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Showing posts with label Compensation Claims. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Compensation Claims. Show all posts

Sunday, 16 June 2013

Relevance of Medical Negligence Claims No Win No Fee



Medical negligence claims on a no win no fee basis helps rebuild shattered lives. Why is this so? Keep reading and find out.

Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA) commonly known as no win no fee paved the way to an easier access to the justice system in the UK. People injured due to the mistakes of others can file a case even without sufficient funds. It lies on the condition that if it is unsuccessful, the client will not have to pay the solicitor. On the other hand, if it is successful, the client will have to pay the normal fees plus a success fee. The passage of the new law on personal injury claim that took effect on April 2013 can be clearly explained by a legal counsel.

The solicitor usually recommends taking out an After-the-Event (ATE) insurance to cover for any potential liability. This protects the client from any legal costs including disbursements.

There is a time limit of filing medical negligence claims no win no fee in the UK. An expert solicitor provides legal advice on how to bring a claim including the requirements and all the details involved in the compensation. It is better to consult an expert and know the whole process.

How to Win a Clinical Negligence Claim

How do you obtain medical negligence claims on a no win no fee basis in the UK?

In order to achieve compensation for a malpractice, the injured person needs to meet the law requirements of UK.

First, it is important to prove the presence of duty of care. Healthcare providers owe a duty to take care of their patients. NHS hospitals, private hospitals and healthcare professionals such as GPs, surgeons, dentists, physiotherapists, nurses and hospital staff are responsible in delivering a standard of care. It is expected from them to diagnose the health condition, investigate the symptoms, provide the right treatment, prescribe correct medication, recommend the necessary lab tests, administer the correct medication and comply with the safety procedures.

Second, a breach of duty should be proven. A doctor who commits negligence has breached the duty of care. The breach of duty can be a mistake like a misdiagnosis, failure to investigate the symptoms, delayed diagnosis, wrong treatment or incorrect prescription of drugs.

Third, it is necessary to prove the causation between the breach of duty and injury. The link between the two should be established.  It can be achieved with the assistance of a lawyer who specialises in compensation for injuries.

Lastly, the injury sustained by the person needs to be proven. It is essential to show evidence of the injury or illness suffered by person.

Wednesday, 15 May 2013

Medical Negligence Claims Help Patients Recover

People have different experiences when they are inside the Emergency Room of a hospital. For doctors, being inside the Emergency Room may be a dream come true as it is the culmination of years of studying medicine; it is the place where they get to put all their training to good use by saving the lives of accident victims.

For patients, being inside the Emergency Room may be a victim’s worst nightmare. People will be running around the Emergency Room floor as well as other adjoining rooms. People will be shouting at each other by dictating the life signs of critical accident victims and the things that have to be done. And other than the pain of wounds, patients may feel the pin pricks of needles, the scraping of endoscopies, and the slicing of scalpels.

And in all this chaos, it is possible that doctors and nurses may end up missing something that is very important for the life of the patient. Someone may miss out on what medicines a patient is allergic to; someone may forget to add enough lubricant to the endoscope; someone may miss that a patient is diabetic and has trouble clotting any type of wound.

Thankfully, Medical negligence claims allow patients who are victims of these errors to claim damages. An allergic reaction to medicines may cause swelling of internal organs; the failure of add enough lubricant can cause wounds in one’s throat; and incisions on diabetics today may lead to amputations tomorrow.

And since all of these will require money for healing, negligence claims prevent the condition of patients from getting any worse.

Tuesday, 14 May 2013

Too Witty for Comfort

What I learned the hard way last year was that you should not be too clever when dealing with whiplash injury claims. That is to say, even though the claiming process is based largely on logic and reasoning, you should not overextend rationalizations to their ultimate results. This is what I mean.

When my lawyer asked me, for example, why he should accept my whiplash injury claims over those of other claimants, I answered that if he did not, then he would have no income, and therefore he would then go hungry and probably die. I honestly believed that it was this kind of logic that lawyers wanted to hear. But apparently I was mistaken. The lawyer I was adverting to not only refused to take on my claims, he even gave me a long exposition on the use of politeness and decorum when transacting subjects of dignity and great import. I offered to retract what I said. I told him I did not mean it. But he wouldn’t talk to me anymore. That’s just sad because I would have added that he would probably die and be mourned in a grand funeral by his friends and family. I wonder how he would have reacted to that. Maybe he would not have gotten angry.

