Claim type
■ Accidents at work
■ Bicycle accidents
■ Car accidents
■ Motorcycle accidents
■ Defective product accidents
■ Slips and trips
Unfortunately, accidents at work still happen on a very regular basis throughout the UK. Because of the strict legal duties on employers, these claims can often be very difficult to defend.
The law relating to liability of employers to their employees is complex. Many areas of this law are covered in acts of Parliament and Regulations.
This area of law is fluid and subject to frequent changes brought about by new decisions in the courts. Particular fields of recent development have involved asbestos claims and repetitive strain injuries.
Workplace accidents often involve substantial periods of time off work and may even result in loss of employment or enforced change of employment. The current focus is on early rehabilitation from the injuries so that employment changes are unaffected or minimised.
Most employers are insured and you may be eligible to claim even if you think that the accident was partly your own fault.
As a general rule, an employer is legally responsible for the actions of its employees so you may be awarded compensation if your accident occurred as a result of a colleague`s negligence.
You may even be able to claim if you think that the accident was partly your own fault. This is known as “contributory negligence”. If contributory negligence is found, your compensation will be reduced by an amount which the court considers reasonable in all the circumstances.
Employers are required to carry insurance to ensure that sufficient funds are available to compensate injured employees.
Please telephone us for free legal advice from a friendly and experienced solicitor.
See also "What can I claim?"
Bicycle accidents are likely to involve more serious injuries than car accidents but otherwise involve very similar procedures.
Generally claims involving road traffic accidents are resolved quickly as the law involved in establishing fault for the accident is not overly complex.
Sometimes additional work is involved in resolving issues about allegations that the injured claimant was partly to blame for the accident or had contributed to the degree of injury by not wearing a crash helmet.
Less frequently problems are encountered where the other driver had no insurance or cannot be traced. In such cases the Motor Insurers Bureau may be liable to pay compensation as State "insurer of last resort" but there are considerable technical and procedural problems to overcome.
Where the claim is successful recovery will include the cost of repairs or replacement.
Please telephone us for free legal advice from a friendly and experienced solicitor.
See also "What can I claim?"
Injuries sustained in car accidents result in the majority of the claims brought.
Often, the injury suffered is a “whiplash” injury brought about by a violent jolting or movement of the head and neck caused by a sudden movement of the car either by the car stopping in a crash or by the car being hit by a vehicle behind.
Of course other injuries may be involved, particularly in more serious collisions.
Generally claims involving car accidents are resolved quickly as the law involved in establishing fault for the accident is not overly complex.
Sometimes additional work is involved in resolving issues about allegations that the injured claimant was partly to blame for the accident or had contributed to the degree of injury by not wearing a seatbelt.
Less frequently problems are encountered where the other driver had no insurance or cannot be traced.
In such cases the Motor Insurers Bureau may be liable to pay compensation as State "insurer of last resort" but there are considerable technical and procedural problems to overcome.
Where the claim is successful recovery will include the cost of repairs or replacement and there will be no loss of "no claims" bonus.
Please telephone us for free legal advice from a friendly and experienced solicitor.
See also "What can I claim?"
Motorcycle accidents are likely to involve more serious injuries than car accidents but otherwise involve very similar procedures.
One of our partners is a keen motorcyclist and will bring specialist knowledge and experience to the claim.
Generally claims involving road traffic accidents are resolved quickly as the law involved in establishing fault for the accident is not overly complex.
Sometimes additional work is involved in resolving issues about allegations that the injured claimant was partly to blame for the accident or had contributed to the degree of injury by not wearing a crash helmet.
Less frequently problems are encountered where the other driver had no insurance or cannot be traced. In such cases the Motor Insurers Bureau may be liable to pay compensation as State "insurer of last resort" but there are considerable technical and procedural problems to overcome.
Where the claim is successful recovery will include the cost of repairs or replacement and there will be no loss of "no claims" bonus.
Please telephone us for free legal advice from a friendly and experienced solicitor.
See also "What can I claim?"
Accidents involving defective products or services are becoming more common as the law in this area develops. Such claims are often complex to investigate and the involvement and assistance of a solicitor is invaluable
Types of claim with which we are frequently asked to assist include
● Claims against restaurants and food suppliers resulting from food poisoning or tooth injury by foreign particles
● Burning type injuries to the hair or body caused by cosmetic products and treatments
● Injuries to children caused by unsafe toys
Please telephone us for free legal advice from a friendly and experienced solicitor.
See also "What can I claim?"
Falls on pavements and other "trip and slip" accidents are surprisingly common and can often lead to serious injury particularly, although by no means exclusively, in the case of elderly or infirm members of the public.
In general terms, every local authority is under a duty to maintain the roads and pavements in its area.
This means that the council is required to carry out regular inspections and keep detailed records.
Although the council is not responsible for every defect in the street, if they failed to notice or repair a dangerous part of the highway and this causes you to suffer injury, you may well be entitled to claim compensation.
The Council has a statutory defence under the Highways Act where they can show that they had a reasonable and regular system in place to inspect the pavements.
Much may depend upon where the pavement is situated. A pavement in a busy shopping centre would have to be inspected more regularly than a pavement in a rural area.
Pavement falls are caused either by a raised/broken paving slab or by a paving slab which has become loose and "rocks" when stepped upon.
Generally the "trip defect" must be at least one inch deep if liability on the part of the Council is to be established.
We have had notable successes at trial including a high court decision which may be considered to set legal precedent in relation to manhole covers.
Please telephone us for free legal advice from a friendly and experienced solicitor.
See also "What can I claim?"
