Appointment of personal injury solicitors in cases of having been involved in some kind of an accident out of no fault of their own has become very common in the United Kingdom. There are a variety of circumstances under which one can file a case of compensation; the most common causes, so far, are road accidents of various kinds and accidents at work. While most accidents at work involve minor slip, trip or fall injuries that can take on major proportions depending on the impact, a huge number of cases filed belong to the industrial injury claims category.

What Causes the Injuries?

There are various factors that contribute behind the infliction of workplace related diseases on employees. First of all, the employees who have to work in factories are constantly exposed to various kinds of harmful chemicals as well as other substances. On the other hand, there are also other kinds of harmful substances that many workers are exposed to on a continual basis, like too much sound and light, as well as harmful rays. Working with big industrial machinery also causes major problems with people who have to deal with such machines on a daily basis, since these can get quite dangerous. Various kinds of injuries and diseases can result from working long term in an industry or factory, the least of which can be skin diseases and a mutilated limb. In more severe cases, brain trauma, neural disorders, blindness and deafness and many other terrible consequences can arise from long term exposure to harmful elements. In any of these cases, the worker is perfectly entitled to file an injury claim.

How can They be Prevented?

If the employees are working in an industry or in a factory that requires them to deal with harmful and potentially dangerous substances on a daily basis, then it is the duty of the employer to ensure that the working conditions are made as safe as possible for the employees without hampering the work itself. In any case, according to the Citizens Advice Manual issued by the Citizens Advice Bureau, the first and foremost duty of the employer is to ensure that there is nothing in the workplace that can harm the well-being of the employees, both physically as well as mentally, and failing to do so calls for the filing of injury claims. In situations when the workplace conditions are unavoidable, it is highly necessary that every step be taken in order to make them as bearable as possible for the employees. This includes providing them with protective garments, impeccably functioning emergency exits, and a regular follow up on the machinery that are used in the workplace.  Most important of all, the employees must be given proper training at the very outset of their career with the organisation about the rules and regulations that must be followed in the workplace in order to ensure the safety of their own lives as well as the same of the others. It must be impressed upon the employees that the maintenance of safety in the workplace depends as much on tem as on the employer, and that filing an injury claim after an accident might refund the money, but the damages will possibly be too great to really recover from, ever.

Among the various kinds of injuries that can be sustained by a person on account of the negligence of another person, one of the commonest would be those sustained by animal attacks, especially dog bites. Although the number of people who sustain sever injuries on account of being attacked by a dog is pretty small, it is not insignificant either. One would be surprised to see the number of injury claims that are filed each year in the United Kingdom asking for compensation for such injuries. It must be remembered, however, that although these injuries are hardly ever fatal, there have been in some cases; moreover, serious injuries are pretty common in such cases of animal attack, and the situation worsens if the dog turns rabid after the attack or the assault is actually triggered by the illness. Whatever the situation is, the victim is perfectly entitled to make an injury claim if he or she had been attacked by someone else’s pet.

When to Make a Claim?

There are various grounds on which one can file a claim for compensation. Before taking any step, however, it is necessary to assess the situation. Do keep in mind that taking a step against an animal would be difficult, but a step needs to be taken against the owner if he or she had failed to warn the visitor of the temperament of the pet or exert sufficient control over the animal.

Mauling: Sometimes the animal can get so violent that it practically mauls the victim. This is a far more serious situation, involving serious, extensive injuries as opposed to the comparatively smaller ones that are incurred in dog bite cases. This can lead to serious disfigurements and even death, and injury claims should be filed for treatment.

Infection: This is one of the most sure shot outcomes of an animal related injury. The face is the region where the animals usually try to bite owing to the sensitive nature of the area; besides, hands and ankles are also commonly targeted.

Trauma: The emotional as well as psychological trauma faced by the victim can hardly be imagined. Being attacked by an animal is highly fear-inducing, and the scars and disfigurements left afterwards cause considerable consternation in the mind of the victim.

Insurance Claim vs. Personal Injury

An injury claim for compensation in a dog bite or animal attack case can be filed with the insurance company of the homeowner, but it is always advisable and far more profitable to hire a personal injury solicitor to represent your case. There is a very big reason behind this: you will not be getting the amount that you deserve from the insurance company, but justice can be ensured if you consult a personal injury attorney in this case. The homeowner’s insurance will be sure to compensate for the bodily injuries that occur due to the accident as well as the additional treatment costs involved; however, you can also rest assured that the insurance companies will fight tooth and nail, and you might end up receiving as less as about ten percent of what you would be making if you had hired a personal injury attorney instead.