Tuesday, 3 August 2010

Children’s accidents

Children by their very nature are inclined to be accident prone, but sometimes accidents are someone else’s fault. If your child has been injured it may be worth making a compensation claim through personal injury lawyers on a no win no fee basis.

Witnessing an accident involving your own or any child is very traumatic. The incident will also be very distressing for the child and can have long term ramifications.

One of the most common setting for children’s accidents is at school, whether in the actual school building, in the playground, sports ground or on school trips such as visiting museums.

Just like employers, schools are under a statutory duty to provide safe premises for children. Some of the time, accidents happen on the sports ground because a goal post is loose and collapses on the child or where tiles around the swimming pool are wet and slippery after cleaning.

The furniture provided in the classroom must be safe so that if a desk leg is loose and falls on the child then that accident may well give rise to a compensation claim.

Children can also be injured as passengers whilst travelling in a bus, taxi or car which crashes due to the driver’s negligence.

Children may slip on a supermarket floor where a warning sign has not been displayed or may be knocked over on a pavement by a reckless cyclist.

A personal injury claim will involve a compensation claim for the child’s physical injuries and possibly psychological injury too. Additionally a claim may be made for loss of earnings if the child’s parents or guardians take time off work to care for him; travel expenses incurred in seeking medical attention and the child’s damaged clothes.

Contact no win no fee solicitors to claim compensation rightfully due for your child’s injuries.
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Online scams - How to avoid them?

Online scams are increasingly sophisticated as scammers think up ever devious and plausible ways of coaxing you into parting with your money. No win no fee solicitors may be your best choice if you have been scammed and are seeking compensation.

A huge proportion of purchases happen via the internet as more goods are available worldwide 24 hours a day.

Buying goods online involves you having to make a judgement and placing your trust in the retailer. If you are purchasing from a new web site, make sure that you read the small print. Make sure the company exists, so try phoning the number usually listed on the contact page.

Do not respond to any request from an online retailer to divulge your bank or credit card details in an email. It is worth remembering that any company which asks you for such details is likely to be disreputable whereas a legitimate company would not do this.

Beware of ordering goods as a result of unsolicited emails. At the very least you should check out the website which can often be gleaned from the wording. An unsolicited email from abc@1234.co.uk should prompt you to look up 1234.co.uk via a search engine so that you can obtain more information on the company.

Once you have the company name it is prudent to carry out a free search at http://www.companieshouse.co.uk which will show how many times the company has changed its name and when it began trading.

Avoid companies which have changed their name numerous times as they may be experiencing financial difficulties and trying to avoid being made insolvent. They may not reliable entities and you should not do business with such companies is you have any doubts.

If you are involved in an online scam, personal injury lawyers can advise on your compensation claim on a no win no fee basis.
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5 Strangest claims

Some of the weirder compensation claims have taken place outside of the UK. In particular the United States is known for its unusual lawsuits.

Most of the cases are issued by no win no fee solicitors or attorneys and some are listed below.

One notorious case in the United States concerns an obese boy who issued a lawsuit against a fast food chain because the restaurant hadn't warned him that eating huge numbers of burgers was detrimental to his health.

A man put his camper van on cruise control at 70 mph and made himself a cup of coffee whereby the vehicle left the road. He sued the manufacturers of the van who had failed to tell him that the vehicle wouldn't self steer around bends on cruise control.

A woman slipped in dog urine on a kitchen floor and sustained an ankle injury. The strange part is that she sued the owner of the house who was a good personal friend maintaining that he should have cleared up the dog’s mess.

An American gentleman was eating some salted peanuts when he chewed on a brittle foreign object. The object was in fact a tooth from an unidentified animal. He was disgusted and understandably made a personal injury compensation claim against the manufacturers of the peanuts stating that the sight of the animal tooth made him extremely ill and caused him mental anguish.

One of the weirder claims in the UK involved a woman who won a radio quiz where the prize was a Renault Clio. However the prize turned out to be a small model replica of the car and she succeeded in her claim against the radio station receiving compensation of £8000 to purchase the real vehicle.

