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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Tripping accidents are one of the most common types of personal injury claims. This is not surprising given the condition of many footpaths and roads nowadays.

Bad weather causes further damage to public footpaths and places an increased burden on local authorities to keep them maintained. Accidents are not solely caused by potholes – they could also be from removed or damaged drain covers, manhole covers, raised paving slabs, or building works for example.

Such accidents can cause injuries including cuts, bruises, ligament strains and broken bones. To make a successful in a claim for compensation there must be some form of defect with the ground in question to be able to hold the council or local authority responsible.
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It was my birthday recently, and unsurprisingly out came the embarrassing pictures of me as a child. Looking through the numerous amounts of photographs of me sitting with my dolls- highlighting their hair with felt tips – it got me thinking about the wide range of toys now available to children.

The toys on the market today are undoubtedly more technical than we used to have in the past, and consequently they have more small and intricate parts; making them potentially more dangerous.

Of course, parental supervision is always recommended when allowing a child to play with a toy with small parts and it is important to check any age guide provided on the packaging: for example, many toys will display a recommended age with a red and white logo with a sad babies face on it.
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A child’s first day at nursery and school are undoubtedly emotional. For parent’s it can be hard to accept that they are growing up, and for the child it is often exciting, fun and an opportunity for adventure!

For many parents it is the risk of injury that makes this step so much harder! They cannot stand in the playground watching all of the time and making sure their child does not get hurt- after all children are bound to fall over from time to time whilst playing the latest playground game (in my day this was tiggy lamppost!)

However, if your child is hurt at school they may still be entitled to compensation, just as an adult would be. Children are much more susceptible to injury than adults and can be more serious in the sense that they can affect the child into their teenage years (an already difficult time!) and even into adulthood.
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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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Unfortunately, criminal assaults are commonplace nowadays – particularly on a Friday or Saturday night when you’re out on the town and some scourge of society decides to set upon you like a neanderthal for what can only be described as ridiculous reasons; normally involving alcohol. But the question here is whether you can make a claim for a criminal assault or not. Luckily, you may be able to make a claim.

If you were set upon intentionally, it can fall within the realms of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority. This government body, often referred to as the CICA, pays out compensation to the victims of criminal assaults if you meet their criteria. It’s basically a compensation scheme to help victims of assaults claim compensation for the injuries they have suffered.

As it’s a compensation scheme, you must qualify for their strict criteria. If you fail to satisfy one or more of their key criteria, you may find it difficult to make a claim. Here’s a breakdown of the common key criterions:
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