Rise in Personal Injury Claims

Insurance analysts have reports there has been a sharp rise in the number of people that are making a personal injury claim after being involved in a road accident despite the fact that the actual number of road accidents has fallen by 11%. It is estimated that this costs the insurance industry an extra £400 million a year.

One of the reasons given the reduced number of accidents happening on the roads is the high cost of petrol which is resulting in less people travelling by car. When compared to previous years though, a higher number of people are making claims for injuries such as whiplash.

All of this of course is having an effect on the rising price of insurance!

Importance of Cycling Safety

A story across the pond today as the importance of wearing a helmet whilst cycling was learnt by keen cycler and major of Forth Worth in Texas found out recently. The major has been an advocate for cycling and takes part in regular bike rides throughout the city. Recently though she had an accident that could have resulted in a serious personal head injury if it wasn’t for the protection offered by her cycling helmet.

Check out the video below.

Injuries from Vibrating Tools

I recently came across a news story relating to a man that won a compensation claim because of a personal injury caused from using vibrating tools. The use of vibrating tools such as drills and other equipment can result in an injury known as carpal tunnel syndrome or vibration white finger. The condition can take years to fully develop and leads to numbness in the hands which causes a decrease in your dexterity.

Employers should make sure their employees are aware of the dangers these tools can cause and make sure that they are all using the right protective equipment to ensure their safety.

You can read this compensation for vibrating tools injury case for more details.

Old Fashioned Safety Poster

Whilst this is an old fashioned poster from the 1970s I think it’s still a very poignant poster that would still have a place in today’s work factories to try and reduce the number of work accidents relating to eye injuries.

img src: http://www.designweek.co.uk/whats-on/a-history-of-accident-prevention-posters-revealed/3034536.article

The thought of not being able to see your wife and child is very hard hitting so if anyone working in an environment where there is risk to the eyes and sees this poster, they will hopefully make sure they are protected efficiently. The wording on the poster is also very clever and is a great example of encouraging safety in the workplace.

Non Car Crash Whiplash Claim

This week we’ve been discussing whiplash claims but as a bit of an offbeat story, out of the following options how do you think American Eric Chavez suffered a whiplash injury?

A) Falling out of a tree

B) Playing baseball

C) Running into a small wall

D) A cycling accident

Would a Black Box Help?

To try and reduce the cost of drivers insurance premiums, which is being blamed on bogus whiplash claims, it has been suggested that drivers could have black boxes fitted to their cars. Like the ones used in planes, these boxes would record data about speed, braking, acceleration, cornering and even the time of day of the driver’s journey. This would all be very beneficial data when trying to determine the cause of a road accident and who was at fault. Young drivers and woman have seen of the highest insurance costs so anyway to reduce their premiums would be met with appreciation.

Whiplash Discussion

‘It is scandalous we have a system where it is cheaper for insurers to settle a spurious whiplash claim out of court than defend it, creating rocketing insurance premiums for honest drivers.'

Discuss.

No Win No Fee Claims Relating to Asbestos

The upcoming changes to no win no fee claims in England and Wales will stop solicitors from claiming any fees from the losing side. These changes are being put in place by the Government but an exception has recently been announced regarding claims for suffers of cancer caused by asbestos related problems.

Personal Injury from Unfinished Path

Anyone can suffer a personal injury at any time, whether walking down the street or shopping in the supermarket and the resulting injuries vary greatly. Even the smallest fall can result in devastating injuries.

Accident at Work Case Study - Hearing Loss

More than £270,000 compensation was paid out to a group of workers because of an accident at work because of “exposure to excessive noise in the workplace” that resulted in hearing loss.

Examples of Bad Chair Posture

Following on from yesterday's blog about bad chair posture, here's some images to highlight improper sitting and how over time sitting like this can lead to a personal injury.

Bad Chair Posture Could Lead to a Personal Injury

If you work in an office then chances are you spend the majority of the day sat in a chair working on a computer. If you’re not sat correctly in your chair though you could be doing yourself a personal injury that could result in long term issues and problems related to your back, arms, legs or eyes. It is the responsibility of your employee to make sure you know the correct posture for sitting at a desk and the human resources department will help ensure you know the correct method. Here’s a look at some advice though that will make sure you are sitting correctly.

Insurance Claim Advert Quiz 2

For those who enjoyed the insurance mascot quiz the other week, here's another one for you. Having car insurance is essential for any driver and will help if you suffer a personal injury on the road. Can you name the insurance company from the image below?

Insurance Claim Advert Quiz - Answer

The other day we asked you to name which no win no fee company the below mascot was from:

It's now time to reveal the answer...

Association of Personal Injury Lawyers

If you have to make a personal injury claim Birmingham then it can be hard to know where to begin. There are plenty of adverts on TV advertising different compensation claim companies but if you want to make an informed decision then we suggest looking at the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL).

Birmingham Personal Injury Case

Here’s a story to deter anyone who tries to commit fraud in a personal injury claim. A Birmingham man had to pay £24,000 after his claim was thrown out. The injury in question was from a road accident and involved the person that made the claim being hit from behind by another vehicle which was only travelling at a few mphs. It was claimed that he suffered a whiplash injury from this bump with injuries that lasted for a number of months.

Lorraine Kelly off Work Because of Horsing Accident

Whilst not actually an accident at work, this post is about an accident that is keeping someone from work.

Elderly Woman Injured in Tesco Store, Leicester

Whilst looking for news stories relating to personal injury claim Birmingham I came across a story from the other half of the Midlands and how an elderly lady received a large compensation sum due to an injury that occurred in a Tesco store in Leicester.

Technology Replacing Limbs and Organs

The extent of an injury suffered due to an accident at work varies greatly. The seriousness of your injury can depend on the environment you’re working in and the type of risks that you are exposed to on a daily basis. If you do suffer an injury then the recovery time also varies greatly, and could be anything from a ice pack to the knee or a couple of days off. Sometimes though there are more serious accidents that result in people losing limbs or other body parts.

Home Injuries from a Running Machine

When you think of accidents around the home you may think of people injuring themselves doing DIY, cooking accidents involving hot liquids or falling down the stairs. One type of personal injury though that is being reported in Swansea and Birmingham is an increase in people needing plastic surgery and skin grafts due to suffering a personal injury on a home running machine.