Work Related Upper Limb Disorder

The term work related upper limb disorder is also known as repetitive strain injury. It is a general term that refers to chronic pain that can take place in any part of your arms, which includes your elbow, wrist, hands and fingers as well as your neck and shoulders. Upper limb disorder is described as a chronic condition that lasts a long time and sometimes continues for the rest of a person’s life. It is a chronic condition in the sense of time not how serious the condition is.

There are said to be more than 20 different conditions which can be described as an upper limb disorder. These different conditions can affect the neck, shoulders and arms. It is estimated that one in 50 workers are affected by the condition known as upper limb disorder. The term upper limb disorder is used to describe a painful condition associated with doing something repeatedly for a long period of time; it is due to this that you should have your working environment designed so that you can work with your body upright without having to twist or stretch it.

The main symptom that is present with upper limb disorder is pain and the painful area will vary depending on your specific condition. It will probably be most noticeable when you are carrying out the activity that caused it; however the pain that you are experiencing may progress so that it is present all of the time, even when you are resting the affected area. Due to this you may end up not being able to carry out routine work or household activities. The pain that you will feel with upper limb disorder will most likely be a sharp or dull ache. As well as the pain that you will be suffering from you may also experience the following:

• Tenderness
• Stiffness
• Tingling
• Numbness
• Weakness
• Cramp

Most, if not all aspects of upper limb disorder occur at work and in order to try and reduce/stop this employers have a legal duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 as well as the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 to prevent work-related RSI and ensure that any existing cases of RSI don't get worse. If your employer fails to protect employees as best as they can then they are leaving themselves open to becoming liable for their employees injuries.

It can easily be said that a wide range of activities and processes can cause the onset of upper-limb disorders (ULDs). It is because of this that employers should carry out risk assessments within the business; during which particular attention should be given to the following:

• The use of the hands and arms
• Repetitive actions
• The use of a lot of force
• Actions performed for a long time
• Poor and static posture or uncomfortable working positions
• Vibration
• Working in cold conditions

When looking into these aspects employers should be checking to ensure that employees are protected as much as possible by proving things such as protective clothing, including heavy gloves to stop the vibration of machinery and ensuring that a computer desk is set up in the right manner to protect against damage to you wrist and hands due to repetitive movements.
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Helen is the web master of Accident Consult, specialists in all aspects of Work Related Upper Limb Disorder.

Cosmetic Compensation Claims

Being a woman in this day and age is hard work. We are expected to hold down a career as well as bring up our children and be the perfect house wife for our men. Being the perfect mother and house wife includes being able to cook, clean, do the laundry, be organised, house maintenance, gardener, to mention but a few. It is know wonder why so many women get stressed and pressured when we are also expected to look good too.

Being constantly bombarded with images of super thin flawless super models where ever you look does not help. Whether it’s the TV, the glossy magazines or cinema bill boards, they always manage to look perfect with flawless and skin toned figures. How and when are we supposed to find the time to make ourselves look good when were too busy looking after jobs, home, our children and husbands?
If you are one of these ‘super women’ that mange to run a career, maintain a house, look after your children, keep your husband happy, as well as looking good then you are probably getting some help from the hundreds of beauty products on the market. Using cosmetics and soap, hand creams, fake tan and perfume are all everyday tasks for most women and you wouldn’t expect to have a personal injury because of them. But this is what is happening; skin rashes, inflammation and burn injuries are the most common forms of injuries caused by cosmetics. These injuries can have a serious long term affect on women. As well as the physical effects these injuries inflict, you must not forget the emotional scarring that goes with it. Emotional scarring can go on for years and turn into nasty metal illnesses such as depression.
Facial disfigurement compensation claim awards are significantly higher when successful. The highest known payout for an injury of this type was for $53,000. It was awarded to a relatively young woman who had a serious reaction to some cosmetics which scared her for life. She was also psychological scarred which was why the amount she received was so high.