When I got to talk to the judge, for luckily I discovered a lawyer who did accept my claims, I also got into trouble. The judge asked me if I was demanding a claim for the first time. It made me feel horrible. I nearly thought he was acting condescendingly to me. But I simply figured that this question was probably the right way to introduce yourself in the world of law. Without hesitation then, I answered that it was. Not willing to be looked in a bad light, I returned the favor. I asked him whether this was the first time he would try a case too. But to my surprise, instead of answering a happy Yes or No, he held me in contempt and had it put on record that I was guilty of disrespecting his authority. It boggled my mind. Until now, I still don’t know why I was ejected from court that day. But I think I’ve figured out the answer. I should have asked him more respectfully, as in “How about you sir? Is this the first case you will try, your Honor?”

Wednesday, 8 May 2013

The Enormous Task of Medical Negligence Lawyer



Medical negligence lawyer plays a big role in processing claims for a malpractice in the United Kingdom. Clinical or medical negligence can be complicated and it requires an expert advice to attain the right level of award.

The appointed medical negligence lawyer works diligently from the initial interview to the entire process. He provides valuable legal advice, investigates on the issue, prepares the evidence, negotiates on behalf of the client and files the formal complaint in court. The assigned attorney informs the injured person about personal injury claims in the United Kingdom. He interprets the laws governing personal injury and explains the rules and regulations. The client is also informed of his rights and obligations. Proper investigation is necessary. The assigned attorney gracefully achieved this by pouring out sufficient time in coordinating with the concerned parties and doing both paperwork and legwork. Extensive research especially in complex issues is handled with high regard for confidentiality. Pieces of evidence are knit together like the medical report, police report, medical expenses, financial loss incurred and other pertinent documents. There are instances whereby the case is settled out of court. The lawyer accomplishes this by negotiating for the right amount of compensation.

Impressive Traits of a Solicitor

It is necessary to choose the right medical negligence lawyer or solicitor to take on the case. One needs to be knowledgeable, competent and resourceful.

A solicitor who is knowledgeable in handling the claim is reliable because the client trusts that he knows the ins and outs of this specalised area of law. One who has a broad knowledge in bringing a claim knows the best approach to apply in order to achieve the main goal of getting compensation for the injuries sustained from a malpractice. This trait is combined with a wide experience in the litigation process. A legal and medical background in the United Kingdom is advantageous. It is valuable especially in preparing the evidence that will show the type of injury or illness, the severity of the pain, treatment and the overall impact of the harm to the victim of negligence. The solicitor applies the appropriate method in order to gain full compensation for the negligent act committed by a healthcare provider or healthcare professional. He is resourceful in digging the correct information and goes the extra mile to assist the injured person. These are the impressive traits that are important in a legal counsel.

Is it a Hospital Mistake?



Health News:

A young Briton died from measles in his home. It was reported that the hospital sent him home because the doctors thought that his condition is not so serious anymore. It is quite surprising to read news from a doctor who says they “thought” the patient’s condition is okay. What? Did I hear it right? “I thought” or “We thought” are strange words you hear from a physician. It is a profession that requires proper monitoring of patients. How come a doctor would assume that a person is doing well if proper examination and investigation are not properly conducted? It’s the hospital’s policy to discharge the patient properly. The hospital can be liable for his death even if he died at home. It is also considered as grounds for medical negligence if the results of the investigation on the cause of his death would prove that there is negligence on the part of the healthcare institution. The health and safety of patients should be the top most priority of the healthcare professionals. Compensation can be claimed if someone is injured or died in a healthcare facility due to medical negligence.

This news came out during the outbreak of measles in South Wales wherein a noticeable number of cases were reported in the area. Thousands of kids had MMR vaccinations to fight the spread of the disease.

