You may feel that you are quite safe travelling in an enclosed car. You feel that the metal shell will protect you from harms way should you fall into an accident. It is a big mistake to think this. Many passengers that have been involved in a car accident suffer horrific injures and have to live with the physical and psychological impact for years to come.

The most commonly reported personal injury claim in a road accident is whiplash injury. Another common injury which is not normally talked about is seatbelt injury. If you think about the impact of a car accident, it is hardly surprising. When another vehicle slams into the back of your car or slams into the side of your car, you will be naturally jerked forwards or sideways. This jerk reaction will impact your body even if you are wearing a seatbelt.

Of course it is essential that everyone wear a seatbelt whenever travelling. Your injuries are more likely to be less serious wearing a seatbelt in an accident rather than not wearing one. It is fundamental to your overall safety and thousands of lives have been saved as a result of the seatbelt first being enforced.

The driver may have been negligent in his or her driving and you may have suffered a seatbelt injury as a result. For instance, the driver may have been speeding unnecessarily or overtaking dangerously. The driver may also have been ignoring the weather conditions or may have been driving in road rage. If you feel that your seatbelt injury could have been prevented had it not been for the recklessness of the driver, then you should make a claim. It is your right to make a claim as your injuries were sustained due to the recklessness of the driver.

What types of injuries you can expect if you are involved in a road accident

Depending on the impact of the road accident, you could expect to have the seatbelt dig into your abdomen. This can cause abdomen tenderness or even possible bowel injuries. In order to avoid these injuries there are a few steps you can take.

Most drivers make the mistake of putting their seatbelts on loosely thinking that it should be sufficient in the event of an accident. However, to reduce injury it is important to wear the seatbelt as tightly as possible. Seatbelts have been known to save lives in accidents so you should ensure that:

* You wear your seatbelt as tight as possible

* Make sure that you always wear the lap belt over your pelvis and hips

* Wear the diagonal strap over your shoulders

Have you suffered a seatbelt injury in a car accident due to the driver driving recklessly? If this is the case, then you have a right to make a claim. Our solicitors will assess your case and advise you on what you should do next.

Ayesha Salim is editor of the UK Lawyers Network. Ayesha writes articles about road accidents, road traffic accidents and motoring issues. Please visit the website if you would like to see more of Ayesha’s work or if you would like to contact local solicitors or to talk with a personal injury lawyer.

Cancer is a disease that cannot be pinned down to one single cause. There are various factors which may help increase the likelihood of an individual developing the disease. Your genes, general lifestyle, or even the environment may all contribute to increasing the chances of developing the disease.

Early diagnosis of cancer is essential in leading to more effective treatment and lower mortality rate. Failure by doctors to do this can have devastating results for the patient involved. With the current advancements in technology, it is much easier now than ever before to be able to spot signs of cancer. Early misdiagnosis of cancer can have drastic consequences for the patient’s life expectancy. In some cases, the consequences can be so serious that treatment may no longer be an option and the patient will be impacted for life.

What can you expect in making a claim?

In order to establish the doctor’s liability, the doctor will first be assessed against other doctors in the same speciality. Two fundamental questions will be asked:

* Did the doctor fall under the reasonable standard expected from doctors in his or hers speciality?

* What would the patient’s condition be now if the correct diagnosis had been initially made? And how will this compare with what actually happened?

In order to establish whether to give compensation, the courts use what we call the ‘balance of probabilities’ test. Therefore, if it is agreed by the experts in the same speciality that the correct diagnosis would have given the patient a 60% chance of survival, and the actual delay in diagnosis and treatment has reduced that chance to 40%, there will be compensation for that individual. The same rule applies to any other serious flaws in treatment. However, if a 40% chance had fallen down to 20%, there would be no compensation for that. This is because the survival rate was less than probable in both cases.

The balance of probabilities test has proved to be controversial as many commentators have argued that it can provide unjust results for some of the patients. Nonetheless, it is the law that is applied today, and the process that will have to be gone through for anyone making a claim.

The types of misdiagnoses made by doctors in cases of breast cancer:

* Failure to follow up on test results

* Failure to order new tests

* Failing to spot early symptoms of cancer

* Mistaking a tumour for an infection or diagnosing the tumour as benign

* Failing to observe an obvious lump during an examination

These are just some of the critical mistakes that doctors have been known to make. Critical mistakes that lead to great trauma and anxiety for the individual involved. An early diagnosis would have prevented a lot of the suffering faced by the individual.

If you or someone you love has been affected and are concerned about the type of treatment you have received, our specialist clinical negligence solicitors will be able to offer you advice with compassion and understanding. Our solicitors will provide you with assistance and guidance in pursuing your compensation claim.

Ayesha Salim , editor of the UK Lawyers Network, writes articles about solicitor, Personal injury Lawyer, cancer claims, find a solicitor, legal, lawyer, law help advice, solicitors litigation

Many of us shudder at the prospect of going to the dentist, as the very thought of someone drilling into our tooth opens up a house of horrors. However, it is well known that going for a check-up is good for your health and we know that we should place great trust into the professionals that are taking care of us.

