Dog Attack – Claiming Compensation

Have you been bitten, attacked or knocked over by a dog and have suffered injuries from this accident, if so you have a legal and civil right to claim compensation.

Whether you’re an adult or a child who has been attacked by a dog it doesn’t matter. The dog may have been off a lead or has got free from his collar whatever the circumstances you shouldn’t be suffering in silence. There have been serious dog attacks in the news recently and there are a few where a child has died. The news coverage of these cases has caused more people to be more aware of dog attacks and some people carry walking sticks, wooden sticks and canes to protect themselves and their dog if another dog was to attack them or their dog.

The dog may pounce on you and knock you over but it also may try and bite you. Many dogs have very sharp teeth and therefore puncture wounds are very common but not only may you suffer puncture wounds but also scratches and flesh wounds. You must seek medical attention for dog attack wounds because dogs have several types of bacteria and viral infections in their mouths. If you can remember the breed of the dog that attacked you tell the medical team this helps them in giving you medical treatment.

You need to make sure you get the contact information from the owner of the dog that attacked you so you are able to pass these details onto the police and your solicitor when making your compensation claim. To make a compensation claim you will sue the person who is or has the responsibility of the dog, this person may not be the owner of the dog.

The only way you won’t make a successful compensation claim against the person responsible for the dog is when that person has done everything they can to protect others if they know there dog may be dangerous. This includes making sure the dog is secure and can’t get out alone, putting Beware of the Dog signs up as well as warning friends, family and neighbours not to approach the dog as it may attack. If the owner has took these measures and someone ignores the signs and measures then the attack may be provoked or on purpose. If the owner proves this they sometimes won’t be liable for the attack and compensation due to contributory negligence.

If you’ve suffered injuries and suffering from the dog attack you may be liable to receive compensation. This compensation will recover any medical costs and fees you’ve paid and will need to pay in the future, the suffering mentally and physically you have suffered and any loss of earning you may have incurred.

If you’re worried about costs of a compensation claim then why not think about using a No Win No Fee solicitor. This means you don’t have to pay a penny if you don’t win the case and if you do you will receive the full amount of compensation awarded. So what have you got to lose, nothing so don’t suffer in silence, claim today!



Jene Pedder is the Webmaster of Accident Consult who specialise in No Win No Fee Dog Attack Compensation Claims.

Head/Brain Injuries – Claiming Compensation

If you or members of your family have been injured in an accident that wasn’t your fault and you’ve suffered brain injuries from this accident, you have a legal and civil right to claim compensation. Brain injuries are very serious whatever type, not only may it change the person’s life forever but it also affects everyone around the injured person.

In the UK over a million people attend accident and emergency every year with head injuries from a trauma to the head. Due to this, thousands of brain injury accident claims are pursed every year.

There are different types of head injuries these include:

• Closed Injury – this is when the trauma to the head is without any penetration to the brain which means the brain has had no twisting or turning on its axis. Banging of the head and skull can cause widespread or localized damage to the brain but this isn’t a closed injury.

• Open Injury – an open injury is when there is penetration to the skull by an object impacting the skull. The initial impact of the object can be severe but usually patients make a virtually full recovery.

Permanent damage from a head injury varies from person to person but it’s not just the things we hear from the news or in the papers, there’s a lot more that no-one knows about. If the following 4 points are present as a result of the accident there is likely to be permanent damage:

1. Loss of Consciousness

2. Loss of Memory for the events running up to the accident and immediately after the accident

3. Focal Neurological Deficit

4. Alteration in Mental State at the time of the accident – the patient feeling confused, dazed or disoriented

Some brain and head injuries are not obvious at the time of the accident and a while after, some injuries only show once time progresses. The following are the side effects which can arise from a head and brain injury:

• Cognitive Changes
• Lack of Insight
• Memory Problems
• Poor Concentration
• Slowed Responses
• Poor Planning and Problem-Solving
• Lack of Initiative
• Inflexibility
• Impulsivity
• Irritability
• Socially Inappropriate Behavior
• Communication
• Self-Centeredness
• Dependency
• Emotional Control
• Depression
• Loss of Taste and Smell
• Dizziness and Balance
• Epilepsy and Seizures
• Fatigue
• Headaches
• Visual Problems
• Chronic Pain
• Paralysis
• Hearing Problems

Some of these problems are well-known but there’s also a lot that aren’t and there are also other problems some people have reported which are being looked into. Many people think that a brain injury will cause problems such as intellectual abilities but it’s not only that it’s movement, communicating, controlling and coordinating their thoughts and actions.

If you’ve been in an accident or have had trauma to the skull and it wasn’t your fault you have the right to claim compensation which you deserve to help make your life easier. If you’ve had to pay medical bills and medicine costs these can be noted, any loss of earnings as well as the suffering you may have gone through or are going through now and for the rest of your life. Your compensation claim will cover all these points and make sure you don’t have to pay for everything yourself; it’s not fair especially if someone did this to you. Don’t wait; make a compensation claim today by contacting a solicitor who specializes in head and brain injury cases.

Jene Pedder is the Webmaster of Accident Consult who specialize in Head & Brain Injury Accident Claims.

Slip, Trip or Fallen Accident Compensation

Have you recently slipped, tripped or fallen over something and have hurt yourself from this. If the accident wasn’t your fault you have the legal ad civil right to claim compensation.

A slip, trip or fall accident can be very serious not only this but where you slipped, tripped or fell might also be at risk to other people. If you slipped tripped or fell in a public place, the accident should be reported immediately so someone can do something about it so no one else gets hurt.

You may have slipped on some water or another liquid on a shop floor, in a restaurant or any other public or office space. Any liquids on a floor should be cleared away immediately or a sign be put in place to let others know of the spillage. If you do slip on something or even slip on a banana skin remember to report it and contact a solicitor if necessary.

Tripping over something maybe as simple as tripping over a box which is placed where usually there’s nothing, an object may be in a doorway blocking your entrance and you don’t realise and therefore trip over it. There is also the possibility of tripping over an uneven pavement or road surface. If this does occur you will need to contact the council immediately and explain what happened and also where the accident occurred. They will proberly create a report and send you a copy. If you do have a copy let your solicitor see it when you meet them.

If you fall over something your move likely to fall over an object in your way or after tripping over something you actually fall from this accident. Falling over can be a dangerous, if your anything like me you will put your arms down to break your fall, but this isn’t a good idea as your more likely to break your arm doing this or elbow.

From any of these accidents you may have cuts, bruises but you may also have broken bones, injured back or neck, strained ligaments. Whatever the injury if the accident wasn’t your fault you have a right to claim compensation against the shop, public place, restaurant or council. If you’re thinking you can’t afford to claim, and then use a solicitor who works on a No Win No Fee basis.

A No Win No Fee solicitor will only take on cases that they think have a very good chance of winning and are accidents that took place in the last 3 years. You won’t pay any legal fees, the only cost that you may need to pay are those of getting your doctor to release any medical notes. Your solicitor will only get paid if your case is successful, they will receive their legal fees from the other party’s insurance company. If the case is unsuccessful they won’t receive a penny.

So what have you go to lose, don’t suffer in silence, any slip, trip or fall may be a winning compensation claim if you have suffered from your injuries mentally and physically but also any medical bills you’ve had to pay as well as any loss of earnings you may have endured.



Jene Pedder is the Webmaster of Accident Consult who specialise in Slip Trip or Fall Accident Claims.

Hurt your back lifting at work – Claim Today

Are you in agony with your back, have you injured it lifting products, metal whatever at work. If so you may be entitled to claim compensation against your employer.

Back injuries in the work environment are fairly common, and back injuries can be a tricky part of the body to get better due to fractures and sprains causing permanent weakness in the persons back.