If you have suffered a personal injury due to a cosmetic product then you could be entitled to compensation. The amount you will receive will depend on how sever the injury was and how you have coped with it since. With very severe scarring in a relatively young woman where cosmetic effect is very disfiguring and the psychological reaction is severe the amount would be in the region of £28,000 to £56,500. If your injury left you with scars but could be reduced by plastic surgery then the amount of compensation will be in the region of £10,500 to £17,550. For less severe scarring where there is some disfigurement but still some significant psychological reaction the amount would be in the region of £17,000 to £28,000. For trivial scarring where the effect is very minor the amount of compensation would be in the region of £1,000 to £2,000.

If you have suffered a personal injury because of a beauty product you should seriously consider claiming compensation. People think that because they put the products on your face it is thier fault. But what you have to realise is that you didn’t put these products on your face to purposely cause scarring, you were just using products beautify yourself. Regardless of whether they work or not you certainly did not expect them to harm you or scar you. Claiming compensation is your civil and legal right and by doing so you are helping others. If people never sued and claimed compensation these dodgy products would go on to hurt more and more people. Unfortunately it takes these personal injuries and the threat of being sued for manufacturers’ to wake up and remove these products from the shelves.

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Carolyn is the webmaster of Accident Consult, experts in dealing with cosmetic compensation claims.

Whiplash and Road Traffic Accidents

It has been estimated that two in three people who are involved in road traffic collisions will end up suffering the effects of whiplash through experiencing problems in their neck and surrounding area. These symptoms usually develop within a few hours but the nature of the symptoms that they suffer can often vary.

The most common symptoms that are associated with whiplash include the following:

• Pain and stiffness of the neck, which can often extend up to the head and down to the shoulders
• Headache
• Numbness or tingling in the arms, which extends down into the hands
• Low back pain
• Dizziness
• Problems such as poor concentration, memory or mental performance
• Tiredness
• Ringing in the ears or tinnitus
• Blurred vision

These symptoms usually develop a few hours after the road traffic accident and most people usually recover from the symptoms of whiplash within a few weeks but in extreme cases the symptoms can often worsen and go on to cause further problems that will affect people for years to come.

When it comes to whiplash many people don’t realise the fact that a car only has to be driving at a low speed of even 10mph to cause the on set of whiplash. Even the slightest, smallest bump to a car can cause whiplash. This is surprising to many people as they only think whiplash happens when a car is travelling at high speed.

Whiplash most commonly occurs after a road traffic accident where a car collides with another car or a structure. So what exactly does whiplash do? It stretches and tears the soft tissues of the neck, affecting the tendons, ligaments and muscles. It also may damage the nerves and other structures in the area. This soft tissue damage is known as a whiplash injury, or cervical sprain as well as hyperextension injury.

The way in which whiplash is diagnosed is by looking at a patients history as well as a head and neck examination. Also x-rays are also used purely to rule out any potential fractures. It is important that you seek medical help after a road traffic accident as you may feel fine but aspects such as whiplash take a few hours to diagnose. By gaining medical help after a road traffic accident you will have the peace of mind that your injuries are being treated in the right way and you will also have a record of your injuries in case they are needed for future use.

The standard treatment that is usually given to a patient who is suffering the effects of whiplash includes encasing the neck in a soft collar to prevent movement that could worsen the symptoms. As well as this you will often be advised to apply an ice pack to the affected area and to take regular pain relief.

Sadly there aren’t many things that people can do to prevent the onset of whiplash, however certain head restraints may prevent some whiplash injuries such as they may stop the head jolting backwards.

If you are suffering from the affects of whiplash then you could be entitled to put in a claim for compensation. If you do want to put in a claim for compensation then it is important that you speak to a professional solicitor who will be able advise you on what to do next.

Helen is the web master of Accident Consult, specialists in all aspects of Road Traffic Accidents and the symptoms of Whiplash Injury.

MRSA Claims

Despite popular belief MRSA is not a new problem, it has been around since 1961; however it reminded at low levels in the UK until 1992. Since 1992 MRSA has spread and caused health problems and even death to countless people across the UK.

