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Posts Tagged ‘personal injury lawyers’

Undergoing Laser Eye Surgery

December 27th, 2009 No comments

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.

This procedure is used to correct long and short sightedness. The laser is used to change the shape of the cornea which is the transparent part of the eye which covers the iris and the pupil.

Complications and risks involved in the surgery

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.

Some of the complications that crop up can vary from patient to patient. Some problems can be solved with some extra treatment. However, in some rare cases, the complications can be far more serious, some cases leading to blindness.

Undergoing Cataract surgery

Cataract surgeries are usually common with elder patients, as they suffer from troublesome visual symptoms. The surgery is normally useful to have if your lifestyle requires you to read or use the computer screens a lot. Cataract surgery involves the lens being removed and replaced with a clear plastic lens implant. It is performed under a local anaesthetic and is a day-case procedure.

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.

The doctor should inform their patient of the risks involved in the surgery before it is carried out. Although the doctor may be unable to inform the patient of every possible risk, the main risks should be highlighted to the patient. This is particularly the case with serious ones, such as blindness.

The process of making a claim

The points below will be considered when examining your claim:

* The type of injury that was sustained

* 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, Medical negligence, find a solicitor, legal, lawyer, law help advice, solicitors litigation

Making a Claim for Plastic Surgery Compensation

December 14th, 2009 No comments

Thousands of people all over the UK make the decision to undergo plastic surgery. For many, it is a personal choice influenced by wanting to feel good about themselves. Others have other reasons. The patient is likely to be feeling nervous about the operation, and the surgeon performing the surgery needs to ensure that they receive the highest level of care. Prior to 2002 the plastic surgery industry was largely unregulated. However, this changed when the National Care Standards Commission introduced regulations. Under this scheme, the clinics and surgeons are under the responsibility to ‘ensure the safety and well-being of individuals having treatment’. This means that all the doctors registering after April 1st 2002 cannot perform plastic surgery without first completing specialist surgical training. It should however be noted that this only applies to doctors registering after this date, not before.

The majority of the surgeries are carried out are by qualified surgeons, however on the rare occasion this is not always the case. If you have suffered as a result of a faulty surgery, we may be able to help you.

Your case for compensation

You will be feeling horrified by the botched surgery, and now will be looking to seek a claim. You can be rest assured as every plastic surgeon that operates on you owes you a duty of care during and after the operation. Under their wing, you should be able to feel secure in the knowledge that your operation will go well according to the correct and agreed procedure.

If your plastic surgeon caused you to suffer significant injuries or scars as a direct result from the surgery, then it is very possible that their duty of care towards you has been negligent.

You should note that a good plastic surgeon will always:

Be a qualified plastic surgeon

Give you proper information about the procedure and what you will personally gain from it

Explain in detail the risks involved in the procedure

Go though alternative options with you

Give you time to carefully think about your options

Unfortunately you may have suffered at the hands of a plastic surgeon that used the wrong instruments to perform the surgery, or made other catastrophic errors that resulted in you being scarred not only physically but also psychologically. In these circumstances it is your personal right to be able to make a plastic surgery compensation claim.

The most common types of plastic surgery complaints made include some of the following;

Lack of necessary information regarding the risks involved in the procedure

Nerve being damaged during a facelift

Major scarring during a procedure such as liposuction

Unanticipated scarring on the face during a facelift procedure

The serious errors outlined above are just some of the types of claims that are made by patients. However, any patient who has suffered one of these claims will be able to make a successful plastic surgery compensation claim.

Our clinical negligence specialist solicitors have dealt with many patients that have been physically and emotionally scarred at the hands of their plastic surgeons. We understand that your self-confidence will have been affected by this traumatising experience. Our specialist advisers will seek to understand your individual situation, and will always treat your case with great sympathy and compassion.

Ayesha Salim , editor of the UK Lawyers Network, writes articles about Solicitor, solicitor, plastic surgery compensation, find a solicitor, legal, lawyer, law help advice, solicitors litigation

Making A Tripping And Slipping Claim

December 13th, 2009 No comments

A tripping and slipping accident claim can be successful if it is proven that someone else was legally responsible for the accident occurring. This will be largely dependent on a number of factors. In order for the defendant to invoke statutory defence, they will have to prove by reference to written records that they have a regular inspection regime in place, and have kept the location where the accident happened in reasonable condition.

Personal injury claims that are made due to tripping and falling in a public place may well succeed if it can be proven that it was caused by the condition of the location.

Accidents in the street

Under Section 41 (1) of the Highways Act 1980 there is an absolute duty to maintain the highway at Public expense. This was summed up in the case of Griffith v Liverpool Corporation 1967 when the duty was expressed as follows:-

“The duty at common law to maintain, which includes a duty to repair a highway, was not based in negligence but in nuisance. It was an absolute duty to maintain, not merely a duty to take reasonable care to maintain, and a statutory duty which replaced it will also be absolute.”

Regular inspections need to be carried out by the highway and local authorities to ensure that road surfaces are kept in reasonable condition and that they do not pose a safety hazard to pedestrians.

In bringing the personal injury claim, the claimant will have to demonstrate that the part of the road where the accident happened was not reasonably safe, and that it was the defect in the road which caused the accident.

Accidents that happen in other public places

In some cases the accident can occur in another public place such as a shop, supermarket, or a place of entertainment. In these circumstances the occupiers of the building are under a duty of care to ensure that members of the public remain safe whilst on their property. The general surroundings of the premises should be secure and not pose a danger to members of the public. Accidents which occur in supermarkets are quite common due to people falling or tripping on some form of slippage. The defendants will have to provide evidence that they had reasonable protection in place when the accident occurred.

Factors to take into account

* Make a note of exactly where the accident happened

* Write down any relevant names, addresses, and telephone numbers of witnesses

* Seek medical attention for any injuries suffered no matter how minor

* Make a report to the relevant authority detailing the defect/accident

* Take photographs of the shoes and clothes following the accident

* Any physical injuries, such as cuts or bruises should also be photographed

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