The Great British Pothole Problem

What do you get if you mix together a recession and a few years’ of cold, wet winters? The answer is potholes, and they are becoming an increasing cause of personal injury and sometimes even death on British roads.

So why are potholes becoming such a growing issue? What hazards do they cause to road users, and what can you do if you suffer a personal injury caused by a pothole and wish to make a claim?

Increasing on Britain’s roads

Potholes are caused by a combination of sun, cold, rain and vehicles. The constant stress of traffic and sun beating down on a road, over time causes the asphalt to crack, which in turn allows snow and rainwater to enter into the cracks and mix with the gravel and dirt underneath. The water then freezes, causing the cracks to expand, pushing out some of the gravel and dirt from under the asphalt. When the ice melts this leaves a hole, which grows bigger as traffic continuously drives over the rupture, fatiguing and straining the affected area even further.

However, Britain has just experienced a mild winter hasn’t it? Yes, we may have experienced moderate temperatures, but the winter of 2013/14 has been officially confirmed as the wettest on record. Unfortunately, even when the climate is relatively warm, excessive rainfall and flooding can eat away at the roads, causing potholes and other types of damage. Couple this with cuts to council budgets allocated to road repairs and it is clear why personal injuries caused by potholes are on the increase.

Personal Injury

Thousands of people suffer vehicle damage caused by potholes every year. However, potholes also contribute many instances of injury and even death on our roads, with cyclists and motorcyclists being particularly vulnerable. According to cycling charity groups, more than 1000 cyclists are injured every year due to unrepaired potholes.

Just a few weeks ago, a coroner investigating the death of a cyclist in North Yorkshire in 2011 ruled that in his mind, “there was no doubt whatsoever the condition of the road on that occasion was the cause of the accident”. The cyclist had been taking part in a fundraising event when his bike hit a deep pothole and he was thrown into the path of an oncoming car and killed instantly.

If you are injured and you believe your injury was caused by pothole in the road, it is important to take the following steps. This will help you make a personal injury claim against the council responsible for the maintenance of the road where the accident occurred:

•  Take a photograph of the road and the pothole itself. Try to show a sense of scale in the photograph by placing a ruler or tape measure inside the pothole to illustrate its depth.
•  Measure the pothole’s dimensions, its position (i.e. is it close to the kerb) and note any other defects in the road.
•  Take photographs of your injuries and any damage to your vehicle or bike.
•  Report the incident to your local council.

Local authorities are aware of the dangers of potholes and most make every attempt to fix them as soon as they are discovered or reported. However, always take special care when you encounter one on the road, especially if you are riding a motorbike or a bicycle. It is also important to report the pothole to your local authority to prevent others from sustaining nasty injuries if they fail to see the hazard.

Protecting Yourself Against a Dog Attack

Dogs are not called a man’s best friend for no reason. Domesticated since at least 7,000 BC, these animals are our companions, and provide essential help and support for people affected by disabilities.

However, no matter how successfully we have made dogs part of our world; they are still animals and can therefore be unpredictable. Suddenly becoming a victim of a dog attack is one of the most terrifying experiences a person can have.

Dog Attacks

What can cause a dog to attack an adult or child? When confronted by an aggressive dog, what can you do to protect yourself from serious injury? And if injured, do you have a right to claim compensation from the owner of the animal?

It probably comes as no surprise that most victims of dog bites and attacks are children. Figures from 2012/13 show that there were 6,302 hospital admissions attributed to dog bites and mauling. There have been at least 27 deaths since 2006 due to dog attacks.

Although some breeds of dogs have been bred for fighting and aggression, the fact is that ANY dog can bite or maul an adult or child. The difference between a big dog and the smaller breeds simply comes down to strength, and the damage they can do due to their size.

What to look for – warning signs

Dogs can attack for a variety of reasons and almost always give warning signs that they are feeling threatened or uncomfortable before the attack occurs. The most common reasons for a dog to turn aggressive are:

• The dog is or has been mistreated and therefore is in a high state of anxiety most of the time
• To protect their territory or pack (which for a domesticated dog is members of its human family)
• To protect their possessions (food, toys or water)
• The dog is sick or injured
• Provocation
• The dog becomes over-excited during play

Signs a dog is becoming stressed by certain behaviour and may attack if this continues are:

• Yawning
• The dog moves away from the person interacting with them
• The dog turns its head away (this may be quite subtle)
• Incessant licking of itself or a person

When you can see the whites of a dog’s eyes and they begin to growl and snap at you it means the situation has reached a critical moment – it is highly likely the dog is preparing to attack you. In this situation here is what to do.

