• Brits four times more likely to injure themselves through falling in winter
• Dead leaves, snow and ice to blame
• Adopting methods from the Alexander Technique can improve the way you walk and reduce the likelihood of accidents and injury

Winter is almost upon us and brings with it a trio of weather-related perils that mean Brits are four times more likely to injure themselves whilst out and about.

Personal Injury law specialist First4lawyers sees the number of reported falls due to slippery dead leaves, snow and ice increase dramatically throughout November and December.

November’s the month when dead leaves pose the biggest danger, with the number of people reporting injuries due to slipping over on them more than doubling compared to October. However, as December draws in, it’s ice and snow that are the main causes of trips and falls resulting in injury, with the number of reported cases increasing five-fold.

To help Brits stay safe and avoid nasty falls this winter, First4lawyers has teamed up with Jonathan Drake, a teacher of the Alexander Technique, to put together a series of tips on how to improve walking skills in slippery conditions.

The Alexander Technique is a method that works to change movement habits in everyday activities and is a simple and practical method for improving ease and freedom of movement, balance, support and coordination.

Adopt these three tips from the technique to avoid injuring yourself on slippery surfaces this winter:

1. Many of us tend to look down when walking outside to avoid uneven surfaces and dangers but this pulls the head and neck forwards and downwards making us top-heavy. Instead, remember to look forwards, scanning the ground as needed, and you’ll be able to better rebalance yourself if you do slip.
2. Press your feet backwards as they touch the ground rather than reaching forwards – this will ensure that even if your foot slips it will slip backwards and your other foot will quickly be in place underneath you so your balance is recovered.
3. Shorten your stride forward and lengthen it behind you – ensure your feet land directly underneath you and not in front.

Michelle Tyler, a solicitor at First4lawyers, said: “The number of injuries sustained from trips and falls on slippery surfaces increases dramatically in November and December, so we’re urging people to take extra care this year.

“Walking around outside in winter can be hazardous, and a simple trip to the shops or even the car can result in serious injury unless you are careful. By adopting the methods from the Alexander Technique you’ll be much better equipped to negotiate difficult conditions.”

First4lawyers is one of the UK’s leading companies that provides marketing and legal services to solicitors specialising in Personal Injury law and represents over 30 law firms across the UK.

Jonathan Drake concluded: “Improving your poise and balance will help you to walk and run much more safely in winter and reduce the likelihood of falling. Start now and it will become habit to look ahead, let your feet land underneath you and press them backwards when they land.”

For further information about First4lawyers please visit www.first4lawyers.com and to find out more about the Alexander Technique go to www.stat.org.uk.

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The excitement around the London 2012 Olympics is encouraging more and more people to take part in sport in the UK. But increased participation means a rise in the number of serious sporting injuries.
Recent figures from Sport England show that just over 6.9 million adults played sport three times a week for a minimum of 30 minutes between April 2010 and April 2011. The numbers show that since 2008 participant numbers in athletics have increased across every age group in England. The 16-34 age group is reportedly the most active, with over one million participants, while the overall figure stands at 1,875,000.

The unfortunate downside to this increased participation is that more people are becoming susceptible to sporting injuries, which means that accident claims for such injuries are also on the rise.

Forced retirement

The latest annual injury audit for top-flight rugby union states that 1.6 injuries per match, on average, were reported last season. Former rugby union player, Thom Evans, was forced to retire at the age of just 24 when he collided with an opposition player in February 2010. As a result of the tackle, Evans’ vertebra was so badly misaligned that he was just one millimetre from paralysis.

A study by Rugby’s Super League sponsors Engage found that a dislocated shoulder is the most common injury sustained in rugby league, followed by ligament damage, dead legs and medial cruciate ligament tears.

Compound fractures

Sport England’s data shows that more than two million people play football in England. Perhaps the most high-profile injury case occurred in April 1996 when Coventry City’s David Busst sustained horrific compound fractures to both the tibia and fibula of his right leg. He required 26 operations and never played football at a competitive level again.

Incidents such as these not only ruin people’s sporting careers, they also leave many unable to continue with their daily lives as normal and some have grounds to seek compensation if the injury is someone else’s fault.