MRSA stands for Methicillin Resistant Staphlococcus Aureus. Methicillin is a powerful antibiotic and Staphlococcus Aureus is a common type of bacteria. It was through the repeated use of antibiotics to treat Staphlococcus related infections that led to several strains becoming resistant to nearly all antibiotics. These resistant strains are called MRSA.

The bacteria known as Staphlococcus Aureus is present on the skin or in the nose of about 20 to 40% of our population; however to most of these people it causes no problems, this is because it is unlikely to harm healthy people; they are just known as carriers. In individuals who are run down, have wounds, undergone surgery, have catheters or have intravenous drips it can cause serious problems or even death. MRSA mainly affects vulnerable people such as the elderly or the very sick, and people who have severely reduced resistance to infection.

Since the increase in the amount of cases of MRSA there has been and continues to be a focus on prevention and control of MRSA in the UK. Hospitals should take special steps to prevent the spread of MRSA from patient to patient. One of these steps may be to separate, or isolate, a patient with MRSA from other patients; however the best prevention is strict hygiene. This involves using antimicrobial skin wash, soap and shampoo, which are all used to stop the colonisation of the skin and nasal cream is given for those who have the bacteria in their nose. Also as well as ensuring that a patient is treated for MRSA on the skin they are also given antibiotics. As previously mentioned MRSA is resistant to most antibiotics; however there is an exception in the form of Vancomycin and Teicoplanin. These are highly powerful antibiotics and can only be administered through infusion or injection.

As a patient of a UK hospital the staff have a duty of care towards you to ensure that everything possible is being done to stop the spread of MRSA. If, as a patient, you contract MRSA due to a lack of care then you may be entitled to make a claim for compensation.

Although it can be difficult to claim as it is often difficult to prove clinical negligence you should get in touch with Accident Consult today and have your case assessed by one of our professional advisors who will be able to determine whether you have a chance of a successful compensation claim.

It is your civil and legal right to make a claim for compensation after suffering at the hands of a negligence person so contact Accident Consult today on 08081 68 69 70.

Alternatively visit Accident Consult for all aspects of Claiming Compensation for MRSA.

War Trauma – Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder occurs after you have been through a traumatic event; however just because you go through a traumatic event it doesn’t mean you are guaranteed to suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. It is estimated that about 8% of men and 20% of women will develop Post Traumatic Stress Disorder after a traumatic event.

Experts have estimated that Post Traumatic Stress Disorder occurs in about the following:

• 30% of Vietnam veterans, or about 30 out of 100 Vietnam veterans.

• 10% of Gulf War (Desert Storm) veterans

• 6% to 11% of veterans of the Afghanistan war (Enduring Freedom), or in 6 to 11 veterans out of 100

• 12% to 20% of veterans of the Iraq war (Iraqi Freedom), or in 12 to 20 veterans out of 100

The missions that you encounter whilst you are serving at war may mean that you are exposed to life threatening experiences; you may be shot or someone you are servicing with may be caught in the line of fire. You may even experience death whilst you are stationed in various places around the world.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is an anxiety disorder. It occurs when you are afraid, your body activates the fight or flight response. This reaction releases adrenaline, which is responsible for increasing your blood pressure and heart rate as well as increasing glucose to muscles (to allow you to run away quickly in the face of immediate danger). However when this danger has gone your body begins to go through a process that shuts down the stress response and this process involves the release of another hormone known as cortisol. If your body doesn’t generate enough cortisol to shut down the stress reaction you may continue to feel the effects of adrenaline. Trauma victims who develop post-traumatic stress disorder often have higher levels of other stimulating hormones (catecholamines) under normal conditions in which the threat of trauma is not present. These same hormones kick in when they are reminded of their trauma.

When it comes to the treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder the main treatment that is given is psychotherapy and basic counselling, this includes education about the condition as well as safety and support.