All work environments may involve some lifting and if this is true then every employee should do some manual handling training. This will involve being shown how to lift a variety of different objects from the floor, trolley and lifting from higher shelves. Any manual handling training should be recorded on your training record. If your employer doesn’t give you the training necessary for the job you’re doing and you do hurt yourself lifting an object off the ground, you may be able to claim compensation for the suffering you may have been caused, the medical costs and bills and also any loss of earnings.

Here are some tips to help you avoid back injuries whilst manual handling objects:

• Your employer should make sure you undertake manual handling training

• You should take care when you do lift something to stop yourself from hurting your back

• Before you lift any object consider
o The weight of the object
o Can you use a trolley or another item to help you without needing to manual handle the object
o Do you need help with moving the object, ask if you do
o Work as a team if you do need help, get someone to watch you lifting it also
o Do you need any protective clothing on for example, gloves which protect your hands, steel capped boots to protect your feet etc?

• When you do lift the object you should:
o Use the correct lifting technique for the size and location of the object
o Lift the object in stages, take it from the floor to your knees then lift into the carrying position
o Make sure the object is level with your waist when moving and hold it close to your body
o Don’t have the object obstructing your view so you can’t see where your going
o When you come to set the object down, lower the object to your knees and then place on the floor keeping your feet apart and your back straight

Never over reach or twist as this is a common cause of serious back injuries, if you follow the instructions above they will help you be able to manual handle objects without the need to cause yourself back injuries.

If unfortunately you’ve already injured your back at work lifting objects, a solicitor who specializes in personal injury and work accidents will be able to help you claim the compensation you deserve.

A No Win No Fee solicitor will take on the case if the accident was in the last three years and that they think you have a very good chance of claiming compensation from your employer. If you are successful in claiming compensation you will receive the full amount and your solicitor will gain their legal fees from the other party’s insurance company. If you are unfortunate not to win they won’t get paid a penny. So what you got to lose, claim Today!


Jene Pedder is the Webmaster of Accident Consult who work on a No Win No Fee Basis and specialize in Back Injuries at Work.

Road Traffic Accidents – How should you Proceed?

If you’ve been involved in a road traffic accident in the last three years which wasn’t your fault and you’ve suffered as a result of this accident you have a legal and civil right to claim compensation.

Road traffic accidents are a daily occurrence in the UK, too many people are driving too fast and recklessly and of course some of those drink and drive too. Drink driving has been happening for years now and now restrictions are in place most people are sticking to these which is 80 milligrammes(mg) of alcohol for 100 millilitres(ml) of blood which is around 2 pints of normal strength beer (4% or below) for a man. If you do drink alcohol and intend to drive your limit is:

• 4 units for men
• 3 units for women

The main people prosecuted for drink driving are males 9 out of 10 being male and only 10% of under 21’s are prosecuted, the peak age of being convicted is aged 27. If you are involved in a road traffic accident with a drink driver remain calm and call the police if you can. The police will be able to then take breath test samples from you as well as the other driver for analysis.

There are also many other different measures which may cause a road traffic accident these include:

• Wet roads
• Snow and Ice
• Speeding
• Lack of concentration
• Faulty car

If you’ve been the injured party in a road traffic accident, the police usually are called and will need to take statements from all parties as well as any witnesses. These statements will play an important part in your compensation claim when you proceed with the claim.

From this car accident you may have received multiple injuries to the head, neck, back, legs, arms as well as internal injuries but you may have been lucky and received only a broken leg or a few cuts and bruises. If your injuries have caused you pain and suffering you may have had to see a doctor and of had to pay medical bills and treatment costs. If this is true you have the right to claim compensation from the other party to pay for these costs. As well as this the compensation may include loss of earnings. You may not have been able to go to work which means you can’t afford to pay your bills. Whatever costs and suffering you have had from the road traffic accident you can claim compensation for these.

Many road traffic accident solicitors’ now work on a No Win No Fee basis meaning that you don’t have to pay a penny in legal fees. Your solicitor will only take on the case if they believe it has a very good chance of winning; due to the fact if you don’t win they don’t get paid. The only costs you may need to pay are getting doctor reports and any other information you may need to pay for. If your case is successful you will receive the whole amount of compensation awarded to you, your solicitor will get their legal fees from the other party’s insurance.
Jene Pedder is the Webmaster of Accident Consult who works on a No Win No Fee Basis and specialise in Road Traffic Accident Claims.

What can I make a Compensation Claim for?

If you’ve been in an accident that wasn’t your fault and the accident was in the last 3 years you have a legal and civil right to claim compensation. There are many different types of accidents that may be caused by someone else these include:

• Road Traffic Accident
• Personal Injury
• Slip, Trip or Fall
• Medical Malpractice
• Work Accidents
• Animal Attack

All of the above are types of accidents that may occur to you and if they do, and the accident wasn’t in any way your fault why not claim compensation.

A Road Traffic Accident – this may involve someone in another car hitting your car, a lorry hitting your car, a car hitting a pedestrian, a car or bus hitting a motorcycle or bike the list is endless. Whatever the vehicle etc. you were in if you’ve been injured as a result of this accident you have the right to claim compensation from the other party. You may have received whiplash, back problems, paralysis, internal injuries, head injuries etc. all these are injuries you wouldn’t have received if you weren’t involved in the accident.

Personal Injury – this covers injuries from whiplash, asbestos inhalation, dog bites, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, eye and sight injuries, head injuries, bullying as well as radiation and fume inhalation. Any of the above may cause serious injuries to yourself and others. If you have had any of these you have the right to claim compensation from the party whose fault the injury was.

Slip, Trip or Fall – this involves you either slipping over, tripping over something or falling over. This may be slipping on residue, water or any liquid on a floor, tripping over a box lying in a pathway, doorway or tripping over an uneven pavement slab or road surface. You may even fall over an uneven road surface and injury yourself or fall over from slipping over on a slippery floor. If there are no signs indicting uneven surfaces, wet floors and surfaces you have the right to claim. You may injury your back, knee, head, leg, and arm whatever it may be you wouldn’t have received these injuries if there were signs indicting this.

Medical Malpractice – if you’ve felt ill you would go to your doctor or the hospital to get yourself checked over and is treated if necessary. The problem is more and more people are being turned away without treatment and without a proper diagnosis of the problem. If you do have a medical injury and your injuries haven’t been treated correctly you may be the case of medical malpractice. If untreated some injuries and illnesses are life threatening and unfortunately you may have been the victim of death. If this is true your family can claim compensation on your behalf.

Work Accidents – you go to work so you can pay your bills, but you don’t expect to go to work and hurt yourself. In factories and warehouses work accidents are more common, employees use faulty machinery, use machinery when they haven’t been shown how to the list is endless but this is the fault of the employer and owner of the company. It’s not only factories where accidents occur, in offices employees may hurt themselves lifting heavy files, falling over boxes left in a walkway. Whatever the type of accident you have at work you must record it in the company’s accident book and report it to your manager. They cannot sack you if you make a compensation claim against them and if you get any bulling or intimidating comments from your peers, managers tell your solicitor.

Animal Attack – this may happen when you’re walking your dog and another dog try’s to attack your dad as any dog lover would do you would try to get the other dog off your dog. This may result in being bitten and mauled by the other dog. You may be kicked by a horse in the chest, leg, head wherever a horse kicks this will be very painful and you have a right to claim from the horse’s owners. Whatever the type of animal that attacks you without provoking it first you have the right to claim against the animal’s owners from your injuries.

All these type of accidents can be claimed against, why should you have to suffer in silence and not get the help you require. You may have had to pay medical costs and prescription charges as well not being able to work which means loss of earnings.

Your compensation payout will include loss of earnings, medical costs and also money to help you pay for assistance, medical care if necessary. So why not make your claim today and make a difference!


Jene Pedder is the Webmaster of Accident Consult who specialise in Accident Compensation Claims.

