Monthly Archives: May 2013

Broken femur personal injury claims

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The femur is a remarkably strong bone located in the thigh and is attached to some of the most powerful muscles in the body. Indeed, the forces required to break this bone are so strong that it generally only happens through road accidents or falls from height at work which can impart the crushing or twisting forces needed to make the bone fracture.

Breaking your femur can have devastating psychological as well as physical effects because of how debilitating the injury can be but for those who sustained a fractured femur due to the carelessness, legal ignorance, or deliberate malice of another individual, it can be even more difficult to cope with. Thankfully, in such circumstances, a broken femur compensation claim could be pursued with the help of an expert personal injury solicitor. It is essential that you choose an expert because such claims are highly complex and the solicitors in our personal injury team have the specialist skills and supportive nature you need. We understand how difficult the claims process is for our clients and use our years of experience to win the full amount of compensation deserved.

In order to win your claim you will need to prove beyond all reasonable doubt that the defendant, whether they are a road user or your employer for example, was to blame for your injuries. Finding evidence for this is not straightforward. In the case of road accidents, witness statements may be required and for falls in the workplace information on the working environment and health and safety measures in place will need to be collected. An expert orthopaedic consultant must also be consulted who will produce a report on the extent of your injuries, the likely cost of future care and the pain and suffering it has caused you.

The written report you will receive from an expert orthopaedic consultant will be crucial in determining the compensation payout you will be receive. These damages should cover the following:

1. General damages: these will cover your financial losses. A broken femur is likely to put you out of work for a considerable period of time and as a result it is only right that when the injury was not your fault you are compensated for the loss of earnings both in the present and the future. These damages should also cover any medical expenses or the cost of having to hire help whilst you are immobilised for example.

2. Special damages: the severity of your injury will be crucial to determining this figure which should take into account your pain and suffering. If your break is likely to have long term and possible life-long consequences this figure is likely to be particularly high.

If you are relatively lucky, your fractured femur will be proximal and will therefore heal after a few weeks in a cast (albeit a very large and uncomfortable one). However, if you are unfortunate enough to suffer a serious and complex break, you could find yourself with permanent weakness of the upper leg and knee joint, heightened future chances of arthritis and a metal rod inserted through your bone. However bad the injury is, should contact one of our specialist personal injury solicitors and claim what you deserve.

Thinking of a Broken Femur Personal Injury Claim? Contact our specialist injury lawyers today

A broken femur can be a devastating injury, so it is crucial that you instruct an expert personal injury lawyer at the earliest opportunity who can set about winning the full and fair amount of compensation you deserve.

Reach us today on FREEPHONE FREEPHONE 0800 1404544, or

Fill out the enquiry form below.

    Can I claim injury compensation for a broken wrist

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    Your wrist contains eight carpal bones and if you break one, it can be both excruciatingly painful and extremely costly. Below is a list of just some of the problems associated with a broken wrist:

    • Pain and tenderness

    • Numbness in the fingers

    • Swelling

    • Possibly deformity of the wrist

    • Possible blood vessel or nerve damage

    • Surgery may be required to reset the bone

    • Pins and metal plates may need to be inserted

    • You will need a uncomfortable cast for weeks

    • You will need to pay regular visits to the radiology department for x-rays and check ups on the progress of your injury

    • You probably will not be able to work, especially if there is a manual aspect to your job. As a result you could lose out financially

    • Your break may be so bad that surgical immobilisation of the wrist is required and you will never be able to use it properly again

    Considering the seriousness of these problems it can be comforting to know that you make a personal injury compensation claim if you break a wrist as a result of someone else’s negligence, malice or oversight of the law. Below are two scenarios in which a wrist has been broken. Can you claim compensation in 1, 2, both, or neither?

    Scenario 1:

    You were carrying some boxes in stockroom in your workplace when you tripped over one of the broken floorboards in the uneven floor. As you fell you reached out to try and cushion your landing but hit the ground with such force that you broke your wrist and had to rush to the A and E department. You and your colleagues had asked your employer to resurface the floor many times but he simply hadn’t listened and as a result you wound up sat in radiology having your fifth x-ray done so that they can find the fracture.

