December 31st, 2008
A woman whose husband died from the asbestos-related cancer mesothelioma has been awarded a substantial sum in compensation for her loss.
John Lambie died from the disease – which attacks the lining of the lungs and affects more men than women – in November 2006, aged 62, Spalding Today reports.
His widow Jayne Beesley sued New Century Group in Surrey, where Mr Lambie worked and was exposed to asbestos and the judge presiding over the case has now ruled in her favour.
Mr Justice Hamblen said that Mr Lambie could have lived for another 20 years had it not been for the cancer and awarded Ms Beesley £253,000, one of the largest sums of compensation ever seen in an asbestos case.
Asbestos was widely used as a building material from the 1950s up until the mid-1980s.
If a person can prove they were exposed to asbestos at their place of work, they may be able to make a claim for compensation.
Tags: 1950s, Asbestos Cancer, Asbestos Case, Asbestos Mesothelioma, Building Material, Cancer Death, Cancer Mesothelioma, Favour, John Lambie, Lungs, Mid 1980s, Mr Justice, New Century Group, Spalding, Substantial Sum, Sums, Surrey, Woman
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December 30th, 2008
Hearings are to take place soon to decide how much compensation will be paid to customers who were injured by chemicals inside faulty sofas.
The cases were first discovered by the BBC’s investigative programme Watchdog in May this year, after a number of sofas were found to have caused extreme allergic reactions in some people, resulting in rashes and blisters.
Research by Argos found that Linkwise – a Chinese company which supplies retail chains including itself and Land of Leather – had put sachets of the fungicide di-methyl fumarate into the sofas to prevent the growth of mould during transit.
The firm responsible for the retailers involved has admitted some of its suites were at fault for people’s injuries and the case is to be heard in the high court.
Those affected could receive compensation of £2,500, although those with the worst injuries may be eligible for as much as £5,000.
If a person has an accident or suffers injury as a result of a faulty product, that person could be eligible for compensation from the manufacturer or retailer and should seek legal advice.
Tags: Allergic Reactions, Argos, Bbc, Blisters, Chemicals, Chinese Company, Faulty Product, Fumarate, Fungicide, Land Of Leather, Legal Advice, Rashes, Retail Chains, Sofas, Watchdog
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December 29th, 2008
A young woman who was hurt in a bus accident has been awarded compensation for the pain and suffering she was caused.
According to reports in the Manchester Evening News, Kayleigh Summers, 16, was travelling on an Arriva bus in Manchester when the steering wheel suddenly came off in the driver’s hand.
Ms Summers was thrown from her seat as he lost control of the vehicle and she suffered a twisted spine, whiplash and a chipped bone in her knee.
Commenting on the injuries, she said: "The whiplash and soreness lasted and I had to have physiotherapy and exercises. I still get pains sometimes and it has stopped me doing things."
She has now been paid £1,700 in compensation from Arriva, but a company spokesperson said the incident was a one-off.
Anyone who is injured as a result of a bus accident or from the driver braking too hard may be entitled to compensation and should seek legal advice.
Tags: Arriva Bus, Bus Accident, Chipped Bone, Company Spokesperson, Freak Bus, Legal Advice, Manchester Evening News, Ms Summers, Pain And Suffering, Physiotherapy, Spine, Steering Wheel, Teenager, Wheel, Whiplash, Young Woman
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December 24th, 2008
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has issued a warning to businesses about keeping their machinery covered where appropriate in order to reduce the likelihood of injuries to employees.
HSE inspector Stuart Parry said that this should be part of standard risk assessment procedures for firms and added that any company which does not protect its workers adequately will be prosecuted in case of injuries where appropriate.
The representative’s comments came after an accident in Derbyshire, in which a man’s hand was caught in a rotating ribbon blade. He suffered severe cuts and all his tendons and ligaments were severed.
Commenting on the accident, Mr Parry said: "Companies should ensure that access to dangerous parts of their equipment is prevented through robust and reliable measures and that their systems of work do not expose their employees to unacceptable levels of risk."
Approximately 2,000 people suffered injuries from machinery that prevented them from working for over three days during 2007-08, while 11 people died, the HSE attests.
The news follows a previous HSE warning that farm owners should not to cut back on their safety measures, after statistics revealed that 39 people working in this sector died in 2007-08, amounting to between 15 and 20 per cent of total British workplace fatalities.
Tags: Blade, Dangerous Machinery, Derbyshire, Health And Safety, Health And Safety Executive, Hse, Likelihood, Ribbon, Risk Assessment Procedures, Safety Measures, Safety Statistics, Tendons And Ligaments, Unacceptable Levels, Workplace Fatalities
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December 24th, 2008
A man who was seriously injured in a motorbike accident has spoken about how a compensation payout helped him to get his life back on track.
Vytautus Gerdziunas, 53, was hit by a car while riding his bike on holiday in 2005, the Yorkshire Evening Post reports.
His lung was punctured and his spinal cord was severed, leaving him permanently paralysed.
However, a recent compensation payout after the driver of the other vehicle admitted liability has enabled him to buy a three-wheeled bike, as well as a modified bungalow.
Mr Gerdziunas’ legal representative said that his is an inspirational story.
"His accident left him with very serious injuries but he has fully embraced the idea of living life to the full. Just because someone has suffered an injury like this doesn’t mean they can’t lead a fulfiling life," she remarked.
Motorcyclists are one of the most at risk groups from being seriously injured if they are involved in a road traffic collision.
A compensation claim can be made for injuries if it can be proven that the driver of the vehicle was responsible for the collision, as was the case here.
Tags: Biker, Bungalow, Compensation Claim, Inspirational Story, Lead, Legal Representative, Life Quot, Motorbike Accident, Risk Groups, Road Traffic, Spinal Cord, Traffic Collision, Wheeled Bike, Yorkshire, Yorkshire Evening Post
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