Several cases of medical negligence claims arise from negligence caused by hospital errors, accident & emergency department and GP’s mistakes. A misdiagnosis, wrong treatment, lack of examination, administration of incorrect drug or even poor hygiene may injure an innocent victim. Someone who is sick gets even worse instead of getting better. This is unacceptable. Healthcare providers need to be extra careful in dealing with their patients.

The incident mentioned earlier is just a sample of a situation where an innocent person sufferers from a medical practitioner’s malpractice. There may be cases which are not reported in the news and those individuals just suffer in silence.  The public should know about it so that it will serve as a warning and it should be a lesson to those who are negligent.

Wednesday, 1 May 2013

Get Informed about Personal Injury Compensation



The purpose of personal injury compensation is to reimburse for the loss, pain and suffering experienced by an individual from an accident caused by someone else’s mistakes. This is awarded in the form of damages which is categorized into General and Special Damages.

General Damages compensates for the non-quantifiable aspect of the claim. It is commonly known as the pain, suffering and loss of amenity. Loss of amenity is basically the impact of the injury or illness to one’s quality of life or his relationship with others. These are non-monetary changes that an individual needs to adjust after the accident. The physical and emotional pain, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of use, loss of prospects, disfigurement, impairment and loss of companionship can be included in claiming for personal injury compensation.

The physical and emotional pain may not be totally compensated but it can somehow lessen the stress in dealing with other problems brought about by the incident. Loss of enjoyment of life covers for loss of leisure time or loss of enjoyment or a holiday. The loss of use of damaged items like jewelry or a car can be compensated.  Loss of income opportunity is also covered in this category.

A Special Claim for Injuries

Special Damages compensate for the economic loss incurred by the injured person from someone’s negligence. It covers for the loss of earnings, medical expenses, cost of care, transport costs and other out-of-pocket expenses.

Both actual and future losses of earnings are included in the claim. It is evaluated based on the details of one’s employment. Loss of future earnings is quite difficult to compute. The pay increases, benefits and promotion prospects are taken into consideration. Medical expenses include hospital bills, cost of medicines and medical treatment fees. The cost of care covers the care provided by family, relatives, friends or other private agency. Transport expenses include trips to the hospital, visit to the GP, attending appointment with the medical expert and other trips related to the injury. Other expenses that can be claimed include repair or replacement of vehicles, additional utilities costs, items needed for the treatment and special aids and equipment.

It is necessary to provide evidence in seeking for personal injury compensation in the United Kingdom. This requires an expert legal advice from a solicitor so that the right amount can be granted to the claimant. Ask for a legal advice about the details.

Claim for Personal Injury: Are You Afraid of Heights?



It’s shocking to see a plane submerged into the water. Planes are for the sky and ships are for the sea. Not unless it’s a car which was recently reported that works on land and deeps into the water. Well, the said aircraft from Indonesia missed the runway and plunged into the water. Some passengers were injured. Good thing that there were no fatalities reported in the accident. Passengers suffer from trauma because of the incident. Although it’s a budget airline, it is still required to comply with highest standard of training of employees, most importantly the pilot. Inadequate training of employees can affect work performance and harm innocent people like these passengers. It’s a simple logic, whether you pay for a budget or an expensive fee, people deserves to be transported to a safe destination. Just imagine the shock of these passengers who are supposed to be on a land but ended up being submerged into the sea. It’s really traumatic. It’s not only the people inside the plane who suffered from stress but also their family and relatives who were so worried about their flight.

Speaking about airplane, a study conducted by British Airways shows that the back seats of an economy class is most popular to passengers. Another interesting result revealed that the right-hand side of the cabin is preferred by those who book their flights earlier. In addition to that, window seats are preferred by those who enjoy the view outside while the aisle seats are chosen by those who want to get out of their areas easily. Well, it’s nice to be given options. But the most important thing is to arrive in your destination safely.

Whatever marketing strategies employed by the airlines, safety should be the top most priority that should be offered to the customers. Convenience, service and on time arrival are equally important and should not be ignored. Accidents involving any forms of transportation are covered by claim for personal injury. This means any injuries while travelling by air, land or sea can be compensated if someone is negligent.

