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Have you ever been involved in an accident at your local supermarket and the accident was not your fault? Depending on the circumstances of the incident, you might be eligible to make a claim against a supermarket for compensation. This is because the supermarkets have a duty of care to abide to when dealing with members of the pubic on their premises; if they do not abide by these rules and regulations and an accident occurs, then they are negligent and liable to compensate the victim. You should not have to suffer at the hands of someone else’s mistakes, especially in places open to the public; which is the reason the legislation exists –  to ensure accidents don’t happen as a result of their negligence.

Big retail stores should always have a complaints procedure in place; they should also have an accident book and first aiders on hand. If you have been involved in an accident, always report the incident; that way, should you wish to pursue a claim for compensation, there will be records to rely on. If the store doesn’t have the necessary requirements to record the accident details, you should try and record exactly what happened and also note the steps that the staff members took in order to help you, and also record anything that you felt was missing or which contributed to cause your accident.
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It can be a very challenging role when you are working in the armed forces; we hear of more and more regiments being dispatched to the worn torn countries all over the world that are required to fight in gruelling wars.   Not only is it horrible that our soldiers have to fight in these wars but it’s even worse when you hear of the horrific tragedies that occur on what seems to be a daily basis.

It can be a very difficult experience to be injured on or off duty in a country which is not your own. Not only are your physical injuries a worry but so are the emotional scars you may have, plus any future health concerns you might have as a result of any incident.  There are also, of course, worries for your future career path and how you might financially support your family.  Depending on the circumstances of the incident you may be eligible to place a claim for compensation; there may be numerous parties liable for your military accident.
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We’ve previously discussed the onus on your employer to ensure that you have a workstation which is safe and fit for purpose. You work station i.e. your desk, chair and surrounding area, should be such that you can work day to day without causing yourself undue harm. Your desk should be set up for your own individual needs, so if you need your monitor at a certain height – it should be that way, or if you need back support – this should be provided.
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I note that some of my colleagues have previously posted blogs surrounding the issue of referral fees; what they are, how they affect you and why should look out for them.

Today I was reading an article on the Guardian’s website relating to this particular fact once again, as the Legal Services Board have been carrying out a lot of research in to the area. It is thought that by the end of the summer a decision shall be made about whether or not these fees should be banned altogether.

By next Monday the Legal Services Board will have released information about how the referral fee system is impacting on the economy. Shortly after this release they will also be confirming the results of the report carried out with the board’s consumer panel.
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If you have ever been bitten by a dog, you will understand how traumatic it can be. Not only is it an awful experience but it can leave you scarred for life – both mentally and physically.  You may never be able to go near a dog again as the experience has left you too scared.

Is there anything I can do?

It is horrible to have been bitten by a dog especially if the attack was unprovoked. Many people don’t always think about placing a dog bite claim; but you could have a potential claim for compensation. If your child has been bitten, you are quite within your rights to place a claim on behalf of your child.
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Have you had problems with your Landlord that have been difficult to resolve?

Sometimes the Tennant can find themselves in a very difficult position when it comes to renting from an unfair landlord. Often the situation is that if the tenant doesn’t comply with the landlord’s regulations, they can find themselves homeless. This shouldn’t be the case if the landlord’s requests are unjustified and unfair.

Sometimes the issues arise during the transition process; perhaps you have given your notice to move out and your land lord is being particularly unfair? Or perhaps you have moved out and you have received a number of unjustified bills for which you did not incur? Sometimes, the land lord may not comply with the maintenance of the property even after you have notified your land lord of the problems.  Your land lord may have stopped the initial bond from being returned to you and you don’t understand why.
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We have all heard the horror stories of incidents that have gone wrong in hospitals – patients who have been left in appalling circumstances due to the negligence of NHS staff members, for example.  Even what would appear to be simple procedures have sometimes gone very wrong indeed. But why are these horrible circumstances so common? We would expect in this day an age that this kind of thing is not as common as it once was. However, it seems that most people know of someone who has been a victim of negligence from the NHS.

In 2006 the BBC covered a story on Baby with a Broken Wrist (source). Mr Hulme, 32, took his young daughter to the A&E unit at Frenchay Hospital, Bristol, following a fall. The Senior Doctor who examined Mr. Hulme’s little girl concluded that she was fine to return home with no further treatment following the clinical examination.
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Who are the CICA?

The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority is a government run body that provides a free service to people who have been the victim of a violent crime. They are responsible for administering the Criminal Injuries Compensation scheme in England, Wales and Scotland.  They are also a part of the Ministry of Justice and provide a service on behalf of the Scottish Government.

Do you qualify to make a claim through the CICA?

Before you consider making a claim, you will need to find out if you are eligible; this means that you will need to know if your circumstances fit the necessary criteria.  You will find specific information and advice which we as expert lawyers are more than happy to provide you!
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A recent case heard at the end of 2009 has ruled that by accepting ownership of land you owe a duty of care to the visitor of the land under the Occupiers Liability Act 1957.

The case of Jonathan Harvey v Plymouth City Council (2009) concerned the Claimant (Harvey) whom sustained serious injuries after falling on the Defendant’s property and falling some 5 1/2 metres. The Claimant had been out drinking with his friends when they ran on to the Defendant’s land. The Claimant fell over some broken fencing causing him to fall down in to the car park of a Tesco’s supermarket. The Claimant was left with serious brain injuries.

The local authority argued that they did not know that the property was owned by them at the time of the accident and therefore could not have taken reasonable steps to ensure that the land was reasonably safe. It is understood that some 8 years before Mr Harveys accident the Tesco’s supermarket had licensed the land from the local authority for a period of 2 years. After the expiry of this 2 years period the local authority (the Defendant’s to this claim) did not take any steps to inspect or maintain the land (although they did mow the nearby grass verge).
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When you choose to eat out at a restaurant you expect a certain level of service, if this service isn’t provided it can often be quite annoying and unpleasant. You would also expect the food to be cooked properly and the presentation and maintenance of the restaurant to be of a satisfactory standard.

If you have ever been involved in an accident or were injured or harmed when eating at a restaurant, it might be worth considering making a claim for compensation.  For example, if you became ill after eating food that wasn’t prepared correctly you may have a potential claim for compensation. If you fell over due to the negligence of staff i.e. you slipped on the floor due to spilt water or you tripped over some unattended items, again, you may have a claim for compensation.
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