Medical Malpractice Compensation Claim

Are you suffering from an illness or medical condition that hasn’t been diagnosed and missed by your doctor’s and the hospital, have you suffered from pain and no one would take any notice, have the doctor’s missed all your symptoms and you’ve gone home feel worse for wear thinking why doesn’t no one believe me or have been into surgery and something’s gone wrong you may even have died from all of the above. If any of these sound like something that’s happened to you, you have a legal and civil right to claim compensation.

Medical negligence needs to have more nationwide and worldwide coverage on the radio and television. In America over 80,000 people die each year from a variety of medical negligence illnesses and this is only the cases the hospitals reveal so this may be a lot higher. If medical negligence was a disease everyone would be panicking and doctors, consultants and researchers would be doing all they can to stop the disease from spreading so why are they letting thousands of people die each year from silly mistakes and missed diagnoses’.

Around 35 to 40% of the 80,000 people dying each year are from missed diagnosis, this is so simple to rectify all doctors, consultants should listen to every patient whatever they may think wrong and if nothing can be found wrong more tests need to be done until a problem is found. These statistics don’t even show the illness’s and even deaths of people who are in clinics, non hospital facilities, dental practises and private doctor’s offices.

There are very little compensation claims for injured and the death of a person from medical negligence as little as only 2%. So you may be thinking why, well death is a very private and personal family thing to come to terms with, many families just want to forget and remember the good times and forget about the illness and what caused the death of their family member.

Before I wrote this article I never realised the large extent of missed and wrong medical diagnosis and how many people die each year in only one country from medical malpractice. The media doesn’t pick up on how many people die from this due to people dying on a ‘one at a time basis’. Everyone needs to know the extent of this problem its not a small problem it’s a huge problem and it’s not going to go away until everyone realises the problem and the hospitals, NHS, private doctor and dental practises and other non-hospital facilities take great care in looking after every patient that comes through their door.

If you’ve been involved in any of the above don’t sit back and think it’s your fault, if you or any member of your family have been injured from medical negligence or you’re partner, husband/wife, daughter/son, sister/brother have unfortunately died, don’t sit back and let the hospital or whoever get away with it, you can claim on behalf of your family member to get the compensation they deserve. Not only the compensation but you may even help raise awareness of medical malpractice and this can only help reduce the large amount of medical malpractice injuries and deaths.

Jene Pedder is the Webmaster of Accident Consult who specialise in Medical Malpractice Compensation Claims.

Dogs - What To Do When They Attack

"A man's best friend" is one of the most common ways that we refer to the Carnivora mammal, the dog. Around 15,000 or even as early as 100,000 years ago, based on newly found scientific evidence like genetic fossils, dogs were domesticated from their ever so friendly cousin, the wolves; however, after thousands of years of training, the dogs we now know today are not as aggressive as their cousins and don't rely entirely upon their natural instincts, as they can live side by side with humans.

During this time, the species evolved into many different breeds like the Boxer, Cocker Spaniel, Chihuahua and Golden Shepard, etc., all of which are much loved family pets. The differences in the breeds are obvious as they range in sizes, colours, behaviours, appearances, mating habits, etc.

Dogs are, like humans, highly sociable animals and this can be seen in their playfulness, trainability, attitude and ability to fit into households and social groups comfortably. Dogs are loyal and devoted to their owners, providing them with company and also protection. The bond of human and dog always seems comfortable as we get along so well.

Families with dogs treat their pets with the utmost respect and love, just as if they were a part of their family and dogs do the same. Dogs treat their human family as members of their pack. Both sides provide comfort and reliability, helping each other through rough situations. With such a strong bond and reliance between the two, of course it's easy to say that dogs are a man's best friend.

However, what happens when a dog turns sore and their natural instinct kicks in, pushing them to the limit? What happens when the dog turns into a threat? It's hard to imagine that such a lovable creature that almost seems perfect can become a threat and attack humans; however, needless to say, it can happen.

It sure is frightening to open up the newspaper with the headline "Dog attacked human". But what happens if that was YOUR dog or if you were the victim? What can you do about it?

First of all, if you were a victim of an unprovoked attack by your neighbour's dog, but with no serious harm done (no blood or broken skin), then try to take the high road and let it go. Of course, make sure your neighbour knows about it and he'll probably be eager to set things right. You can remind them of the local leash law as well just to make sure it won't happen again.

If it was a serious injury, remember to identify the animal which bit you, or caused the injury. If the animal hasn't had their shots, or hasn't even been caught, then needless to say, you may need painful rabies vaccinations. Get the name, address and telephone number of both the owner of the animal and everyone else who witnessed this incident. Receive medical attention for your wounds and potential health issues. Remember to keep the medical bills and treatment records. Also, if possible photograph the wounds and talk everything over with your lawyer. If you're the owner of a dog, remember to get insurance and also be familiar with your state laws on pets and animals. This is to protect you from liability of if your dog attacks someone.

If you happen to be at the scene of the accident and you're the owner of the pet, remember to stay calm and accommodate the victim as much as possible and make sure he/she gets medical attention. Avoid making any statements about the situation and get the names and addresses of all the witnesses. As well, remember to find your pet's medical records along with proof of rabies shots.

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Dogs

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell

Dogs - What To Do When They Attack.

Claiming Compensation for Injuries Caused by Animals

Incidents involving animals are unfortunately quite common, ranging from simple dog bites, to a kick from a horse or deer running in front of a car.

Particularly here, the law recognises that the innocent should be compensated.

Whilst it might help your case to prove that the animal owner or keeper is to blame for injury, it is not necessary.

If an animal has caused an injury by just behaving normally, then usually the keeper is liable. Only if the injured person was ‘wholly’ at fault, will his claim fail.

Dog bite injuries involving children and couriers are one of the most common claims solicitors are asked to advise on. Dogs are territorial or may feel intimidated when approached. If they bite, they are probably behaving normally and their keepers liable to pay compensation.

The Animals Act 1971 recognises this and provides for compensation to be paid without any great investigation into ‘blame’. There does not need to be any council or police involvement in the case for the compensation claim to succeed. The Occupiers Liability Act 1957 can also be helpful here.

Horses can cause very significant injury. Do get advice if you have been injured by a horse.

We might ask what you know about the animal. Had behaved in the way that caused the injury previously? What is known about it’s temperament? Who was looking after it? Were there any witnesses?

Most animal owners and keepers are insured for such eventualities, whether they be householders, farmers or otherwise working the animal.

If the owner of the animal is not known or the animal is wild, there may be problems however.

If you are considering whether you can bring a claim such as dog bite compensation, we suggest you seek advise from a specialist solicitor on a true no win, no fee* basis.

Andrew Bowen is the Managing Director of CityView Media which operate a number of online businesses including National Injury Claims and Claim King Accident Compensation.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Bowen

Claiming Compensation for Injuries Caused by Animals.

York Accident Claims

York is a historical city in North Yorkshire and was founded in AD71 and became in turn the capital of a Roman province and of the kingdoms of Northumbria and Jorvik. Some of York’s most popular sites include the Roman Wall, of which the top half is still medieval. The York Minster is another popular tourist site; it stands as the largest Gothic cathedral in northern Europe.

Another, but slightly unusual popular tourist destination is The Shambles; a medieval street with overhanging timber-built shops, now occupied by souvenir shops.

York has a lot to offer not just tourists but the people who live there. However due to its medieval features and old streets you have the possibility of facing a personal injury accident such as a slip, trip or fall.

If you are unfortunate to become a victim of a personal injury whilst in York you could be entitled to claim compensation. Here at Accident Consult our professional lawyers and advisors are highly trained and have many years of experience in no win no fee claims.

We have dealt with all sorts of personal injury claims such as road traffic accidents, trips, slips and falls as well as other accidents in public and at work.