If you are suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder due to your time spent serving in a war you could be entitled to compensation.

To find out where you stand legally with making a claim for compensation after suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder contact Accident Consult today on 08081 68 69 70 and speak to one of our highly skilled legal team today. Alternatively visit Accident Consult for all aspects of Claiming Compensation for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Military Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Military Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is a serious disorder which involves many symptoms such as self harm, anger, violence and drug addiction as well as depression. All of these are common symptoms of Military Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and sadly affects thousands of soldiers every year who have serviced in the armed forces.

The number of people who are experiencing and suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, also known as war trauma, is said to hugely increase in the next few years due to the number of soldiers who are fighting in areas such as Helmand and Basra. There are concerns that the Iraq war is producing more cases of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder than any other conflict in decades, one of the main reasons for this is that the violence has been so widespread and exposure to it so constant over long periods of time. The suicide bombers, roadside mines and the constant threat of attack within the Iraq war poses a unique challenge to the mental health of the soldiers who are serving in it.

The number of troops diagnosed with past traumatic stress disorder has increased by about 50%. It has been estimated that about 40,000 troops have been diagnosed with the post traumatic stress disorder since 2003 and it is thought that many more are probably keeping their illness a secret. This is often because they are embarrassed or they fear having the condition hurt their military career; due to this a large majority of the soldiers suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder don’t get the treatment that they need.

Many people, including people in the medical profession don’t fully understand Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and often take on the notion that soldiers will be fine when leaving the service but what people don’t realise is that incidents of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder among people involved in military go back to the American Civil War and cases ran high after the Falklands War with over 300 British combatants committing suicide since 1982. It is believed that as many as 60,000 American soldiers (18 per cent of the total US fighting force) and 2,000 British soldiers have been, or will be, diagnosed with PTSD after serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Ministry of Defence has a duty to protect all employees, just like any other UK employer does, wherever they are stationed in the world. If this duty of care is breeched and you end up suffering as a result of it then you could be entitled to make a claim for compensation.

If you have suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder whilst serving in the Armed Forces then contact Accident Consult and our solicitors will be able to advise you on the best course of action. We aim to secure for all of our clients the maximum amount of compensation in the shortest possible timeframe.

Call us today on 08081 68 69 70 and speak to one of our specialist advisors today. Alternatively visit Accident Consult.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD - War Trauma)

It has been estimated that 30% of Vietnam war veterans, 10% Gulf war veterans, 6% to 11% Afghanistan war veterans and 12% to 20% of veterans of the Iraq war have suffered from Post Traumatic Stress disorder. This is an anxiety disorder that can develop after exposure to one or more terrifying events.

The history of PTSD date back to the early 1800’s where military doctors began diagnosing soldiers with "exhaustion" following the stress of battle. This "exhaustion" was characterized by mental shutdown due to individual or group trauma. Around this time there was a syndrome in England called ‘railway spine’ or ‘railway hysteria which bares a resemblance to what we call PTSD today. This was found by people who had been in the catastrophic railway accidents of that time.
In World War I and II the term ‘shell shock’ and combat fatigue’ were terms to describe veterans who exhibited stress and anxiety after being in combat. The official designation of "Post Traumatic Stress Disorder" did not come about until 1980 when the Third edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) was published.

This anxiety disorder occurs when you are afraid and your body activates the fight or flight response. This reaction to fight releases adrenaline, which is responsible for increasing your blood pressure and heart rate as well as increasing glucose to muscles (to allow you to run away quickly in the face of immediate danger). However when this danger has gone your body begins to go through a process that shuts down the stress response and this process involves the release of another hormone known as cortisol. If your body doesn’t generate enough cortisol to shut down the stress reaction you may continue to feel the effects of adrenaline. Trauma victims who develop post-traumatic stress disorder often have higher levels of other stimulating hormones (catecholamines) under normal conditions in which the threat of trauma is not present. These same hormones kick in when they are reminded of their trauma.

