November 6th, 2009
A 14-year-old girl has been awarded millions in compensation after winning a medical negligence claim against the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital.
Tahlia Downes was deprived of oxygen during her birth, leaving her with severe mental and physical disabilities.
Her mother brought the medical negligence claim against the hospital on the grounds that she should have been given a Caesarean section during the birth, reports the BBC.
Norfolk and Norwich Hospital will pay the family compensation after the judge in the case ruled that it should pay 70 per cent of the full valuation of the claim.
The payout is expected to run into millions once a final figure is reached, money that will be used to provide care for Tahlia for the rest of her life.
Last month, ten-year-old Harry Snowdon of Oxfordshire was awarded £7.1 million in compensation in a similar medical negligence case against Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust, in which he was left with brain damage following difficulties with his birth.
Tags: 1 Million, 14 Year Old Girl, Bbc, Brain Damage, Caesarean Section, Hospitals Nhs Trust, Left Brain, Medical Negligence Case, Medical Negligence Claim, Money, Norwich Hospital, Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals, Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals Nhs Trust, Oxfordshire, Oxygen, Physical Disabilities, Snowdon, Tahlia, Wins
Posted in Clinical Negligence News | No Comments »
November 4th, 2009
A leading judge has called for changes to be made in the way Fatal Accident Inquiries (FAIs) are conducted.
FAIs are public inquiries into fatal accidents, which are carried out in cases of suspicious or unexplained death.
Lord Cullen suggested that such inquiries should be made less formal and lawyers involved in the cases should no longer wear wigs and gowns.
The former lord president also said that FAIs should not be held in court anymore.
In his report related to Scotland, he stated: "My aim has been to set out practical measures for a system for inquiry into fatalities that is effective, efficient and fair."
His review into FAIs began in June 2008 and his findings also included the suggestion that a dedicated FAI team is set up.
Earlier this week, an inquiry in Scotland found that Paul Campbell, 25, of Eastriggs, had died in a quad bike accident due to the failure of a suspension unit on his vehicle, reports BBC News.
Tags: Aim, Bbc, Bike Accident, Failure, Fatal Accident Inquiries, Fatal Accidents, Gowns, Lawyers, Lord President, Measures, Paul Campbell, Public Inquiries, Quad Bike, Scotland, Suggestion, Suspension Unit, Unexplained Death, Wigs
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November 3rd, 2009
The first round of talks on compensation packages for victims of IRA violence have been held this week.
A cross-party delegation of Northern Irish politicians and members of the House of Lords had talks with the Libyan government over potential compensation payouts.
The Libyan government, which is led by Colonel Gaddafi, secretly supplied weapons and explosives to the IRA during the Troubles.
The MPs involved in the talks issued a statement after the meetings with senior Libyan officials to say they had been a constructive and positive first step in the process.
But a Libyan journalist has warned that a long struggle may be ahead.
Rana Jawad told the BBC: "Back in September, Colonel Gaddafi’s son, Saif al-Islam, said he would resist these calls for compensation."
Last month, Colonel Gaddafi sent out confusing signals on the issue when he told Sky News that he was not interested in the visit of the delegation but hinted that a compensation deal had already been struck with the British government.
Tags: Bbc, British Government, Colonel Gaddafi, Compensation Packages, Compensation Payouts, Compensation Talks, Confusing Signals, Delegation, Explosives, House Of Lords, Ira Victims, Ira Violence, Irish Politicians, Libya, Libyan Government, Members Of The House Of Lords, Mps, Quot, Saif Al Islam, Sky News
Posted in Personal Injury News | No Comments »
September 23rd, 2009
It has been confirmed that five people are seeking compensation from the owners of a Surrey farm where 64 people suffered E.coli poisoning.
According to the Telegraph, the victims who opt to take legal action against Godstone Farm could be awarded hundreds of thousands of pounds in compensation.
Among them is 24-year-old Clare Zahra, who visited the farm in August and fell ill with vomiting and diarrhoea.
She said she had to take two weeks off work and has still not managed to go back full-time.
"Becoming ill brought my life to a standstill and I do not think the farm acted quickly enough to protect the public," she added.
Anger mounted after the E.coli outbreak came to light and it emerged that Godstone Farm stayed open for two weeks after the first evidence of the bug, unnecessarily exposing more people to it.
Seven per cent of E. coli victims go on to suffer permanent and severe kidney damage after exposure, according to the BBC.
Tags: Anger, Bbc, E Coli, E Coli Outbreak, First Evidence, Full Time, Hundreds Of Thousands, Kidney Damage, People, Standstill, Surrey Farm, Telegraph, Vomiting And Diarrhoea, Zahra
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September 18th, 2009
British people who are involved in car accidents should seek legal advice after a car accident, the Law Society has advised.
Its comments come after it emerged that some insurance firms in Northern Ireland are contacting the innocent parties directly after crashes and offering to resolve the case without getting solicitors involved, BBC News reports.
Alison Donnelly, spokesperson for the Consumer Council, warned this could mean that people involved in accidents are not getting the compensation they deserve.
"Any insurance company that actively discourages consumers from getting this advice is behaving unfairly and should be stopped," she added, pointing out that those involved in crashes are likely to still feel shaken and vulnerable, plus they may not be confident enough to insist on their rights.
Figures from the Department for Transport show that 26,034 people were seriously injured on Britain’s roads last year, while there were also 202,333 minor injuries.
Anyone hurt in a road accident that was not their fault should seek the advice of a solicitor within three years of the accident in order to see if they are eligible to make a compensation claim.
Tags: Alison, Bbc, British People, Britons, Car Accident, Car Accidents, Compensation Claim, Crashes, Donnelly, Innocent Parties, Insurance Company, Insurance Firms, Legal Advice, Minor Injuries, News Reports, Northern Ireland, Road Accident, Solicitor, Solicitors, Spokesperson
Posted in Personal Injury News | No Comments »
