Teachers’ unions have said that schools need to become safer after it was revealed that over £2 million has been paid out in compensation by Scottish schools since 2004.

According to figures released this month, £1.5 million was paid out to injured staff, while another £600,000 was given in compensation to pupils, STV reports.

One claim was from a school worker who tripped over a carpet in West Dunbartonshire and was paid £4,000.

Another came from a pupil who fell on the school steps in Glasgow and was awarded £29,000 in compensation.

Sources from teachers’ unions said it is not satisfactory that staff are having to claim for accidents that could easily be avoided if education facilities were safer.

Occupiers of schools have the same responsibility to prevent injury as any other landowner so anyone who suffers from an accident on school premises should seek the advice of a solicitor specialising in personal injury claims.

Stockton Borough Council has defended its footpath maintenance regime, despite paying out more than £1 million in compensation to people injured in trips and falls on its pavements in the last five years.

Figures obtained by a Freedom of Information request made by the Liberal Democrats showed that local authorities in England paid out £82 million to settle compensation claims related to accidents caused by the poor condition of pavements between 2004 and 2009.

In Stockton, the council made 26 payments totalling £1.2 million – a significantly higher figure than in neighbouring areas, but well short of the £10.2 million paid by Leeds City Council.

The amount may rise, as Stockton Borough Council is still dealing with a further 67 compensation claims.

A council spokesman told the Darlington & Stockton Times that it had implemented a new pavement maintenance regime in order to reduce the number of accidents.

"That has resulted in a dramatic decrease in claims where compensation was made, from 15 claims in 2004-5 to only one in 2008-9," he said.

A new report has discovered that as many as one in five young people is driving without the correct level of insurance.

The Motor Insurers Bureau (MIB) found that 250,000 people aged between 17 and 20 are taking to the roads without cover, putting insured drivers at risk if they are hit.

Many young people claimed they did not know that insurance is a legal requirement, while others said that the high cost of insurance has led to them breaking the law.

Ashton West, chief executive of the MIB, commented: "While we recognise the financial pressures for drivers taking to the roads for the first time, it is also a criminal offence to drive without proper insurance cover."

The MIB was established to deal with cases stemming from uninsured driver accidents and manages over 30,000 claims from people who have been hit by someone without cover every year.

Anyone involved in such an accident may wish to seek legal advice, as motoring claims can be complicated and lengthy.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has warned employers that they must have the appropriate safety mechanisms in place on their machinery in order to prevent accidents.

In July, an unnamed man working on the roads in Wiltshire was fatally injured while using a tarmac cutting machine. He had climbed down from the seat of the device, but became entangled in the rotating drum and was pulled in.

After he died from his injuries, HSE inspector Helena Tinton said that machinery such as this should have an automatic cut-off device so that workers cannot get caught.

"We urge those in the construction and utilities industries to check the safety devices on their top cutting machines and to prevent similar incidents occurring," she added.

Research carried out by Dr Stephen Roberts and reported in the Lancet shows that roadworkers have the 16th most hazardous occupation in the UK, with a higher rate of injuries than even the military.

A man who suffered long-lasting injuries after he was hit head-on by another vehicle is to receive £3.3 million in compensation.

Sean Milligan, 44, had been driving in Lanarkshire in May 2004 when Mark Lynch came in the other direction on the wrong side of the road.

Mr Milligan sustained injuries to his brain which mean that he is now unable to care for himself and suffers from bouts of anger. He also has difficulty balancing and walking, the BBC attests.

He took legal action against Mr Lynch and the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) has now agreed to the payout.

Making the ruling, Lord Woolman at the Court of Session in Edinburgh said Mr Milligan’s compensation should be particularly high due to his pain and suffering.

The MIB aims to reduce the level and impact of uninsured driving and handles 30,000 claims every year for accidents which involve uninsured vehicles.

A soldier who was left permanently disabled after the Land Rover he was in plunged over a cliff face is seeking compensation against the Ministry of Defence (MoD).

Former Royal Marine Tom Birch had been on duty in Afghanistan in November 2006 when he lost control and the vehicle fell 100 feet over the cliff. He suffered brain injuries, a collapsed lung, a fractured jaw and a crushed hip, the Derby Telegraph reports.

