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Industrial lung diseases (also known as occupational lung diseases) include mesothelioma, occupational asthma, silicosis, and asbestosis. Exposure to asbestos in particular is well known to be dangerous, although it can be a number of years between exposure to asbestos fibres and the symptoms or injury coming to light.

Asbestos may be present in old buildings and is thought to pose no risk if left undisturbed. However, as buildings are demolished or renovated, extra care should be taken as asbestos becomes the so called “silent killer” when it is disturbed or damaged. Exposure to certain types of other materials such as gases, liquids, dusts or fumes may also cause some forms of industrial lung disease.

Exposure to asbestos can cause mesothelioma, a form of cancer. Even if you have been exposed to asbestos a number of years ago, you are still at risk of developing mesothelioma in the future. Generally mesothelioma does not show up until some 20 to 40 years after the exposure to asbestos.
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Road Accident Personal Injury Claims – The Defence of Low Velocity Impact and Fraud

Road traffic accident (RTA) claims are one of the most well known types of claims to injury lawyers and to the general public. The claims are highly publicised on television, radio and in newspapers as personal injury lawyers compete for your business in a highly competitive market.

RTA’s can of course happen in many different circumstances from the classic rear end shunt to accidents at roundabouts to accidents caused as a result of vehicles changing lanes. As with any RTA claim, the insurer representing the Defendant will investigate the claim and decide whether to accept liability (fault) or dispute liability on behalf of their insured.
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Due to the natural ageing process, as we get older our hearing deteriorates. As such many people are unaware that they may be suffering from noise induced hearing loss (NIHL) and may be entitled to make a claim for compensation.
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I can’t tell how many times I have worked on a personal injury claim that involves tripping as a result of a protrusion in the street; whether it is a raised paving slab, loose drain cover, or bit of metal struck it the concrete.  These accidents are every common and can cause significant injury to someone walking along without any knowledge of them.

Tripping accidents are seen mainly as a comical stereotypical claim taken on without a good reason – but it is important to understand that these kinds of accidents can often cause a great deal of pain and suffering to the person involved. Landing hard on a concrete floor can cause broken bones and serious damage to your body. This can involve you having to take time off work and incurring a loss of earnings or missing out on holidays booked, amongst many other inconveniences.

So it’s certainly something that shouldn’t be taken so lightly.
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In this sunny weather we have been having lately, you can imagine how embarrassing it would be after coming home from buying new garden furniture if the chair you just bought collapses from underneath you.

It is not uncommon for people to be injured as a result of these sorts of accidents involving defective products, and in many cases you have to just laugh off the embarrassment; but on occasions you should be contemplating what legal action could be available for you to take if you are injured. By law, any goods purchased should be to satisfactory according to the Sale and Supply of Goods and Services Act.

The Sale and Supply of Goods and Services Act provides the legal basis for ensuring the safety of consumers in the UK. You can also look at the European Product Safety Directive which makes it much easier to pursue a claim against a manufacturer of a product which causes an injury.
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Employers have a legal obligation to provide all their employees with Manual Handling Training; if they don’t then they could be liable if an employee injures themselves when handling heavy / awkward objects. They must instruct all their employees on how to bend and lift in the right way, and ensure that heavier items are picked up using equipment to prevent an employee injuring themselves. However, commonly employers fail to conform to the rules surrounding the correct way of training their staff in manual handling techniques.

The most common injuries incurred as a result of negligence and / or none existent manual handling procedures are mostly to the back. The back is one of the most important parts of your body, and back pain could stop all aspects of your day to day life in its tracks. It can range from being an uncomfortable feeling in the affected area to unbearable and debilitating pain depending on the severity of the injury you have.

Manual handling affects everyone from factory workers to office staff; pretty much every job in one way another can include some form of manual handling.  Manual Handling is not just specified to lifting, but to pulling, pushing, carrying and lowering items.
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I can’t tell you how many cases we deal with that relate to what people might call “stereotypical accidents” – the main one of course being slipping on a wet floor! But this type of accident can caused injuries that can be very painful and debilitating, not to mention to extremely embarrassing and panic worthy.

These claims are mainly associated with poorly maintained floors, such as staff mopping the floor with excess amounts of water, or failing to put down wet floor signs, or just plain old spillages. The most common places for accidents like this to occur are usually supermarkets, the workplace, or any public building. There is a legal obligation to have warnings of when such hazards are present, such as wet floor signs that should be shown to make people walking near the hazard aware of any danger.

A lot of people wonder if you can really claim for slipping on a wet floor, as it’s mainly associated with tongue in cheek humor – but YOU CAN! The majority of cases such as those in supermarkets and other public building can be claimed under Occupiers Liability Act. This law is supposed to ensure that the owner or proprietor ensures to keep their property a safe environment for the public.
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Elbow Injuries can cause significant problems; everyday tasks can be made extremely difficult to do yourself. There are commonly two types of elbow injuries – traumatic injuries caused as a result of an accident or singular instance, and repetitive strain injuries caused by damaging continuous elbow joint motion.

The most common traumatic injuries we see from accidents normally involve slipping on a wet floor, tripping on a hazard, or falling from a height. These accidents can cause impact injuries to your elbow, particularly as your instincts tell you to put out your hands to stop your fall which can cause the damage to the elbow, or just landing on the elbow can cause severe damage. The most common injuries we see here for claims are fractures, dislocation, or nerve damage.

The most common repetitive strain injuries are incurred as result of sport related injuries – for example tendinitis, or more commonly known as tennis elbow, which is normally caused when the elbow joint is overused.
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It’s pretty common in most personal injury claims that the injured person has suffered a loss of earnings as a result of the accident / injury.

When it comes to loss of earnings, each case is different; whether you are self-employed or employed, whether you were paid company sick pay or just statutory sick pay, every case is always different. Some people are fortunate enough to be paid in full during their absence from work, but have lost out on overtime they would have worked had they not have been injured. Other people only receive Statutory Sick Pay (SSP), or if the case is you’re self-employed you will probably receive nothing at all.

How can you claim this loss?
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All employers must provide all equipment that is to be worn or used to protect their employers from risks from hazards in the workplace. This equipment is known as personal protective equipment, or PPE for short.

This equipment comes in all shapes and sizes and can be anything from safety goggles, ear protectors, high visibility clothing, protective footwear, or gloves, depending on the type workplace and the nature of the hazards involved.

All employers have a duty to not only provide this equipment but to also deliver appropriate training on how to use the equipment. Employers are responsible for the full costs of this equipment, and they should not ask you for any contributions for this equipment whatsoever. They should also ensure that the PPE is kept, maintained, and stored correctly so it can offer the user the fullest protection it can.
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