For more information about claiming or if you are unsure whether you have a case, get in touch with Accident Consult today for your free no obligation consultation.

York Accident Claims.

Hertford No Win No Fee Accident Claims

Hertford has a relatively small population of around 24,000 and is one of the capitals premier commuter belt towns, situated in the south-east of England the town is just twelve miles from London. Hertfordshire is one of the Home Counties and has long since been synonymous with wealth. The aristocracy and nobility have owned property in the area throughout the ages a fact which has led to a healthy economy. Hertford has excellent transport links with road and rail routes between London and the North and North West and the Midlands.

Half of the county is designated as Green Belt land this makes it perfect for ramblers, horse riders and cyclists that can enjoy more than 1800 miles of public paths and areas of outstanding natural beauty. The Chiltern Hills are to the west and north-west of the county.

The county has a varied combination of sleepy country villages and historic market towns like St Albans, Hitchin and Hertford to entertain visitors from all over the world. Hertford boasts the first paper mill in Britain which was established by John Tate in 1494.

If you have ever suffered a personal injury whilst in Hertford, then you may be entitled to claim compensation as a direct result. You have a legal and civil right to claim, a fact that passes the majority by. Under a Conditional Fee Agreement individuals can pursue a claim on a ‘No Win No Fee’ basis.

‘No Win No Fee’ means that you will not have to pay a penny in legal or court fees whether the case is successful or not. Why not consult with a variety of firms to gauge the legality of your case. A lawyer will not take your case on unless they think that the probability of winning the case is so great, that they can’t lose.

The reason that they take on the case is that if they are successful they claim the cost in full from the other party involved. The key advantage you have here is that you are safe in the knowledge that the lawyer that chose to handle your case wouldn’t have accepted it, unless the body of evidence was in your favour.



Any compensation payout you receive is likely to include remuneration for the initial pain and suffering caused, as well as any psychological impairment, such as fear of the road if you have been in a car accident. Also taken into account are medical costs/treatments fees, and any loss of earnings.

The lawyers at Accident Consult are experienced in many types of personal injury, from whiplash to broken limbs, you’ll find a substantial list of previous claims on the ‘accident types’ page of this website, if you have suffered an accident then get in touch with their lawyers today for a free, impartial consultation.

Hertford No Win No Fee Accident Claims.

Luton Accident Claims

The largest city in Bedfordshire and much, much more than car and hat manufacturer. Funnily enough the phrase "Mad as a Hatter" originated from Luton. The hat workers were exposed to Mercury, making them just a little bit crazy!



Probably the most famous son of the town is Sir Alec Jeffrey, born in 1950 he developed the technique now called DNA fingerprinting, other notable individuals include Paul Young who worked at the Vauxhall Factory and Charles Bronson one of the UK’s most notorious prisoners was born in Luton.


The very first Domino's Pizza in the UK opened in Luton in 1985, and talking of Take-Aways feeling famished whilst at Luton Airport actor Antonio Banderas ordered a curry from his favorite Indian restaurant in Mayfair London. The cost £700.


Luton Town football club have been resident at their present ground Kenilworth Road since 1905. The mighty “hatters” can lay claim to having had a famous fan, in one half of the comedy duo of Morecambe and Wise, namely Eric Morecambe. Manager Kevin Blackwell is building for the future and will be looking forward to playing Leeds on September 1st.


9.4 million passengers passed through Luton airport in 2006. Demand of airport services is projected to exceed the 30 million mark in 2030. Luton airports future is clearly a bright one, as it aims to satisfy the increased capacity needs of the South East.



There is lot’s to see and do in Luton and the Nightlife is excellent, it’s often the preferred location for festival and concert organisers, and is hosting Tribal Gathering in 2007


If by any unfortunate series of events you are happen to suffer a personal injury whilst in Luton then you may be entitled to claim compensation as a direct result. You have a legal and civil right to claim, a fact that passes the majority by. Under a Conditional Fee Agreement individuals can pursue a claim on a ‘No Win No Fee’ basis. This means that you will not have to pay a penny in legal or court fees whether the case is successful or not.



Why not consult with some legal firms to gauge the legality of your case. A lawyer will not take your case on unless they think that the probability of winning the case is so great, that they can’t lose. The reason that they take on the case is that if they are successful they claim the cost in full from the other party involved. The key advantage you have here is that you are safe in the knowledge that the lawyer that chose to handle your case wouldn’t have accepted it, unless the body of evidence was in your favour.

Any compensation payout you receive is likely to include remuneration for the initial pain and suffering caused, as well as any psychological impairment, such as fear of the road if you have been in a car accident. Also taken into account are medical costs/treatments fees, and any loss of earnings. The lawyers at Accident Consult are experienced in many types of personal injury, from whiplash to broken limbs, you’ll find a substantial list of previous claims on the ‘accident types’ page of this website, if you have suffered an accident then get in touch with their lawyers today for a free, impartial consultation.

Luton Accident Claims.

Sheffield No Win No Fee Compensation Claims

Sheffield is located in South Yorkshire which is in the north of England. The name of the town gets its origins in a field on the River Sheaf which runs through the city. The city is known for its production of steel where many innovations were developed locally.

The towns population increased quite considerably during the Industrial Revolution. In the 1980’s the national coal industry collapsed which affected Sheffield’s population. Since then the city has attempted to reinvent itself as a sporting technology and the city has an enviable choice of world-class facilities. Some of these include Europe’s largest ice complex, an all season ski resort, Olympic swimming pool, golf courses, tennis and squash courts. Nature lovers will appreciate the proximity of the Peak District and all it has to offer for walkers, cyclists and climbers. Watch out for Sheffield’s famous sporting events including World Snooker and British Open Show jumping.

Business is booming in Sheffield now with many different services all vying for you business. Solicitors who specialise in personal injury claims can be found within the town but you may need to go further a field to get the best Solicitor for your case.

If you are out and about in Sheffield and you are unfortunate to have an accident then Accident Consult can help. We are a national firm of no win no fee consultants who specialise in Sheffield on no win no basis. Remember if you have been involved in an accident and you suffered as a result then it is your legal and civil right to claim for compensation off the person who was responsible for your suffering.

No win no fee means just that. If you don’t win your case then you don’t pay. Most solicitors will only take on a case these know they have a good chance to win as they are basically working for nothing until the end of the case. Lots of companies are now advertising this no win no fee agreement and you should make sure there are no hidden costs. Most good companies will offer free impartial advice on whether you may be entitled to claim compensation for a personal injury claim.

Sheffield No Win No Fee Compensation Claims.

Car Accident Injuries and Establishing a Valid Claim

In the United States and particularly in Los Angeles County, California, car accidents are one of the leading causes for the high number of claims involving personal injury that are filed in courts.

As the number of cars on the road increases, and everyone is hurrying to get to their destinations, it is not surprising that many car accidents happen, daily.

According to the data released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a motor vehicle accident occurs almost every ten seconds on the highways of the U.S. Almost millions of people are injured as a result of these accidents. Their injuries range from superficial and mild up to critical.

Meanwhile, many of these auto accidents result to death in 13-minute intervals.

If you have been a victim of an accident and acquired injuries because of it, or you have lost a loved one due to the same reason, then you are entitled to file either a personal injury claim or a wrongful death claim. It would depend on the particular damages you and your family have sustained as a result of the accident.

Car Accidents Injuries and Fatalities

Car accident victims usually suffer death and mild to severe injuries like:

• traumatic brain injury or TBI
• head injury
• spinal cord injury or quadriplegia/paraplegia
• neck injuries
• broken bones
• fractures

These injuries leave the car accident victims in a state of relentless pain and acute discomfort. The victims may also sustain hearing and eyesight impairments.

Furthermore, these injuries, even if treated correctly, may still cause the victim to acquire permanent or temporary disability and disfigurement.