If you think you have a compensation claim, contact personal injury lawyers on a no win no fee basis.
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Friday, 23 July 2010

Highest claim ever made

The highest ever compensation payable in the UK is thought to have been awarded to Wasim Mohammed. He was awarded compensation on a no win no fee basis with the help of personal injury lawyers.

Mr Mohammed, a 22 year old from the West Midlands, was awarded compensation of £11.15 million in a personal injury claim. He was a passenger in a vehicle involved in a horrendous collision when the driver, who was exceeding the speed limit, tried overtaking a vehicle at a junction. This manoeuvre resulted in the vehicle slamming into another car that was turning right.

The horrific accident resulted in Mr Mohammed’s neck being broken and injuries to his spinal cord with little or no movement in his arms and legs leaving him basically paralysed with no chance of a cure.

The driver was convicted of careless driving and the huge sum of money that Mr Mohammed received for his catastrophic injuries indicates the amount that will be needed to compensate him for the remainder of his life. He requires the services of two full time carers to tend to his needs. The sum is broken down into a lump sum payment of £4.25 million plus yearly payments of £235,000.

This enormous sum reflects the high cost of care that he will require, pain and suffering he will endure together with loss of earnings and money to build a property near his parents’ house so that they are accessible. Mr Mohammed’s culture states that the eldest son must stay at home with his parents to look after them in their old age. The compromise is the building of a property near them as he is unfit to care for them.

No win no fee solicitors can deal with your compensation claim in a professional, efficient manner.
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Children’s accidents

Children by their very nature are inclined to be accident prone, but sometimes accidents are someone else’s fault. If your child has been injured it may be worth making a compensation claim through personal injury lawyers on a no win no fee basis.

Witnessing an accident involving your own or any child is very traumatic. The incident will also be very distressing for the child and can have long term ramifications.

One of the most common setting for children’s accidents is at school, whether in the actual school building, in the playground, sports ground or on school trips such as visiting museums.

Just like employers, schools are under a statutory duty to provide safe premises for children. Some of the time, accidents happen on the sports ground because a goal post is loose and collapses on the child or where tiles around the swimming pool are wet and slippery after cleaning.

The furniture provided in the classroom must be safe so that if a desk leg is loose and falls on the child then that accident may well give rise to a compensation claim.

Children can also be injured as passengers whilst travelling in a bus, taxi or car which crashes due to the driver’s negligence.

Children may slip on a supermarket floor where a warning sign has not been displayed or may be knocked over on a pavement by a reckless cyclist.

A personal injury claim will involve a compensation claim for the child’s physical injuries and possibly psychological injury too. Additionally a claim may be made for loss of earnings if the child’s parents or guardians take time off work to care for him; travel expenses incurred in seeking medical attention and the child’s damaged clothes.

Contact no win no fee solicitors to claim compensation rightfully due for your child’s injuries.
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Online scams - How to avoid them?

Online scams are increasingly sophisticated as scammers think up ever devious and plausible ways of coaxing you into parting with your money. No win no fee solicitors may be your best choice if you have been scammed and are seeking compensation.

A huge proportion of purchases happen via the internet as more goods are available worldwide 24 hours a day.

Buying goods online involves you having to make a judgement and placing your trust in the retailer. If you are purchasing from a new web site, make sure that you read the small print. Make sure the company exists, so try phoning the number usually listed on the contact page.

Do not respond to any request from an online retailer to divulge your bank or credit card details in an email. It is worth remembering that any company which asks you for such details is likely to be disreputable whereas a legitimate company would not do this.

Beware of ordering goods as a result of unsolicited emails. At the very least you should check out the website which can often be gleaned from the wording. An unsolicited email from abc@1234.co.uk should prompt you to look up 1234.co.uk via a search engine so that you can obtain more information on the company.

Once you have the company name it is prudent to carry out a free search at http://www.companieshouse.co.uk which will show how many times the company has changed its name and when it began trading.