Sunday, 28 April 2013

Though Everything in Life has a Price, Getting Accident at Work Compensation is Free

Nothing in life is free; everything has a reward, price, or cost attached to it. On the positive side, work has its rewards. The most common monetary reward is being paid a monthly salary or a daily wage. Other rewards, this time not monetary in nature, are perks that companies provide. This may be getting a car and fuel allowance; getting a laptop and internet connection; or being allotted additional vacation days with pay.

On the neutral side, getting products like the electronic equipment or a car has a price. If one wants the latest equipment, a premium needs to be paid. But if one is happy to get last year’s model, the price will be much lower.

On the negative side, working in dangerous environments has a cost attached to it. While the reward may be higher salaries or wages, the cost can be in the form of severe injuries or even death. One example is if one is working on an oil platform in a war torn country. In this case, the pay may be higher, but the risk of injury is higher too.

However, there is a positive aspect to working in dangerous environments. Workers in dangerous places have the option to get accident at work compensation if they are injured due to the company’s negligence.

One example is if a person is involved in an explosion due to a terrorist attack, the victim may file for compensation if it can be proven that the company was negligent in providing security.

Poor security may be in the form of not beefing up the number of personnel trained and equipped to handle terrorist attacks. Or it may be in the form of not having vehicles, such as helicopters of fast sea craft, available so workers can be whisked away the moment an attack is underway.

Everything in life certainly has a price but getting Accident at accident at work compensation is totally free thanks to No Win No Fee arrangements. With this arrangement, people who are injured find that the cost of being injured will be rewarded with damages that will pay all their bills, including medical and legal ones.

Thursday, 25 April 2013

Rights of Patients: FYI



People have natural and legal rights. Specifically, patients are entitled to exercise their rights in the UK. It is necessary know this information. Read and learn from this.

Right to a GP
- Residents of the United Kingdom including European Economic Area or EEA countries  and abroad have the right to register with a General Practitioner. One has the right to choose his own GP. It is important to remember few things in choosing the GP such as the surgery address and contact number, gender of the GP, languages spoken by the chosen GP, any health interests, whether the GP performs minor surgery and other relevant details. There are instances when the GP may refuse a patient. If it happens, it must be reasonable and he must provide a written explanation. Online information is available on how to register with a GP. It is the patient’s right to change GP and there is no need to provide any reason for the decision. Aside from this, patients are permitted to ask for a second opinion. GPs are allowed to remove a patient from the list if the latter is physically or verbally abusive or if he transferred to another place.

Interesting Rights of a Patient

Aside from right to a GP, another equally important right of a patient in the UK is right to hospital treatment.

Right to Hospital treatment
-  GPs should provide medical treatment in emergency situation even if the patient is not registered with him. Care Quality Commission is responsible in handling out-of-hours services. Although the patient can request for a home visit, the GP will only do so if the medical condition requires it. The GP knows if it there is a sense of urgency. However, if the patient’s health condition gets worse because the GP refused to pay a home visit, it entitles the person to file a claim against the medical practitioner. This is a case covered in medicalnegligenceclaims. The GPs provide prescription for a specific condition. They should also provide medicines needed in immediate treatment during emergency. Hospital treatment requires endorsement from the GP. In emergency cases, there is no need for a referral from the GP.

Mistakes can occur during consultation or treatment with the GPs and in Accident and Emergency department of a hospital. Errors such as wrong treatment, incorrect prescription of drugs, misdiagnosis and surgical mistakes are considered negligence. Compensation can be claimed if the healthcare professional committed a malpractice that injures an individual.

Monday, 22 April 2013

Making Contingency Plans While Demanding Compensation Claims


Your Successor
Just like life, the claiming process is replete with surprises. As has often happened in the past, a lawyer who seemed to be the perfect representative of his client may end up losing his compensation claims precisely because his arguments were too good and stretched credulity for such reason. It has also happened that specific articles of evidence which were arrogantly dismissed by the claimant’s lawyer ended up winning his claims for him because these articles, unbeknownst to the lawyer but not so for the client, held an incriminating characteristic. The point is that the claiming process is never completely mastered by any kind of professional, be it judge or lawyer, because just like the intricate nets of life itself, the facts involved herewith are flexible, permeable, and dynamic.