    Scenario 2:

    12 months ago you were playing in your local Saturday football league when a violent midfielder from the other team crashed into you off the ball. There was no way it was just a mistimed tackle and as you fell to the turf, you felt your right wrist break. You’re a plumber who drives to customers around the local area but now you find that you can’t carry out simple jobs with just one hand and you can’t even drive your car.

    Answer

    That’s right; compensation could be claimed in both of these scenarios. If the accident was not your fault, you therefore cannot be blamed for the injury you sustain and if somebody else’s carelessness, recalcitrance or deliberate action was to blame, it is only right that you are compensated. Indeed, your financial losses may be substantial due to your lack of income, but you will also lose amenity (the ability to carry out everyday tasks) and you should be compensated for both of these things.

    So if you have broken your wrist and you feel that somebody else is to blame for the accident which led to your injuries you should get in touch with one of our expert injury claim solicitors today.

    Thinking of making a compensation claim for a broken wrist – contact us

    If your wrist has been broken and someone else was to blame, you could be entitled to claim compensation. Our specialist personal injury claim solicitors can help you claim.

    For FREE phone advice today

    Dial FREEPHONE FREEPHONE 0800 1404544, or

    Email our experts via the contact form below:

       

      Injury claims for occupational bursitis

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      Over 3 in every 100 people are expected to be struggling with bursitis as you read this. Bursitis is a condition which arises when the elbow, knee or shoulder joints become enflamed and painful as a result of repetitive strains placed upon them. The bursae are pods of synovial fluid which prevent the bone and the muscles connected to it from grinding together. Damage to the joint caused by repetitive strain therefore causes the busae to become inflamed or infected and this can lead to bursitis.

      Those suffering with bursitis are likely to feel considerable pain due to the inflammation and possible infection of the affected joint and their mobility may be significantly restricted as a result. In mild cases, a few weeks of rest and avoidance of the activity which caused bursitis should lead a full recovery. However, in cases where the bursitis involves infection or sepsis, surgery, prescription drugs and regular drips to orthopaedic doctors may be required.

      Bursitis –  the causes

      Bursitis is most commonly caused by repetitive actions in the workplace. Those who are constantly required to perform certain repetitive movements or hold certain positions for an extended period of time tend to place high levels of stress on their joints which can lead to bursitis. It is no surprise for example that bursitis is often referred to as ‘housemaid’s knee’ and indeed electricians and plumbers who spend a lot of time kneeling down are often more susceptible to the condition.

      Bursitis – Your employer’s obligations to protect you

      Your employer is legally obliged to take every action possible (within reason) to ensure that you are not harmed in the workplace. Therefore, if your can demonstrated that your employer failed to protect you by not providing you with knee protection or warning you about the health risks associated with certain movements they can be said to have shirked their legal duty.

      If you believe that your employer has failed to discharge their legal duty of care and you have suffered from bursitis as a result, you should instruct a specialist occupational injury solicitor straight away to see about making a compensation claim. Our personal injury claim team is composed of the experts you need who also have strong contacts with medical experts who will produce a medical report which is central to your case. We are fully committed to recovering every penny of compensation that our clients are entitled to and have the expertise needed to win your injury claim.

      Considering a Bursitis Injury Claim? Our experts can help you win justice

      If your employer failed to take all reasonably practicable steps to prevent you contracting bursitis in the workplace, you could be entitled to claim injury compensation.

      Call our specialist personal injury solicitors on FREEPHONE FREEPHONE 0800 1404544, or

      Complete the contact form below to get in touch.

        Claiming injury compensation for broken bones

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        With 206 bones in the body and a whole host of hazards present at home, in public and in the workplace, it is no surprise that may bones are broken in the UK each year. Almost every bone fracture is excruciatingly painful and the recovery process and associated financial costs can cause great distress to the unfortunate victim. This suffering is magnified if you know that your accident was caused by the carelessness or intent of another individual, like an employer for example. Indeed, close to 19,000 bones are broken in the workplace each year and whilst some of these are purely accidental, many are down to employer negligence.

