The 12 Common Personal Injuries of Christmas and How to Avoid Them

The 12 Common Personal Injuries of Christmas and How to Avoid Them

December 20, 2021/in , /by

It might be the most wonderful time of the year but even the most wonderous festive season can be littered with avoidable personal injuries. In fact, research carried out by the National Accident Helpline found that 1 in 4 people feel more stressed than usual during the Christmas period, rising to nearly a third among women. With the hustle and bustle of tidying your house, getting the decorations up, and panic buying and wrapping presents, 1 in 5 women and 1 in 10 men say they are more likely to do things in a rush. And when things are done in a rush, accidents do tend to follow.

According to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA), over 80,000 people a year require medical treatment for injuries such as falls, cuts, and burns over Christmas season. Let’s take a look at the most common personal injuries and we’ll give you our top tips on how you can avoid them.

  1. Road Traffic Accidents

It comes as no surprise that in December traffic accidents are much higher than any other month of the year. This could be down to the weather or just the sheer volume of traffic as people travel home for Christmas. Always make sure you pre-plan your route, leave yourself plenty of time for travel, and follow weather advice if there are any weather warnings in place.

 

  1. Trips and Falls

Did you know that 2.6 million people have fallen off a stool or ladder whilst hanging decorations? Tinsel, decorations, garlands, ladders…getting your home or workplace ready for the festive season can be dangerous. Always make sure that where you’re looking to hang your decorations is accessible and won’t require adverse risk, e.g., standing on a stool on top of a table, standing on an unfirm surface, or stretching unnecessarily. Make sure your decorations are visible, so they do not cause trip hazards and they are able to be taken down easily. All of these things can cause you to lose balance and fall.

 

  1. Electrical and Fire Safety

More than 1 in 40 people have suffered an electric shock due to poorly wired Christmas lights. Make sure that your Christmas lights and any electric decorations are bought under warranty and are packed away each year carefully – making sure the wires aren’t bent or at risk of breaking. Over half a million have had a fire in their home, so make sure if you have a real Christmas tree that requires watering, that your electrical socket and lights are out of the way.

  1. Kitchen Calamities

Nearly half of those preparing Christmas food have suffered an accident – from cuts when preparing vegetables, burns from hot fat, or smoke inhalation from burning turkeys – taking care in the kitchen will help you avoid injuries that land you in A&E on Christmas Day.

 

  1. Children Mishaps

Christmas is an exciting time for families with young children, but a lot of the traditions can in fact be dangerous for kids. Christmas crackers can include small toys which can be choking hazards and the kitchen can be a ‘no go’ area in terms of hot plates, dishes, pots and pans. Not only this, but children can cause injury inadvertently to adults, as through sheer excitement they can become trip hazards and can cause harm if not properly supervised. Make sure you have a designated area for children to occupy where they can play with their toys but still have adult supervision. For younger children, a stair gate across the kitchen doorway can keep them out of harm’s way while Christmas dinner is cooking.

 

  1. All Wrapped Up

Unboxing presents and getting them wrapped up requires tape, wrapping paper, and of course – scissors or a craft knife. Make sure that you give yourself plenty of time to get your gifts wrapped so that you’re not rushing, as this is when accidents can happen.

 

  1. Allergic Reactions

Everyone indulges a little more than they usually would over the Christmas period. Those with existing allergies know to take extra special care, especially with catered food such as at Christmas parties. However, it’s been recorded that thousands of people every year discover that they have underlying allergies they didn’t know about before Christmas when they experiment. Make sure you clearly check the ingredients before tucking into any new sweet treats.

  1. Festive Cheers

The festive season is marked with office parties, hot toddies, ‘adult’ hot chocolate, mulled wine, and other Christmas fare. A previous study found that over 600 million units or 265 million pints of pure alcohol were drunk by Brits each December. Make sure you know your limit and make preparations in advance for travel via train, taxi, or Uber in case you do overindulge. It’s also important to pace yourself, drink water, and not drink on an empty stomach.

