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I read over the weekend that a man has received over £1million in compensation having sustained serious head injuries after being involved in a road traffic accident.  The Oxford Mail reports that Mr Sutton was the passenger in a vehicle which collided with another vehicle back in 2006.  As such, Mr Sutton suffered memory problems, blackouts, depression, and epileptic fits after sustaining a serious head injury.  He subsequently found himself unable to work and has since struggled to find an alternative job.  This recent payout of over a million pounds from the driver’s insurance company can be seen as an attempt to place Mr Sutton in the position he would have been had he not been involved in the road traffic accident and had he not ended up seriously injured.

Road traffic accidents are sadly an everyday occurrence.  It may be a minor crash on our roads where someone gets a small dent in their car, or it may be a much more serious crash where someone ends up very badly hurt.  If you have been involved in a road traffic accident which is not your fault, and you have subsequently suffered an injury, you may be entitled to compensation.  Like Mr Sutton, you should seek expert legal advice from a fully qualified injury lawyer.  However, receiving over a million pounds is in no way a given.  The amount of compensation you receive wholly depends on your injuries, how long these injuries last, and any further losses you have suffered as a direct result of your accident.  In this case Mr Sutton received over a million pounds because of the severity and longevity of his injuries, and the fact that he will need to pay for care for the rest of his life, and also because his future earnings ability has been significantly diminished.

If you have been unlucky enough to have been caught up in a road traffic accident and suffered a personal injury as a result, it is vital that you seek professional advice. At The Injury Lawyers our legal advice is free and so you have absolutely nothing to lose in seeking this independent and quality advice we give.  The Injury Lawyers should be your first port of call for a high quality and speedy service – we are experts in the field of Road Traffic Accidents and will walk you through every stage of your claim, ensuring you obtain the maximum compensation you deserve.

Can I claim for my accident?

After suffering an accident that was not your fault, you may feel fragile and confused.  You may not know what options are available and what these options would cost to you to pursue.  This is why our team here at The Injury Lawyers feel it is necessary to write these blogs – we want to make you confident about your rights to claim for compensation. You may feel that due to your accident happening in a big supermarket for instance that you have no chance in succeeding with a possible claim. Our dedicated team at The Injury Lawyers are here to help – your lawyers are there to fight your corner for your claim.

At The Injury Lawyers we have clients come to us with a whole range of accidents. A few examples of the types of personal injury claims we deal with:

1. Road Traffic Accidents – these are extremely common claims and can range from rear end shunts to head on collisions.  Even if the other driver is uninsured or untraced we can direct your claim to the Motor Insurance Bureau, who will pay out any compensation you are entitled to have.

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It’s a difficult question to answer on its own. There is really only one way to value a claim for compensation – with a specialist expert injury lawyer on your side, and a good quality medical report. Any other method is based on guesswork, statistics, or estimation.

For example – I can tell you that if you have suffered a minor whiplash injury after a road accident, you could claim around £2,500. In fact, you could be entitled to up to £5,000. For a moderate whiplash injury, you could be entitled to up to around £15,000. If you are suffering from a severe whiplash injury, we could get you even more.

How do I know this? The figures are based on statistics, averages, and the JSB Guidelines that are used to assist solicitors during the process of valuing your claim. But realistically, it all depends on your injuries and whether you have a quality injury lawyer representing you for the case.
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We all love to go on a good night out, whether it be to the pub on a Friday night after work, out for a dance with our friends, or for a meal.  We all look forward to this free time where we can socialise, relax, and let our hair down.

It is the last thought on our mind that we may suffer an accident which causes us an injury.  There are many potential hazards on a night out – these can include spillages negligently left uncleaned on the floor, which cause a slip hazard, broken glass negligently left on the floor causing a laceration to the foot or exacerbating a fall injury, or it may be that you have suffered an injury from the venue being filled over capacity.  This is by no means an exhaustive list; if you have suffered any accident that was not your fault then you may have a claim for compensation.

Any venue for a night out, whether it’s a pub, a bar, a restaurant or a night club, has a duty to protect it’s customer as far as is reasonably possible.
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It seems the roads are forever getting busier – we always seem to be in a traffic jam, whether it be on the school runs, rush hours going to and from work, or just to go shopping on a Saturday.  Coupled with this, people’s lives are busier and more hectic; everyone is rushing to get somewhere.  These 2 factors together mean that roads are more clogged with people who may be driving without the necessary care and attention, which can lead to more accidents on the roads.

These accidents may be the result of a collision of vehicles head on, from a side road, or perhaps the most common – the rear end shunt (being hit from behind).  It is in road accidents whereby whiplash is most likely to occur.  Whiplash can also occur from a fall from a height, or a knock to the head – for example, whilst participating in sports.

