Common injuries

Before injuries can be prevented against their source needs to be identified. Sports injuries and work-related accidents are both common, as are road traffic collisions. Even slips and trips are a key source of injury, with numerous individuals sustaining injuries of all severities as a result of these accidents.

The injuries which are sustained can range from broken bones and bruising to other common complaints such as whiplash and more severe damages such as internal bleeding or head trauma. Of course, these injuries only cover physical damages and individuals involved in accidents can also sustain emotional trauma following the incident.

Irrespective of the type or severity of the injury it is vital that those affected seek the compensation which they are owed in order to protect themselves, and others, from further harm.

Prevention is better than cure

Whilst personal injury claims may not seem like a preventive measure as they occur after the accident, they can help to protect others from harm in numerous ways. To begin with, filing these claims helps to identify risks and this allows industries to take the necessary measures to improve overall safety.

This can apply to places of work as well as public and private areas and means that those seeking compensation for their injuries can help others through their misfortune. On top of this, personal injury claims can give you the financial security you need should you be forced to take time off of work to recuperate.

In fact, figures from the HSE have shown that approximately one quarter of non-fatal accidents led those involved to take seven days off of work. A further third of those involved in non-fatal accidents took an absence of three days.

This means that a large proportion of individuals who have sustained injuries are left out of work, potentially without income. The compensation they may be entitled to through personal injury claims could help to address this financial concern and giving them the freedom they need to recover fully before contemplating a return to work.

How to claim

For those who feel they are entitled to lodge a personal injury claim, one of the preferred methods is to use a no win no fee solicitor. These are trained professionals who only charge claimants for their services if the case is upheld and settled in their favour – offering a fair agreement. This means that injured parties can seek the compensation they deserve without worrying about the costs this action may incur.

Here at Injurylawyers4u, we now offer this service and also provide personalised consultations to ensure claimants get the support and assistance which they need when making their personal injury claim.

Not only does this put you at greater risk of developing further complaints but it also means the cause of your accident is not clearly identified. Whilst individuals who have sustained a personal injury may simply want to forget the incident, this can often do more harm than good and contacting accident injury lawyers or services will enable you to take the necessary steps to protect yourself, and others, in the future.

How to protect yourself and others

Whilst it may seem a strange concept, considering claiming compensation following an accident could actually help to protect yourself and others. This is because claims of this nature help others to identify security risks in certain establishments or situations. This in turn leads to a more accurate risk assessment and allows the necessary safety measures and procedures to be put into place.

This is true for all types of accident – irrespective of where they occur. Even workplaces can be held responsible for an accident if the environment was unsafe or if those involved in the incident were not given the necessary tools or training to complete the task at hand.

In these situations it is important that you consider taking legal action as it will prevent the same mistakes from being made again. Unfortunately, a number of businesses only pay attention when their finances are affected and that means claiming for compensation is the quickest and easiest way to get them to pay attention.

Can claiming compensation have a negative effect on you?

A common misconception of compensation claims, especially when they involve your workplace or individuals whom you are associated with, is that it will negatively affect your future dealings with them. This couldn’t be further from the case and in the rare event that you are treated negatively because of an injury claim you could be entitled to take further legal action against your employment.

This is because such action would be classed as a type of discrimination – a practice that is understandably frowned upon within the corporate world.

As a general rule, businesses will accept their responsibility for your safety and that means that if you do have an accident they will be more than happy to compensate you for your discomfort. This will give you the recompense you deserve whilst giving them the opportunity to review their current safety procedures.

Who should you contact about making a claim?

If you feel you are entitled to lodge a claim it is vital that you speak to the right people. As a specialist accident claim firm, InjuryLawyers 4U offer professional and personal advice to help you understand your entitlement and the process involved with claiming compensation. We also operate on a no win no fee basis to provide you with the financial security you need when making your claim.

Safety first
The first thing that you should focus on after an accident is naturally your safety. However, what you do immediately after an accident can also affect the claims process you undertake in the future so it is important that you follow these steps:

•Always seek medical attention, irrespective of how severe you feel the injury is. Even if you are not experiencing any direct symptoms of injury you should have a thorough medical examination. This is because the shock of an accident can disguise symptoms potentially causing problems later on. Having a professional check you over will also ensure there is a formal record of your injuries should you decide to pursue a claim later on.

•After the accident, make sure you monitor your health and any injuries which you have sustained closely. This is important as some symptoms can present themselves hours or even days after the incident. Always have any new symptoms or changes to your injuries checked by a health care professional and ensure that a formal record of them is kept to aid with an accident compensation claim – should you choose to make one.

• Remember that injuries are not only physical, but can be emotional too. It is therefore recommended that you seek professional services which deal with this sort of trauma to ensure all aspects of your health is monitored. Once again, formal records of this should be kept.

Speak to professionals
Once you have taken care of your health, the next thing you need to do is consider whether or not to lodge a claim for compensation. If you have sustained injuries through no fault of your own then you are entitled to be recompensed for your discomfort and inconvenience.

Whilst this may not be your first thought after an accident it is important that you give it thought as quickly as possible as this is when information about the incident will be freshest. Always note down any important information about the event as soon as you can and speak to a professional service to establish whether you are entitled to a claim.

