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Sources from the Telegraph have today confirmed the outcome of the Buncefield explosion on December 11^th 2005, labelled as the biggest European peacetime explosion. For those of you that are not familiar with this event – an explosion was caused after petrol vapour leaked from a tanker in the early hours of a Sunday morning back in 2005; an explosion that remarkably measured 2.4 on the Richter scale, and was heard over 125 miles away.

The five companies involved have each received fines equating to more than £9million; a figure that has been condemned by local MP’s and campaigners as too lenient given the scale of the disaster. The judge in the case at St Albans Crown Court, Judge Sir David Calvert-Smith, has stated ”Had the explosion happened during a working day, the loss of life may have been measured in tens or even hundreds”, according to the source. And it’s certainly a miracle – or perhaps sheer luck – that no one was seriously hurt given the scale of the explosion. In fact, the judge went on to say that the fact the incident occurred so early in the morning with no significant casualties “was little short of miraculous”. The environmental impact could reportedly remain for decades.
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Road accidents are common – they happen all the time. Normally, it’s a case of negligence – a driver not paying enough attention on the roads, and subsequently causing an unfortunate accident. But there are things drivers can do that puts themselves and other road users at risk; drink driving being the major one.

Drink driving is against the law for a very good reason – it’s a fact that alcohol impairs a person’s judgment and has a significant impact on the brain. This makes driving under the influence an obvious danger, yet people are still prepared to do it – and it does cause accidents.
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Motorcycle accident victims can end up in a seriously bad way – many, are sadly fatal. But those who do survive often do so with permanent and life altering injuries; I suppose the worst would be a coma if the victim does survive the injuries.

This story is truly remarkable, and a bit of a miracle as well. According to Sky news (source), a motorcycle accident victim “pleaded to live” just before his life support was about to be switched off by blinking and moving his eyes…

Forty-three year old Richard Rudd was left paralysed after falling in to an irreversible coma following a crash leaving him with serious life altering brain injuries. His family made the tough decision that the father of two would not want to continue living in his condition, and gave doctors permission to withdraw his treatment. But moments before the decision was to be followed through, Richard was caught on camera signalling his will to live whilst a television documentary was being filmed, covering patients with severe brain injuries.
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With the long, and seemingly never ending, recession, increased petrol prices and running costs for cars, and the greener view of our planet, it’s not surprising that there seem to be more bicycles on the roads. But bicycles are slow and hard to spot, and drivers can be impatient! So bicycle accidents do of course happen; and just with motorcycle accidents, the injuries the victims can sustain can be quite awful – and claims for compensation can be made.

But on occasions when I review the recent news in search of ideas for my next article, I find a story that can only be described as out of the ordinary. So here’s one – of an unusual cycle incident that could warrant a claim for compensation – but it’s certainly no accident we’re looking at here!
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Choosing a solicitor is a big decision; and it’s a decision all claimants should take some time to consider. But there are certain alleys in road accident claims you should avoid – and now, this is even more important!

At the end of April this year, the protocol for road accidents changed. A road accident is submitted and dealt with through an online portal established by the Ministry of Justice that we solicitors and the insurers progress the claims through. Generally, it’s a great new system, as it makes the whole process a lot quicker. But we have found a significant flaw that we hope to be rectified shortly. According to the powers that be for the process, changing your solicitor part way through a claim, currently, cannot be done – So why is this a problem?
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It’s a big question – and the answer, we say, is yes! But of course it’s always the choice of the individual as to whether they wish to claim for compensation or not.

When it comes down to it, if you are injured in an accident that was not your fault, but the fault of another person or a company, you are normally entitled to claim for compensation. For example – if a driver drives in to the back of your car because they’ve failed to stop in time; you can claim for compensation from them. If you slip in a supermarket because of water on the aisles; you can claim for compensation. If you are injured at work because you were not provided with adequate personal protective equipment; you can claim for compensation.
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For anyone bike enthusiasts out there, this may appeal to you! It’s a thrilling form of transport the motorbike, but thrills and dangers often go hand in hand in life. And let’s face it – motorbikes are certainly dangerous! Not so much because of the bike itself, but being out there on the roads.

Road accidents are common; they really do just happen all the time! And we at The Injury Lawyers take on increasing amounts of road accident claims on a day to day basis – although this is not just because they’re common, but through our sterling reputation! And in most cases, the injuries involved are all quite linear and common; whiplash! But the motorcyclist on the road does not enjoy the protection of being strapped in a metal box with air bags and bumpers; if a motorcyclist is injured in an accident, they are likely to suffer far more than the usual neck and back pain.

With more severe injuries comes a more complex compensation claim, with more time and resources needing to be spent on the case to make sure it is maximised. And for this reason, it is so important for victims to enlist the help of an expert independent personal injury lawyer.
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For those who have heard this story in the press recently, you will agree that it is such a tragedy. According to reports from the Mirror (source), police investigating the death of a six year old girl who was crushed by an electric gate have arrested two men on suspicion of manslaughter by gross negligence. 

According to the report, the two men in question, both aged 38, had been sub-contracted to work on the 750kg gate in Moss Side, Manchester. The death of the young girl comes just days before an automatic gate in South Wales killed a five year old child; another story you may be aware of in recent news. 

Enquiries in to the incident are ongoing, however the report also mentions that the developer of Faulkner Gates Ltd was fined £80,000, and ordered to pay £40,000 in costs, after a nine year old boy was crushed to death by an electric gate in Dorset. 
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Road traffic accidents are a part of everyday life; particular for us at The Injury Lawyers, dealing with countless road accident claims on a day to day basis. Unfortunately, drivers can often be negligent and accidents occur; and a claim can be brought against them. But when an accident is caused because of the drivers’ selfishness and recklessness, it’s an altogether different story.

According to sources from The Sun (source), a “maniac” driver who stole a car and killed a 70 year old pensioner by driving on to a pavement to avoid a police box manoeuvre as he was being chased by officers has been given an 11 year jail sentence for his criminal act. In my opinion, this is hardly a punishment that fits the crime, if I am to be perfectly honest.
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It’s probably the most asked question we at The Injury Lawyers hear when we take on a new case – and it’s perfectly understandable for people to be asking it. So, here’s a quick insight in to the costs of claiming; you may be pleasantly surprised at the answer…

No Win No Fee

Ever heard of this term before? It’s quite a common one we injury lawyers talk about! Most No Win No Fee agreements such as ours (I say most, because not all law firms out there work the same us) do exactly what they say on the tin! If the claim is lost, the claimant is not charged for the solicitors work. So who pays us? The answer is – no one!
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