Military Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is a very serious disorder with symptoms such as self harm, anger, violence and drug addiction as well as depression. All of these are common symptoms of Military Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and sadly affects thousands of soldiers every year who have serviced in the armed forces. Treating Military Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is done through psychotherapy and basic counselling but can take a lot of time and patience.

Sadly a number of people who are experiencing and suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, also known as ‘war trauma’, is said to hugely increase in the next few years due to the number of soldiers who are fighting in areas such as Helmand and Basra. There are concerns that the Iraq war is producing more cases of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder than any other conflict in decades, one of the main reasons for this is that the violence has been so widespread and exposure to it so constant over long periods of time. The suicide bombers, roadside mines and the constant threat of attack within the Iraq war poses a unique challenge to the mental health of the soldiers who are serving in it.

If you are one of those suffering and are thinking of claiming compensation for you suffering then you should do so right away. It is your civil and legal right to claim compensation for injuries psychological and mental. No-one should suffer in silence.

Carolyn is the webmaster of Accident Consult Ltd, specialists in Claiming compensation for PTSD.

MRSA Compensation Claims

MRSA stands for Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus. It is also better known and referred to as the ‘superbug.’ It has been around since 1961 despite popular belief. It was only in the early 90’s that it spread quite dramatically and caused health problems and even death to many people in the UK. According to the UK office for National Statistics, they sadly reported 1,629 MRSA-related deaths in England and Wales during 2005.

The virus can be easily spread by merely being in contact with someone who has it, but it can also be spread through contact with towels, sheets, clothes, dressings or other objects. The MRSA virus can also survive on objects and surfaces such as door handles, sinks, floors and cleaning equipment. You can diagnose MRSA through blood and urine tests

The baceria is called Staphylococcus Aureus and apparently 1 in 3 of us carries it on the surface of our skin or in our nose. This generally causes no harm if the carrier is healthy; however if a carrier comes into contact with a vulnerable patient, i.e. someone with lowered immune system, a person with open wounds or someone who has just had surgery the they can pass the infection onto these people.

If the bacteria Staphylococcus Aureus gets into your body through a break in your skin it can cause infections such as boils, abscesses, or impetigo. If the bacteria gets inside into your bloodstream it can cause more serious infections such as the blood poisoning, septic shock, severe joint problems, bone marrow infection, internal abscesses anywhere within the body, inflammation of the tissues that surround the brain and spinal cord, lung infection or infection of the heart lining.

Trying to prevent the spread of MRSA is a tricky business. The measures to prevent the spread of organisms from one person to another are called isolation or infection control. The most important type of isolation is called contact isolation where everyone in contact of the MRSA sufferer has to wash their hands after touching the patient or anything to do with the patient. If there are a number of patients infected with MRSA then moving them to an isolation unit is the safest way to minimise the spread.

Unfortunately more and more people are going into hospital for minor illnesses or ailments only to catch MRSA and end up far sicker than previously. It is worth pursuing a compensation claim if this happens to you as you shouldn’t have caught this virus and suffered in this way. You are well within your rights to make a claim for compensation even though it can be difficult to prove clinical negligence. A professional lawyer should be enlisted to help you. There is no need to worry about lawyers fees as there is the ‘no win no fee’ agreement that allows anyone to take on a compensation claim. The lawyer will be working for free and only in the event of the winning case will the lawyers fees be paid via the insurance of the losing party. If the case is lost there is insurance to cover fees.


Carolyn Clayton is the webmaster for accidentconsult.com, experts in claiming compensation for MRSA.

Personal Injury Claims Need Overhaul

The future of personal injury litigation and its effect of personal injury solicitors hang in the balance after The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has continued to voice its concerns over expediting a much needed overhaul of the system.

The ABI published a consultation paper over a year ago and are still anxiously awaiting a substantive response from the Ministry of Justice. The ABI suggested imposing a system of fixed fees, giving insurers the job of investigating cases and increasing the limit on fast track cases from £15,000 to £25,000.

