Being involved in any road traffic accident can cause a great deal of stress and inconvenience. We deal with many claims for client’s who have been involved in an accident which we refer to as a concertina collision. This is best explained in an example. Say you are driving vehicle A and you are stationary positioned at red traffic light signals. Vehicle B is directly behind you. Vehicle C negligently collides into the back of vehicle B which in turn causes vehicle B to shunt into the back of your vehicle (vehicle A). This is a concertina collision.

In this type of accident, injury can occur just as if vehicle B had collided into the back of your vehicle directly. The difference ordinarily is that at face value it appears that the driver of vehicle C is the driver at fault for causing the accident. This would ordinarily be the case. A claim may initially be pursued against the driver of vehicle B but you would expect the blame be passed onto the driver of vehicle C and this is usually the case. There are other factors to consider such as whether the driver of vehicle B did anything wrong such as by being too close to your vehicle or whether they could have prevented the collision with vehicle A.
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Dermabrasion is the act of wearing away the top layer of skin with devices and methods such as wire brushes or salt crystals. This procedure is usually performed under a local anaesthetic and as it is quite invasive and should always be performed by a medical professional. Please note that dermabrasion is different to micro-dermabrasion which is a procedure that can be carried out by non-professionals and is often the type of treatment that is offered in local salons, for example.

Dermabrasion can leave the skin looking bright red, sensitive to sunlight and sometimes leave small scarring as essentially you are removing the top layer of skin. These are common and inherent risks with the surgery – as with all surgical intervention, they come with risks! This can be with the actual treatment or the anaesthesia that is used to perform the surgery. This can become a problem when looking to make a claim for compensation – if your injury is classed as an inherent risk rather than something that was caused by negligence you may not be able to claim at all.
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The phrase road traffic accidents tends to conjure up thoughts predominantly about car crashes and other such incidents involving moving vehicles; however the first 33 paragraphs of the highway code, the main guidance for what care should be taken on roads, relate to the rights and duties of pedestrians. So where do you stand if you are injured by a motor vehicle as a pedestrian?

Well of course, there are several circumstances that can be covered by this heading – as there are many different ways which a pedestrian could come to be injured by a vehicle so let’s break these down:
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We recently did an article on the clampdowns being faced by claims management companies. The changes that will affect thousands of firms have hit the news as well recently. I’ll come on to a little something about the story being in the news shortly, but for now let’s stick to the main point of the article – why avoid claims management firms?

They’re Just Middlemen…

Well firstly, they are just that – middlemen. They don’t add any value to the claim by simply giving you an idea as to whether you have a claim and then passing it to a law firm for assessment. Really it just delays the process. Speaking to a law firm directly like us means there are no middlemen involved – we can normally tell you on the first call whether you have a claim, and then it’s actually us that represent you.
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Before I discuss this matter further it is important to make the important distinction between “plastic surgery” and “cosmetic surgery“; the former is when you are returning something to normal whereas “cosmetic surgery” is improving upon the norm.

So for example; if you had suffered horrific burns and you were looking for a skin graft this would be classed as “plastic surgery” whereas if you wanted to improve on the appearance of your face by way of a facelift, this would be classed as “cosmetic surgery”.

This blog will focus (as the title suggests) on plastic surgery however, there is plenty of advice on cosmetic surgery in our other blogs and therefore if you are concerned about cosmetic surgery negligence I will re-direct you now by clicking this link. Other categories of surgery also include reconstructive surgery, restorative surgery and aesthetic surgery.
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Construction is one of the biggest industries, employing 2 million people across the UK. Building sites are by nature very dangerous places, and employers have a duty to keep employees safe whilst at work. It can be difficult to control hazards and risks when the work environment is constantly changing, and therefore employees are probably injured on construction sites every single day.

The construction industry accounts for 22% of all fatalities and 10% off all major injuries at work. Accidents commonly caused because of falls from heights, slips, trips and defective equipment.

Employees are commonly injured by:
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Overtaking can sometimes be a cause of frustration, whether it is you overtaking another vehicle or another vehicle overtaking you. Overtaking can of course be dangerous if performed when it is not safe to do so. However we all probably accept that overtaking is necessary on occasion.

For example I recently visited the coast which involved travelling on a number of one lane “A” roads. It is normal for a long queue of traffic to form behind a slow moving vehicle such as a lorry, a tractor or a car towing a caravan. Usually at the first available opportunity cars will look to overtake the slow moving vehicle. However you always seem to witness cars overtaking dangerously such as when they cannot possibly see any oncoming vehicles. You should only perform an overtake manoeuvre when you are certain that you have enough time to perform the manoeuvre safely. This means that you ought to be able to see a long stretch of road and that nothing is approaching in the opposite direction.
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In a modern society, cosmetic surgery is on the rise. In addition surgeons can find cosmetic surgery a very lucrative industry to be involved in. We are perhaps more concerned about our physical appearance than ever before, meaning that people are willing to undergo cosmetic surgery and procedures in an attempt to get the look that they desire.

Surgeons are willing to perform the work as it can prove very profitable. However cosmetic surgery is still an area which is of real concern to health care professionals. This is because it is largely unregulated and unfortunately we do see cosmetic procedures being performed by persons whom are not suitably qualified and products are often used which have not been properly checked or approved.

You can always get a cheap procedure or a cheap product but if you don’t go down the correct route then there is a real risk that something could go drastically wrong. Such instances have led to a rise in compensation claims following negligent cosmetic surgery or procedures. We have seen many claims following PIP breast implants, botox, liposuction, nose jobs etc.
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Ladder accidents result in around 14 fatalities and 1,200 major injuries in the UK each year. It is the duty of your employer to ensure that Ladders must be kept well maintained and must be replaced when damaged.

Accidents can occur due to the employee been given the wrong type of ladder to complete a task. Employers must provide employees with the correct type of ladder with regards to the task in hand, with employees being fully trained and instructed on how to use them. The employee must be able to make an informed decision about the correct ladder to use.

Risk assessments must be carried out regularly, by employers, to assess the risk of falling and the safety of the ladder. The ladder must be inspected for any defects and the employer must ensure that the ladder is fully fit for use. The ladder must not be dented or damaged in anyway, nor should the rubber feet be missing or damaged.
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Chair accidents are common in pubs, restaurants and cafes.  Chair accidents can happen for a number of reasons like a broken or faulty chair leg, chair backs being damaged or loose, chairs collapsing or something sticking out of the chair which shouldn’t be there.

Under the Occupiers Liability Act 1957, it is the duty of the occupier to make sure that the chair is safe for use and is free of defects. An occupier is normally the owner of the premises, and as such it is their responsibility to take all reasonable steps to prevent injury to any visitors to their premises. If an owner fails to meet this duty they could be considered negligent, and you may be able to claim for compensation.

Those with a duty have a legal responsibility, and therefore any chairs must be regularly inspected and maintained in order to prevent an accident happening. An inspection must make sure that a chair is stable, and has no present breaks or defects. Records should be kept.
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