Passengers obtain injuries in a bus, car, or any other vehicle that gets involved in an accident. It is not unusual for passengers to make a claim. If you were in the vehicle at the time of the accident you can make a passenger accident compensation claim.

Most likely you were in the wrong place at the wrong time. It is the driver’s responsibility to make sure that the passengers are safe at all times. The driver should be driving carefully and this applies to other road users as well. This is why when an accident occurs, the passenger has a strong legal basis for being able to make a claim.

Claiming against the driver

If you were a passenger in a road accident and suffered terrible injuries, you should think about making a claim. Do not be put off even if it is against someone you know. You should note that as long as the driver has basic car insurance cover, and third party insurance, he or she will be covered for liability for injuries to other people in the car (including passengers), liability for damage to other people’s property and liability for injuries to the occupants of other vehicles.

You may be feeling hesitant about making a claim against a close friend or family member, however you should note that your actions will not bear any negative repercussions on them. Most likely they will be making a claim on their insurance anyway, and their insurance provider will be liable to pay any compensation that you receive.

If more than one driver was involved in the accident you can bring a claim against them too. If the other driver was also responsible for the injuries you suffered as a result of their negligence, then you can make a claim against both of them.

It should be borne in mind that the amount of compensation you receive will be affected by whether or not you were wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident. Your compensation may be reduced if you were not wearing one, so be prepared for this.

Making the driver of the other vehicle involved accountable too

If the driver is aware that a claim is being brought against him or her, then the driver can request that the driver of the other vehicle be also held accountable for the collision. This is advantageous for the driver as bringing the other driver into the equation it may help reduce the amount of compensation he or she might have to pay. This way each driver is responsible for paying their proportion of the compensation to the victim.

Passengers are often distraught in the aftermath of a car accident. In most situations it happens so quickly that it is difficult to witness what actually happened. This is particularly applicable for passengers travelling in the back of the vehicle due to limited vision. It is best that you seek legal advice from our solicitors if you have been involved in an accident as a passenger. This way you will know your options and the right way forward.

Ayesha Salim , editor of the UK Lawyers Network, writes articles about compensation claims, Lawyer, Holiday accident claims, find a solicitor, legal, lawyer, law help advice, solicitors litigation

If a medical professional has been responsible for mishandling a cancer diagnosis, the consequences for the patient concerned can be extremely serious. Cancer can be linked to a number of different factors such as genetics or general lifestyle. Some factors work to increase the likelihood of someone developing the disease.

Early diagnosis of cancer is essential in leading to more effective treatment and lower mortality rate. Failure by doctors to do this can have devastating results for the patient involved. With the current advancements in technology, it is much easier now than ever before to be able to spot signs of cancer. Early misdiagnosis of cancer can have drastic consequences for the patient’s life expectancy. In some cases, the consequences can be so serious that treatment may no longer be an option and the patient will be impacted for life.

How can you make a claim?

In establishing whether the doctor has been negligent, the doctor will first be assessed against other doctors in the same professional capacity. The two main questions that will be asked will be:

* Was the doctor responsible for falling under the standard expected from doctors in his or hers speciality?

* What would the patient’s condition be now if the correct diagnosis had been initially made? And how will this compare with what actually happened?

Essentially the courts use what we call the ‘balance of probabilities’ test. Therefore, if the experts in this field argue that the correct diagnosis would have given the patient a 60% chance of survival, and the actual delay in diagnosis and treatment has reduced that chance to 40%, there will be compensation for that individual. The same rule applies to any other serious flaws in treatment. However, if a 40% chance had fallen down to 20%, there would be no compensation for that. This is because the survival rate was less than probable in both cases.

The balance of probabilities test has not been favourable amongst some commentators who have argued that it can lead to unfair results for some of the patients. Despite the reservations on the part of some, it is the law that is applied today, and the process that will have to be gone through for anyone making a claim.