Unfortunately, whilst the majority of dentists offer a high standard of service to their patients, some patients do end up being treated negligently. The important point is to distinguish between an unfortunate side effect or actual negligence on the part of the dentist. Your dentist may have been negligent in fitting your crown properly. Now you may be having trouble eating. Or perhaps your dentist failed to spot a serious dental disease and now you are experiencing persistent pain and have suffered permanent damage to your teeth.

What are the types of dental negligence?

Dental negligence can happen through various ways, however listed below are some of the more common ways:

Misdiagnosis by dentists

The dentist may be responsible for failing to recognise the seriousness of the patient’s dental problem, and as a result provides the wrong treatment. This could lead to serious consequences for the patient whom may suffer both psychological and physical pain as a result of the treatment. In these cases, it is likely that the patient will be entitled to compensation.

Carelessness

It is the responsibility of the dentist to perform the dental procedure to a high standard, up-keeping the patient’s personal safety at all times. This is essential as great trust is placed in the dentist carrying out the procedure. However, the dentist may be careless during the procedure and end up causing personal injury to the patient. This can give rise to a clinical negligence claim.

Inadequate treatment by dentists

The patient is entitled to receive a high standard of treatment for their dental problems. In some cases, the dentist fails in this duty, and as a consequence the patient suffers personal injury. In order to make a clinical negligence claim, the patient will have to prove that another dentist in the same professional capacity would not have made the same error in judgement.

Drug usage for the patient

Giving the patient the wrong dosage of drug could lead to some serious implications for the patient. Similarly, analysing the patient’s forms is an essential part of the procedure which dentist’s should perform as there may be a record of a certain type of allergy that the patient has. If the dentist fails in these tasks, and the patient suffers personal injury as a result, this could give rise to a potential compensation claim.

If you have personally suffered undergoing a dental procedure, and wish to make a claim, our solicitors should be able to help you. You may feel that your dentist has provided you with substandard care or caused a dental accident which resulted in you suffering personal injury. Whatever the reason may be, our specialist solicitors will be able to advise you.

It will have to be demonstrated that another competent member of the dental profession would not have provided the same form of treatment. Let our solicitors assess your case with compassion and understanding, and we will be able to ensure you that you have the best chance possible in winning your compensation claim.

Ayesha Salim , editor of the UK Lawyers Network, writes articles about accident claims, Personal injury Lawyer, Dental Negligence, find a solicitor, legal, lawyer, law help advice, solicitors litigation

With more computers being used on a regular basis nationwide, it was inevitable that the number of repetitive strain claims would rise with it. Many of these claims could be avoided if the employer had taken certain measures to prevent this from happening. It is the employer’s duty after all, to provide a safe working environment for its employees.

Repetitive strain injury claims are often hard to claim for due to it’s complexities. For instance, citing repetitive strain due to high computer use at work would be difficult to claim for, as the majority of the country have computers at home which could also have been responsible for causing the injury.

However, do not let this put you off as your employer should take reasonable steps to avoid you suffering from this type of injury. For instance, it will be in the employer’s best interests to provide stress-saving items to staff members.

What is repetitive strain injury?

Repetitive strain injury can also be referred to as Work Related Upper Limb Disorder. The types of symptoms that people suffer can vary but usually they involve stiffness, tingling, and swelling. It is repetitive work processes that tend to cause a strain in the upper limbs. Reports have suggested that around two thirds of office workers suffer from RSI, however are unaware that they can even make a claim.

It is important that the employer ensures that the employee takes regular intervals from using the keyboard as this is a major cause of RSI (Repetitive strain injury). The PC monitor should be at the correct height for the employee and wrist rests should be made available for comfort. Similarly repetitive usage of the mouse can also cause RSI. The symptoms occur due to continuous muscle contraction caused by being in a fixed position for too long whilst the limbs are unsupported or supported in the wrong manner.

As an employee if you have developed RSI as a result of prolonged keyboard and mouse use, it may be possible to make a RSI claim against your employer. The amount of compensation you can claim for will highly depend on the severity of your injury. In order for your case to be analysed the best way possible, it is recommended that you contact a solicitor as soon as possible. The solicitor will give you the appropriate information you need and help you in your claim forward.

With advancements in technology, more people have gotten used to working on the move. Gadgets such as blackberry’s and smaller laptops, have enabled commuters to be able to use these gadgets on the train or on the bus. Unfortunately, many are misinformed about the risks of such prolonged usage of these devices. The risks of them obtaining RSI become higher due to the smaller and closer-situated buttons. Furthermore, the effects of RSI are likely to be more serious in comparison to a normal office environments, as commuters will be working in uncomfortable and unusual positions.

Ayesha Salim , editor of the UK Lawyers Network, writes articles about solicitor, Personal injury Lawyer, Repetetive strain injury claims, find a solicitor, legal, lawyer, law help advice, solicitors litigation