A spokesperson for injury law specialists First4Lawyers said: “The last thing we at First4Lawyers want to do is to deter people from playing sport.

“But there are times when the personal health and wellbeing of an individual is compromised while partaking in sport, either through pure chance, as a result of the reckless actions of others, or when the relevant health and safety regulations are overlooked.

“Anybody who does suffer a sport-related injury or is involved in an accident through no fault of their own should contact us at First4Lawyers to see whether any legal action can be taken.”

Negligence and unsportsmanlike behaviour are the most common causes for personal injury claims in the sporting world. If a player does get seriously injured as a result of negligence or a dangerous challenge, then he or she will have reasonable grounds for a claim if it results in significant trauma and loss of earnings.

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People in the UK are susceptible to many different kinds of food poisoning and to various degrees of seriousness. The most common type of food poisoning in developed countries around the world is campylobacter, which is most often caused by undercooked meat and poultry.

The NHS states that there were 84,560 cases of food poisoning reported in the UK last year, but the actual figure is expected to be much higher because most cases go unreported. This is because the majority of cases of food poisoning tend to clear up in less than two days and seldom require treatment, but there have been many examples of severe, and sometimes even fatal, food poisoning around the world.

The BBC reported in 2008 that a 71-year-old British tourist died from salmonella poisoning at his hotel in Lake Garda, Italy. A total of twenty Britons were affected by the outbreak, which was suspected to have arisen from contaminated fish, leading them to seek legal action against the hotel.

A total of 71 students at a technic school in Malaysia were rushed to hospital after chilli-based squids induced severe vomiting and diarrhoea. The school was temporarily closed for an intense cleaning operation, while samples of the food were taken for testing.

Perhaps one of the UK’s most high profile cases of food poisoning in recent times came as TV chef Heston Blumenthal’s three Michelin starred restaurant, the Fat Duck, was closed down for three weeks in 2009 after over 500 guests were affected by norovirus from contaminated oysters. The Fat Duck, which is regularly hailed as one of the best restaurants in the world, unwittingly served sewage-infested oysters to its diners and faced legal action as a result last year. Sports commentator Jim Rosenthal, amongst others, fell violently ill after the £1,300 meal and received over £6,000 in compensation for the experience.

The cases that appear in the mainstream media often highlight poor hygiene levels in hotels, restaurants and takeaways, but food poisoning is obviously a very real possibility in homes across the country, too. Habits like not washing hands or changing knives after handling and preparing raw meat and fish increase the risk of catching foodborne gastrointestinal illnesses.

According to the Food Standards Agency, reported cases of food poisoning tend to peak during the summertime when barbeques become popular, but there is still a high risk factor during the Christmas period, up to and including New Year celebrations. The Food and Drink Federation estimates that the UK alone consumes approximately 10 million turkeys every Christmas, along with 25 million Christmas puddings and 250 million pints of beer.

Increased food consumption, along with the fact that many people often cook Christmas dinner for more than nine or ten people, means that the risk of food poisoning is much higher towards the end of the year. A high level of hygiene in storing, preparing and eventually cooking a Christmas feast is obviously of paramount importance at home, but supermarkets and suppliers also shoulder some of the responsibility as a result of this increased demand. Indeed, increased demand should not mean reduced levels of hygiene, but food poisoning continues to present a danger to health and leads to many claims for compensation around the UK.

A spokesperson for personal injury compensation specialist, First4Lawyers, commented on the matter: “Food poisoning becomes a real concern in the run up to and around Christmas time, so it is important that high levels of hygiene are employed by every party that handles or deals with foodstuffs.

“Supermarkets have an especially high responsibility to ensure that all food sold at Christmas and, for that matter, at any time of the year is of a high standard and doesn’t pose any kind of threat to consumers.

“If, as a consumer, you do suffer severe food poisoning this Christmas as a result of poorly kept food from supermarkets, please don’t hesitate to contact First4Lawyers to investigate the situation with you.”

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Riots swept across the UK like wildfire in the summer of 2011, leaving a trail of devastation in their wake. But as the clean-up began and people sought financial aid to help repair damage to their property, little mention was given to the many people who suffered personal injuries during the riots.