The types of misdiagnoses made by doctors in cases of breast cancer:

* Failure to follow up on test results

* Failure to order new tests

* Failing to spot early symptoms of cancer

* Mistaking a tumour for an infection or diagnosing the tumour as benign

* Failing to notice a lump during the screening process

The list outlined above are some of the more common misdiagnoses that are usually made by doctors which can lead to devastating consequences for the individual concerned. A simple observation early on would have lead to a great less psychological and physical pain for the individual.

If you have been affected and are concerned about the type of treatment you have received, our specialist clinical negligence solicitors will be able to offer you advice with compassion and understanding. Our solicitors will provide you with assistance and guidance in pursuing your compensation claim.

Ayesha Salim , editor of the UK Lawyers Network, writes articles about solicitors, Lawyer, cancer misdiagnosis, find a solicitor, legal, lawyer, law help advice, solicitors litigation

Many passengers fall into a sense of false security when travelling in a car. It is quite easy to believe that the car will protect you, should anything happen and you become involved in an accident. It is quite dangerous to think this way, as in many cases, horrific injuries could have been prevented had the passenger been wearing a seatbelt. The passengers do not just have to live with the physical injuries of a road accident, but the psychological injuries too.

The most talked about injury and one that is most commonly cited in a road accident is whiplash injury. A perhaps more less talked about injury is seatbelt injury. Seatbelt injury is actually a much more common injury than people think. If you think about the impact of a car accident, it is hardly surprising. When another vehicle slams into the back of your car or slams into the side of your car, you will be naturally jerked forwards or sideways. This jerk reaction will impact your body even if you are wearing a seatbelt.

Of course it is essential that everyone wear a seatbelt whenever travelling. Your injuries are more likely to be less serious wearing a seatbelt in an accident rather than not wearing one. It is fundamental to your overall safety and thousands of lives have been saved as a result of the seatbelt first being enforced.

Your seatbelt injury could have been caused by the negligent behaviour of the driver. Depending on the situation, it could be that the driver had been speeding unnecessarily or overtaking dangerously. The driver also may have ignored the weather conditions and be driving recklessly or in road rage. If you sustained seatbelt injuries as a result of the driver’s negligence then it is your personal right to make a claim.

What you should expect if you are involved in a road accident

Depending on the circumstances of the road accident, you could expect to have the seatbelt dig into your abdomen. This can cause abdomen tenderness or even possible bowel injuries. You can avoid these types of injuries or reduce their likelihood of occurring if you take certain steps.

It is quite common for drivers to put on their seatbelts loosely before taking off. This can be a mistake, as it is important to wear a seatbelt as tight as possible to avoid personal injury taking place. Seatbelts are well known for saving lives so in the event of an accident it is important that:

* The seatbelt is worn as tightly as possible

* The lap belt should be worn over your pelvis and hips

* Wear the diagonal strap over your shoulders

Have you suffered a seatbelt injury in a car accident due to the driver driving recklessly? If this is the case, then you have a right to make a claim. Our solicitors will assess your case and advise you on what you should do next.

Ayesha Salim is editor of the UK Lawyers Network. Ayesha writes articles about road accident claims, road traffic accidents and motoring issues. Please visit the website if you would like to see more of Ayesha’s work or if you would like to contact local solicitors or to talk with a personal injury lawyer.

Many customers do not realise that if they fall or slip at a supermarket they are able to make a claim for compensation. Their claim will be processed if it can be proven that the accident occurred through no fault of their own. The accident can happen at Asda or any other popular supermarket food chain. Whichever supermarket it was, if it was not your fault, you have a right to make a claim.

Supermarkets such as Asda and Tesco owe their customers a duty of care as soon as they enter their premises. Customers should be able to shop easily without fearing some sort of accident. This duty of care can also extend to the supermarket car park. Supermarkets are responsible for ensuring the safety of all of their customers, and nothing less.

What to do if you are involved in a work related accident

It’s not just customers that are at risk from obtaining injury. Workers in supermarkets are surrounded by potential health hazards everyday. Many are involved in a wide range of jobs which include cleaning, working on the checkouts, and shelf stacking. Some jobs involve more risky work than others, particularly if they are dealing with heavy items.