The 21-year-old is now suing the MoD for negligence, claiming that the vehicle was in a state of disrepair and that the organisation had turned a blind eye to the fact that he was not in possession of any kind of driving licence.

His mother Gail Birch said: "No amount of money can compensate for his injuries. Nothing may come of this compensation claim but we have to try as the MoD needs to be held accountable."

The news comes as the MoD attempts to recover some of the compensation it paid to two injured soldiers from the Iraq conflict. It claims that some of their disabilities developed after the initial accidents and so they should not be compensated for them.

A man whose serious leg injury was not spotted by hospital staff has been awarded a significant compensation payout.

Bret Ravenhill, 29, had been riding his motorbike in July 2002 when he was involved in an accident, the Sheffield Star reports.

He was taken to Barnsley District General Hospital where he was treated for elbow and facial injuries, but his left leg was simply put into a plaster cast.

When he was transferred to the Royal Hallamshire Hospital, the severity of his leg injury was noticed and a surgeon examined it, but it was too late for treatment.

Mr Ravenhill had to have his leg amputated below the knee.

"The one place I didn’t expect trouble was in hospital. It’s been difficult to come to terms with losing my leg," he commented.

Barnsley Hospital admitted negligence and has awarded an undisclosed but "significant" payout to the victim.

Figures from the Department for Transport show that although motorcyclists account for only one per cent of traffic in the UK, they make up 20 per cent of those killed or seriously injured in accidents.

A motorcyclist who was left severely injured after his bike crashed into a delivery van has been awarded compensation.

Bijan Fouladgar, 38, was heir to a sports business in May 2001 when he rode into an underpass in Blackfriars, the London Evening Standard reports.

However, he was unaware that a van had been performing a u-turn in the tunnel and Mr Fouladgar was unable to avoid it.

He crashed, suffering brain damage that left him "a shadow of his former self", the high court heard.

From being a successful businessman, he became vulnerable and unable to process information.

With the assistance of his family, Mr Fouladgar sued Southover Food Company – who were responsible for the van driver – and its insurers have now agreed to a £1 million payout.

"This has been eight years of my life tied up in this. Now I can finally try to get on with living my life," commented the victim.

According to the Department for Transport, motorcyclists are the most vulnerable group of road users in the UK.

Although they account for only one per cent of traffic, they make up 20 per cent of those killed or seriously injured in accidents.

Employers who allow the use of quad bikes or all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) have been warned by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) that they must ensure their safe operation.

The warning comes after an employee of Kelloe Mains Farm near Duns was killed after suffering fatal head injuries while operating an ATV.

Grant Shannon, 34, had worked on the farm for only three days when he was asked to help bring some cows in using the bike. He agreed, although he had not received any formal training to use the vehicle and had not been provided with a helmet.

Mr Shannon hit a tree and died at the scene.

R & J McDonald, the owners of the farm, were fined and prosecuted by the HSE and inspector Gillian McLean said those using quad bikes should be provided with adequate training, well-maintained vehicles and appropriate head gear.

"Sadly, farming is a dangerous business, and the numbers of deaths and injuries to farmers, workers and members of the public is unacceptable," she added.

Employers must carry out risk assessments for all perceived dangers and provide measures to prevent accidents where appropriate.

A carpenter who fell from a window while attempting to tighten its shutters is to receive £5,000 in compensation.

The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was involved in the construction of a new school in Waltham Forest in October 2007, where he was working for Bouygues UK.

He was attempting to fix shutters and brackets on the window and leaned out past the guardrail that had been put in place.

However, he slipped and fell five metres onto a hard platform and suffered fractures to his ribs and collarbone, as well as blood in his chest cavity.

The man was unable to work for six months.

Health and Safety Executive inspector Dominic Elliss said: "This case clearly demonstrates the importance of following the hierarchy of controls when planning any work at height."

The victim is now to receive a compensation payout after the firm was prosecuted for breaching safety regulations.

Any work or movement at height near an exposed edge should be considered a hazard and employers must put adequate measures in place to prevent injuries and accidents.