely that you will be entitled to compensation and you should seek to instruct an injury lawyer to act on your behalf so you can get hold of the maximum compensation you deserve.  A question on most whiplash victims minds is how much compensation they are likely to receive.  Unfortunately, we have to advise that it is somewhat impossible to put an exact figure on the value of your claim straightaway.  Each whiplash injury is different from the next, and it is also depends on the affect it has had on your life, and the severity of your pain and suffering.

However, we can give you a general idea by using what are known as the Judicial Studies Board (JSB) guidelines and statistics / averages.  Statistically, on average, a minor whiplash claim with be worth approximately £2,500.  Again though, I must stress that this is just a rough guide, and you really do have to take everyone’s circumstances into consideration.  Here’s what I mean:
Read More

Personal injury claims can be quite costly for insurers.  A Claimant may be awarded thousands of pounds for the injuries they have sustained at the negligence of a third party, and it is the negligent third party’s insurer who has to pay for this.

Further, where the insurer has to pay compensation, they are also liable for the other side’s costs –which again can amount to thousands of pounds.  It is therefore not surprising that some insurers will try and deal with personal injury claims directly with the accident victims.  For instance, they will contact the injured party and see if they can settle their injury claim there and then.  This proves to be a lot cheaper because they can often settle the claim for less than it is worth, and they do not have to pay the injured persons solicitors.  If you are approached by an insurer direct to settle your claim for compensation, you have to be very careful.

Once you agree any compensation in settlement of your claim, that is it.  You cannot go back a few months later and ask for more when you realise that the insurers did not have your best interests at heart.  Your compensation claim is settled.
Read More

If you have had an accident at your workplace, you should already know what to do when it comes to what policies and procedures to follow, and how the accident should be reported with your company. If you don’t, I suggest that you ask an appropriate member of staff – but you should have had some guidance or training on the subject in the past.

First and foremost, the accident should be fully and accurately recorded in an accident book. If your injuries need attending to at the scene of the accident, an appropriate first aider should be called in to assist you as much as possible. If you are asked to sign a copy of the accident boom entry, make sure you actually agree to the contents of the report, and only sign it if it is full and accurate. You should also request a copy if you are to sign the report.

Obviously, if your medical needs require it, you should be taken to a local walk in centre of hospital for further treatment. Make sure you explain to the medic in detail as to what happened and how you ended up suffering the injury.
Read More