You can never go wrong, therefore, in preparing contingency plans. Contingency plans are those which are done so in order to avert the impact of possible events detrimental to your winning your claims. They are the buffers you create in order to handle the shock of incapacity, loss of money, loss of evidence, or retraction by witnesses. In preparing such plans, you should prioritize the first one mentioned. You should have it in writing who you plan to transfer your authority as a claimant to in case you suddenly become unavailable to prosecute your claims.

Witnesses and Evidence
You can never have too many articles of evidence and witnesses. In demanding compensation claims, the courts are bound to collect the facts of the case and interpret it in anybody’s favor depending only on the merit of these facts alone. Now, as it is your articles of evidence and testimonials from your witnesses that will provide such given facts, the more you provide of them, especially those which will tip the balance in your favor, then the more feasible is your chances of winning your claims.

This condition is actually one of the most sterling qualities of our courts and our justice system. By relying exclusively on evidence and credible witnesses, our courts, and moreover, their penned decisions, we can be assured of will be made only in the spirit of integrity, probity, and honesty. Their absence from the scene of the crime is actually a boon for them because it liberates them from falling into the dangerous habit of deciding cases based purely from a momentary and imperfect though heated and enthusiastic view. By searching for the truth only through a cautious and logical stitching of facts, they are able to retain their calm neutrality while at the same time their penetrating logic. No citizen, to be sure, should ever be allowed to become a judge unless he can attain this honorable frame of mind.

Thursday, 18 April 2013

Compensation Claims: Reaction on the New Law



It is expected that compensation claims can bring hope and positive outlook for the victims of accidents.

For quite sometime, it helps injured people in recovering from their loss. But this time, the change in personal injury claim will be different. It drew various reactions from different groups. Although a lot of people has something to say, the one pursuing the claim is the most affected. They are suffering physically, emotionally and financially. It   looks like the stress of seeking compensation claims is even more difficult.

A comparison between the old and new ruling is spreading on the net. One who wants to find out the difference between the two can’t help but identify the specific details when it comes to the process of claiming, paying legal fees and other information.

People injured in any kind of accident wishes to seek help by means of getting compensated for the “unnecessary pain” brought by the incident. It seems that the new ruling is not in favor of them. They deserve to receive the right amount. Under the new rule, if they win the case, they need to scrap the legal fees from the award that will be granted to them. Getting compensated is one thing, but getting well-compensated is another thing. After all, they are not supposed to be suffering and enduring the litigation process if not for the negligence of others, right? Definitely right!

Take a look at the pain and suffering of the individual. He has to suffer from an injury, goes through with the medical treatment, buys medicines, spends to repair or replace the damaged vehicle, pays for additional expenses because of the injury and even hires an assistant to help him. Obviously, he cannot work, oh no! That’s a loss of income on his part. What about the lost time, lost opportunity and social gatherings he missed because of what happened to him. It’s not just the physical pain that hurts, but also the emotional stress that affects him. Don’t you think he deserves to be “well-compensated?”

Just sharing some thoughts and hopefully, sheds some light to others.  

Thursday, 11 April 2013

Accident at Work Compensation: Causes of Injuries



Accident at work compensation is a recompense for the sufferings endured by victims of negligence.

Various kinds of accidents occur in the workplace. Lack of training is one of the most common causes of injuries that affect a number of employees in the United Kingdom. Employees who are untrained, poorly trained and incompletely trained affect the job. The work environment is unsafe when training is inadequate. It lowers the production, increases expenses and loss customers. The purpose of the training is to work efficiently and increase production.

It is the responsibility of the employers to provide sufficient training in using work equipment.

Work equipment is an instrument that is use to carry out a specific task. Workers need to be trained in using power tools, hand tools, electronic equipment, electrical equipment, vehicles, office equipment, lifting equipment, chairs and workstations, cooking appliance, cleaning equipment, access equipment, mobile elevated platforms and manufacturing machinery. Injuries can be sustained if people use the above-mentioned instruments incorrectly.

