Employer fined after Worker Suffers Serious Personal Injury in a Sawmill Accident

personal injury accident claims specialists, for more information or to make a claim call 0800 180 4076 or complete our quick contact form.”>Although the perception of Health and Safety in the workplace is sometimes derided in the press as unnecessary red tape for businesses a recent case highlights the importance of companies abiding by the codes laid down by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

A sawmill worker working for Windymains Timber Ltd in East Lothian became trapped in a machine called a drop sorter used to process logs. In an attempt to remove a jam in the machine a Polish worker, Mr Krzaczek, was dragged into the machines conveyor belt.

Mr Krzaczek suffered serious damage to his leg which was broken in 3 places and he also suffered significant damages to the nerves in the leg.

A subsequent investigation by the Health and Safety Executive found Mr Krzaczek’s employers had not completed an adequate risk assessment for the circumstance of the drop loaded becoming jammed and the measures that needed to be taken for employees to safely clear the blockage.

The machine itself also did not meet the required standards as the guarding in place to prevent access by workers to the machines conveyor belt was inadequate.

Windymains Timber were found guilty of breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act and fined 20,000.

An inspector for the HSE noted “This horrific incident caused severe injuries and could very easily have led to the death of Mr Krzaczek.

“It was entirely preventable and simple precautions would have protected workers from the moving parts of the machinery. Had Windymains Timber carried out an effective risk assessment, it would have recognised the guarding in place at the time was simply not good enough.”

Such horrific instances highlight why workers need to be protected by legislation and that if employers fail to abide by laws to protect workers from unnecessary injuries then workers have every right to pursue personal injury compensation claims their employers if they suffer an injury.

The Paul Rooney Partnership are personal injury accident claims specialists, for more information or to make a claim call 0800 180 4076 or complete our quick contact form.

FAQs on Personal Injury compensation

After your serious car accident, you might be pressured with a lot of things to prioritize and settle. More so, medical and hospitalization concerns seem to absorb all your time, energy, and money. You are anxious on how you could obtain financial assistance from your health care provider and compensation from the driver.

Here are answers to some of the common questions about personal Injury claim.

1. Ive been injured in an accident and I want compensation for my injuries. What should I do?

Recall and record all the information that you can obtain from the accident scene.

Write the details in chronological order. Keep all the hospital receipts or ask your family to collate everything for you. Write the conversations that you have with the people around you. Don’t try to memorize them; your brain might still be in trauma.

Save and collect evidence from the scene as early as possible. Talk to your lawyer and ask him to file the lawsuit immediately. Ask your companion or any family member to obtain a copy of the police investigation report. If you are able, communicate with your health care provider for the coverage of emergency bills.

Tell your lawyer about the witnesses that you have seen on the accident. Tell candidly who do you think is responsible for the accident, or what have caused the accident.

2. When should I tell people about my lawsuit plan?

You should notify the offender as soon as possible about your complaint, otherwise, you might be charged of not filing within the allotted time period. As much as possible, file within two weeks. You may consult your lawyer regarding which accident type suits your case. It is also equally important to coordinate with the police regarding investigation.

3. What if I am filing a lawsuit against a government employee or agency?

You should file a notice of claim within 60 days. Failure to do so, forfeits your compensation rights. It is referred to as the “Statutes of limitations”. The actual deadline may vary depending on your accident type.

4. How can I estimate my claim?

Write down and sum up all the receipts in the hospital. These may include: medicines, supplies, food, tools, and therapy expenses. Also, include specific loss income and emotional damage.

5. What transpires during the first meeting with my lawyer?

Your lawyer will determine if your complaint is valid. You may be asked for a retainer agreement. Your lawyer will gather evidences that may substantiate your case. You may need to prepare for filing fees in court, though your lawyer may not ask for payment until you get remuneration.

6. What if the offender offers settlement?

Weigh all the conditions and compare the amount offered with the actual expenses that you have or may have before accepting the offer. Consult your personal Injury lawyer in Los Angeles to weigh the actual damages against the offer.

Car Insurance and Medical Expenses

Car Insurance and Medical Expenses

Are you planning to purchase auto insurance? If so, you should consider the importance of having coverage that will protect you if you or someone in your vehicle becomes injured. Although every state requires drivers to carry liability insurance that will cover the medical expenses of those injured in an accident that is your fault, that doesnt mean you will be covered if the accident is your fault. Therefore, you want to make certain you have plenty of coverage to cover your medical needs as well.

Covering the Injuries of Others

Auto Insurance Medical Coverage is one form of medical coverage you will have with your car insurance policy. With this type of insurance coverage, the injuries of others involved in the car accident are covered. No matter who is at fault, your passengers and any pedestrians involved in the accident are certain to have their medical expenses covered. Having this insurance in place is important because the person who causes the accident may not have proper coverage or may not have enough coverage. With this insurance in place, you can take comfort in knowing that your medical expenses will be covered.

You might think that it is not necessary to have this coverage in place because you already have medical insurance. In many states, however, medical insurance coverage does not pay for medical expenses resulting from car accidents. In addition, your medical insurance may not provide enough coverage for your expenses. With Auto Insurance Medical Coverage in place, you can be certain you will be covered.

