I help thousands of people with accident compensation claims every week and really have seen it all.  However, sometimes even I am surprised at how poorly health and safety in the workplace is enforced.  Last week for example, Inverurie firm International Paper (UK) Limited were fined £6000 for an accident in which one of their workers lost an arm. The accident happened when the man got his arm caught in machinery in January 2009.  Investigation revealed that the safety barrier provided was completely inadequate to offer protection for workers. The HSE called the accident a “Dickensian-Style event” which should not have happened in this day and age. The man’s compensation claim continues.  

Some of you may remember the tragic drowning of seven year old Luke Hutton in September 2007 at the Olympia Leisure Centre in Dundee.  The organisation and training of lifeguards at the centre was insufficient and the alarm was raised only when another child reported Luke missing.  His body was found in a covered wave pool following a search.  Fatal accidents like this upset me firstly because they are avoidable by proper implementation of health and safety and secondly because no level of compensation will ever reflect Luke’s families sorrow.  The operators of swimming pool were fined £40,000 last week for breach of Health and Safety Laws.  Read the full story.

The benefits of the internet and the way it has improved access and exchange of information is well recognised.

However, advertising for jobs exclusively through the internet has the potential to discriminate against those not so computer literate a report published by the Commons Scottish Affairs Committee has found.

The criticism is aimed mainly at local authorities and runs parallel to the Equality Bill, which aims to increase opportunities for disadvantaged groups, currently making its way through Parliament.  The Equality Bill while offer routes for those discriminated against to bring legal action and seek compensation from companies and organisations not in compliance.

The Government’s view is that local authorities should not post public notices online simply for the sake of saving money.  The aim is to reach as wide an ambit of people and candidates as possible.

Not that he needs the money but world footballer of the year Cristiano Ronaldo has won substantial compensation in the form of libel damages from the Daily Mirror.

Libel is the English equivalent of what is known as defamation in Scotland and something is libel or slanderous when it is a false and malicious publication printed for the purpose of defaming a living person.  Successful cases often attract millions in compensation for famous persons but as here the amount of compensation remains undisclosed as a condition of settlement.

This action arose when the Daily Mirror said that Ronaldo went on a “bender” at a Hollywood night club despite being on crutches and requiring an ankle operation.

Ronaldo took offence at the statement as it brought his professionalism as a footballer into question …..and in any event he is tee-total!

Making a legitimate No Win No Fee Compensation Claim after suffering a disease, accident or injury can be a catalyst to changing behaviour and the law – it can ultimately protect others from the same thing happening again.   Using the No Win No Fee system is not the UK slavishly following the USA or a social problem or even as some claim the emergence of a Compensation Culture. It’s how normal, hardworking people get the opportunity to say I am not going to tolerate this, I am going to use the law of the land because I have suffered through no fault of my own.  After an accident, suffering injuries or contracting a disease, claiming financial compensation can help you rebuild your life and/or care for loved ones in a way that might not have been possible otherwise. You may have lost money through no longer being able to work or might have had your social world turned upside down: accidents often result in sports and other recreational hobbies having to be cast aside. What if you have to alter your family home to adapt to your new situation? If you and your family do not get sufficient compensation this can be impossible and cause you even more stress.  Recent studies have shown that only about 30% of people in the UK that could have made a Compensation Claim actually did; is it possible the people that did not claim were worried about the costs involved?  No Win No Fee is here to protect you; it helps to relieve the stress of paying high legal fees in the event your claim is unsuccessful. At Thompsons we do not believe No Win No Fee is causing a Compensation Claim culture. We think it is worse to ignore the actions of irresponsible companies / management who ignore their duties and responsibilities. We believe claiming compensation can help to reduce risk and improve compliance with the law, but we’d like to hear what you think.

One Saturday, whilst enjoying a game of football Mr Smith was subject to what can only be described as an horrific tackle.  This tackle was so bad it broke his leg in 2 places, ended his football season and bought an early end to his football career. He contacted Thompsons to seek help as he’d lost wages, incurred additional expenses in treatment and was terrified at what lay ahead in terms of earning power.  Thompsons assessed his case and negotiated with the insurers of Cambuslang Rangers to secure a  compensation settlement in the sum of £40,000 – enough to offer financial security in the short term and allow him to assess how he takes his life forward.

One of our recent clients was a keen cyclist, he was a firm believer in its health and environmental benefits – even though cycling on Edinburgh city roads can be scary at the best of times between rush hour traffic and buses.  One thing he couldn’t have anticipated was an unprotected sunken drain on the designated cycle path in the middle of Holyrood Park especially since he’d cycled this way to work every day for the past couple of years.
Last August, 8.30am concentrating on the traffic he hit the drain, was thrown across the road and, despite wearing a helmet, smashed his cheekbone.  Unable to chew properly and with lasting facial numbness, he contacted Thompsons to claim compensation.  Everyday life had changed, his confidence and enjoyment of cycling in the city had come to an end and all because of the carelessness and negligence of another party.  Thompsons helped this client win £5,750 in compensation for his accident.  It will never undo the physical trauma suffered, but this is an ever increasing problem in the city.  If you have been hurt in a similar cycling accident let us know, you never know your call may help put an end to such carelessness and help others avoid being afflicted by a similar accident.