Injurylawyers4u offer professional and personal consultations to provide you with the support and assistance you need and will explain the claim process to you, and as we specialise in claims of this description, that makes us the best people to speak to. We can advise you on the best method of proceeding with you claim and, as we operate on a no win no fee basis, you can make your claim with financial peace of mind in tact.

Hazardous distractions
According to The Daily Mail, drivers who use their mobile phones whilst in the car are four times more likely to have an accident. Whilst manually operating your phone whilst in control of the vehicle is illegal in the UK, hands-free kits are deemed just as dangerous when in use.

The devices act as a hazardous distraction, diverting the driver’s attention away from the road. Whilst the above statistics are based on accident figures from Australia, UK drivers are still putting themselves at risk as one third of motorists confess to be involved in an accident or narrowly avoiding one after being distracted by items such as mobile phones.

Twenty per cent of drivers also admitted that the floated the ban against using a hand-held mobile whilst driving by answering their phone without the use of a hands-free kit. Texting whilst driving has also been labelled as a common source of accidents whilst the desire to update social networks on the move has seen some manufacturers create innovative devices which do this automatically in order to stop drivers taking unnecessary risks when behind the wheel.

Whilst all of the above dangers are associated with road accidents, this is unfortunately not the only danger which technology seems to pose to its users. Texting whilst walking poses a huge risk for pedestrians and drivers alike. In a rare case, a recent report saw one gentleman almost walk into the path of a stray black bear in California when distracted by texting – emphasising the high volume of threats which mobile phones and other devices can have.

Protecting against accidents
Naturally, the easiest way to protect against these types of accident is to make sure you only use these devices when it is safe to do so. Operating a hand-held phone whilst driving is not only illegal but is a reckless endangerment of life. Similarly, failing to pay attention to your environment when walking down the road could see you stray into dangerous situations, putting yourself and others at unnecessary harm.

Of course, in the event that an accident does occur it is important that you ascertain the cause and take the necessary measures to protect yourself from further harm – whether financial or emotional. If you are involved in an accident because somebody else was distracted or failed to act appropriately then you could be entitled to a no win no fee claim. These are claims handled by trained professionals who fight for the compensation you deserve and do not charge for their services if your case is unsuccessful.

Here at Injury Lawyers 4 U we offer this service and can advise you on the best course of action following an accident. Any accident, regardless of the cause, is traumatic for those involved and this is why it is vital that you take the necessary action to protect yourself.

He had been on leave from his regiment at the time of the car accident which happened at 10.10pm. The taxi was a black Vauxhall Astra estate. He received treatment on the spot from paramedics and was taken to hospital where later he died from his injuries.

Lee Foley had served in Afghanistan as a member of the Royal Engineers 22 Regiment where he had played a key role over the last three years. His commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Jason Kerr said at the funeral that it had been a pleasure to have Lee under his charge. He described how Foley understood the fundamentals of being a soldier, adding that he always maintained high standards of discipline and was always courteous and professional. In particular, he said, “he had a humility that endeared him to all that worked with him.”

Lance Corporal Lee Foley joined the Royal Engineers in 2006. In 2008 he was assigned to 5 Armoured Engineer Squadron at Perham Down and subsequently he had a six-month tour of duty in Afghanistan.

His death was the second fatal accident in the vicinity for a serving soldier in the same week. Edward Heal of the King’s Royal Hussars was hit and killed by a car on Christmas Day.

The newly planned changes to the Health and Safety regulations announced by David Cameron will mean that the ‘strict liability’ rules, whereby companies are assumed to be responsible for workplace injuries, will be relaxed.

Currently strict liability means that a company can be held responsible for personal injury to its workers even if the prosecution is unable to prove that the company had either intent in disregarding safety issues or that it at least foresaw that there was an avoidable risk. In law this is refereed to as “mens rea”.  Even if a company argues that that it is not at fault and that it has taken reasonable care to protect its employees, under “mens rea” it can still be held responsible.

An example of this is if a ladder used by a worker was inadequate under the work at height regulations. If this was the cause of an injury, under strict liability there is no need to prove that the ladder was inadequate. The fact that a worker was injured is sufficient in itself for the worker to make a compensation claim.

If the strict liability rules are removed then it will be necessary for the prosecution to prove that the company is at fault. The dangers are that some companies will take advantage of this and that the risks for employees will increase, also it will be considerably more difficult for employees to gain compensation for work related injuries.

Currently there is no time frame for introducing the new regulations; however Downing Street has indicated that they will be announced in the “near future”.

The worker, whose name has not yet been announced, was 29 years old. At the time he had been employed by a CEMEX sub-contractor as a scaffolder. Following the accident paramedics attended the scene. They found that he had sustained serious head injuries and he was also in cardiac arrest. They did all that they could but unfortunately were unable to resuscitate him and he was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.

Currently the incident is being investigated by the police and members of the Health and Safety Executive.

Ian Southcott, the community affairs manager for CEMEX, expressed his regret and sympathies for both the friends and the families of the worker. However he was unable to provide any more information on the accident at this stage.

The accident also involved another worker who was taken to hospital for treatment on a broken arm.

CEMEX is one of the leading building materials suppliers in the world and is the third biggest supplier of cement. Its HQ is in Mexico and it operates over four continents. It recently invested £3.5 million in the Rugby plant which currently is shut down to enable regular maintenance work, involving several contractors, to take place.

The police stated that the worker who died did not live in Rugby.