20/02/12: If unacceptable conditions are attached to the removal of PIP implants in private clinics in Scotland, women can turn to the NHS, Nicola Sturgeon, the Scottish Health Secretary, has confirmed.

It is believed that 4,000 Scottish women have the implants manufactured by Poly Implant Prothese, the now closed French company. The implants are filled with a toxic substance – non-medical grade silicone – which is dangerous if the implant ruptures.

According to the campaign group PIP Implants Scotland, some private clinics have been requesting patients sign gagging orders and waivers of legal rights for the treatment – Ms. Sturgeon says this constitutes a refusal to treat.

The group recently pressed for a public enquiry at a meeting with Ms. Sturgeon at Holyrood. Trisha Devine, the campaign spokeswoman, commented that the meeting had been helpful, progress had been made but there were still questions.

Ms. Sturgeon confirmed that there were two UK-wide inquiries underway with which Scotland was co-operating.

A spokesperson from the Scottish Government said women unable to contact their private surgeon should contact their own GP. If there is a clinical need NHS Scotland will perform the procedure.

The lawyers for the group said that the women had a case under normal consumer law and the supply of faulty goods.

16/02/12: A six-figure payout has been awarded to a man after his wife died just hours after giving birth to their son in Darent Valley Hospital in Kent. His wife died from a disorder called pre-eclampsia, which causes high blood pressure and excess protein to build up in urine.

Mr Gard sued the hospital for negligence after his wife passed away in 2006 on the grounds that her condition should have been treated sooner than it was. The NHS Trust successfully completed an out-of-court agreement and has offered their dearest sympathies for Mrs Gard’s family.

A campaign has been started by Mr Gard to increase awareness of the condition, which he does not believe receives enough medical awareness. Whilst campaigning, he says that he is motivated to bring up their son Charlie, who is five. He has stressed that the financial gain was not the cause of his motivation, but rather he wanted justice for his wife Lauren, who he also described as his best friend.

A spokesperson for the NHS Trust of Dartford and Gravesham wished the family well in the future, and expressed their deepest regret and sympathy about the death of Mrs Gard.

A company has received a large fine after an employee died as a result of an unguarded machine in Springburn.

Railcare Ltd was fined £133,000 after pleading guilty to breaches of H&S legislation.

John Smith sustained serious head injuries whilst he was working at an axle lathe with an unguarded chuck; he subsequently died from his injuries.

Compensation claims are brought against employers as a result of inadequate or incorrect safety equipment every year.
In this case, Railcare had failed to complete a sufficient and suitable assessment of the risks taken by their employees whilst cleaning the axles on the lathes as well as failing to implement a safe working procedure or providing improper training.

A spokesperson for the Procurator Fiscal Service’s H&S team explained that case had highlighted the vital importance of assessing work place risks.

The director of a St. Helens gas firm has been prosecuted by HSE after an explosion resulted in injuries being sustained to himself and another employee.

John Webster of NW Gases Ltd and another worker, who has requested anonymity, had burns to their faces, legs and hands in a gas explosion that blew the roof of the building off.

Both men had been trying to remove a valve from a gas cylinder in April 2008.

The HSE investigation revealed that Mr. Webster had not made certain that the cylinder had been emptied or that there was no ignition threat prior to the work starting.

The gas which subsequently leaked out of the cylinder ignited and caused the explosion and a fire.

Mr. Webster was fined £22.5K and received a cost order for £2.5K after being found guilty of breaching H&S legislation.

Gwent schools have received a total of thirty-nine compensation claims in the past two years, a new report has revealed.

A Freedom of Information request was made to local councils so the required information could be gathered for the new South Wales Argus Report. The information revealed that 39 claims were made by parents against Gwent schools from 2009 to 2011.

Caerphilly Council received the most claims by parents after 17 school accident claims were made. Common incidents included; pupils slipping and falling on school property and a pupil been injured by broken glass.

Torfaen council received the second highest amount of claims as they received 12 in total. These claims varied from a child who fractured their elbow after falling of the school bus and a child who sustained a broken leg after falling over in the playground.

Blaenau Gwent council received 8 claims and Monmouthshire council received two. It was reported that the only council who received no claims was Newport council.

A man has submitted a compensation claim after his parents were both killed on a level crossing.

The couple’s car was in a collision with a train operated by Network Rail in September 2009 and resulted in both their deaths as well as that of another man who was with them. The incident took place at one a level crossing that is unmanned and also does not have a gate.

RAIB carried out a full investigation after the crash and in their subsequent report state that the rail operators do not fully comprehend the situation at the crossing in question or the risks involved in using it. The report went on to say that the Network Rail had not taken previous accidents at the location into account.

RAIB commented that had the correct risk assessment been completed at the crossing, the dangers would have been identified much earlier and measures could have been taken to reduce the risks. RAIB have now made a variety of recommendations to the rail company which will improve safety for people who use the crossing.

The son of the people who died intends to pursue his claim against Network Rail in order to highlight safety breaches at level crossings.

Repetitive strain injury or RSI affects the upper body parts and it can manifest itself in a number of ways. RSI is a progressive condition and the symptoms can vary widely. Basically, the symptoms can be divided into three stages. During the early stages, the symptoms can only be experienced when performing the repetitive task. Symptoms can include:

• tiredness
• pains and aches

Symptoms may disappear when the repetitive task is not performed such as whilst taking a break. These symptoms can last for weeks and for months and they are usually reversible. However, it is essential to seek medical assistance if you experience these symptoms whilst carrying out repetitive tasks at work.

