You have probably seen adverts asking “Have you been in an accident?” and telling you about how “you could be entitled to compensation.” What we are going to look at today is what this means and in what scenarios you could be entitled to compensation.
How you can tell
Quite simply, compensation exists as a means of repaying you for something you have missed out on. The term has received a bit of bad press lately and it is somewhat misunderstood – while it is true there are people who have abused the system, this is not the fault of the system itself.
Let’s look at a scenario – this will be told in two different ways. For the most part the circumstances will be the same but one could lead to a compensation payout, the other wouldn’t.
Scenario One
In a busy department store there is a spill on the floor. You are in a hurry and don’t notice there is a sign that clearly states “wet floor”. You then fall over and injure your knee.
Scenario Two
The circumstances are the same as scenario one except you are walking at your normal pace and there is no sign that states “wet floor”. This still results in you falling over and injuring your knee.
The right answer
With scenario one it is unlikely you would get compensation – if the sign was clearly there and you were not paying due attention (and this could be proven) then this is something that you should have been more aware of. In the second scenario, the responsibility would be on the owner of the premises – they should make it clear and signs must be clearly displayed.
Other examples of compensation claims
• If your gas supply is cut off more than 24 hours
• If a plane is delayed for more than three hours or cancelled (there are exceptions if the delay is due to factors beyond the airline’s control)
• On the job injuries – In these instances it is important to prove that the accident happened due to inadequate protection from the employer
• Injuries caused by criminal acts – If you are the victim of a violent crime you could be entitled to compensation
• Asbestos related illnesses – Often these can take years to manifest due to the fact it can take a long time for the symptoms to show
• Medical negligence – This can be very difficult to prove and often requires specialist legal representation as you have to distinguish between a medical professional making a mistake or not taking sufficient care of a patient.
Get help
At Larcomes we want to help guide you through this – if you talk to us we can offer advice on whether or not to pursue a case. We have the facilities to offer the specialist advice needed while at the same time provide the personal attention your claim deserves. Contact us now to see if you are entitled to compensation and how we could help you get it.