Avoid companies which have changed their name numerous times as they may be experiencing financial difficulties and trying to avoid being made insolvent. They may not reliable entities and you should not do business with such companies is you have any doubts.

If you are involved in an online scam, personal injury lawyers can advise on your compensation claim on a no win no fee basis.
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5 Strangest claims

Some of the weirder compensation claims have taken place outside of the UK. In particular the United States is known for its unusual lawsuits.

Most of the cases are issued by no win no fee solicitors or attorneys and some are listed below.

One notorious case in the United States concerns an obese boy who issued a lawsuit against a fast food chain because the restaurant hadn't warned him that eating huge numbers of burgers was detrimental to his health.

A man put his camper van on cruise control at 70 mph and made himself a cup of coffee whereby the vehicle left the road. He sued the manufacturers of the van who had failed to tell him that the vehicle wouldn't self steer around bends on cruise control.

A woman slipped in dog urine on a kitchen floor and sustained an ankle injury. The strange part is that she sued the owner of the house who was a good personal friend maintaining that he should have cleared up the dog’s mess.

An American gentleman was eating some salted peanuts when he chewed on a brittle foreign object. The object was in fact a tooth from an unidentified animal. He was disgusted and understandably made a personal injury compensation claim against the manufacturers of the peanuts stating that the sight of the animal tooth made him extremely ill and caused him mental anguish.

One of the weirder claims in the UK involved a woman who won a radio quiz where the prize was a Renault Clio. However the prize turned out to be a small model replica of the car and she succeeded in her claim against the radio station receiving compensation of £8000 to purchase the real vehicle.

If you think you have a compensation claim, contact personal injury lawyers on a no win no fee basis.
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Thursday, 8 July 2010

Claiming council tax benefit

Council tax benefit is paid to people on a low income to assist them in paying their council tax. The benefit is paid by the local council and the council tax bill is accordingly reduced.

In order to qualify to claim council tax relief you must reside in the UK. People from abroad or those who have recently arrived in the UK to set up residence may encounter difficulty in claiming the benefit due to their immigration status.

Eligibility for council tax relief depends on the amount of your income and capital. If you live with your partner only one of you is entitled to claim the benefit and your capital and income will be assessed jointly. Lesbian and gay partners are treated the same as heterosexual partners and the joint assessment applies if your relationship is based on cohabitation, marriage or civil partnership.

If you receive Income Support, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, income related employment and support allowance or the guarantee credit element of pension credit, then you will receive 100 per cent benefit, covering your entire council tax bill.

However, if other people reside in your household a deduction may be made from your council tax benefit known as a “non-dependant” deduction which is determined by the status of the other non-dependant adult. An adult child living with you may lead to a reduction in the benefit, whereas some other non-dependants will not lead to such a deduction, because of their personal status such as receiving pension credit themselves.

A deduction will not be made if the other adult in your household is your landlord, partner, co-owner or lodger as such persons are not considered “non-dependant”.

Personal injury solicitors can assist in your compensation claim for council tax benefit on a no win no fee basis.
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Claiming your pension credit

Nearly half of pensioners in the United Kingdom are entitled to pension credit yet, despite being eligible, approximately a third are not claiming it.

If you are one of those pensioners you could be entitled to hundreds or thousands of pounds a year.
Pension credit is comprised of two parts and is a form of government compensation to ensure a certain level of subsistence. Your eligibility may be for one or both parts.

Guarantee credit aims to ensure that everyone over the minimum state pension age, currently 60 but rising to 65 between 2010 and 2020, has a minimum guaranteed income level. The level of income is determined by comparing your actual income with the amount the Government says you need to exist. The level is called the standard minimum guarantee.

Savings credit is paid to persons aged 65 and upwards who have some retirement savings on top of their basic state pension.

You may be entitled to more pension credit if you receive a carer’s allowance or, if a homeowner, you pay service charges and mortgage payments.
Pension credit is means-tested so your income and savings are taken into account when working out your entitlement. Not all income is taken into account and disability and extreme disability allowances are ignored as are war widows’ supplementary pensions.