 

  1. Back Injuries

Sprains and strains are some of the most common injuries which occur during the festivities. Be it from straining to put up decorations in awkward, hard to reach places, or from lifting heavy boxes. Make sure you don’t strain yourself by picking up too many boxes at once and take multiple trips to avoid injury. In turn, when packing and tidying away your decorations, make sure you spread the load and don’t put all your heavy decorations in one box.

 

  1. Christmas Trees

ROSPA estimates that every year, about 1,000 people are injured by their Christmas tree – usually whilst fixing decorations onto the higher branches. Make sure you can safely reach the top of your Christmas tree if you are fixing decorations e.g., via step ladder on a non-slip surface. Make sure that your tree is on a flat surface and the decorations are evenly distributed so that it is less likely to topple over.

 

  1. Hanging Decorations

It’s not just Christmas trees that make people feel festive and bright. Hanging decorations that adorn the outside of your home or business can make them stand out from the crowd. However, hanging decorations are often heavy or sharp and if they’re not secured properly, winter weather can cause them to fall, potentially resulting in horrible injuries. Make sure that your hanging decorations or ornaments are properly secured, especially if they hang above high traffic areas or public footpaths.

  1. Snow is Falling

Whilst many of us may be dreaming of a white Christmas, snow, ice, fog and sleet can increase the likelihood of road traffic accidents and personal injuries. Wearing appropriate clothing and footwear is essential and foreplaning your travel will help mitigate any unforeseen circumstances. The RAC also has a handy guide to help navigate driving in snow, you can check it out here.

Here at Bonnar Accident Law, we’d like to wish you and your loved ones a Merry Christmas and we hope you have a safe and fun-filled festive season. Just remember, whether it’s Christmas or any other time of year, our personal injury team is always here and ready to help you.

If you have been injured in an accident that wasn’t your fault and you would like more information, please get in touch with one of our No Win No Fee solicitors today.

Personal injury Claims

Big Law Expertise at a Local Level

May 27, 2021/in /by

Bonnar Accident Law, formerly Bonnar & Company Solicitors, was founded in Airdrie in 1977 with our head office remaining in Lanarkshire to this day. Since then, we have grown from strength to strength and are now recognised as one of Scotland’s leading ‘No Win No Fee’ personal injury compensation solicitors.

Our goal is and always has been, to help those hurt and injured in Scotland, through no fault of their own, claim the compensation they deserve. Something that continues to set us apart from our competitors is the personal care and attention we give to every client.

The personal approach we take comes from our desire to offer ‘big law’ expertise at a small town, local level. As we have as a business grown, we are now able to represent clients from all over Scotland from our offices in Airdrie, Dunfermline and Edinburgh. We have the ability to meet with clients both person in our offices throughout Scotland, whilst we can also offer digital consultations via Zoom and Microsoft Teams platforms, and telephone appointments.

Whether you’re from Lanarkshire or Fife, West Lothian or Falkirk, everyone has the right to make a claim for compensation if they’ve been injured in an accident that wasn’t their fault and we’re proud to serve clients all over Scotland. Our local offices would be more than happy to hear from you and provide you with the same day no-obligation consultation. Below are just some of the locations our local offices have serviced:

Lanarkshire and the West of Scotland

Fife, East and Central Scotland

Airdrie

Kirkintilloch

Dunfermline

Cupar

East Kilbride

Dumbarton

Edinburgh

Cowdenbeath

Hamilton

Motherwell

Glenrothes

Falkirk

Greenock

Carluke

Kirkcaldy

Livingston

Kilmarnock

Biggar

St Andrews

Linlithgow

Milngavie

Wishaw

Dundee

Stirling

Paisley

Shotts

Perth

Alloa

 

Bonnar Accident Law has been at the forefront of No Win No Fee compensation claims in Scotland for years and our No Win No Fee agreement means that we pay upfront for all the costs of managing your claim, even complex serious injury claims.

We have helped thousands of injured people win millions of pounds in compensation over many years, in cases ranging from relatively minor slips and trips to very serious, life-threatening injuries resulting from road traffic accidents and accidents at work.

We use our experience and expertise to win our clients the maximum possible amount of compensation and our track record speaks for itself; we have a 99% success rate in personal injury claims so you can be safe assured you’re in the right hands.

If you have been injured in an accident that wasn’t your fault and you would like more information, please get in touch with one of our No Win No Fee solicitors today.