The first post-riots question on the lips of the nation concerned repairing the damaged properties and goods and compensating the victims of the events. Some estimates of the total compensation levels have already surpassed £200 million, but the scramble to repair the structural and economic damage inflicted during the riots left many people feeling that the physical harm they suffered was a secondary issue.

Riot Act

The Riot (Damages) Act 1886 allowed individuals to make a claim for loss or damage to property or contents, with local police authorities footing the bill where people were not covered by their insurance. People could claim for compensation as long as they could prove that loss or damage was caused by a riot, which is defined by the act as when a group of 12 or more persons use violence or threatening behaviour to make another fear for their personal safety.

Prime Minister David Cameron extended the period during which people could claim under the Riot Act from 14 days to 42 days after the incident occurred. But the act is limited to claims for damage to or loss of buildings or their contents and does not cover vehicles, personal injury or loss of trade.

So, while the rebuilding work began in London, Manchester, Birmingham and the West Midlands, the injured were left to help themselves.

An incident involving Malaysian student Muhammad Asyraf Haziq Rossli captured the attention of the world when he was filmed being robbed by people who appeared to have helped him after he had been severely beaten during the riots.

Trauma

The mental effects of his trauma are understandably longer-lasting than the physical injuries he sustained. He told Bernama.com: “I’m recovering well and will probably be able to eat solid foods in a matter of weeks. The pain is no more, but I feel it when it rains.”

Mr Rossli has received £23,000 in donations from people around the world, but other victims of the riots have not received the same levels of exposure as Mr Rossli and have not had access to compensation to aid their recovery.

A spokesperson from First4Lawyers said: “Nobody who suffered a personal injury during the riots over the summer should suffer in silence. If you were assaulted or harmed during the disturbances and you were not guilty of any violence yourself, then there are personal injury lawyers who can help you.

“As long as your incident has been reported to the police, you need not face the difficult task of pursuing your personal injury claim on your own.

“So, if you have been left with a debilitating injury in the aftermath of the riots, contact First4Lawyers today. It is not too late to make a claim.”

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The 8th Annual Report from the world’s largest joint registry, the National Joint Registry of England and Wales (NJR), has highlighted that metal-on-metal hip resurfacing and replacement prostheses have a much higher instance of failure than implants composed of other materials.

The NJR’s recent report stated that there has been “a sharp increase in the risk of revision” of metal-on-metal hip replacement and resurfacing systems. The six-year revision rate for DePuy’s ASR XL hip replacement system stands at 28.96%, which is significantly higher than the 8.63% for other similar products.

Research has found that one out of every eight of DePuy’s full hip replacement ASR XL Acetabular Systems and its ASR Hip Resurfacing Systems fails within five years of its expected 15-year lifespan. Some patients have even found that their new hip has failed within months, weeks or even days of undergoing the painful surgery.

Cases in the UK and across the world are mounting fast and it is now claimed that early warning signs of the defectiveness of DePuy’s ASR hip replacements and resurfacings emerged as many as three years before DePuy’s official worldwide recall of both products in 2010.

It is maintained that the Australia joint registry – the world’s second largest joint registry next to the NJR – first warned DePuy about excessive rates of complications and failure back in 2007.

Since 2003, the defective hip replacement (ASR XL) and hip resurfacing (ASR) implants have been used in around 8,000 patients in the UK and around 93,000 patients worldwide, many of whom have been forced to undergo corrective surgery because of the complications. Injury compensation specialist First4Lawyers has been helping secure deserved compensation for the intense discomfort DePuy customers have suffered as a result of the unnecessary surgery.

Medical experts believe that the poor design of the ASR devices is to blame for problems ranging from benign tumours to excruciating pain, dislocation, blood poisoning, partial loss of sensation in the legs and loss of mobility.

Perhaps the most worrying side effect of the faulty metal-on-metal implants is the tissue erosion they caused, particularly to the muscle, which makes revision surgery incredibly difficult and can result in the failure of any replacement implant because patients are left with almost nothing to support the ‘head’ and keep it in the ‘cup’.

