The Government has announced aid for workers who have suffered asbestos-related diseases but have missed out on claiming compensation for their workplace illlnesses.

Many workers have been unable to claim compensation for mesothelioma or other asbestos related disease as they have been unable to trace the insurers of their former employers. The length of time that symptoms of the asbestos-related illnesses appear from the initial exposure to asbestos can be many years, even decades; hence it has proven extremely difficult for workers and solicitors to trace records.

The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) have announced proposals to set up a database of employer's insurance policies to make it easier to trace records and therefore easier to make a compensation claim. They also want to set up an Employers Liability Insurance Bureau to provide funding where an insurer cannot be traced. In the consultation paper "Accessing Compensation", the DWP said, "These people can miss out on the civil compensation that they deserve through no fault of their own. Often it is a matter of loss or destroyed records. This is a simple problem but with sometimes devastating results."

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with an asbestos related illness, you may be entitled to make a claim for asbestosis compensation or mesothelioma compensation. Freeclaim Solicitors have specialist solicitors who have many years experience in helping workers with asbestos related workplace illnesses, particularly in setting up a detailed investigation to trace records.

For advice on whether you can make a workplace compensation claim for mesothelioma or other asbestos related illness, call Freeclaim Solicitors on 0800 24 34 09 to speak to one of our accident solicitors specialist in industrial illnesses or contact us online and we'll call you back.

A Tokyo newspaper has reported that apparently the Japanese Government has confirmed five new car accidents involving the Toyota Prius. Although no sources were quoted in the article, the report stated that five of the car crashes that were being investigated involved drivers who claimed the brakes failed. This follows headlines in the US last week of a fatal car accident involving issues with the brakes of a Toyota Lexus. Tragically, the accident killed the driver and three passengers - all members of the same family.

Today, it has been reported that Toyota are to announce a recall in the UK of the third generation Prius models. In a statement, Toyota has said that at no time are drivers without brakes.

Toyota has stated that they are not aware of any road accidents caused by either accelerator or brake issues in the UK. However experts believe that many car accidents will not have been reported as drivers may have believed the accident was their own fault. Toyota has said that it will be writing to all car owners affected.

As demonstrated in the US, vehicle defects can lead to serious car accidents. If you've been injured in a car crash or other road accident, whether due to someone else's fault or if you think it may be due to a vehicle defect, call our road accident team today and speak to one of our experienced road traffic accident solicitors about whether you may have a compensation claim. Call free 24 hours a day on 0800 24 34 09 or contact us online.

The Government have recently released figures detailing payouts on Vibration White Finger compensation claims for Worsley miners - settling 198 of the compensation claims and awarding over £2 million pounds of vibration white finger compensation.

On a national basis they have also released figures showing that out of 170,000 compensation claims for VBF, 169,000 of these have been settled. Local MP Barbara Keeley commented that she was particularly encouraged by the amount of claims being settled.

Vibration White Finger (commonly known as VWF) causes damage to the fingers whereby the extremities turn white and become painful, tingling and/or numb. It can also be known as Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS).

Vibration White Finger can be caused by working with vibrating tools or machinery over a prolonged period, such as drills, road breakers and other construction tools.

If you think you may be entitled to claim Vibration White Finger compensation, call our specialist injury solicitors today on 0800 24 34 09 or contact our compensation lawyers online.

Around one million people suffer whiplash injuries every year. Whiplash injuries are commonly caused by road accidents - particularly for drivers and passengers whose vehicle has been hit in a rear end shunt. However whiplash can also be caused during contact sports, during roller coaster rides or being hit by a falling object.

Whiplash is often underestimated. The symptoms of whiplash can take quite a while to develop after the road accident - from around six to twelve hours. Any swelling, inflammation or bruising experienced in neck muscles won't necessarily be obvious at the time of the road accident. Pain and stiffness in the neck and back can feel much worse the day after and continue to worsen days after the actual accident.

The most common symptoms of whiplash are:

• Stiffness and neck pain
• Shooting pains through the neck and shoulders
• Neck swelling
• Restricted neck movement
• Headaches and dizziness
• Tenderness at the back of the neck
• Pain in the lower back
• Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
• Hazy or blurred vision
• Pins and needles in the arms and hands

Sometimes, in a small number of cases, whiplash can also cause memory loss, sleep loss, depression, irritability and poor concentration.

If you've suffered whiplash because of a road accident or other cause and think you may be entitled to claim accident compensation, call our specialist no win no fee solicitors today on 0800 24 34 09 or contact our whiplash solicitors online. All enquiries are free and confidential and we can even visit you at home. We also guarantee you keep 100% of your whiplash compensation.

A factory worker has been awarded £100,000 in work accident compensation after he suffered permanent damage to his eye when corrosive chemicals leaked from a broken pipe onto his face.