Personal Injury Car Accident Claims

The federal and state laws entitle the car accident victims the right to recover damages and avail of fair compensation for the injuries they have sustained.

Here are the following conditions you need to fulfill as a car accident victim so that your personal injury claim is considered valid.

• The car accident was the direct cause of your injuries
• The negligence or wrongful action of another person was the main cause of the accident. The victim has no participation in the cause of the accident.

The first step in establishing the validity of a personal injury claim is by proving the negligence of another party. If it has been proven that you also have a participation or fault in the accident, the law's standards will not give you any compensation.

If you are a victim of a car accident in LA County, the best step to do after or even during your recuperation is to find expert lawyers specializing in car accident cases and hire one whom you can depend on and trust.

For car or automobile accident cases in LA County, our firm's Car Accident Lawyers LA County have long standing experience and competency that you can rely on.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carla_C._Ballatan

Car Accident Injuries and Establishing a Valid Claim.

The Cost Of Hiring A Personal Injury Lawyer

You can, no doubt, negotiate your claim with an insurance company yourself in order to avoid the cost of hiring a personal injury lawyer. But, the insurance companies and their lawyer are very well aware of the fact that you do not know the legal statements about your legal rights and remedies. They, therefore, try to do everything they can to take advantage of you and to effect the lowest possible settlement.

In case you decide to sue, they might even attempt to elicit statements from you that will damage your position.

On the other hand, a personal injury lawyer can help you obtain a favorable settlement. The amount that you will get as compensation for the damage done will certainly exceed the attorney fee.

Personal injury lawyers, generally, accept personal injury cases on the basis of what is known as the "contingency fee". Contingent fee implies that if they win your case, a percentage of the award received should be given to them as their fee. On the other hand, if they lose, no attorney fee is given to them.

Most civil litigation settles short of trial. Therefore, you can get the issue of cost clarified by your lawyer. But, do bear in mind that the attorney fee is different from costs associated with your case. That is, filing fee for your lawsuit is not deducted from the attorney fee. Generally, the attorney contingent fee varies from state to state. However, in most of the states, the contingency fee is between one third and 40% of the compensation received as a personal injury award.

Besides, in case of workers' compensation, attorney fee is tightly regulated and is lower than what is charged for regular personal injury matters.

You can always try to negotiate a reduction of the attorney's contingent fee.

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What Kinds of Problems Do Illegal Immigrants Cause, Unpaid Alabama Speeding Tickets, Current Event Issues News Related Human Rights

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Pauline_Go

The Cost Of Hiring A Personal Injury Lawyer.

When an Automobile Crash Becomes Fatal

The National Highway Safety Traffic reported 6.3 million traffic accidents last year. In all these cases, 41,000 individuals were killed and about 3.2 million people were injured.

The common causes of these road accidents include:
• Driving under the influence
• Driver fatigue
• Faulty traffic lights
• Truck overturns
• Pedestrian
• Vehicle collision
• Bad weather
• Tire problems

In most cases, injured victims of vehicle accidents are taken to hospitals for treatment, file claim for damages, and had the chance to pursue their claims.

But what happens when a victim dies in an automobile crash?

If you lost someone - a parent, a spouse or a child - due to a car accident, you can file a wrongful death claim against the negligent party. Under the law, relatives of fatal automobile crash are entitled to receive damages for the following reasons:

• Mental pain and anguish
• Loss of companionship
• Loss of sexual relationships
• Financial losses, if the fatality was the provider of the household or you are a dependent of the victim

When you file a wrongful death claim, it must have two important features:

• You must be able to establish that the accident was caused by the other party's negligent actions
• There must be adequate insurance or assets available for your claim.

Laws regarding fatal automobile crash accidents differ with every state. However, most wrongful death claim have many things in common:

• Police documents must be secured right away
• The cause of the accident will be determined once the guilty party is found
• Insurers are likely to react aggressively depending on the severity of loss
• In cases with a claim of over one million dollars, an independent expert in accident reconstruction is needed to determine the cause of death.

In most fatal car accidents, families of victims are often reluctant to file claims. The trauma and suffering caused by the loss of a loved one made it difficult for the survivors to pursue their claim. In some cases, some relatives show interest with their claim after some time only to find out that evidence is lost, the insurance adjuster would not recall old claims, and the legal deadline had elapsed. Hence, it is advisable to get the services of an accident lawyer as soon as possible after a fatal accident.

An experienced automobile crash lawyer will help you get the compensation you deserve which will cover the cost you incurred from the accident, including hospitalization and medical expenses. In cases when an accidents result to death, the automobile crash lawyers can help relatives of victims file a wrongful death claim and be given their rightful compensation for the loss.

Our LA County Automobile Crash Lawyer is proficient in handling personal injury claims and lawsuits resulting from automobile accidents.

Before becoming an online writer, Manuel worked as a journalist, a newspaper columnist, a scriptwriter, a fiction writer, a magazine editor, and a tutor. He acquired his legal background as a Senate legislative officer and later on, as a researcher and paralegal staff in various law offices. Someday he hoped to go back and devote more time to writing fiction, which is his first passion.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Manuel_Salvacion

When an Automobile Crash Becomes Fatal.

Accident At Work: Key Steps To Claiming Compensation

How to claim compensation for personal injury following an accident at work

A guide to making a compensation claim for personal injury following an accident at work -- using the law in England and Wales as an example you will discover everything you need to know to make a claim including: what types of compensation you can claim, how to show your employer is responsible for your claim and how to get your questions answered by an expert online.

What is a claim for compensation following an accident at work?

If you suffer personal injury as a result of an accident at work -- you may find that you are entitled to claim compensation from your employer.

The compensation you can claim is made up of four key elements:

1. Pain and suffering

The physical or psychological injuries you suffer cause pain and suffering -- for which you are entitled to compensation.

2. Financial loss

As a result of your injury you are likely to have an actual monetary loss and expenses -- such as lost income, medical expenses, travel expenses to the hospital or your GP, etc. You are entitled to claim compensation for these losses.

3. Interest

You are entitled to claim interest on the above two types of loss. The interest rate varies on the type of loss you have suffered.

4. Legal expenses

Your legal expenses are not really classed as compensation, but in many countries you can also claim your legal costs in claiming compensation. In England and Wales, for example, you can claim your legal costs so long as your personal injury is worth over £1000.

How do you know if your employer is responsible for your accident at work claim?

You should leave proving responsibility for your accident at work claim to a specialist solicitor.

You might be surprised to learn that your solicitor can access records your employer must keep by law concerning your accident including:

1. Accident book entries

Describing not only your accident, but other similar accidents at work to other employees.

2. Reports

Investigations made by your employer and meetings concerning how your accident happened.

3. Health and Safety Executive reports

If you are absent from work for over three days as a result of an accident at work or have a serious injury - your employer must report your accident circumstances to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The HSE will often investigate your accident circumstances and documents will be produced as to their findings.

There are many more documents your lawyer has the right to see and these can all be used to show your employer was responsible for accident.

Will your employer be insured for your accident at work?

"Yes" -- your employer is required by law to have in place suitable employee insurance which will pay your compensation in the event of an accident.

How long do you have to make a compensation claim for your accident at work?

You have three years from the date of your accident to make a claim for compensation.

There are some exceptions to this rule. If it is more than three years from your accident it might not be too late to make a claim - but you must act quickly and seek expert legal advice.

Who should you contact if you are considering making a claim?

You should contact a specialist personal injury lawyer if you think you might have a claim for compensation.

I can help you in your search for a specialist and answer any legal questions you may have online.

Resource Box
Visit the following link to find out how to make a successful accident at work claim Accident At Work Compensation Claim

Visit the following link to find expert help for finding a specialist lawyer Personal Injury Lawyer



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Accident At Work: Key Steps To Claiming Compensation.

What Exactly Does A Personal Injury and Medical Malpractice Lawyer Do?