A spokesman for First4Lawyers commented on the case: “Nobody in need of a hip replacement or resurfacing should have to endure further discomfort such a short time after the procedure when, of course, the surgery should be an improvement on physical movements and capabilities.

“First4Lawyers is determined to ease the difficulties of anybody who has suffered intense pain and discomfort as a result of the faulty systems from DePuy.”

The injury compensation specialist urges anyone who has suffered complications after hip replacement or resurfacing surgery, with either the DePuy ASR XL Acetabular System or the DePuy ASR Hip Resurfacing System implant fitted, to get in touch for more information on pursuing a claim.

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Winter is fast approaching and the unpredictable seasonal weather that it brings increases the likelihood of parts of the UK being hit by flooding. With as many as one in six properties in England currently at risk of being flooded, it can be a worrying time for those people concerned about personal wellbeing and possessions.

Statistics published at the start of August by the Environment Agency reveal that 2.4million properties in England are at risk of flooding from rivers or the sea, with surface water flooding a possibility for an additional 2.8 million properties.

While millions of pounds continues to be spent annually on improving flood defences to reduce the chances of a repeat of the kind of devastation caused in the Cumbrian town of Cockermouth in 2009, residents in cities, towns and villages are still being caught out whenever freak rainfall strikes and the lives of thousands of people are placed in jeopardy.

Whole communities have been left decimated by flooding in places like Cockermouth, Cornwall and Yorkshire in recent years, with people suffering a range of different injuries, with some proving fatal. A 14-year-old boy and an elderly gentleman both died when floods raged through Sheffield in 2007 and it has been claimed that the clean-up operation in the city cost around £30million overall.

It’s not just people who live on the coastline or near to rivers who are at risk from flooding, as the residents of Huyton in Liverpool know only too well. A burst water main in Huyton back in July led to more than 60 businesses and houses being flooded. Remarkably, it’s the third time in nearly four years that this particular part of Merseyside has been hampered by such problems.

The wider-reaching impact of flooding can result in extensive property damage, personal injury and lose of earnings for business owners forced to seize trading on a temporary or even permanent basis.

There’s also the added possibility of drinking water becoming contaminated with chemicals, sewage and animal waste, which increases the risk of waterborne diseases such as dysentery from spreading, while the chance of developing hypothermia also rises.

Anyone who sustains an injury or illness through no fault of their own or suffers trauma following a flood may be able to claim compensation and lodge a personal injury claim.

A spokesperson for First4Lawyers, the injury law specialists, said: “We urge everybody to be vigilant as the unpredictable winter weather approaches, particularly with the risk of flooding set to increase over the next few months.

“It’s understandable that people will be worried about damage to their property and belongings in the event of a flood, but it’s the issue of personal safety that’s of paramount importance. If anyone is injured as a result of flooding, no matter how severely, we urge them to get in touch with us at First4Lawyers and we’ll seek answers from the people responsible and hold them to account.”

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A series of explosions near Crewe Railway Station in Cheshire have left two people injured and requiring treatment in hospital for burns to their arms and faces.

A man and a woman are understood to have been injured after the explosions caused manhole covers on Nantwich Road to be thrust into the air and flames to shoot several feet from the ground.

Terrorism was quickly ruled out as an electrical fault with underground cables was identified as the sole cause of the explosions. Flames rocketed into the streets above and immediately caused injuries to the passers-by, which could well lead to a compensation claim in the near future.

The Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service said: "We soon found out a likely cause had been an electrical fault alongside the footpath alongside Nantwich Road.”

The train station and surrounding roads, Nantwich Road and Gresty Road, were closed for hours as a result of the incident because the area was deemed too dangerous for pedestrians and even traffic to pass through.

Witnesses commented on the incident to the local newspaper, the Crewe Chronicle. A man from Coppenhall said: “There was an almighty bang and a manhole cover shot up into the air and flames shot up too. Two people had just gone across the road and they just disappeared.

“There was a mass of flames. I couldn’t get anywhere near them. I can’t tell you any more.”

The explosions were also believed to have caused around 3,000 homes and businesses to lose power, with Scottish Power commenting: "The power loss in this incident was caused by an underground cable fault."