Covering Expenses Associated with Injuries

In most cases, Auto Insurance Medical Coverage only covers the medical expenses that you incur as the result of an accident. In some cases, expenses associated with lost wages may also be covered with this insurance coverage, but that is not necessarily the case. In order to make certain other expenses associated with injuries is covered, you will need to carry Personal Injury Protection coverage.

Personal Injury Protection coverage also helps pay for your medical expenses. Unlike Auto Insurance Medical Coverage, however, Personal Injury Protection coverage pays for other expenses associated with the injury as well. For example, lost wages are definitely covered by Personal Injury Protection coverage. In addition, you can be compensated or pain and suffering associated with the injuries. In the event of death, funeral expenses are also covered with Personal Injury Protection.

Whether your state allows injuries from car accidents to be covered by general medical insurance or not, it is always a good idea to make certain you have additional coverage through your car insurance policy. Not only will this ensure that your injuries are covered, it will also protect those people that are riding in your vehicle that may not have insurance coverage and will protect you from liability if the accident is your fault.

Five Tips to Select Personal Injury Specialists

Claimants are often encouraged to hire personal injury specialists while filing personal injury cases since these legal professionals make the task of filing claims a lot easier. While hiring a legal professional to help you out, you have to keep a few things in mind so that you get the best services for no cost. This article will elaborate on some important tips to keep in mind while you look for a personal injury specialist.

Tip #1 If you are hiring an independent lawyer using the internet then you should check his website to ensure that he will be personally handling your case. If the lawyer is not going to personally handle your case then you should get information about the person who is going to handle the case. If you are selecting a personal injury specialist from an accident settlement company then inquire if the lawyer the company is sending is worth hiring. You should also read testimonials on the website before opting for a lawyer or an accident settlement company.

Tip #2 Before hiring a personal specialist you should do a background check on the lawyer. You should find out if he is accredited by a governing body in UK and if he has the required expertise to help you out. Personal injury lawyers practicing in UK have to be registered with the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers by the law.

Tip #3 Before hiring the personal injury lawyer you should ask him a few questions related to the claim. The solicitor you are planning to hire should be ready to give you legal advice before you hire him. If the solicitor does not provide answers or if he says that he will provide answers then you should look for another solicitor who is willing to help you out without any strings attached.

Tip #4 Majority of the personal injury specialists in UK offer a beneficial service known as the no win no fee claim. This service is beneficial to claimants since it states that the claimant does not have to worry about paying any legal fees if the claim is lost or win. If the solicitor you are planning to hire does not offer the no win no fee service then you should consider hiring another lawyer who offers this service.

Tip #5 If you want added services like online claim tracking services then you should hire a personal injury lawyer from an accident settlement company. These companies allow claimants to check the status of their claim from their home using a unique tracking number. Accident settlement companies also offer free legal services, no obligation advice and other beneficial services to claimants.

How Much Compensation for a Whiplash Injury

When people get hit by some vehicle and damages their own, this attached with physical damage, entitles the person for claiming some compensation in return. It is a very common phenomenon to get hit by a car today and these accidents often result in whiplash injuries (meaning injury in spinal cord). Since this is a serious injury, the compensation whiplash offers should also be according.

Claims

As already said, whiplash compensation for road accident claim should be in accordance with the level of injury. Different types of injuries imply different types of compensation. There are 5 types (grades) of whiplash accident types; from Grade 0 to Grade 4. Whiplashes can take many other forms, too such as unbearable pain in the neck, stiff neck, shoulder pain, headaches, blurred vision, pain or numbness on some portions of the body.

Depending on the injury type, each claim is individual and the connections between even similar cases seem very subtle. The more critical and complex whiplash injuries are, the more are the claims. However whiplash claims are needed to be claimed within three years from the date of the accident.

Claim classifications

There can be three main types of whiplash claims. They are namely insurance settlements, general damages and special damages for whiplash. Legally you are entitled to claim through any one of these methods although you should consider heavily before considering one, perhaps get legal advice too. Insurance settlements allow you to settle the claim by applying directly through your insurance company, general damages compensation whiplash consist of your physical pain and suffering, mental anguish, emotional pain and even loss of enjoyment of life.

Also you can demand compensation for any mental condition that is an effect of the injury such as depression. Special damages include loss of wages or potential future earnings, any medical attention (Doctors visit, clinic costs, nursing costs, chiropractic treatments and therapy) due to the injury and even car hire expenses as you car is in repairing shop as long as you do posses a record for the expenses.

Compensations

The car accident claim compensation depends on many parameters; for one, the suffering period. The amount may vary between 750 (a few weeks) and 86500 (the claimant is physically disabled for life). Whiplash cases resulting cervical spondylosis with severe limitation and possible need for further surgery may cost up to 8150 to 14500.

Basically the amount of claim depends on the recovery period and level of injury. So while compensation whiplash to neck with recovery period of 4 weeks may cost 750, compensation whiplash to neck with incomplete recovery ever may cost up to 12000+.

There are also some other important factors for traffic accident compensation. Choosing your lawyer wisely is the foremost important thing to do. Then its wise to remember that the amount returned from the court is dependant of the previous similar case fought there. Also in most cases its also possible to ask compensation for the fees for lawyers.