Avoiding Common Accidents

The most serious kinds of physical injury tend to be those affecting the head/brain and/or spine, as these constitute the human central nervous system, which governs essential motor functions (movement, balance) as well as memory, vision and speech. Spinal injuries are distinct from back injuries as the latter is a common consequence of lifting excessively heavy weights or straining the back by lifting a load in an inappropriate manner.

These types of injury are frequently claimed against employers, who are under a legal obligation to ensure workers who are expected to lift heavy objects as part of their job are trained in how to do so safely. Brain injuries range from the relatively minor (mild concussion, for example) to skull fractures to severe brain damage (such as intracranial haemorrhaging or a malignant tumour), which can lead to paralysis, long-term incapacity or even death. Major brain injuries can be caused by road accidents (in particular for cyclists, even if they wear protective headgear) or by serious falls or criminal assaults. Common effects of such an injury are loss of concentration and/or memory, mental and/or physical disability, changes in personality, difficulty in communicating and extreme fatigue.

It is clear that injuries to the head/brain and spine often have devastating long-term consequences, and impact deeply and negatively on the victim’s entire life and also the lives of their friends and family. A victim of such an injury should seek expert advice from a specialist no win no fee solicitor in order to obtain the compensation that is due to them, which will help take some of the stress and strain out of the whole traumatic experience.