Some of the intermediate symptoms of RSI include:

• tiredness
• pains and aches
• redness of swelling in the affected area

Aches and pains can be more severe and it can also be experienced even when the person is not performing the repetitive task. At this stage, the condition may still be reversible, but may require prompt action.

When the symptoms have reached the last stage, the condition becomes irreversible. It may stay for years and affect the sufferer in a number of ways. For example, the sufferer may not be able to sleep at night and even carry out simple tasks at work or at home. Apart from experiencing pain, tiredness and swelling, the sufferer may also experience,

• muscle spasm
• loss of grip
• loss of movement
• loss of sensation
• burning sensation
• ganglion

RSI Claims

If you have developed RSI at work, we can help you make a claim using a No Win No Fee scheme.

To find out more information, simply request a call back by completing our online claim form.

RSI or repetitive strain injury describes a range of painful conditions of the nerves, muscles and soft tissues. RSI is caused by repetitive use or overuse of a particular part of the body. For example, repetitive use of the hands when carrying out typing jobs can cause carpal tunnel syndrome.

Repetitive strain injury is usually related to an occupation, but it can also result from different kinds of leisure activities. Symptoms of RSI may continue for a long period of time.

Symptoms of RSI depend on the nature of the repetitive task being performed and the area of the body that is affected. In the vast majority of cases, symptoms develop in the hands, wrist or arms. In recent years, groups of people who are at a greater risk of developing RSI include typists, construction workers and musicians.

There are generally two types of RSI. The first type includes well defined syndromes. For example, carpal tunnel syndrome and tendonitis which have distinctive symptoms.

Under the second type of RSI, there are no demonstrable physical signs of injury. It is also known as diffuse RSI.

RSI Claims

We can help you make a RSI claim on a No Win No Fee basis if it can be established that you developed the condition at work.

At personalinjuryclaim.co.uk, we have expert accident at work claim solicitors who can help you with your RSI claim.

Submit your details through our online claim form and we will call you back to arrange for a free consultation.

Thousands of people make use of taxi services on a daily basis in the UK. Whether it is for going out in the evening for a few drinks or getting around in big cities, taxis are one of the safest and convenient modes of travelling. But, there are a numerous occasions in which taxi passengers suffer injuries in taxi accidents. If you have been involved in a taxi accident as a passsnger, you may be eligible to make taxi passenger injury claims.

Steps To Take Following A Taxi Accident

Being involved in a taxi accident can be a traumatic experience and it may not be possible for the victim to think clearly following the accident. However, there are a number of important steps that you must take following the accident which can help you in making personal injury claims for compensation.

Read the advice given below so you know what to do if you have been involved in a taxi passenger accident.

• obtain contact details of the driver of the taxi
• obtain the registration number of the taxi
• obtain contact details of the others who got involved in the accident
• if possible, obtain photographs of the accident scene or make a sketch
• obtain contact details of witnesses
• seek medical attention
• report the accident to the police
• retain medical bills and other receipts
• seek legal help

No Win No Fee Taxi Accident Claims

To make a No Win No Fee taxi passenger injury claim, all you need to do is get in touch with our highly experienced solicitors today. Our taxi injury claim solicitors will assess your claim and handle your claim on your behalf. To request a call back, simply submit your details through our online claim form.

Many different types of vehicles are driven on UK roads and motorbikes are one of the smallest types of vehicles. Motorbikes offer very little protection to riders and therefore accidents involving motorbikes can cause serious injuries to the riders. Larger vehicles such as cars, trucks, lorries and buses pose a significant risk to motorbike riders due to their size. If a motorbike accident has taken place and you have sustained injuries due to no fault, you should consider making a motorbike injury claim for compensation.

Motorbike riders make up only about 1% of the road users in the UK, but studies have revealed that close to 19% of road traffic accidents involve motorbikes.

Why Do Motorbike Accidents Take Place?

Motorbike accidents take place for many different reasons. One of the common reasons is the failure of other road users, such as drivers of larger vehicles to see them and recognise them in dense traffic.

Another common cause of motorbike accidents include poor road conditions. Oil and ice on the road, skidding on mud, losing control of the bike due to pot holes and defective road surfaces are also some of the common causes.

When motorbike accidents are caused by other vehicles, it is possible to make motorbike injury claims against the insurers of the vehicle. However, if it is caused by poor road conditions, a personal injury claim can sometimes be made against the local council responsible for the maintenance of the road in question.

The local council and the highway authority are responsible for keeping the condition of roads and pavements well maintained. They must carry out regular inspections and programs of repairs if roads and pavements are not up to a reasonable standard. If highway authorities and local councils fail to do this and injury occurs, they can be held liable to pay compensation to the injured party.

Personalinjuryclaim.co.uk has a team of specialist motorbike injury claim solicitors who can assist you with your claim on a risk free No Win No Fee basis.

Our solicitors are experienced, skilled and at the same time offer a 100% compensation guarantee – so you to take home the entire compensation award with no deductions at all.

You can contact our specialist solicitors regarding your motorbike accident claim by completing our online claim form. We will then call you back and discuss your claim with you.