On 7th July 2010, the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (“APIL”) celebrated its 20th birthday. Based in Nottingham, the organisation was created with a remit to support the innocent and unwitting victims of unnecessary accidents. As a consequence of their objective, APIL has contributed to the development of standards for lawyers supporting those making a personal injury compensation claim as well as highlighting the potential risk of an accident at work to employers.
Denise Kitchener, chief executive of APIL, (more…)
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We all think that we know what to do in the event of a car accident but when we emerge from the crumpled car─ hopefully injury free─ and the adrenalin is flowing and tempers fraying, will we remember what to say or do?
We assume that we will but here’s a reminder:
A motorist involved in an accident that has resulted in injuries or damage to vehicles or property is required to stop at the scene. Switch off the engine and turn on the vehicle’s hazard lights. Take a couple of minutes to compose yourself and to check on and reassure your passengers before leaving the car.
The wellbeing of the individuals involved in the accident is of primary importance so you should establish if anyone is injured and in need of expert medical help. If so, call 999 and request an ambulance. If you’re not a medical doctor and are (more…)
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Employers are required by law to provide a safe, hazard-free working environment. Compensation claims and personal injury claims can be filed against employers if a person suffers as a result of a breach of the Health and Safety legislation. Construction accidents and injuries are often in the news, and employers in construction companies can be found to be in breach of their duty of care, by using unsafe and defective equipment, with accident claims filed against them.
In June 2010 an employee of a joinery firm took his employers to court where they pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 by failing to protect their workers. The employee lost his right index finger by trapping his hand in a cutting machine that did not have a proper safety guard installed. The company was fined £3,000 and ordered to pay costs of £1,000.
The Health and Safety at Work (third edition published 2006), issued by the Health and Safety Executive, states that the most frequent accidents in the workplace are falls, mobile machinery, falling materials and collapses, electrical accidents, and trips. If the employee is injured in the workplace due to (more…)
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As a civilisation of animal lovers many people often choose to keep pets in their homes. Dogs are one of the most popular choices as they provide lots of fun and companionship to their owners. This is mostly a harmonious relationship but occasionally a dog can misread human behaviour, biting them and leading to serious injury. If you have been the victim of a dog attack you may be able to make a dog bite compensation claim.
Certain people are most at risk, with 3800 reported dog bites in 2008. Children under the age of nine, who may not yet know how to conduct themselves around dogs, are particularly prone to being harmed and this often (more…)
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Personal injury compensation claims are big business these days and the competition for business is fierce. Many personal injury lawyers have big profiles thanks to intensive marketing and use of TV advertising. Most of the companies in this field handle different kinds of claims and work on a no win, no fee basis. Clients claiming for an accident at work account for much of their business. Employers must be ever vigilante to avoid such claims against them, as compensation can run to thousands of pounds and they can damage the company name.
When a client brings a case to a call handler, it will be passed on to a specialist lawyer. In the case of an accident at work, the lawyer will assess the working environment and the circumstances of the claim.
Having established that the employee was faultless, he will determine if the (more…)
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If you’ve never had the misfortune of being involved in a road traffic accident, it may not occur to you that a personal injury can be just the start of your problems or disruption to your normal routine.
For example, if you happen to have (more…)
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Employers in the UK have a duty of care to the people they employ and are governed by the Health and Safety Executive. There are legal obligations, which must be met to prevent accidents in the workplace and also to help when accidents do occur.
Typical accidents range from minor cuts, burns, trips and falls to more serious accidents that can result in loss of life or limb. Accidents are not confined to dangerous industries such as construction or manufacturing, injuries can occur anywhere and to anyone.
The first step when suffering an injury is to report it as soon as possible and have the incident entered into an accident book, noting as much detail as possible. Any witness details must also be included. Accurate reporting can help in compensation claims, which must be (more…)
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