Saturday, July 14, 2007

Slip Trip And Fall Accident Claims

You are entitled to claim compensation for any accident or injury which is caused by negligence on the part of someone else or their property. Slips and trips can happen anywhere, and at any time - in supermarkets, at work, pathways, and restaurants, and there are many personal injury lawyers out there waiting to work with you towards the compensation you deserve.

There are laws in place to protect the public and impose charges/fines on the people responsible for maintain and running public places, to ensure the safety of anyone who uses them. The laws apply to employers as well as privately owned establishments/land, and of course to the local councils who are responsible for maintaining the roads and public pathways/pavement. Slips, trips and falls are simple accidents which can have long lasting effects, such as time off work and physical impairments. If you slip over a faulty paving slab in a street, you could end up with a broken limb or sever bruising, or even concussion. This could mean up to several weeks off work, and if your company does not offer very much in the way of sick pay, you could find yourself in a worrying financial position. Compensation payouts not only award money for the initial pain and suffering caused by the accident, but they can include damages which can cover for loss of earnings, medical costs/treatment fees and repairs to any clothing/equipment you may have been wearing/using at the time.

If you have suffered a trip, slip or fall then there are a few steps you should take to help with your claim. Where possible, you should photograph the offending area, as this will best highlight the circumstances surrounding your injury. You should make sure you take down the contact details of any witnesses, who either saw your specific accident happen or who have seen the defective area in person. If anyone else has suffered a personal injury from the same source/situation the you should make sure you have their contact details, as they will be able to back up any evidence you provide. Finally you should make sure that you have reported the accident to the relevant personnel, whether at work to your manager or to the council if the injury happened in a public space.

It can be very easy to feel foolish or irresponsible when you have suffered a personal injury, and many incidents go unreported as a result. It is important to be aware that you are perfectly entitled to seek compensation, and in fact encouraged to, if only to highlight the problem to the relevant people to make sure no one else suffers the same fate.

Claiming is a simple process, and with just a small initial amount of effort you can get the ball rolling with your accident claim. Many companies offer a free initial consultation service with a view to embarking on a no win, no fee compensation claim. There really is nothing to lose, and everything to gain. If you are unfortunate enough to have suffered a personal injury due to negligence on the part of a private company, public organisation or governing body, you should seek advice from a personal injury specialist who will help you to recover the compensation you deserve.


http://www.articles-hub.com/articles/167075/1/Slip-Trip-And-Fall-Accident-Claims/Page1.html

Whiplash Injury Claims

Whiplash injuries are caused by hyperextension of the neck both forwards and backwards in quick succession; people commonly experience whiplash injuries in circumstances where a collision causes rapid acceleration or deceleration. Often this is as a result of a road traffic accident, but in some contact sports people are susceptible to whiplash injuries.

Whiplash injury symptoms include the following;

· Neck pain/stiffness

· Shoulder pain/stiffness

· Lower back pain/stiffness

· Headaches

· Tingling/numbness in arms/hands/fingers

· Dizziness

· Fatigue

· Blurred vision

· Insomnia

· Concentration problems/short term memory loss

Symptoms can be experienced for a number of weeks after the accident, but your GP should be consulted immediately, to rule out any serious damage. Diagnosis is difficult since doctors cannot use MRI scans, X rays or CAT scans to determine the extent of the injuries, instead having to make a judgement based on the patient’s description of their symptoms. Immediately after the injury victims should apply some form of ice pack, to help reduce the chance of swelling around the affected area. The best way to treat a whiplash injury is not to wear a neck brace; in fact patients are actively encouraged to follow their normal routines as much as possible, to prevent the neck muscles and surrounding area from stiffening up even further. Obviously, painkillers such as paracetamol and ibuprofen are often prescribed to relieve the pain of the symptoms, but otherwise treatment is very straightforward. Neck braces are nowadays only ever used in extreme circumstances, as they are considered restrictive to the recuperation process.

If you are unfortunate enough to have suffered a whiplash injury, either on the road or on the sports field, you may be entitled to a no win, no fee, compensation claim - provided it can be proved that someone else was at least partly to blame. You will also be able to take advantage of a free first consultation, where your case will be assessed on a no obligation basis, to make sure both parties are happy to take the case forward. A no win, no fee claim is advantageous to the client because it means that you get to keep every penny of the compensation you are awarded - your lawyer will collect their court fees and legal costs from the defending party.

It is very important to make sure you shop around for the best company, as there are many accident lawyers around who will all offer no win, no fee claims. The key is to work with one who also offers a wealth of experience, and can show you legitimate testimonies from people who have achieved success with them in the past. If you have been involved in an accident which you think you are entitled to claim on, then get in touch with the lawyers at Accident Consult, a trustworthy company who will handle your claim in an honest and efficient manner, which is why they are the first choice for thousands of accident victims every year.


http://www.articles-hub.com/articles/167210/1/Whiplash-Injury-Claims/Page1.html

What Is A Personal Injury Claim?

Any time a person is injured, that person experiences a personal injury. The law is designed to protect an individual from being harmed by other people or organizations. If a person experiences harm as a result of the actions of another person or organization, that person can file a personal injury claim. The claim will involve an attempt to demonstrate that either through negligence, or as a result of willful or inadvertent actions, the person or organization caused the personal injury experienced by the aggrieved party.

What Are the Different Types of Personal Injury Claim?
Before you decide to file a personal injury claim you will need to know a few things about it so you will be able to proceed in a manner that will bring you the best relief and compensation. Of course, the shortest and best way to do this is to consult an attorney. However, it never hurts if you are a little educated on the subject, so that you clearly understand your rights and what you will be entitled to should you pursue a claim.

There are two types of personal injury claims and these are: (2) general damages personal injury claim and (2) special damages and future loss personal injury claim.

1. General damages: This type of personal injury claim involves a demand for compensation for demanded for any emotional or physical suffering that you might have had to endure after the injury or accident.

2. Special damages: This type of personal injury claim is about the money loss you incurred as a result of the injury or accident. It includes direct costs resulting from the injury as well as earnings lost.

Expenses typically categorized as special damages include:

* Damage to the property you own (clothes, home, car, etc.)
* Medical treatment expenses
* Loss of pay for the time you spent in the hospital

Special damages can be compounded by the possibility of you loosing the ability to earn or continue in the same profession as you were before the accident. Special damages will also cover the loss that you suffer if a member of your family died if that member was supporting you financially.

In order to make your case strong, you should keep all the receipts that represent these payments very carefully. The more proof you have of the expenses you incurred to recover from the injury you suffered, the better are your chances to win the claim.

What Else You Should Know Before Filing for Personal Injury Claim?
It is a fact that your claim could be restricted if the other party could proves that any part of injury you experienced was partly or wholly your fault. Even if the other party is found to be at fault, if it appears that you did not attempt to keep the expenses and lost income at a minimum, your claim could also be reduced.

Ensure that you get sufficient information on what you are likely to be awarded in case you file a claim and be aware that the law will carefully weigh both sides before processing the claim. Expert advice on whether the personal injury claim has chances to succeed or not will help you take the best decision.


http://www.articles-hub.com/articles/167269/1/What-Is-A-Personal-Injury-Claim/Page1.html