September 29th, 2009
A bus driver who suffered terrible injuries in a head-on collision between his bus and a van has been awarded a compensation payout.
James Morton, 60, was driving in Seaton Burn, Northumberland when the accident occurred in April 2007, the Evening Chronicle reports.
The van came towards the bus on the wrong side of the road, leaving Mr Morton with nowhere to go. In the resulting crash, his left leg was shattered below the knee and he narrowly avoided having to have it amputated.
The victim lost his job because he was unable to drive and can still only walk short distances with the assistance of a walking stick.
His passengers sustained minor injuries.
Mr Morton took legal action against the driver of the van and the responsible party’s insurers have now agreed to a £250,000 payout.
"You can’t put a price on an injury like that, but it’s some consolation. I was planning to work until I was 65, but that’s been cut short," the victim said.
Anyone who is injured in a road accident that is not their fault may be eligible for compensation and should seek legal advice.
Tags: Bus Driver, Consolation, Crash, Distances, Head On Collision, James Morton, Job, Left Leg, Legal Advice, Minor Injuries, Northumberland, Responsible Party, Road Accident, Seaton Burn, Walking Stick, Wrong Side Of The Road
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September 28th, 2009
Compensation has finally been awarded to a girl who was the victim of an electric shock while on holiday.
Alexandra Miles, then 11, had travelled with her family to the four-star Kilifi Beach resort in Kenya in 2005, the Daily Mail reports.
The family had been worried about power cuts and water shortages during their stay, but on Christmas Day, Alexandra was given a near-fatal electric shock by the shower in the hotel room.
She sustained trauma to her heart and was left partially paralysed.
The family took legal action after the hotel only offered a free meal in compensation for the child’s injuries and a payout of £52,000 has now been agreed.
"We were terrified we were going to lose our only child. It was just appalling," commented Alexandra’s mother Joanna.
Anyone affected by an injury while abroad should seek legal advice, as they may be able to claim compensation from their package tour holiday operator.
Tags: Alexandra, Christmas, Christmas Day, Daily Mail, Electric Shock, Four Star, Heart, Holiday Operator, Hotel Room, Joanna, Kenya, Kilifi, Legal Advice, Package Holiday, Tour Operator, Trauma, Victim Compensation, Water Shortages
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September 23rd, 2009
A family is seeking compensation from a Manchester hospital after a woman bled to death during treatment.
Sally Thompson, 20, had a rare blood disorder and had gone into Manchester Royal Infirmary in August 2005 complaining of weakness in her legs.
She was taken to intensive care after beginning to suffer from seizures and medics decided to insert a central venous catheter into her neck to aid with getting medication in.
However, the doctor who inserted the equipment hit Ms Thompson’s jugular vein. Although a request was made for a blood transfusion, it did not come for almost two hours.
By then, the patient had lost three-and-a-half pints of blood and doctors could not save her.
Ms Thompson’s family is to sue the hospital after it was discovered that ultrasound should have been used to ensure the vein was not punctured.
Clinical negligence occurs when a professional in the health service provides care that is deemed to be below standard and this causes physical injury, death or distress. Victims may be eligible for compensation and should seek legal advice.
Tags: Blood Disorder, Blood Transfusion, Central Venous Catheter, Clinical Negligence, Doctor Who, Half Pints, Health Service, Injury Death, Intensive Care, Jugular Vein, Legal Advice, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Medics, Ms Thompson, Pints Of Blood, Rare Blood Disorder, Sally Thompson, Seizures, Ultrasound, Woman S Hospital
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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
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September 10th, 2009
Workers who suffer from Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) have been advised to seek legal advice about the possibility of making a compensation claim.
The condition, commonly known as vibration white finger, affects the blood vessels, nerves and muscles in the hands and wrists, leading to numbness and loss of movement, and often causing the fingers to change colour.
It is often the result of working with vibrating tools such as drills and chain saws.
Writing for the Daily Mail, GP Martin Scurr explained that HAVS is a recognised industrial disease, so companies should have health and safety procedures, such as providing gloves and time limits on the use of vibrating machinery, in place.
He added that "negligence is unacceptable" and recommended that anyone who has developed work-related HAVS should look into making a compensation claim.
Last month, Anthony Barry, a former toolmaker from St Helens, received £8,500 in compensation after developing the condition as a result of working with vibrating tools while employed by Ford Motor Company.
Mr Barry said his former employer had not warned him about the dangers of working with such equipment.
Tags: Arm Vibration Syndrome, Blood Vessels, Chain Saws, Compensation Claim, Compensation Claims, Daily Mail, Ford Motor, Ford Motor Company, Hand Arm Vibration, Health And Safety, Health And Safety Procedures, Legal Advice, Negligence, Nerves, Numbness, Scurr, St Helens, Time Limits, Toolmaker, Vibration White Finger
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