Top 5 Most Common Myths about Personal Injury Claims: Debunked

April 20, 2021/in /by

Top 5 Most Common Myths about Personal Injury Claims

 

If you’ve been injured in an accident that wasn’t your fault, we understand that you might feel hesitant to file a personal injury claim, even if you are entitled to compensation. Sadly, many people decide not to make a claim because of the many misconceptions that are fuelled by the so-called ‘compensation culture.

In fact, in a recent study commissioned by the National Accident Helpline, it was found that almost a third of British people would be reluctant to file a personal injury claim for compensation, after an accident that wasn’t their fault. Even though an overwhelming 85% felt it would be fair to do so.

In this blog, we have debunked five of the most common myths with an aim to highlight the realities of making a genuine personal injury claim.

 

  1. If I make a claim against my employer, I could lose my job

If you’ve been injured in an accident at work, don’t be afraid to make a claim. Employers by law, have to have insurance that covers employees making a claim following an accident at work so it will be an insurance company that you are likely to be dealing with. Additionally, it is actually illegal for your employer to fire you purely on the basis that you made a claim for an injury at work. If this were to happen, you may then have a further case against your employer for unfair dismissal and could pursue legal action against them.

 

  1. I’ll have to go to court to settle my claim

The vast majority of personal injury claims will never see the inside of a courtroom. If your insurance company rejects your claim, if liability is genuinely in the dispute or if the value of the settlement claim cannot be agreed upon, then at that point court proceedings could be raised. We understand this may seem daunting however, your appointed solicitor will be on hand every step of the way.

 

  1. I can’t afford to make a claim

Many people worry that if their claim isn’t successful, they’ll be left with extortionate solicitor fees. We can assure you that is absolutely not the case, and as the name suggests, we work on a No Win No Fee basis which means we cover all the upfront costs associated with your case, giving your claim the best chance of success. Should we lose, you don’t have to pay a penny.

 

  1. Personal injury claims are complicated and can take years to settle

The process to claim for compensation is relatively straightforward and if we take on your case you can be assured that our solicitors have the expertise and experience to guide you through the claims process step by step. In some cases, if your claim does go to court or for claims involving serious injuries, the process can take longer however, this is so your solicitor can ensure that you receive the maximum level of compensation possible.

 

  1. Most people who claim are just making it up for the money

It’s unfortunate that within the UK there is a ‘claims culture’ that perpetuates this idea that people who claim for compensation are doing so as an easy way to make money. Regrettably, this can create the impression that it’s wrong to seek compensation and can make people with genuine cases feel guilty about making a claim. At Bonnar Accident Law, we don’t believe this to be true and the vast majority of people who contact us have genuine claims. Just remember, that compensation is there to help people who’ve been in an accident that wasn’t their fault, to put them back in the position they were in, prior to the accident. Compensation can help cover the costs of bills, lost savings, treatment, care and medical equipment.

 

If you have been injured in an accident that wasn’t your fault and you would like more information, please get in touch with one of our No Win No Fee solicitors today.

 

 

Care Home Negligence Making a Claim

Care Home Negligence: Making a Claim

October 20, 2020/in /by

 

We all care for our relatives, and it can be a very difficult decision to move elderly family members into care homes. Thankfully, most care homes in the UK uphold an excellent standard of care and ensure the safety and wellbeing of your loved ones. There are, unfortunately, some care homes that may be operating below an acceptable standard of care.

What are the most common injuries in care homes?

  1. Falls.

Injuries due to falls are the most common within care homes, however, with the right risk assessment and supervision, falls should not be happening even if a resident is at high risk. If a family member who lives in a care home has experienced a fall and or injury, you should arrange a meeting with the nurse in charge to discuss the accident and take measures to ensure that it doesn’t happen again.

  1. Pressure Ulcers.

    Commonly known as bedsores or pressure sores, these occur when an immobile person is not moved frequently enough, resulting in lack of blood flow to a particular area and subsequent tissue damage.