• The most important thing to do is STAY CALM. A dog can sense your fear and wants its prey to be stressed.
• Do not look the dog directly in the eyes; they can interpret this as a challenge. Avert your gaze, stand sideways and keep the dog within your peripheral vision.
• Stay still. Running away will only activate a dog’s ‘prey drive’ and they can run a lot faster than you can.
• Stand tall and confident, but remember to avoid eye contact. Claim your space by putting something in front of you.
• If the dog comes up to you, stay calm and in control and let it sniff you. Keep your hands by your sides and your fingers curled inwards and never try and pet or hug the dog, this may be seen as threatening by the animal.
• Say in a strong, calm voice “go home” or “back away”.
• If the dog calms down, walk away slowly, facing the dog and avoiding eye contact.

What to do

If a dog attacks you it is a potentially life-threatening situation.

• If the dog jumps on you and takes you down to the ground, curl up in a ball, protecting your face, ears and neck. Stay completely still and play dead.
• If you are still standing and the dog is rushing towards you, look around for an object such as a food recycling bin or stick that you can put between you and the dog. Your aim is to get the dog to latch onto the object instead of you.
• If there are no objects to hand and an attack is inevitable, offer the dog your weakest arm, preferably wrapped in a sweater or jacket. DO NOT pull away from the bite once it happens at this will cause the flesh to tear. Like all predators a dog will put up massive resistance to anything being taken out of its mouth by force. Start yelling for help and target the dog’s eyes or throat with your free arm.

Once you have suffered a dog bite you need to have it checked by a health professional in case of infection.

If you or your child has suffered personal injury from a dog attack you may be entitled to make a claim against the owner.

On a final note, remember, NEVER leave a young child and a dog together unsupervised. Even the most gentle, trusted family pet can turn aggressive in certain circumstance.

Dog Bite Hospital Admissions On The Rise

Dog attacks have featured prominently in the news recently, with incidents such as the killing of 14 year old Jade Anderson by a pack of dogs raising questions around tightening dog control legislation. But whilst fatalities from dog attacks might be rare, the number of hospital admissions related to dog bites is rising.

According to the latest NHS statistics, 6,447 people were admitted to hospital for dog bites in 2011-2012, an increase of 5.2% on the previous year. Of these victims, 1,040 were aged under 10. A variety of different treatments were used to treat the resulting injuries, with plastic surgery being the most common requirement. Other treatment types included oral and maxillo facial surgery and trauma or orthopaedic care.

However, the damage caused by dog bites can go far beyond physical injuries. Being attacked by a dog or any other animal can cause severe emotional or psychological trauma. Many victims suffer nightmares, flashbacks, anxiety or depression. They may be forced to give up work, leading to financial insecurity, or stop pursuing hobbies or interests they used to enjoy.

If this has happened to you, claiming compensation for your injuries will help you regain some quality of life. As well as easing the financial pressure if you need to take time off work, or stop working altogether, you’ll be able to pay for any extra treatment or therapy you need to recover and move on with your life.

Talk to the personal injury experts

Injury Lawyers 4U are a national network of personal injury specialists. We have wide experience of dealing with all kinds of personal injury claims, including claims for dog bites and other injuries caused by animals.

Claims for dog attacks can be complex, and we may need to gather medical evidence and investigate the background and behavioural patterns of the animal that attacked you. You can rest assured that our expert lawyers will assess your case to find out if you have a valid claim before guiding you the through the process, step by step.

We’re here to help you 24/7

Our expert legal advisers are on hand to offer the advice and support you need. Call us on 0845 345 4444 at any time of the day or night to find out if you can claim. We are ‘no win, no fee’ solicitors, so there’s nothing to lose by asking us to handle your case.

What Everyone Should Know About Personal Injury Claims

Making a claim is a simple and hassle free procedure providing that you invest in the help of a fully qualified solicitor. There are many law firms that cater solely to the needs of those that have been involved in either a work of road related incident.

In order to process your claim efficiently it is wise to invest in the help of a firm that’s boasts a team of specialists that focus on such an area. Once you have given the details of the accident to your solicitor, he or she will then do all the work for you.

You will be required to provide the solicitor with various details throughout the case but these can usually be obtained over the phone or by email. The firm will keep you up-to-date on the progress of your case at all times.

Once a fee has been offered, the solicitor will then query this sum with you. It is in their best interest to get you the compensation you deserve and that means you must be happy with this figure.

Those worried about the cost of employing a solicitor may be pleased to know that many operate on a no win, no fee basis.  This means the firm will take their fees from the other party involved, rather than from the claimant. In this way, you can make your claim safe in the knowledge that you lose nothing should you lose the case.

Sourcing a specialist 

Finding a solicitor is easy and there are in fact a variety of firms specialising in UK personal injury claims. Most solicitors will only take on a case that they know they are going to win, which means there is little chance of you losing out on any deserved compensation if the other party is at fault. This means that you get a fair evaluation of your case from the beginning, preventing you from wasting time unnecessarily.

Once you have found a trusted solicitor, you will then need to relay the details of the event down to the last detail. He or she will then go about sourcing a police report and any other evidence they need.