An employee can be entitled to bring a claim for accident at work compensation in the United Kingdom. A legal advice from the expert is essential in filing a formal complaint.

Importance of PPE

Victims of negligence file an accident at work compensation because of the injuries caused by lack of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

The purpose of personal protective equipment is to shield people from any hazards in the workplace. These hazards can be physical, ergonomic, chemical or biological. Physical hazards like slips, trips, fall, constant loud noise and vibrations can be risky for individuals. Ergonomic hazards occur when the body is strained from doing a particular task. This includes unsuitable workstation, poor lighting and repetitive movements.  Chemicals hazards are dangerous to one’s health by means of inhalation, eye contact, skin contact and ingestion. Dangerous substance, cleaning products, and office materials should be used and disposed properly so that no one will be injured. Businesses are expected to supply PPE such as respirators, protective clothing, protective gloves, protective footwear and eye protection.

The two kinds of respirators filter the contaminated air and supply clean air from a separate source. Working with fumes, vapors and harmful dusts can be risky to workers and the use of respirators like half mask respirators, full mask respirators and powered respirators are necessary. Protective clothing like overalls, high visibility clothing and life jackets are essential in doing risky tasks.

Monday, 8 April 2013

Accident Claims and Liberation


Freedom from Guilt
If ever you may want reasons to validate your accident claims, then you should think about how it can relieve you of guilt and trauma. By deciding to file claims and pursue the claiming process, you can banish the nagging feeling of not doing anything at a time when any action from your part could have meant so much because it would have affected your future in no inconsiderable degree.

Filing personal injury claims, in other words, is not just economically helpful but also psychologically necessary. Not many people understand that even if the courts faithfully adhere to our system of tort laws and just consider the legality of honoring or rejecting a particular claim, without reference to non-legal apparatuses, the end result is still that the claiming process tests not only the claimants’ logic and arguments, but also their emotional and mental endurance. Claimants need good arguments to win their cases, but they also need willpower and emotional stability in order to begin the process at all.

Thus, you should consider filing your claims to dispel guilt and shame and not feel bad about using this reason as a starting point. Since the claiming process is a hybrid of economic, mental, and emotional tests, any reason drawn from these three quarters is a valid one to justify wanting to make a claim.

Freedom from Ignorance
For many people, having been injured without their consent is enough motivation to file accident claims. Nevertheless, there are those to whom the idea of demanding payment from others is too vulgar because it can signal poverty or shameful because it will include lawsuits. There are also those, moreover, to whom claiming compensation is not a valid decision at all because it will involve much fear, worrying, and stress.

In case you identify with any of these last three kinds of people, you may change your mind if you consider that filing a personal injury claim after suffering from an injurious accident you did not cause, as opposed to not filing one, can free you from much mental distress because it will satisfy your curiosity of whether or not you are in the right to feel aggrieved. It is only by entering, and moreover, by completing, the claiming process that you can know for certain whether or not you really deserve to be compensated and so are right in feeling vindicated. By completing your claim, you will never have to look back at your injurious accident with a question mark but with a period. Knowing for yourself how things really stand is essential in providing a sense of closure and finality to your controversial situation.

Wednesday, 27 March 2013

Tick Tack Tick Tack



Tick, tack, tick, tack – so goes the hand of the clock.

Time is so precious to all occupations. Every minute counts. Deadlines, reports, meeting, a gigantic work, heavy lifting and all sorts of tasks. More energy, more strength, more time are required to finish these. This is how you describe the busy life of working people from different industries. They are busy as a bee. The long hours of working seems to be too short to beat the deadline.

An office worker rushes to his car after sipping a cup of coffee. Drives his car and off to work. While his hands are on the wheel, his mind is wondering on how to finish his report. He finds his way to the parking lot. All of a sudden, some boxes from the top of a truck fell on his head then to his shoulders and back.

A retail staff arranges the stocks on top of the shelf using an improvised ladder. Suddenly he tumbled on the ground and sustains minor fracture.