The authorities, including the fire service, the police and the British Transport Police, maintained the barrier to keep the public safe from more potential explosions. The streets were reopened and a normal train service resumed after Scottish Power confirmed that there was no risk of further explosions underground.

It is not yet clear exactly what is to blame for the faulty cable, which is owned by Scottish Power, but a thorough investigation is already underway.

Injuries to members of the public through no fault of their own are common and personal injury lawyers are frequently enlisted for these kinds of incidents.

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A major British retailer has been fined £1 million and ordered to pay costs of £600,000 after an investigation revealed it jeopardised the personal safety of construction workers, shoppers and staff by placing them at risk of exposure to asbestos while two stores were being revamped.

Three contractors were also fined at a hearing at Bournemouth Crown Court on Tuesday, with one contractor currently planning to appeal against the conviction.

Judge Christopher Harvey Clark QC reportedly criticised the high-street giant during sentencing for turning a “blind eye” to ensuring the relevant health and safety guidelines concerning the safe removal of asbestos-containing materials were properly observed.

The company was found guilty of breaching section 2(1) and section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 during a three-month trial that ended in July on this year before learning its fate earlier this week.

Richard Boland, from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), commented: “This outcome should act as a wake-up call that any refurbishment programmes involving asbestos-containing materials must be properly resourced, both in terms of time and money - no matter what.

“Large retailers and other organisations who carry out major refurbishment works must give contractors enough time and space within the store to carry out the works safely. Where this is not done, and construction workers and the public are put at risk, HSE will not hesitate in taking robust enforcement action.”

A statement from the retailer on the BBC website read: “We are very disappointed with the result of this case, as we believe that we have always acted responsibly and with a safety-first attitude.

“The health and safety of our employees, customers and contractors is of the utmost importance to us. We hope to continue to work closely with the HSE in the future to ensure that strict regulations and safety standards relating to asbestos are maintained.”

According to figures made public by the HSE, asbestos is the largest single cause for work-related fatalities in the UK. An estimated 4,000 people die as a result of exposure to asbestos annually, with many of the cases leading to compensation claims.

The dangers associated with coming into contact with asbestos have been much publicised for years as it is a carcinogen, which is a substance that can lead to serious health problems and in some cases cause cancer. Only this week it was reported by the BBC that £92,000 had been awarded in compensation to the family of a man who died earlier this year after being exposed to asbestos in the workplace between 1947 and 1950.

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A pensioner who was left unable to leave her house for six months after slipping in a supermarket and suffering a nasty knee injury has told how the compensation awarded to her will make a “big difference” to her standard of living.

The woman, who reportedly has five grandchildren, has refused to disclose how much she will receive in the out-of-court settlement, but has relived the “nightmare” that plagued her in the months that followed what should have been a routine trip to the shops in May 2008.

The elderly lady lost her footing and slipped on what it believed to have been vegetable matter on the floor and she was diagnosed at Peterborough District Hospital with a fractured tibial plateau, which is just below the knee.

A cast was fitted to her leg and she returned home several days later, only for the cast to leave her with an ankle stress fracture, which prolonged her recovery from four to six months in the process.

Left isolated in her first-floor flat, the woman struggled to cope and has since been told by a specialist that she will require replacement knee surgery at some point in the next five years, and that her chances of developing Osteoarthritis are rated as 50 per cent.

For now, though, she is concentrating on continuing to get her life back on track after winning her compensation claim.

She told the Peterborough Telegraph: “When I first broke it I couldn’t get downstairs. It was a nightmare, I couldn’t even get my own post.

“Apart from two hospital visits I didn’t even go downstairs in six months, it was awful. The money I got is going to make a big difference to my life. It means I won’t have to worry so much about all the little things and I can maybe put a little bit more money on the electricity and gas meters during winter.”

Her lawyer said: “Whilst we have secured a good level of compensation for [the woman], she faces uncertainty as to her future health and would much prefer to have remained the active person that she was.

“Businesses have health and safety obligations towards their customers and must accept that they have a responsibility to compensate victims of accidents caused when such obligations are not met.”

Amazingly, this is the second time this year that the same store has been at the centre of a successful compensation claim as a man was awarded £10,500 in damages back in May after slipping on a grape back in January 2008.

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