  1. Medication Errors.

    With most residents in care homes requiring daily medications to deal with illnesses such as heart disease, dementia, Parkinson’s and diabetes, it’s essential that these medications are administered correctly and regularly. However, there are cases in which medications have been forgotten or even administered in incorrect dosages. These types of errors could be minimally damaging or life-threatening.

What should I do if a family member experiences negligence?

It’s very important that you pursue meetings with care home management if you discover your relative has had an accident. Often, if care homes believe they are at fault, they will try to avoid a meeting with you, so it’s essential to stay consistent.

Below are some helpful questions to ask that may put you on the right path:

  • Has my relative had a fall-risk assessment? If so, what were the results of that?
  • Was my relative unsupervised when they fell?
  • Was there a witness to the fall?
  • What equipment is in place to ensure this doesn’t happen again?
  • Does my relative have a pre-existing condition that would make them more susceptible to bedsores?
  • May I see my relative’s medication charts to see the drugs prescribed and the times administered?

Having peace of mind about the safety and well-being of elderly relatives who live in care homes is essential. We recommend using the Care Inspectorate website so assess what care homes you may have available to you that are nearby as well as the quality of these care homes before you decide where to place your elderly relative.

If you have been injured in an accident that wasn’t your fault and you would like more information, please feel free to get in touch with one of our personal injury claim lawyers, no win no fee solicitors.

 

 

 

 

 

Asbestos Compensation Claims

Asbestos Compensation Claims

May 29, 2020/in /by

Asbestos Compensation Specialists

You can claim compensation with Bonnar Accident Law for asbestos related industrial disease. We have a team of expert personal injury solicitors who can help you gain retribution to help you and your family for an industrial disease caused by the exposure to asbestos.

 

Here we breakdown asbestos related illnesses, asbestos compensation frequently asked questions and how Bonnar accident lawyer can help you if you are looking for compensation for asbestos related illnesses in Scotland.

 

Asbestos related industrial disease

Exposure to asbestos at work continues to be a major cause of worker deaths and serious, long-term debilitating illness.

What is Asbestosis?

The main industrial related disease is a condition called asbestosis. This is the scarring of the lungs & it is caused by sustained exposure to asbestos fibres or dust.

Other asbestos diseases;

  1. Mesothelioma
  2. Asbestos Related Lung Cancer
  3. Diffuse Pleural Thickening

Claiming for Pleural Plaques

The condition called pleural plaques also caused with exposure to asbestos. This is a form of scarring of the thin membrane that covers the lung (also known as the pleura). Pleural plaques are benign (non-cancerous) and do not cause pain. Often people who sufferer pleural plaques are diagnosed by accident through routine check-up or when x-rayed for a different condition.

For those exposed to asbestos in Scotland, the law is different from those in England and Wales. You can still bring a claim for pleural plaques compensation.

With no asbestos in circulation, how can I still claim?

The reason for people still suffering from asbestos related diseases is due to the latency period.

All forms of Asbestos became illegal in 1999. People were working with it in the 60s, 70s and 80s and are now being diagnosed with asbestos related illnesses.

This is because of this latency period. The time between being exposed to asbestos dust and then having symptoms. The latency period for asbestos disease can be up to 10 years. However, the latency period is usually over 20yrs and can even be as much as 50years before symptoms present themselves.

Is it too late to claim asbestos related disease if I was exposed over 30 years ago?

No. Regardless of when you were exposed, you can still claim compensation. There is a limitation period for personal injuries (3 years) however, with asbestos related illnesses the starting point is not the date of exposure to the asbestos. The starting point is normally the date that you were diagnosed. As the latency period tends to belong, the diagnosis is most likely to come years after you were exposed to asbestos.

With over 40 years of experience, Bonnar Accident Law solicitors understand stresses it may cause a family during an asbestos claim. We take the utmost care to ensure that your case is dealt with promptly and sympathetically. We take away all the burden of dealing with insurance companies and we make every effort to keep you up to date with minimum involvement.

Our aim is to build the strongest possible case as quickly as possible and put pressure on the relevant insurance company or companies (as there might well be more than one involved) for a fair and just settlement. If necessary, we will take the employers and their insurers to court if we think that they are attempting to undervalue your claim.

We can promise you an unrivalled level of client care and attention and we will work tirelessly to get you and your family the result you deserve.