Suffering from an injury, whether you’ve been in a roadside accident, you’ve been in an incident at work, or you’ve simply been injured going about your day-to-day life, can be painful, inconvenient and uncomfortable. What’s more, an injury can persist for weeks or even months, stopping you from living your life as you normally would.
This is why it’s so important to make a claim if you feel that someone else is responsible for your accident. Read through some of our key examples below – they highlight some of the most ground-breaking cases over the past few years – and they show how important it is to make a claim if you are injured in any way.
Fairchild v Glenhaven Funeral Services
In this ground-breaking case, three separate companies argued that they could not be sued for exposing people to asbestos, as it could not be proven exactly which company caused the harm brought about by asbestos exposure.
However, the victims in this case all suffered from mesothelioma, a terminal form of cancer resulting from exposure to asbestos. Due to the severity of the case, the court ruled that any company guilty of exposing people to asbestos that may have induced their mesothelioma, would have to pay full compensation to the victims, as they were being negligent.
Rothwell v Chemical & Insulating
In this case, 10 workers suffered from pleural plaques. This is a condition that develops years after asbestos exposure, and victims can expect to suffer from a thickening of the membranes lining the chest wall.
The defendant, an insurance company, argued that compensation should not be paid as the condition has very few symptoms. However, the High Court ruled that sufferers should receive compensation, albeit at a reduced amount.
Dugmore v Swansea NHS Trust
In this case, a former nurse who had worked at Swansea NHS Trust made a successful claim because she was severely debilitated after handling latex gloves, which the trust knew she was allergic to. Sadly, in this case, the victim suffered from a severe anaphylactic attack, which meant that she couldn’t work again.
The court found that she could have been provided with vinyl gloves, which would have been perfectly fine for her to wear. Therefore, the trust was negligent and ultimately responsible for her suffering.
If any of this sounds familiar and you think you could make a claim, remember that there are personal injury claims time limits, and you should always look to make your claim within three years of your accident.
Have you been injured in an accident recently? Do you think you could be entitled to compensation? Get in touch with our solicitors in Preston today, and we will offer you completely free advice, to help you get back on track.