        If you believe that your broken bone injury was caused by the negligence or malice of another individual you should approach a specialist personal injury solicitor about making a compensation claim. Our expert lawyers could quickly determine whether or not you have a claim and how much compensation you may be entitled to.

        The amount you are paid in compensation should reflect the following:

        • Your pain and suffering: ‘General damages’ should cover the physical and emotional hardship you have had to confront as a result of your broken bone injury. The severity and location of the break will be important in calculating this figure. Some bone breaks may be so minor that you do not even notice them and finger or toe breaks may only involve relatively minor suffering. However, life-altering fractures of the skull or spine for example can lead to dire consequences such as permanent paralysis.

        • Your financial losses: ‘Special damages’ should compensate the loss of earnings you have faced due to the extended time off work required for your recovery. Medical expenses and the increased cost of travel incurred through your inability to drive for example may also be included. Given that your accident was someone else’s fault, it would be wrong if you were forced to shoulder the financial burden.

        An enormous amount of work goes into a compensation claim and we will collect the documentation needed to prove your financial losses and suffering. This will include obtaining a medical report from an independent medical expert specifying the follow up treatment needed, the potential recovery costs and the extent of the injuries. We can be relied upon to do everything possible to ensure that you receive the full compensation amount that you deserve.

        Don’t delay – make your broken bone injury claim today

        Strict time limits apply to broken bone compensation claims so it is important that you start the claims process as soon as possible. Our personal injury specialists have the expertise required to win the compensation you deserve.

        Dial FREEPHONE FREEPHONE 0800 1404544,

        Or fill out the contact form below to get in touch with our personal injury solicitors.

          Broken ankle injury compensation claims

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          An ankle break can be completely incapacitating. In the best case scenario, with a neat break and no collateral nerve or blood vessel damage, the injured will face weeks without being able to walk, drive or carry loads, and in all likelihood they will be unable to work for around two months. As a result they will lose income and be unable to provide for themselves and any other dependents. Indeed, in the worst case scenario, the injured may require multiple surgeries, extensive physiotherapy and a permanent loss of mobility.

          Many people wrongly believe that compensation claims can only be made for injuries sustained in the workplace. On the contrary, provided that the accident was caused by someone else’s deliberate or negligent actions, you could claim compensation for accidents which have occurred anywhere including hospitals, shops, public areas and on the roads. Ultimately, if you sustain injuries through no fault of your own, it is own right that you deserve to be compensated for the associated financial losses incurred.

          Is a personal injury solicitor really necessary?

          There is some public scepticism about the importance of personal injury claim solicitors and the fees they charge, with many feeling it would be better to pursue a claim without such legal representation. However, doing so is ill-advised. Personal injury solicitors have a detailed understanding of the claims process and specialist knowledge in their area of law, or at least out do. Our specialist solicitors know never to settle for less than you are entitled to and are able to use their expertise to recover the full and fair amount you deserve in light of your injuries and the effect they have had on your life. Given that your opponent is likely to have instructed a specialist solicitor to defend them, it would be foolish to put yourself at a disadvantage.

          Don’t delay making your broken ankle injury compensation claim – call FREEPHONE FREEPHONE 0800 1404544

          If you have broken your ankle and someone else was to blame, you could be entitled to claim compensation. Our injury claim solicitors would be happy to help you with your claim.

          Dial FREEPHONE FREEPHONE 0800 1404544, or

          Email our experts via the contact form below:

            How common are injuries when working with dangerous chemicals?

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            On the scale of things, for instance compared with the number of fatalities and major injuries caused by falling from height (the most common cause of work related death and injury), injuries sustained working with dangerous chemicals are not that common in the United Kingdom anymore, making up only 2% of all recorded workplace fatal injuries and 2.2% of all non-fatal injuries. In total, less than three thousand people were injured in the UK during 2011-12 due to accidents involving dangerous chemicals, with fewer than five hundred of the those being unfortunate enough to suffer injuries categorised by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) as ‘major’.

