September 3rd, 2009
A woman has won a long legal battle against the company where her husband contracted the deadly asbestos-related cancer mesothelioma.
Frederick Hughes of Ashton-under-Lyne worked at engineering firm Vernon & Roberts during the 1960s, where he inhaled asbestos as he dismantled buildings and equipment, the Manchester Evening News attests.
He died in 2001 and his widow Dorothy decided to pursue a compensation claim against the company. Although a judge ruled in her favour four years ago, she then had to sue Vernon & Roberts’ directors because its insurers had ceased trading and could not meet the payout.
This week, she was finally successful and has been awarded £60,000 in compensation from the personal accounts of the company’s former directors.
"People should have accepted their responsibilities sooner. I am relieved now that it is over," commented Ms Hughes.
According to a paper published by the Centre for the Study of Environmental Cancer, Britain has one of the highest incidences of mesothelioma, with 30 per million per year.
Tags: 1960s, Amp, Asbestos Cancer, Asbestos Mesothelioma, Ashton Under Lyne, Cancer Compensation, Cancer Mesothelioma, Compensation Case, Compensation Claim, Engineering Firm, Favour, Incidences, Manchester Evening News, Ms Hughes, Personal Accounts, Woman
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July 29th, 2009
A woman who was left brain damaged due to errors at her birth has been awarded compensation to cover her long-term care.
Lucy Jones, now 24, was born at the former Princess Margaret Hospital in Swindon in February 1984, the Swindon Advertiser reports.
Although her mother was suffering problems, staff did not make the decision to carry out a Caesarean until 04:15 GMT, by which time Lucy had been starved of oxygen.
A subsequent investigation found that the operation could have been performed by 01:30 GMT in order to make the situation safer for the baby.
Lucy’s family took legal action against the Avon, Gloucester & Wiltshire Strategic Health Authority, which has now admitted liability and agreed to pay a seven-figure sum that should pay for Lucy’s care needs for the rest of her life.
According to Scope, approximately one in four children is born with cerebral palsy in the UK.
Tags: Advertiser Reports, Amp, Avon, Brain, Cerebral Palsy, Figure Sum, Former Princess Margaret Hospital, Gloucester, Gmt, Long Term Care, Lucy Jones, Negligence, Oxygen, Princess Margaret Hospital, Scope, Strategic Health Authority, Subsequent Investigation, Swindon Advertiser, Woman
Posted in Clinical Negligence News | No Comments »
June 19th, 2009
A woman has pledged to seek compensation from two NHS trusts after her daughter died in hospital from meningitis.
Shazia Ahmed, a 25-year-old mother of one, had already called out-of-hours GP services twice in February when she began to feel unwell with a rash and terrible sickness.
However, the medics refused a home visit and when Ms Ahmed’s symptoms began to worsen, her mother Lorraine Lewis took her to A&E at Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital.
Despite this, her meningitis was not diagnosed for a further 15 hours, by which time it was too late to treat her.
The victim died five days later and Oxfordshire Primary Care Trust and Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals Trust have since apologised for the failings in her care.
The trusts admitted that had Ms Ahmed been diagnosed earlier, a "different outcome" might have been reached.
Ms Lewis said: "What we got was a shoddy service which probably killed my daughter." In an interview with the Oxford Mail, she added: "I’m going to sue. I’ve been to see my solicitor."
Tags: Amp, Apologised, Gp Services, John Radcliffe Hospital, Lorraine Lewis, Medics, Meningitis, Nhs Trusts, Old Mother, Oxford Mail, Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals, Oxfordshire, Primary Care Trust, Quot, Rash, Shazia, Shoddy Service, Solicitor, Woman
Posted in Clinical Negligence News | No Comments »
June 11th, 2009
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.
Tags: Accidents, Amp, Atv, Cows, Dangerous Business, Deaths, Farmers, Farming, Gillian, Head Injuries, Health And Safety, Health And Safety Executive, Helmet, Mains, Mcdonald, Measures, Quad Bikes, Risk Assessments, Shannon, Terrain Vehicles
Posted in Personal Injury News | No Comments »
May 11th, 2009
Compensation has been secured for a man who was left brain damaged after an accident at work.
The 39-year-old, who did not want to be named, was working for A&P Falmouth in 2004 when he was hit on the head by welding equipment while painting a ship, the Shields Gazette reports.
He now suffers deafness, memory loss and a lack of concentration, as well as epilepsy and headaches, as a result of the brain damage he sustained.
The victim – with the assistance of his mother – took legal action against A&P Falmouth and an out-of-court settlement has now been agreed via the company’s insurers.
"This money will help cover his daily living costs, now that he can no longer earn a wage," remarked his mother.
Employers must deal with any hazards that are likely to arise and might cause serious injury to their workforce.
A compensation claim can be made if it can be proved that employers breached this duty of care and that this resulted in accident or injury.
Payouts for brain injuries will usually be more substantial since they must cover the costs of the victim’s long-term care.
Tags: Accident Compensation, Amp, Brain Damage, Brain Injuries, Compensation Claim, Court Settlement, Duty Of Care, Epilepsy, Falmouth, Headaches, Lack Of Concentration, Left Brain, Long Term Care, Memory Loss, Money, Shields Gazette, Welding Equipment, Work Compensation, Workforce
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