Most passengers have the false belief that travelling in an enclosed car will protect them from harms way. They even fail to strap on their seatbelt as they feel that the metal shell will protect them should they fall into an accident. It is a big mistake to think like this. There have been many cases of drivers and passengers suffering terrible accident injuries, and many of them have to deal with the physical and psychological impact. To prevent such catastrophic injuries, you should always wear a seatbelt.

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.

Nonetheless it is essential that the driver and all passengers wear a seatbelt at all times. It has been proven time and time again that wearing a seatbelt reduces the likelihood of the passenger or driver suffering terrible injuries. Ever since the seatbelt was introduced into the public sphere, thousands of lives have been saved as a result.

Your seatbelt injury could have been caused by the negligent behaviour of the driver. Depending on the situation, it could be that the driver had been speeding unnecessarily or overtaking dangerously. The driver also may have ignored the weather conditions and be driving recklessly or in road rage. If you sustained seatbelt injuries as a result of the driver’s negligence then it is your personal right to make a claim.

What you should expect if you are involved in a road accident

Depending on the nature of the road accident, you could expect to have the seatbelt dig into your abdomen. This can result in you experiencing abdomen tenderness or even possible bowel injuries. Before you travel next it is possible to take some extra precaution in preventing these types of injuries occurring.

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:

* The seatbelt is worn as tight as possible

* The lap belt should be worn over your pelvis and hips

* Ensure that you wear the diagonal strap over your shoulders

Have you sustained seatbelt injuries in a car accident due to the driver’s negligence in driving? If so you have a right to make a claim and you should contact our solicitors who will be able to look at your claim and advise you on how to proceed.

Ayesha Salim is editor of the UK Lawyers Network. Ayesha writes articles about seat belt injury claims, 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 compensation claims or to talk with a personal injury lawyer.

Passenger injuries normally occur when travelling as a passenger in a car, bus, or any other vehicle that has been involved in an accident. You do not have to be in the driving seat in order to make a claim. If you were in a vehicle in which the driver collided with another vehicle, you can make a passenger accident compensation claim.

You have a right to make a claim as in the majority of cases, passengers are the innocent party. The driver is ultimately responsible for ensuring the safety of his passengers, and should anything happen to them, he has to be prepared to face the consequences.

Claiming against the driver

If you were a passenger in a road accident and suffered terrible injuries, you should think about making a claim. Do not be put off even if it is against someone you know. You should note that as long as the driver has basic car insurance cover, and third party insurance, he or she will be covered for liability for injuries to other people in the car (including passengers), liability for damage to other people’s property and liability for injuries to the occupants of other vehicles.

It is natural if you are feeling reluctant about making a claim against someone you know, however your actions will not bear any negative repercussions on them. They will most likely be making a claim on their insurance anyway, and their insurance provider will be liable to pay any compensation that you receive.

If more than one driver was involved in the accident you can bring a claim against them too. If the other driver was also responsible for the injuries you suffered as a result of their negligence, then you can make a claim against both of them.

It should be borne in mind that the amount of compensation you receive will be affected by whether or not you were wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident. Your compensation may be reduced if you were not wearing one, so be prepared for this.

The driver making the other driver accountable too

If a passenger does make a claim for accident compensation against the driver, the driver can request that the driver of the other vehicle be also held accountable for the collision. This is usually beneficial for the defendant, as if he or she brings the other driver into the equation it may help reduce the amount of compensation he or she might have to pay. This way each driver is responsible for paying their proportion of the compensation to the victim.

Passengers are often distraught in the aftermath of a car accident. In most situations it happens so quickly that it is difficult to witness what actually happened. This is particularly applicable for passengers travelling in the back of the vehicle due to limited vision. It is best that you seek legal advice from our solicitors if you have been involved in an accident as a passenger. This way you will know your options and the right way forward.

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

Laser eye surgery is becoming increasingly popular in the UK. If the procedure is performed in the correct manner it can lead to great results for the patient concerned. The patient will be able to enjoy a better quality of life and the procedure itself is not that long. However, as with any surgical procedure, laser eye surgery comes with risks and on occasion, complications can occur.

Laser eye surgery is normally used to correct long and short sightedness. The surgery involves cutting a flap in the cornea and then reshaping it using a laser, before replacing the flap. It is possible for some to experience dry eyes in the months following the surgery.

Complications and risks

As laser eye surgery is still a relatively new form of procedure, its full effects have not been fully determined. In some cases problems do occur from dryness of the eyes to night vision problems. The risk of complications occurring may be higher with some patients. It is the responsibility of the doctor to screen their patients for potential of risks and any diseases such as inflammation of the eye, large pupils, or dry eyes. Not every candidate will be suited for the surgery, and the pre-screening should identify these.

The complications experienced by patients can vary from case to case. In the more serious cases the patient can experience complete loss of vision. In others the problems are less serious such as suffering from dry eyes.

Undergoing Cataract surgery

Some people as they get older start to experience visual problems and need cataract surgery. It can be caused by a number of different factors, such as diabetes, or smoking. The cataract surgery involves the lens of the eye being broken down into tiny pieces which are removed through a small cut in the eye. The lens is then replaced with an artificial one. All of this is aimed at improving the patient’s eyesight.

Problems can occur during the surgery through faulty technique or when the wrong lens is inserted. This can happen when the pre-operative assessment is not run properly and leads to misleading and inaccurate results.

It is the doctor’s responsibility to inform their patient of the risks involved in the surgery before the operation is carried out. It may not be possible to go through every risk possible, but the general risks should be highlighted to the patient.

Can I make my claim?

This will depend on a few things such as:

* The full nature and extent of your injury

* How long it has take you to recover from the injury and whether it has any long term consequences

* The extent of losses you incur as a result of the injury

Whatever your situation, our solicitors are experienced in dealing with a number of challenging claims and will be able to assist you in yours. If you feel that you have suffered negligence at the hands of a doctor, our solicitors should be able to help you with your claim.

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

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.

In recent years, great progression has been made in cancer research and early detection process of cancer. It is well known that early diagnosis of cancer can drastically impact the individual’s chances of survival before it has a chance to spread. Not all types of cancer are so easy to spot, however some of the more common ones can be detected early through careful screening. Failing to recognise important signs of cancer can have drastic consequences on the patient’s quality and life expectancy. Furthermore, if early diagnosis is not made, then the cancer can spread to such a stage that treatment may no longer be a viable option for the patient.

What is involved in making a claim?

In establishing whether the doctor has been negligent, the doctor will first be assessed against other doctors in the same professional capacity. The two main questions that will be asked will be:

* Did the doctor fall below par 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 assessing the patient’s claim, the courts use what we call the ‘balance of probabilities’ test. This means that if the experts in this speciality agree 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 would be applicable to any other serious flaws in treatment. However, if a 40% chance had fallen down to 20%, there would be no compensation. 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.

Forms of misdiagnoses made by doctors in cases of breast cancer:

* Failure to follow up on test results

* Failure to order new tests

* Failing in spotting early symptoms

* Confusing the tumour for an infection or diagnosing the tumour as benign

* Failing to observe an obvious lump during an examination

The list outlined above are some of the more common misdiagnoses that are usually made by doctors which can lead to devastating consequences for the individual concerned. A simple observation early on would have lead to a great less psychological and physical pain for 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 Solicitors, solicitor, cancer misdiagnosis, find a solicitor, legal, lawyer, law help advice, solicitors litigation