The payment of pension credit triggers entitlement to other payments such as funeral costs, crisis loans, free school meals and cold weather payments

The maximum period which your pension credit claim can be backdated is three months. Payment is made directly into your bank account which is swift, secure and convenient.
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You could be missing out on valuable government compensation in the form of pension credit.
Personal injury lawyers can assist in your claim for pension credit on a no win no fee basis.
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Disability at work claim?

The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (as amended) (“DDA”) protects individuals from discrimination by their employers on the grounds of disability.

“Disability” is a physical or mental impairment having a major and long term adverse effect on the ability to carry out normal activities. The disability must have lasted, or be likely to last, for at least 12 months to be considered “long term”.

Employees, who feel that they are being subjected to such discrimination by their employer or a co-worker, may bring a claim in the Employment Tribunal.

Under the DDA there is no qualifying period of employment so an employee could bring a claim on day one. The DDA applies to employees, the self-employed, agency workers and job applicants.

The DDA applies to both public and private sector employers and a claim must be brought within three months from the date of the incident.

The DDA forbids direct discrimination where a person is treated less favourably than another person for a reason directly attributed to their disability, such as where an employer automatically excludes a job applicant who has put bi polar on the application form. Claims can also be brought for indirect discrimination for reasons connected with a disability and for the employer’s failure to make reasonable adaptations to premises.

Compensation can be awarded for injury to feelings and financial losses if appropriate. Compensation is uncapped and can encompass loss of past and future earnings; loss of pension, interest and other expenditure connected with the discrimination. Aggravated damages can be awarded for injury to feelings where the employer has acted in a particularly despicable manner. If you become ill and depressed, usually found in harassment cases, you can also claim compensation.

Personal injury lawyers can assist with your compensation claim on a no win no fee basis.
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Friday, 7 May 2010

Scams; Claims and Compensation


Claim compensation is a funny old game. It is something that can bring out both the best and worst in people.
It may be that you caused an accident yourself and accepted liability, or perhaps you were involved in one that wasn't your fault - for example, if you were driving a car that was rear ended. It is reasonable to assume that you may well have sustained an injury and need to submit a whiplash claim. If so, it's only fair that you are compensated accordingly.

However, there is always the temptation to embellish your story in an attempt to get more money. Maybe you exaggerated your injuries after tripping over a paving stone and took unnecessary time off work, or claimed that you were driving to a FabergĂ© egg owner's conference with your entire collection in the boot of your car when the accident occurred. Unfortunately, this type of person costs the industry an estimated £1.5 billion per year and the average motorist 5% on their yearly insurance bill.

The increase in popularity of no win no fee injury lawyers may have been blamed for the escalating numbers of fraudulent claims, but the truth is that a dishonest person is likely to try and scam any insurance company.

As a result, insurance companies have drawn a line in the sand and are becoming ever more sophisticated in combating fraud. If you've had an accident and you're tempted to enhance your story, be aware that it's not a victimless crime and as such can carry a jail term, so you should use reputable injury lawyers to represent your case.
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How To Calculate Your Whiplash Claim


If you are unfortunate enough to be in a car accident, especially one where you are hit from behind, there is little doubt that at least one of your friends or family may wink, tap the side of their nose and mutter 'making a whiplash claim'.

In fact, whiplash is an umbrella term for many injuries sustained to the neck. It can result in back and shoulder pain, headaches and 'pins and needles' sensations in the arms. It can be caused in many ways, including falls, playing sports or even roller coaster rides. Nevertheless, it is treated with suspicion by some as it is one of the most common injuries covered by motor insurers and no win no fee injury lawyers.

When determining the amount of claim compensation, many factors are considered. As well as the physical pain experienced, emotional distress and loss of joie de vivre, any resulting psychological disorders can influence the amount awarded. Furthermore, specific compensation may be granted if you see a loss of earnings as a result of the accident. These 'special damages' can also be awarded to compensate for costs incurred from car repair, hiring a replacement vehicle or any medical treatment you may receive. If you are thinking of claiming for such damages, it is vital that you keep your receipts for these expenses.