The team of kitchen staff and waiters are rushing to and fro to serve a crowd of customers flocking their restaurant on a busy Monday lunch. Spills of liquid and food tainted the floor. The wet and greasy floor was not clean up that’s why a waiter slipped on it.

An ordinary day for a regular worker became an odd day when he tripped on a cluttered wire and cable and breaks his ankle. Temporarily, he cannot walk the normal way.

A construction worker fell on top of a scaffold. He got some fractures on his arms and leg. It turned out that the person who built the scaffold is not trained that’s why it collapsed.

The protective clothing of a man working in the manufacturing company is not well-maintained. The worn-out suit was not sufficient to stand the effect of a harmful chemical. That man is suffering due to the dangerous chemical.

An accident at work is painful and not comfy. It rubs the time and delays the work. Sometimes it occurs when people are so busy and rushing into something. The lesson is to keep things organized, follow the rules and be careful all the time so that no one will get hurt.

Thursday, 21 March 2013

Demanding Compensation Patiently

If there is one thing that I learned from my whole experience in demanding my work accident compensation, it is that good things cannot be had on short notice. Rather, they must be worked for, must be planned for, and most important, must be waited for.

Before my injurious accident, I was one of those who did things quickly, whatever it may be. Whether it was my laundry or my work or feeding my children or even having dinner with my husband, I always ensured that things got done quickly because that is how things should be done.

This is in no way an admission that I am hasty. I always study whatever it is that I want to do and then do it as quickly as possible. I don’t know, but maybe I got this attitude from watching too many military-themed movies. I’m a big fan too of military history. I think Bonaparte and Hitler, though they may have set wrong ends to pursue, were nevertheless blessed with formidable generals who knew that to strike means to strike quickly and without warning.

You could imagine my annoyance when my lawyer told me that days, sometimes even weeks, could be the intervals in the claiming process. For example, after sending a letter of accusation, we had to wait for a week for the reply. After that, we had to wait another week for a meeting with the defendant. Since my boss did not want to settle outside the courts, we had to bring our dispute to a judge’s attention and that required waiting for a month. And I won’t even mention the number of months the hearings lasted. Except maybe to point out that they too, were expectedly, far from each other. In other words, more waiting.

So I had to learn how to wait. My work accident compensation being no trifling figure, I thought that having started the claiming process, I may as well end it. And it did end and in my favor at that. Had it not, then I would have strangled my lawyer for making me undergo such a waiting process. That’s just not how things are supposed to be done.


Wednesday, 27 February 2013

Award for Injured Workers




How can a regular worker get through with the pain from an accident in the workplace? Will he suffer in silence while his body deteriorates? How can he pay his bills if he is injured and cannot work?

A retail staff suffered broken bones from falling from a table while arranging the stocks on top of the cabinet   He used the table and chair instead of using the ladder. At one point you can commend the staff for being resourceful or blame him for the wrong move. The truth is that the business owner did not provide a ladder that is why the guy substituted the chair and table. Sadly, he was pressed for time that is why he used an improvised ladder. This is a typical story of an employee who sustained injury at work. He deserves to receive injury compensation. 

The compensation can help him pay for his bills like medicines, hospitalization, treatment, utilities and even trips going to the GP. It cannot really recover what was lost but it can somehow lighten the burden he carries. Afterall, he was not supposed to suffer the pain if only the owner provided the needed equipment. The compensation not only reimburses the expenses but also the pain and suffering that he endured. Actually, the compensation is not enough to bring back what was loss. There is no monetary value that can ease the pain of being injured. It’s immeasurable. Not to mention the loss time of enjoyment with family and friends, Plus the social gatherings that are memorable to him.  What about the simple daily activities that cannot be carried out because of the injury and hobbies that cannot be enjoyed? How about the scar that tainted his appearance? On top of that is the emotional turmoil that plagues him day and night. Stress, insecurity and helplessness surround him every now and then. Truly physical injury hurts. Underlying that are more complex issues that he needs to deal with. Financial burden weights him down and emotional struggle seems to pull him down. He deserves to be compensated.