Whiplash is caused by a sudden jolt to the head which causes the neck to move beyond its normal range of movement. This then stretches tendons, ligaments and muscles in the neck causing the symptoms of whiplash.
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Today I have come across a horrific story involving an 11 year old girl who has had her thigh impaled by spiked chain fencing.  The Herts Advertiser reports that Maisie was on her way home having returned a book to her local library when she tripped and fell and ended up impaling her thigh on a spike.  As a result, the unfortunate Maisie has been left with scar, having had to have eight stitches, and continues to suffer from traumatic nightmares which revisit the accident.  As her GP said, had Maisie have landed on her head or stomach, the results could have been much, much worse.  Maisie, as you can now imagine, is conscious of wearing skirts at school because these scan expose her scarring, and unfortunately other children have a tendency to stare at things a little bit different.

Maisie’s mother is also now seeking compensation on her behalf.  Because Maisie is 11 years old, and therefore cannot be classed as an adult, she is required to have someone to act on her behalf, also known as a Litigation Friend, or to wait until she is 18 to make her claim.  Her mother is seeking compensation from the council because of the injuries suffered by her daughter.  It would appear that it is not clear exactly why the spiked railings were there in the first place, because they seem to just protect a patch of grass.  She therefore wants justification of their use and compensation to place Maisie in the position she would have been in had she not have had the accident and suffered the injuries she did.  At this point in time the local council have not responded and the case continues.

If you, or somebody you know, has had an accident whilst they have been walking about a town or city centre and have subsequently sustained an injury, it may be that they could make a claim for compensation.  Your local council is responsible for all the highways, paths and common areas in your town and city, and owes you a duty of care to ensure that you do not suffer an injury when going about your everyday business.  Here at The Injury Lawyers we have pursued thousands of claims against our clients’ local councils and have been able to obtain substantial sums in compensation for them.  If you feel that you have a potential claim then please ensure you get in contact with a quality personal injury lawyer who can provide you with some free legal advice.

We have many clients here at The Injury lawyers who come to us after an accident and ask us which losses they are entitled to claim for.  The time after an accident can be confusing as to how to proceed with a claim, and you may be in a fragile state due to events you have experienced.  This is why at The Injury Lawyers we write these blogs to inform and educate you about a range of aspects surrounding a personal injury claim.

There are many losses which can be claimed as a result of an accident which was not your fault.  At the outset of any claim, any good personal injury lawyer, upon verifying you do have a claim, should be explaining all the types of losses you are entitled to. 

Here are some of the more common losses you are entitled to claim for as part of your case:
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It’s easy to slip – that’s why premises owners have an important duty to ensure all floors and traffic routes are free from any articles that could cause a person to slip. Failing to do so means you may have a claim for compensation against them.

Slipping in a Shop / Restaurant / Cafe / Club / Any Other Public Place

Owner of such premises above have an important duty to ensure that all floors and traffic routes are free from any articles that could cause a person to slip. How should they do this? By regularly inspecting all areas of their premises on a reasonable and regular basis – Particularly in restaurants, cafes, and clubs where food and drink can easily end up on the floor. Staff should be fully trained in how to look out for and clear spillages as soon as possible. Preventative measures should always be used if there are to be any delays – sufficient warning signs or cordoning off an area to prevent the public from accessing it.

If the floor is being cleaned (e.g. mopped) then the staff should be fully trained to ensure they adequately warn passersby of the hazard a wet floor poses. Signs should be numerous and very visible, and cordons should be used in some circumstances. Every reasonable effort must be made to ensure that passersby are either prevented from accessing a hazardous area, or are sufficiently warned of the hazard it poses.
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The title of this blog may be referring to motorbikers – however, this blog could refer equally to cyclists, users of mopeds and similar vehicles, as all these road users are of a particular vulnerability when compared to car, van, or truck drivers.

Many accidents involving the vehicles above can occur due to defective road surfaces, items left in the road, or the meeting of traffic at junctions and roundabouts.

It is important that if you have been involved in a road accident to report it to the Police as they may want to compile a report about the incident.  Seeking medical attention for your injuries, whether it be at A and E or at your GP, is important as they can assess your injuries and make a note in your medical records. Obtain photographic evidence of your injuries and keep them safe – this could provide valuable evidence for a later personal injury claim.
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Supermarkets may be some people’s worst nightmares due to queuing, traffic getting in and out, or just the general stress and strain of the weekly food shop.  Alternatively, some people may love the weekly supermarket shop as the prices are cheap, there is lots of choice, and usually discounts galore.  Whatever you feel about the supermarket shop, one thing is sure enough – that it is the last thing on your mind that you will have an accident that was not your fault and you end up injured.

We have many clients coming to The Injury Lawyers with claims stemming from supermarkets.  Their accidents include items falling on them from a poorly stacked shelf, slipping on a spillage that was negligently left un-cleared, or tripping over an item negligently left on the floor causing a hazard on an aisle.

Supermarkets, like anywhere else, have a duty to keep their customers safe as far as possible and foreseeable. They must comply with important Health and Safety Regulations.  They must train their staff in the correct manner so they know the correct procedures in – for example – the event a spillage occurs, how to stack shelves safely, or simply to check aisles regularly for items left on the floor.
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