The ABI is the trade association for Britain’s insurance industry. Its member companies provide over 90% of the insurance business in the UK. It represents insurance companies to the Government, and to the regulatory and other agencies, and is a powerful voice on public policy and financial services issues. ABI member companies hold up to a sixth of all investments traded on the London Stock Exchange, on behalf of millions of pensioners and savers.

The research in the consultation paper contended that injury claims following a motor accident took on average two years to settle, with three years on average for workplace claims. This time span was deemed unacceptable and to help temper such problems, the ABI suggested that insurers should be able to investigate claims in the first instance, so that where they admitted liability, they could move straight away to negotiating settlement.

Personal injury solicitors, in particular, were condemned for paying high referral fees to claims management companies. The report recommended that reducing legal costs was the key to delivering a fairer and more efficient system.

Furthermore, it was suggested by the ABI that it has become an increasingly worrying trend that a person who has been injured goes to a lawyer who does a vast amount of unnecessary research, before putting the claim anywhere near the insurer thus increasing the time gap.

Critics of the ABI have suggested that the recommendations are simply a cost cutting exercise and will have no considerable effect

Although the ABI has been impatient for news from the government as per promised changes, the government has already drawn up plans to improve the process and the ABI is keen to see them implemented, so that claims can be settled swiftly.

Under the new proposals, personal injury solicitors would have five days after being contacted by a claimant in which to notify insurers of a potential claim.

Insurers would have 15 days in the case of a motor claim, and 30 days for a workplace or public liability claim, to decide whether or not they are going to settle.

Saurav is an author of several articles pertaining to No Win No Fee, Compensation Claims, Personal Injury Claims and other legal articles.

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Source:Article Alley, best for Free articles

Motorcycle Accidents Advice

It has been said that motorcycles represent approximately about 1% of the traffic on our roads in the UK but they account for 18% of all serious deaths and injuries. Motorcyclists are 40 times more likely to be killed in an accident than a car driver. This is why it is highly important that you take extra care as a motorcycle driver and also as another road user where motorcycles are present.

There are five common motorcycle accidents that occur on roads worldwide; these include:

• Bends on country roads
• Collisions at junctions
• Collisions while overtaking
• Loss of control
• Shunts

In order to safely ride a motorcycle you need to be skilled. You need to be able to manoeuvre around corner with the right amount of bend placed on the bike; you also need to be able to adjust your riding in order to deal with different road conditions such as poor whether conditions, spills on the road and pot holes. As well as making sure you are prepared for whatever the road surface has to offer you also need to ensure that your motorcycle is in the best condition, especially the tyres. You need to make sure that your tyres have the correct amount of tread and the correct pressure, remember it is the tyres on the motorcycle that your life depends on.

In recent years there has been an increase in the sales of scooters and motorcycles; however this has sadly been corresponded with an increase in deaths and serious injury of motorcycle riders. This is why it is important that as a motorcyclist you are alert, especially at junctions and roundabouts; you need to be anticipating what other road users are likely to do and always check before completing a manoeuvre. Another important aspect that you need to keep in mind is your positioning within the road. The best and most safe position for a motorcyclist is in the centre of a lane, which is where you should intend to stay until you need to turn; you should then make your way over to the correct side of the lane.

Having an accident on a motorcycle as either the rider or passenger you have the potential of suffering from numerous different injuries such as whiplash, broken bones, tissue damage, multiple trauma, paraplegia and brain damage or even suffering a fatal accident. These merely name a few of the injuries that you may be suffering from after having a motorcycle accident.

If you have had a motorcycle accident in the last three years that has left you suffering from life changing injuries or that has left you facing financial difficulty due to being out of work and facing mounting medical expenses then get in touch with a personal injury specialist today as you may be entitled to make a claim for compensation.

In a successful claim compensation will be awarded for your initial injuries, any medical expenses that you are facing and any loss of earnings that you have suffered since that accident.

Helen is the web master for Accident Consult, experts in all aspects of Motorcycle Accident Compensation.