            When the capacity of dangerous chemicals to ignite or burn through bodily tissues, locally or systemically poison or irradiate, blow people and objects to smithereens and cause cancer is considered it is seriously good news that such injuries are relatively rare. However, when you consider that the HSE defines major injuries as those such as fractures of major bones and loss of limbs it doesn’t take a huge leap of imagination to contemplate what the major injuries of those victims of accidents involving dangerous chemicals must be like, the most common type of which occur due to inhalation of a chemical, closely followed by accidental ingestion and other forms of skin (including eyes) contact.

            Even the most hard-nosed business person endlessly reciting their mantra of ‘cost-cost-cost’ is likely to quail, and rightly so, when confronted by the victim of a serious accident involving dangerous chemicals which was caused by a misplaced prioritisation of profit over employee safety. In this day and age there is absolutely no reason why a worker should have to suffer an appalling chemical injury for that reason – or indeed any reason.

            Considering a Chemical Injury Claim? We can help

            Our expert personal injury solicitors have experience working on injury claims relating to workplace accidents involving dangerous chemicals.

            Call FREEPHONE FREEPHONE 0800 1404544, or

            Fill out the enquiry form below to get through to our expert injury claim solicitors.

              Avoiding construction accidents

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              The law requires that health and safety be managed and controlled on construction sites. It’s as simple as that. Employers know their responsibilities in this respect and should be familiar and adept at using the knowledge and guidance at their disposal to achieve a safe working environment.

              A construction project is a complex operation and integral to its success is the advanced planning, organising, controlling and monitoring and reviewing of health and safety issues. A failure to address health and safety adequately can, apart from the legal and personal pain and suffering consequences, have a detrimental effect on completing the project on time and on the morale and commitment of the workforce.

              The most common accidents on construction sites are:

              • Falls from height – due to poorly designed, positioned or built working positions or inadequate access to those positions.

              • Accidents involving vehicles (mobile plant) – most usually caused by rutted, uneven, holed ground conditions, poor driver visibility (especially when reversing) and plant operators being killed or injured when their vehicle turns over.

              • Falling or moving materials and collapses – caused by vehicles shedding their loads, materials falling off working positions, incorrectly shored excavations collapsing, overloaded or undermined structures falling down and botched demolitions.

              • Trips and slips – caused by untidy sites and unaddressed spillages.

              • Electrical accidents (shocks and burns) – mainly due to using faulty equipment or workers coming into contact with underground or overhead power lines.

              The methods employed to eliminate or control such risks are extensive and detailed but basically boil down to the following:

              • Undertaking a preliminary review of site history to determine the threat of hazardous substances such as asbestos, the location of underground and overhead power lines, the geology of the site, the routes of public rights of way and non-construction project related activity on the site and adjacent to it.

              • Agreement to the work methods and safety precautions by everyone involved in the project (who will also be given a copy of them).

              • A detailed checking to ensure that every employee or sub contracted worker, from the managers through supervisors to site workers are all adequately trained to undertake the jobs required of them.

              • Careful planning of the construction site that will be include, if possible, segregation of vehicles and pedestrians and the demarcation of areas for loading/unloading, parking and manoeuvring of vehicles.

              • Provision of personal protective equipment and training on how to use it.

              • Trips hazards keep away from stairs and walkways.

              • Footpaths kept, firm, level and uncluttered.

              • Guards on all raised walkways.

              • Adequate (preferably natural) lighting.

              • Always considering if hazards can be avoided altogether before imposing controls.

              • Establishment of the standard ‘hierarchy of control’ for working at height which is, in order of preference:

              o Avoid working at height if possible.

              o Use equipment to minimise working from height.

              o Minimise distances and consequences.

              o Adopt collective protective measures.

              o Adopt personal protective measures.

              Construction Accident Injury Claim? Call us on FREEPHONE FREEPHONE 0800 1404544

              If you have sustained an injury working in construction which was not your fault, you will need an expert solicitor on your side. Our specialist personal injury solicitors can help you win the full and fair amount of compensation you deserve.

              Dial FREEPHONE FREEPHONE 0800 1404544, or

              Email out personal injury claim team using the contact form below.