Compensation

If you are entitled to compensation, you are advised to fight for it. After all, this money will come in handy if you need to pay for medical expenses or fund your general living expenses whilst out of work.

Compensation is therefore your entitlement as an injured party and you should never feel embarrassed about claiming the money which you deserve. Not only can claiming compensation improve your situation, it also ensures that those responsible for your accident are held accountable – something which could prompt the other party to take additional safety measures to prevent such incidents occurring in the future.

This means that the chance of you, or someone else, experiencing an accident will be reduced – thus making the world safer for everyone. Claiming compensation will therefore benefit both yourself and the wider community.

The 5 things everyone needs to know about Personal Injury Law

We all are aware of accidents on our roads because, unfortunately, they are a common occurrence. However, a large number of these accidents could have been avoided and, due to the extreme dangers associated to motor collisions, it is important everybody looks for ways to reduce accident figures.

What is personal injury?

There are a range of personal injuries that can occur. This could be anything from psychological illness to death. Personal injuries can arise from a number of different situations; such scenarios could be from a faulty product or service, tripping over debris or rubble as well as psychological and physical injuries from employment or as a result of a crime.

What happens after a personal injury?

Of course, after a serious personal injury, medical care is the most important factor. Once the individual who has been injured has had medical attention they may want to take action. Having a medical report could be very worthwhile should the injured party wish to lodge a claim later on.

Also, the police should be informed in various situations when there is an accident or personal injury. They will be able to assess the situation and make sure that the others involved provide the necessary information.

People involved in accidents can make complaints to the organisation or individual they feel is responsible for it. They may then receive an explanation or an apology.

Depending on the accident, an individual may wish to contact their employer, the police, local authorities or hospital.

How to make a compensation claim for personal injury

The person who has suffered an injury may wish to make a compensation claim for the trauma which they have experienced. Most people who have been wrongly injured make a compensation claim to address the loss of earnings incurred after the accident and to compensate them for their injuries.

In order to gain compensation for a personal injury, legal action will be taken in a civil court by using either a criminal compensation order, a claims assessor or with government compensation schemes.

Compensation: General or special damages?

When making a claim for personal injury you can gain general damages or special damages.

General damages provide compensation for those who have been unable to work, lost earnings or suffered pain after having experienced a personal injury. The court will establish the chosen compensation amount.

Special damages are given to those who have been injured and as a result experienced a permanent financial loss. Special damages will cover the cost of medical care, travel, belongings and repairing items.

Those who were not responsible for the personal injury will receive the largest payout in compensation.

What happens if somebody dies from an injury?

The worst possible outcome from a personal injury is death. If this is the case then a family member can represent the individual who died.

It is then their responsibility to complain and make a compensation claim. At injurylawyers4u, we make this whole process simple and straightforward. Contact us today to find out more about making your personal injury claim.

How to prevent common injuries

Injuries are an unfortunate fact of life and can be sustained in almost any situation and at any time of the year. Whether individuals are playing high risk sports or simply walking to work, accidents can happen and it is vital that the necessary measures are taken to prevent and address these risks.

Common injuries

Before injuries can be prevented against their source needs to be identified. Sports injuries and work-related accidents are both common, as are road traffic collisions. Even slips and trips are a key source of injury, with numerous individuals sustaining injuries of all severities as a result of these accidents.

The injuries which are sustained can range from broken bones and bruising to other common complaints such as whiplash and more severe damages such as internal bleeding or head trauma. Of course, these injuries only cover physical damages and individuals involved in accidents can also sustain emotional trauma following the incident.

Irrespective of the type or severity of the injury it is vital that those affected seek the compensation which they are owed in order to protect themselves, and others, from further harm.

Prevention is better than cure

Whilst personal injury claims may not seem like a preventive measure as they occur after the accident, they can help to protect others from harm in numerous ways. To begin with, filing these claims helps to identify risks and this allows industries to take the necessary measures to improve overall safety.

This can apply to places of work as well as public and private areas and means that those seeking compensation for their injuries can help others through their misfortune. On top of this, personal injury claims can give you the financial security you need should you be forced to take time off of work to recuperate.

In fact, figures from the HSE have shown that approximately one quarter of non-fatal accidents led those involved to take seven days off of work. A further third of those involved in non-fatal accidents took an absence of three days.

This means that a large proportion of individuals who have sustained injuries are left out of work, potentially without income. The compensation they may be entitled to through personal injury claims could help to address this financial concern and giving them the freedom they need to recover fully before contemplating a return to work.

How to claim

For those who feel they are entitled to lodge a personal injury claim, one of the preferred methods is to use a no win no fee solicitor. These are trained professionals who only charge claimants for their services if the case is upheld and settled in their favour – offering a fair agreement. This means that injured parties can seek the compensation they deserve without worrying about the costs this action may incur.

Here at Injurylawyers4u, we now offer this service and also provide personalised consultations to ensure claimants get the support and assistance which they need when making their personal injury claim.