He helps navigate the murky waters that can trap an unknowing victim into muck and mire.

When a person slips and falls, causing injury, your lawyer needs to find out why you slipped.

Was there a defect on the property that should have been corrected? Was it simply that you didn't see where you were walking? Was the staircase not up to code so as to make it dangerous? These are the questions your lawyer will need to examine.

Products causing injury

This is known as product liability. Let's say you opened a bottle of soda and the cap exploded off the bottle and into your eye causing permanent damage. Is the bottling company to blame? Possibly. How about a miter saw that is supposed to have a guard to protect your fingers as you slide the wood into the cutting blade? What about a car that permits you to move the gear into reverse without first putting your foot on the brake? (This is called a gear interlock to prevent kids from playing with the gear lever. It's happened where they slip the gears into reverse and the car starts to move causing injury).

Evaluation of a product that is commonly used or bought can be very technical. Many times we need to hire engineers to evaluate a product to see whether it was designed properly and was properly placed into the marketplace.

Medical Malpractice

Malpractice is a departure from good and accepted medical care causing injury. As with anyone, doctors are held accountable for their actions, as we all are. In order to confirm evidence of wrongdoing we need to have medical experts review your records before being able to start a lawsuit for your injuries. Most cases that I see in my office do not meet the strict criteria for being able to start a case. Of those we accept, some will go to trial and others will be settled before trial.

Malpractice cases are one of the most hotly contested areas of law today. The defense attorneys we often encounter are extremely well educated and trained at defending these lawsuits.

Car accidents

We all know what terrible reputations lawyers get from all those tacky advertisements showing damaged cars and clients in wheelchairs holding up poster-sized checks with lots of zeros after some number.

But the fact is that there are accidents and very serious injuries that result from these horrible events. Lives are shattered from a moment of carelessness. Just look around at how many people still talk on their cell phone while driving even though it's against the law!

Most people aren't interested in these informative newsletters because luckily, a tragedy hasn't befallen them. That's ok. We hope that it never does. The purpose of this newsletter is to give my readers an understanding of what we as lawyers do, and how we can help if the need ever arises. You'll find that I like to inform my readers about their options before they ever need a lawyer, and before they ever step foot into a lawyer's office. How many other lawyers do you know who do that?

In an accident case, I look to see how the accident happened. Where were you driving? What were the road conditions? Was your car in good mechanical condition? Was someone speeding? Did someone turn where they shouldn't have been turning? Was horseplay involved? (Think back to when a turkey was thrown from a moving car causing terrible damage to the woman driving behind them).

While going about our daily lives we shouldn't have to worry ourselves about getting injured. Common sense should dictate what good conduct is and what is not. Unfortunately, there are many people out there who are simply careless about how they do their daily activities. Haven't we all seen people reading the newspaper while stuck in traffic- and they're driving! How about applying makeup on the way to work, and driving at the same time?

Imagine this scenario…

A woman is late for work.

She's in her car and traffic is crawling. She's putting on lipstick and looking in the rearview mirror to see if it's on correctly. At the same time her cell phone rings, and while answering it, she decides to light her cigarette. Unfortunately for her, the car lighter drops to her feet and now she's got her lipstick in one hand, the cell phone in the other, a cigarette dangling in her lips, and she's supposed to be paying attention to the road.

Can't you just hear the accident in your head, and visualize the crushing of metal, as her eyes are on the floor looking for the lighter? Believe me, there are plenty of cases like this one that have caused other people injury.

Imagine if people were never careless! There would be no accidents, no need for insurance, and there'd be no personal injury lawsuits. Unfortunately, we are not perfect and accidents do happen.

But how then do you determine whether the accident was something that couldn't be avoided or was the result of lack of attention? We must conduct a thorough and detailed investigation.

Remember, when an injured victim comes to us, they're telling us what happened to them from their point of view. We have to investigate and make sure that all other points of view (witnesses) can confirm what we've been told. When we do that, we build your case and can then support the facts that led to your injury.

Dog Bites

Did you know that certain types of dogs are more prone to bite someone than others? Let's look at the pit bull for example. Just because a pit bull bites someone, as opposed to a tiny Chihuahua, does that mean the owner of the dog will be held responsible? The answer depends on many factors.

If the dog has never had any prior vicious tendencies and has never bitten anyone before, how then can his owner be responsible for this biting episode? One could argue that all pit bulls in general, are inherently violent. Not a bad argument to make, but not a totally accurate one either. What if you learned that before biting, the dog was tormented and teased repeatedly by a guest? Would that change things? Sure it would.

Injustice, humiliation and psychological injuries

We can all tell when an injustice happens-

Someone is pulled over because the color of his skin is different from those living in the neighborhood.

Someone is denied entry to a club because their religious beliefs are different than those who run the club.

Someone is denied service at a restaurant because of the way they dress or the accent of their voice. How about a woman who was denied a partnership because she was pregnant? What about the indignity of a high school football player who was sexually abused while away at football training camp with his high school team?

Despite all of our advances today, there is still bigotry, prejudice and hatred in this country. If you're a victim of injustice or humiliation what can you do about it? There are certain types of lawsuits that allow victims of injustice to seek justice. They're sometimes called discrimination lawsuits, or violation of civil rights lawsuits. The pain inflicted by injustice can be devastating and have long-term social and psychological effects.

Your lawyer will ask about your history, both medical and psychological. You will probably be asked to have specific psychological testing and counseling to confirm and identify some of the problems you are currently experiencing.

I know that some people believe that if an injury can't be seen that means it's less meaningful than a horrible disfiguring injury. That's not always true.

I'll bet there's something in everyone's childhood where they can remember a parent or an older child saying something bad about you. Looking back all those years, you still vividly remember the hurt you experienced that day. That's injustice. There's no 'physical' injury, but the emotional scar is ever-present.

So, "What does a lawyer do?"

A lawyer is someone to guide you; to help you through your trouble; to explain the law to you and how the law applies to your facts. A lawyer should be advising you of your legal options and what you can do to correct the injustices that have happened to you. That's what a good lawyer does.

Gerry Oginski is an experienced New York medical malpractice and personal injury trial attorney and practices exclusively in the State of New York. He has tirelessly represented injured victims in all types of medical malpractice and injury cases in the last 19 years. As a solo practitioner he is able to devote 100% of his time to each individual client. A client is never a file number in his office.

Take a look at Gerry's website http://www.oginski-law.com and read his free special reports on malpractice and accident law. Read actual testimony of real doctors in medical malpractice cases. Learn answers to your legal questions. We have over 200 FAQs to the most interesting legal questions. Read about his success stories. Read the latest injury and malpractice news. I guarantee there's something for you. http://www.oginski-law.com 516-487-8207

Also, take a look at Gerry's FREE NY Medical Malpractice video tutorials at http://medicalmalpracticetutorial.blogspot.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gerry_Oginski

What Exactly Does A Personal Injury and Medical Malpractice Lawyer Do?.

Psychiatric Malpractice

Psychiatric malpractice lawsuits are complicated and difficult to prove. If you feel that you or someone you love has been the victim of psychiatric malpractice you will need the help of an experience psychiatric malpractice attorney to help you determine if the wrongdoing which you have suffered meets the legal criteria for malpractice.

Mental health care providers have a duty to treat their patients with dignity, provide adequate care, and prevent harm. However, even if these duties have not been met, there are four elements which must exist in order for you to have a case:

· A provider-patient relationship must have been established in order to establish that the provider had a duty of reasonable care.

· The mental health care provider must have breached this duty of care.

· Harm must have occurred. This can mean physical or emotional harm including but not limited to physical injuries, suicide, emotional suffering, or worsening of psychological condition.

· The mental health care provider’s breach of duty must have caused the harm.