With so many things to be taken into account, it is easy to see how the amount of any settlement can vary greatly, which highlights the need to seek advice from reputable injury lawyers.
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Wednesday, 7 April 2010

Pursue a career as a personal injury lawyer


Compensation claims for personal injury are one of the fastest growing areas of legal practice today. We live in a crowded, rushed world where budgets are tight and corners are cut. This means thousands of motoring, work-related and public accidents happen each year through other people’s negligence. If someone is injured through no fault of their own, a compensation claim on a no win no fee basis is often the only course open.


A lot of misinformation has been printed about “no win no fee” personal injury lawyers, but the idea of a solicitor hiding in the bushes, waiting for someone to trip over a loose paving slab so he can dash out with the paperwork to make a compensation claim is a media myth.


Personal injury lawyers are caring and knowledgeable, with an intricate eye to detail. They know the devastating effects a personal injury can have on someone’s life, because they’ve studied the medical, psychological and social aspects of it in detail. They’re also smart, and very good at fighting their clients’ cases in court – the fact they offer compensation claims on a no win no fee basis, where the injured party doesn’t have to pay a penny in fees if the claim is unsuccessful, is proof of this.


Unfortunately, the number of uninsured motorists, illegal work practices and slashed council budgets continues to rise – as do the compensation claims from the injuries that result. If you decide on a career as a no win no fee personal injury lawyer, you’ll never be short of work.
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The biggest compensation claims cases in the last ten years


A driver in Toronto received $17 million in an accident claim after running through a red light.
Yet this is small potatoes compared to The case of professional dancer Kerstin Parkin which made recent news, after her lawyers made a successful compensation claim of £19 million against a Kent NHS trust. Kerstin was left brain damaged and paralysed for life after a series of blunders as she gave birth to her first child.
. In the UK, we have a somewhat fairer way of dealing with compensation claim cases – which is why a lot of no win no fee lawyers refuse to take on cases where the claimant is seen to be at fault.
Nonetheless, there have been some impressive sums awarded in the last 10 years. Like Kerstin, many of these were due to hospital blunders. Others include:

• The £1.25 million lump sum payout awarded to an elderly man who was knocked off his motor bike by an uninsured driver. Awarded on a no win no fee basis, the Motor Insurers Bureau accepted liability on behalf of the 21 year-old female driver.

• The £3 million awarded to a South London pedestrian who suffered spinal injuries after being knocked down while crossing the road.

• The 5,700 members of the trade union Unison who claimed £28 million for work-related accidents in 2008 alone.

No win no fee compensation claims are a fact of life today – it should be noted that, in the above cases, the victims deserved every penny of what they got.
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Important questions to ask a personal injury lawyer during your consultation


If you have suffered a personal injury through no perceived fault of your own, you need to seek an appointment with a solicitor who specialises in no win no fee compensation claims.

Finding a lawyer who will give you a consultation is one thing; finding one who will fight your case fairly, without leaving you out of pocket, is another. So be prepared to ask a lot of questions. These include:

Will this consultation be free of charge? Generally, the answer is yes – but beware of offices who say “free consultations” on the door. If you book an appointment, and then decide to go elsewhere, you may be billed for the lawyer’s time. Unlikely, but worth asking about.

Will you take my case on a no win, no fee basis? Practically every solicitor tackling personal injury claims will say yes, but beware! You need to be protected in case of losing the case, because if this happens you will have to pay the other side’s costs – and these can be very high. So your next question should be:

When you say no win no fee, with no fees to pay, what does this mean? Generally, in the event of a successful outcome, you get to keep 100% of your compensation claim – the solicitor recovers their costs from the other party. If you lose, they cover their own costs.

What if I’m partly to blame for the accident? In this case, a no win no fee lawyer might still take you on, but the compensation claim may be reduced.
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