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I was surprised to read an American court ruling involving the multinational household name “Apple” whom had been taken to court by some of their consumers over claims that iPods could cause hearing loss.

The Claimant’s in the case has sought to claim for not only financial damages but also to require Apple to provide ‘better’ headphones, improve safety features and also to test all iPod uses for hearing loss!

The two Claimant’s to the case, named as Joseph Birdsong and Bruce Waggoner, made claims that the iPod earphones were badly designed. They are designed to be placed directly in to the ear canal rather than being placed just inside the ear which they claimed increased the danger of hearing damage.
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Dog bite claims can be particularly serious and are seen more often than you would probably imagine.

If you are attacked by a dog that has not been appropriately controlled then you are entitled to bring a claim for the injuries you have sustained.

The owner of the dog has a duty of care to ensure that their dog does not cause harm to others around them.
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I write further to my last post regarding the importance of altering your driving technique in order to take in to account the road conditions.

The recent tragic death of 19 year old Louisa Marshall whom was involved in road traffic accident on Bakewell Road, Matlock highlights the severity of just how dangerous our roads can become.

The young girl had been to Harvey’s wine bar with some friends following work and offered to give them all a lift home. There were 5 friends and she agreed to take 4 and then return to collect the fifth member of the group. She took them to a friend’s home in Darley Dale and it was on returning to Matlock to collect the fifth friend that she crashed in to a tree.
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If you are familiar with our blogs you will know that we keep you up to date with all aspects of personal injury claims and provide regular advice with how to make a claim. We also keep you updated with road safety as road traffic accidents are the most common cause of personal injuries.

How serious are our roads though and how much of a threat are they to us?

The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine carried out research on road traffic fatalities between 1971 and 2005. The results of their research is shocking to say the least, especially as they have revealed that approximately 590,500 people had been bereaved by a road traffic accident in that period of time!
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It is always difficult to read reports whereby young children have been affected by injury, especially when it is serious and life threatening.

A recent case was reported whereby a boy aged 6 years old has received a settlement figure of £1,320,000.00 after he suffered brain damage following a fall at his nursery in 2004.

The young boy, now known to be James Pitcher, was in the care of Headstart Nursery in Croyden, South London when he fell from a changing table.
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A West Yorkshire man has been jailed following an attack on a two week old baby. The incident occurred in February 2008 when Matthew Masterman, 22, shook the baby, causing him serious injuries including broken ribs and brain haemorrhaging.

Judge Peter Benson, described the attack as “disturbing in the extreme”. The infant suffered fractures to his collarbone, ribs, knee and haemorrhaging to his brain, eyes and lower spine.

It was 12 hours before help was called for the baby.
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The Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust has been given a final warning for keeping people waiting too long in its accident and emergency department.

According to the BBC, the Trust could have board members removed if it does not improve. Monitor, the organisation which polices foundations hospitals, has lambasted the Trust for failing to reach targets for patients being seen in accident and emergency for the last three years.

This was one of several criticisms of the trust and as a result they will now have to submit performance data and action plan updates on a monthly basis.
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A hospital in Lancashire has been forced to issue an apology after a father had to deliver his own baby when a midwife left the room.

According to the BBC, Thomas Howard pressed the emergency button to summon staff to the room, but nobody came until after the baby was born.

His partner gave birth to their daughter Madeline on 26^th January 2010. The midwife who was supposed to be helping them through the pregnancy had apparently left the room to get Mr Howard’s partner Emily Baron’s medical notes.
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A council van which crashed in Northamptonshire, killing a worker, had had its brakes tested on several occasions, amid concerns that they were locking, an inquest has heard.

According to the BBC, Alan Heels, 19, reported the problem to mechanics on no less than three occasions before he was involved in a crash with a lorry in 2007.

The inquest heard that the van skidded and crashed when Mr Heels attempted to brake. The passenger in his vehicle a Mr Kieran O’Driscoll suffered multiple injuries in the crash and later died.
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The bacterium responsible for Legionnaires’ disease has been found in changing rooms at Northampton racecourse.

According to the BBC, the changing room was closed on 27^th January 2010 following routine testing.

Northampton Borough Council took action to disinfect the water supply and showers in the room. The Council has taken steps to ask a specialist firm to come in to the racecourse to see if there are any steps that can be taken to reduce the likelihood of this occurring in the future. The changing room will be closed this week to allow for work to be undertaken on the premises but the Council hopes to have the room reopened shortly.
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