Mental health care that is unsuccessful does not constitute malpractice in and of itself. Psychiatric malpractice can take many forms including:

· Failure to diagnose

· Failure to recognize worsening of condition

· Failure to treat

· Negligent or harmful use of medications

· Failure to monitor medications

· Lack of informed consent for medications, therapeutic technique, or procedure

· False imprisonment (including inappropriate restraint)

· Fraud

· Emotional manipulation

· Physical abuse

· Negligent psychotherapy

· Sexual Misconduct

· Abandonment

· Failure to prevent harm to self or others

· Inadequate supervision

· Breach of confidentiality

· Defamation

· Wrongful death

Mental health patients are vulnerable to negligence and wrongdoing for many reasons. The very condition for which they sought treatment can put them at risk due to emotional instability, incoherence, or impaired judgment. They may not be taken seriously, or may feel that they will not be taken seriously, when making a complaint, due to the stigma of mental illness.

The Right to Informed Consent

Contrary to what many people assume, mental health patients have a right to informed consent regarding treatment. They have patients have the right to make an informed decision as to whether or not to undergo any type of treatment including taking medications. This means a right to know the benefits and risks of undergoing or choosing not to undergo a treatment, and most importantly, the right to refuse.

Medication Errors

In addition to obtaining informed consent, mental health care providers have a duty to prescribe appropriate medications, in appropriate doses. This raises another issue. In some cases where mental health care patients are harmed by medications the responsible party is the drug manufacturer rather than the mental health care provider.

Victims of psychiatric malpractice and their loved ones may recover compensation for their losses including:

· Past and future medical expenses

· Past and future loss of income

· Physical and emotional pain and suffering

· Loss of enjoyment of life

· Long-term care

· Loss of companionship

· Burial expenses

For more information, please visit a personal injury attorney's website by clicking here.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tara_Pingle

Psychiatric Malpractice.

Medical Malpractice Law: An Overview

Medical malpractice law is a branch of personal injury law that deals with pain and suffering coming as a result of gross mistakes, negligence or bad judgment on the part of a doctor, hospital or other care provider.

There are a number of issues the courts will address before deciding whether medical malpractice has occurred. For example, they must determine whether the care provider was actually responsible for providing treatment, whether he or she failed to provide this treatment, whether someone was hurt or injured, and whether this injury came as a result of the person’s failure to provide treatment. If these criteria are met, there may be sufficient grounds for a finding of medical malpractice.

Of course there are many other medical malpractice laws and situations to consider before a ruling can be made. Case procedures, rulings and statutes of limitations vary from state to state, but in general, there are a few types of cases that occur most frequently in medical malpractice law. Among them are failure to follow procedures, failure to diagnose cancer, wrongful death, improper diagnosis and wrongful birth (birth defects).

In each of these incidences, the client is seeking financial reward for the perceived loss or damage caused by the malpractice. This reward can take the form of either compensatory damages or punitive damages, and the client is eligible to receive one or both of these, should the court rule in favor of medical malpractice.

Compensatory damages refer to monies awarded to compensate the victim for his or her financial, physical or emotional loss resulting from the malpractice. Punitive damages refer to monies awarded to make an example of and punish the offending doctor, and discourage future misconduct.

All of the above factors must be considered, including the appropriate form of punishment, before a ruling can be made in a court of law concerning medical malpractice.



Medical Malpractice Attorney provides detailed information on Medical Malpractice, Medical Malpractice Attorney, Medical Malpractice Law, Medical Malpractice Cases and more. Medical Malpractice Attorney is affiliated with Medical Billing Careers.

Medical Malpractice Law: An Overview.

Personal Injury Cases: Frequently Asked Questions Part #1

In my practice I frequently get the same basic questions from potential new clients.

Question: Do I have a case?

Answer: This is a difficult question to answer without knowing all of the facts and circumstances involved. The success of a case will depend on the specific facts involved and the laws of the jurisdiction or region where the incident occurred. Generally, if you can show that the party responsible for your injuries violated some duty of care (e.g., causing a collision or making a dangerous product), then you probably have a claim against that party for the amount of damages you have sustained. If you think you have a claim in the state of Washington and want some feedback, you can send me an email directly by filling in the Case Feedback form. Due to the large volume of messages, it may take a few days to respond.

Question: How much is my case worth?

Answer: There is no magic formula or process by which an attorney can predict with certainty the amount of money a person is entitled to receive, especially where damages are awarded for subjective elements called 'pain and suffering' and 'loss of enjoyment of life.' However, our office will usually have a pretty good idea of a reasonable settlement range after your medical condition has stabilized. We rely on such factors as the extent and permanency of your injuries, the effect your injuries have had on your life, the amount and duration of your medical treatment, prior jury verdicts and/or arbitration awards received for similar injuries and my experience. Ultimately, the value of any given case is determined by the jury's verdict after a trial on the merits.

Question: How much do you charge?

Answer: Our fee is contingent on the outcome of your case. That is, if a recovery is obtained for you, our fee is a percentage (usually one-third) of the amount collected. No attorney fees will be paid if there is no recovery. However, the law requires that a client is ultimately responsible for the costs incurred. In most cases, our office will advance all costs necessary to pursue your claim so you will not have to pay any money up front. Costs are then paid out of the recovery at the conclusion of your case.

Question: What if I wasn't injured but I sustained damage to my car or other personal property?

Answer: As a personal injury law office, we only accept cases where the individual has sustained injury. This is because our fee is a percentage of the recovery obtained on behalf of the injured claimant. Most property damage claims cannot be pursued economically by an attorney where he or she is forced to charge you an hourly rate, which is often at least $150 per hour. Most insurance companies are reasonable when it comes to settling property damage claims which means you probably can settle your claim by yourself.

Question: I'm confused about the different types of coverage listed on my automobile insurance policy -- what exactly is BI, UM and PIP coverage?

Answer: BI stands for 'bodily injury .' This type of coverage will pay claims for injury you negligently cause to another as a result of the use of your vehicle. Washington state law requires that every driver carry insurance for bodily injury with policy limits of at least $25,000. UM stands for 'uninsured motorist' or 'underinsured motorist .' If you are injured by a negligent driver who does not have liability insurance (or inadequate liability insurance), you may make a claim with your own insurance carrier if you have UM coverage. When you make a UM claim, your insurance carrier "stands in the shoes" of the negligent driver and is permitted to assert all defenses that this driver may have had against you (e.g., comparative fault, excessive medical treatment, etc.).

PIP stands for 'personal injury protection .' PIP pays for your reasonable and necessary medical expenses, regardless of who is at fault for the collision. Although the law does not require that you carry UM and PIP coverage, insurance companies must offer these types of coverages to you. If you choose to reject UM and PIP coverage, your insurance company must record your rejection in writing. An insurance company's failure to obtain your written rejection of UM or PIP coverage prevents the carrier from denying the claim, even if you didn't specifically pay for this type of coverage.

Question: What happens if I was injured in a collision caused by an uninsured driver?

Answer: You may have a claim for UM benefits under your own policy. If you make a UM claim, your own carrier has the right to use all defenses that the other driver may have had against you. A UM claim essentially creates an adversarial relationship between you and your own insurance carrier. Thus, it may be wise to retain experienced counsel when asserting a UM claim. As can be expected, your own carrier will NOT be looking out for your interests (even though you are its own insured!). Instead, your carrier will be looking for ways to pay out as little money as possible. In the event you do not have UM coverage, you may have no other practical means of obtaining compensation for your injuries. This is why you should always carry UM coverage, preferably with limits of at least $100,000.


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Christopher M. Davis is the managing partner of Davis Law Group. He brings over 15 years of practical yet innovative experience to personal injury cases. He practices law in Seattle, WA. You can learn more about Mr. Davis at http://www.InjuryTrialLawyer.com or http://www.seattleaccidentnews.com.