Check out assistants for instance can face health risks if great care is not taken. Check out assistants can suffer from repetitive strain injuries in their wrists, shoulders and elbows. Their neck and their back is also at risk if their working area is not set properly. Lack of appropriate warnings out in the aisles can put shelf stackers and cleaners at risks from spills and other obstacles.

As an employee you may wish to seek action against your employer if you suffered an accident. It is strongly recommended that you seek legal advice before doing so, as you will be better informed about your chances of gaining compensation.

Important steps to take as a customer if you are involved in an accident

If you are unexpectedly involved in a supermarket accident, there are some things you can do that will help your claim if you decide to make one later.

Quite soon after the accident you should report it to the manager or to someone at the customer services desk. You will most likely be given an accident report form to fill In case you are not given a form you can ask for one or make sure that the accident is recorded in the accident book.

If there happen to be any witnesses around at the time of the accident, it is best to get down their names and contact details. If you happen to have a camera on you, you should photograph the scene of the accident. If you don’t have an actual camera but you have one in your phone that should be fine too. By gathering all of this evidence, it will help you in your claim later on if you decide to make one.

If you have been victim to an accident and wish to make a claim, our solicitors will help examine your case and inform you of your next steps.

Ayesha Salim is editor of the UK Lawyers Network. Ayesha writes articles about supermarket fall claim, public place accidents and slips and trips. Please visit the website if you would like to see more of Ayesha’s work or if you would like to contact local solicitors or to talk with a personal injury lawyer.

With more computers being used on a regular basis nationwide, it was inevitable that the number of repetitive strain claims would rise with it. Many of these claims could be avoided if the employer had taken certain measures to prevent this from happening. It is the employer’s duty after all, to provide a safe working environment for its employees.

Repetitive strain injury claims are often hard to claim for due to it’s complexities. For instance, citing repetitive strain due to high computer use at work would be difficult to claim for, as the majority of the country have computers at home which could also have been responsible for causing the injury.

However, if you feel that you gained this injury at work then do not be put off. Your employer should take reasonable steps in providing a safe working environment, and if this was not provided for then you have a right to make a claim.

What is repetitive strain injury?

Repetitive strain injury can also be referred to as Work Related Upper Limb Disorder. The types of symptoms that people suffer can vary but usually they involve stiffness, tingling, and swelling. It is repetitive work processes that tend to cause a strain in the upper limbs. Reports have suggested that around two thirds of office workers suffer from RSI, however are unaware that they can even make a claim.

It is important that the employer ensures that the employee takes regular intervals from using the keyboard as this is a major cause of RSI (Repetitive strain injury). The PC monitor should be at the correct height for the employee and wrist rests should be made available for comfort. Similarly repetitive usage of the mouse can also cause RSI. The symptoms occur due to continuous muscle contraction caused by being in a fixed position for too long whilst the limbs are unsupported or supported in the wrong manner.

If the employer fails to put these important health and safety rules in place, and the employee ends up developing RSI, the employer should prepare for the employee making a possible claim. It will all depend on how severe the RSI is. This will determine how much compensation the employee receives. It is best to get into contact with our solicitors who will best be able to advise you on your claim. The solicitor will ensure that you gain the best compensation possible.

With advancements in technology, more people have gotten used to working on the move. Gadgets such as blackberry’s and smaller laptops, have enabled commuters to be able to use these gadgets on the train or on the bus. Unfortunately, many are misinformed about the risks of such prolonged usage of these devices. The risks of them obtaining RSI become higher due to the smaller and closer-situated buttons. Furthermore, the effects of RSI are likely to be more serious in comparison to a normal office environments, as commuters will be working in uncomfortable and unusual positions.

Ayesha Salim , editor of the UK Lawyers Network, writes articles about solicitor, Personal injury Lawyer, Work accident claims, find a solicitor, legal, lawyer, law help advice, solicitors litigation