Pyers solicitors in York have recently completed a case involving a woman who had a full hysterectomy carried out. After the hysterectomy she had ongoing internal pain and discomfort. It was some months later that on full examination one of the drains used in the course of the operation was still found to be inside her. The drain was removed and the pain and discomfort was then gone. A settlement was agreed on the basis that it was medically negligent to leave the drain inside and not to carry out the necessary checks after the hysterectomy to ensure that everything had been removed. A settlement was agreed in the sum of £3,500.
£57k for binman injured in pavement fall
September 30th, 2009
A man who had to give up his job as a refuse collector after being injured in a fall has been awarded compensation for the accident.
Alan Shambrook, 55, was collecting rubbish in July 2005 when he tripped over a damaged section of the footpath in Stevanage.
He badly hurt his shoulder and elbow, as well as his left knee. The victim had to take 15 months off work and was forced to change jobs because he cannot lift his arms above his head.
"The injury has been painful and changed my life dramatically," Mr Shambrook commented.
He took legal action against Hertfordshire County Council for not maintaining the pavement properly and has now been awarded £57,000 in compensation.
Local councils are responsible for keeping their footpaths and roads in safe order and regular checks must be carried out by officials to make sure of this.
Anyone who has been injured on a section of pavement that has not been checked may be eligible to make a claim for compensation.
Leeds council pays out £10m in footpath compensation claims
August 25th, 2009
New figures released under the Freedom of Information Act have revealed that Leeds City Council has paid out over £10 million in compensation to people who have been injured on faulty footpaths over the last five years.
Some 2,904 such claims were put in between 2004-05 and 2008-08 as a result of damaged or badly maintained footpaths, the Yorkshire Evening Post reports.
This was the highest number of any council in the UK and resulted in total payouts of £10,259,125.
The Liberal Democrats ordered the survey and spokesperson Norman Baker said he feels the council is simply paying claims instead of making appropriate repairs to the paths.
He added: "Too many councils seem interested only in motorists and not those who walk, cycle or take the bus."
Councils and highways agencies are responsible for the maintenance of footpaths and roads and must carry out regular checks.
If anyone suffers an accident and can prove that the section of footpath had not been recently checked, they may be eligible for personal injury compensation.
Woman ‘butchered’ by cosmetic surgery paid compensation
July 27th, 2009
A woman who claims she was left butchered after undergoing cosmetic surgery has been awarded compensation.
Beverly Binks, 43, went to a surgeon at Newcastle’s Transform Medical Group in March 2005 for an eye and jaw lift, the Daily Mail reports.
However, too much skin was removed from underneath her left eye and it could not connect properly with the eyeball.
The clinic offered her two more procedures to correct the damage done, but Ms Binks claims that they were just as bad.
She remarked: "The cosmetic surgery has ruined my life and has left me looking a complete mess. I have been suicidal and my 25-year marriage nearly ended because of how depressed I have become."
Ms Binks took legal action against Transform Medical Group and has now been awarded an undisclosed sum in compensation for her ordeal.
In order for a clinical negligence claim against a plastic surgeon to be successful, a solicitor must establish that he or she breached a duty of care agreement between him or her and the patient.
Since there were no formal qualification checks on cosmetic surgeons prior to April 2002, it may be easier to prove negligence in these cases than in other medical fields.
Mum considers compensation claim after boy’s fall
July 24th, 2009
A woman is considering launching a compensation claim against her local council after her ten-year-old child fell off his bike and badly hurt his face.
Joe Baxter was cycling along a piece of grass near his home when it suddenly finished and changed into a three foot drop, the Lynn News attests.
The child fell onto his face and was badly cut. He had to take two days off school and needed hospital treatment for his injuries.
His mother Sue said: "The blood was gushing out of his nose. He was lucky he did not fracture his skull."
She is now looking into a possible compensation claim against West Norfolk Council for its failure to erect a fence or a sign to warn people about the dangerous drop.
Councils and highways agencies are responsible for maintaining footpaths and roads. If an accident occurs on a defective area and it can be proven that the council had not recently carried out checks on it, compensation may be payable to the victim.