This article is free for republishing
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Personal Injury Cases: Frequently Asked Questions Part #1.

The Process of Settling a Personal Injury Claim

If you have been injured, you might be entitled to financial compensation. You should receive monetary compensation for all of the expenses you occur because of your injury as well as any losses you have that are related to the injury. Some of the things you can be compensated for are your medical bills, lost wages, disfigurement, pain & suffering, mental anguish, permanent scars and emotional trauma.

Settling a personal injury claim can sometimes be difficult, especially when you have medical issues and personal stress to deal with. You do not need to consult with a lawyer, but it is almost always advisable. You are going to be dealing with insurance companies who have lawyers and who are experienced in personal injury law cases. Having your own lawyer can help to ensure that you get what you are entitled to. There are many lawyers who deal only with personal injury claims. It is usually best to find a local lawyer. If you live in Boston, it is easier to go with a Boston personal injury lawyer rather than having to deal with one who is out of the area. It does not matter whether you consult with Boston personal injury attorneys or someone from another city, the important thing is that you talk to a lawyer about your claim. Lawyers can let you know the statue of limitations on your case and let you know whether you should take a particular settlement offer.

Most of the time personal injury claims never make it to court. Generally a settlement will be made between the insurance company and the injured parties. If an agreement can not be met, the case will move to court and you will need to testify.

Cases that are not complex can usually be settled rather quickly. If a case has a lot of extenuating circumstances, it might take up to a year and a half in order to reach a settlement.

If you’ve been injured, your first step should be to contact a lawyer and find out what you are entitled to. Your lawyer will then file a complaint against the defendant. The defendant will receive a summons which lets them know that they are being sued and tells them when they need to respond by. After both parties are aware of the case, fact finding will begin. This is when both sides will attempt to determine what happened during the incident. Depositions will be taken and documents that are relevant to the case will be gathered. At this point, the case might be thrown out by the court or the defendant might move to settle the case. If neither of these happen, the case will go to court. After a decision is reached in the case, there can sometimes be an appeal process. Most cases will end in a settlement though and if you have a good lawyer on your side, you should be able to get what you are entitled to without any problems.

Natalie Aranda writes about laws. If you live in Boston, it is easier to go with a Boston personal injury lawyer rather than having to deal with one who is out of the area. It does not matter whether you consult with Boston personal injury attorneys or someone from another city, the important thing is that you talk to a lawyer about your claim. Lawyers can let you know the statue of limitations on your case and let you know whether you should take a particular settlement offer.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Natalie_Aranda

The Process of Settling a Personal Injury Claim.

Injury Claim - Undiscovered Tactics

I don't know about you, but me I'm getting sick of receiving so many calls from telesales people asking me if I have per chance an injury claim. Then I see them on the streets, two or three of them walking about in "stalking mode", well dressed and with tons of gel in their hair and holding "professional suitcases". These guys freak me out!

And what is their purpose anyway? Do they want to sell insurance, energy, firewood or what? Or are they just representing another obscure company and they scour the area to "give some tips" on how should they claim injury for an accident that wasn't their fault?

Personal injury claims in the past

Ten years ago there was no such thing you know…If you were unfortunate enough to have an accident the only compensation which you received was a moral one, and it only came from your family and friends. "Listen to what the doctor said" or "Don't worry, you'll get better soon". And if you had to stay in the hospital you heard "Take two of these and I'll see you in the morning." You didn't get much, really.

Nowadays

Now we are bombarded with so many companies that deal with this kind of thing that we don't know where to choose from. Everybody knows a "good firm". And since advertisements are everywhere, it's hard not to know about such companies. The competition is tough, but many promise a lot and then don't deliver. So you see, the difference between now and then is colossal, some years ago nobody was interested if you had an injury, but now they are all your best pals.

If you choose a random firm and make your plea, it's possible you will later find yourself surrounded by countless problems, like: "Sorry but we don't seem to have the essential files we asked for. Did you really send them to us?", "Who did you speak with again? I don't know if he still works with us", "Your medical report hasn't arrived yet" or many other things that can be used as an excuse.

Complications after complications...

What about the classic 'no win no fee'? That slogan was very common in the beginning. "If you don't win then you don't owe us one dime?" Just sign those documents and your personal injury claim is all set, don't worry about it. Wonderful!

Now after months have gone by, you hear nothing. 3 months later, you call to hear what status your claim has reached. 'Your file's up and running and you should be attending a medical specialist soon.'

6 months go by finally your medical arrives. 4 months later you receive a cheque of £400 and eyes the size of golf balls?! What the hell is going on???

Frustrated with the settlement cheque, you ring the company for questioning. They pull out your file and take you through the charges and how they reached a final settlement. 'But, you... 'Yes, it's all in black and white and you signed it!' But guess what, you're too late, and now you'll learn from that mistake...

Now For The New Trick…

100% Compensation! Yes, you get all of your compensation. Amazing, finally a dream come true...

What does it mean?

Once your claim is settled, you will receive the 'full' compensation money, without deductions. Now this is the clever bit... the specialist will payout 100% Compensation, but that does not mean the claim management company will not!

At the end of the claim, the management company (owned by your mates friend) will charge you a kick back after you have received your 100% Compensation. Effectively, you receive 100% Compensation, but once you received it, the claim management company will now take out their fees. Smart eh???

You still, by law, got 100% Compensation from the specialist. Which is what they claimed, however, the deductions kick in afterwards.

You've taken enough beating as it is. It's time to be smart! Beware of the 100% Compensation slogans flying around. How do you avoid them?

Ask!

Find out all about your injury claim now! Discover more on easy tricks and tips to help you make a personal injury claim.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lindsay_Nolan

Injury Claim - Undiscovered Tactics.

Tips to Hire a Good Personal Injury Attorney

Wondering what to do when you have been in an accident, a slip and fall, or a workplace injury? If you have already spoken with in insurance provider for your insurer, it may be time to consider a personal injury attorney.


The danger in running right out and hiring a personal injury attorney immediately after injury is that you will have to pay for their services out of whatever payout you ultimately get. So, it is typically wise to first speak with the relevant insurance provider and only then turn to legal alternatives. While speaking to the insurance company will in many situations resolve the issue completely, there may be some situations in which the insurance company either denies your claim entirely or decides to compensate you in a matter that is from your perspective insufficient. In such situations, the premium that you pay out to a personal injury attorney will come back to you in settlement damages many times over.


Now, once you are convinced that you need a personal injury attorney, you have to put forth the effort of first finding the right person for your case. Here are a few tips on selecting the right attorney for you:

There are a number of online databases of local and regional personal injury attorneys. While most of these are pay per listing or free submission, some actually do provide reviewing services. Even here, however, be wary of putting too much stock in a website's recommendation as this information can be easily manipulated.

Using this online database and your local yellow pages as a sort of general list, it then becomes imperative to narrow this list by looking at the credentials of a particular attorney. Probably the best way to do this is to call your local legal aid clinic, which is free. While these individuals are not in the business of providing recommendations, the bar in a particular city for personal injury usually consists of about fifty to one hundred attorneys, so amongst attorneys word gets around pretty quickly as to who is good and who is not.

Another good resource is your city bar association. Your city bar will keep more general information about who has not been sanctioned by courts for malpractice and typically keeps a short list of recommended attorneys. But again, take this list with a grain of salt as there are manipulations going on behind the scenes here as well. Often a better tack is just to have a list of three or four attorneys you are considering and then call the bar association to hear their thoughts on each one.

Referrals can be good if you know someone in the legal community. But if not, the best you will get out of a referral is a sort of 'he/she isn't incompetent.' Because let's face it, most clients have no idea whether the settlement they received was in actuality the best they could have.

The final test should always be to meet with the attorney. In such a meeting you can discuss the payment method (contingency or flat-fee), but more importantly you want to try to assess if this individual seem