The man, aged 59, needed surgery to repair his damaged eyelid but was unfortunately left with permanent damage to his cornea following the Sodium Hydroxide leak. The factory worker was forced to retie and can no longer drive in the dark due to the damage caused.

The company admitted liability and settled the factory accident compensation out of court. A spokesperson from the GMB Union said, "This accident was caused by the employer failing to introduce a robust inspection programme to make sure its pipes were maintained...All employers, particularly those working with dangerous chemicals, must ensure they take all the necessary steps to keep their employees safe."

Freeclaim solicitors have over 20 years experience and have specialist who can help workers claim compensation following an accident at work, including chemical accidents. All enquiries are free and confidential. To discuss a work accident claim, chemical accident claim or other personal injury claim, call today on 0800 24 34 09 or contact Freeclaim Solicitors online.

A man was awarded £450,000 in accident compensation after his leg was amputated following an accident at work. The man, an electrical engineer, fell from a 13 foot ladder at work which caused a serious fracture to each of his ankles. Unfortunately, one ankle was so badly damaged that he had to have his leg amputated from the knee.

Employers have a duty of care to their workers, which means that they must provide the necessary safety equipment and full training. In this instance, the engineer was given neither a harness nor scaffolding to protect him working at height.

Many accidents at work involve falling from ladders and step ladders. If you've been injured due to a fall from a ladder at work and would like to find out more about making an accident claim, call our work injury solicitors today on 0800 24 34 09 for free, confidential advice.

There are still huge concerns that clients are being short changed by dealing direct with insurers following a road accident. In the past year, both MASS (Motor Accident Solicitors Society) and Brake (the road safety charity) have voiced concerns about the insurance industry contacting clients and settling claims for less than they are worth.

Some insurance companies are contacting victims of road accidents straightaway (sometimes even hours after the accident) and trying to persuade them to settle their claim early. This can lead to under settlement of the claim - particularly as a medical report has not been undertaken at this stage. They have warned clients of the dangers of dealing direct with an insurance company and advise clients to seek independent legal advice by a road accident specialist solicitor.

Freeclaim Solicitors highlighted this problem earlier in the year - even in what seem to be relatively minor car accidents. In one particular example, Freeclaim Solicitors helped a client who was involved in a relatively minor rear end shunt but who had suffered significant whiplash injuries. There were significant ongoing problems still two years after the accident, which would not have been compensated for she had been persuaded to settle at the time of the accident. Freeclaim road accident solicitors secured £35,000 in compensation.

If you have suffered injury in a road accident or car accident, ensure you get independent, legal advice before talking to the insurers. At Freeclaim Solicitors, we have a dedicated and experienced road accident team who can advise you for free - enquiries are free and confidential and thereafter if you wish to pursue a claim for compensation, there are no costs, win or lose, as we claim our fees from the Defendants. Contact our road accident team online or call 0800 24 34 09 - we're open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Holidaymakers who were injured when their coach crashed in Bulgaria are set to receive compensation from the tour operator after Birmingham County Court have forced the package holiday provider (Crystal/TUI) to accept liability.

24 tourists were travelling on the coach to their ski resort in Bulgaria when the coach drove down a bank and overturned causing injuries to the coach passengers. The package holiday provider claimed initially that the accident was caused by a gust of wind, however, following a three day trial, the court found that Crystal/TUI were liable. It is expected that the bus passenger holiday accident claims will run into hundreds of thousands.

For help claiming compensation as a passenger on a bus or coach, whether in the UK or abroad, call Freeclaim Solicitors for free accident advice - 0800 24 34 09 - open 24 hours a day.

Mr. Ronnie Cadwallader has been awarded £140,000 in industrial disease compensation after he was diagnosed with mesothelioma. He tragically contracted the cancer after working with asbestos as a tradesman.

As part of his work, he stripped asbestos lagging off pipes and boilers. He was a fit and healthy man until November 2007 when he was diagnosed with mesothelioma which had been caused by inhaling tiny fragments of asbestos. The companies he had worked for had gone out of business therefore there was a long period of investigation to try and trace the insurance. Following a two year long running battle, he was finally awarded £140,000 compensation by his former employer's insurers.

His wife commented, "It came as such a shock. Ronnie was so fit and healthy, always running and never smoked or drank. All of a sudden he was really poorly with no energy. It was horrific."

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have recently launched the "Asbestos - Hidden Killer" campaign to help tradesman and maintenance workers to know when they may be dealing with asbestos. Asbestos materials present a risk if fibres are released into the air where they can be inhaled - therefore most at risk are contractors and tradesmen.

Freeclaim solicitors have specialist lawyers who are experienced in industrial disease compensation claims for asbestosis, mesothelioma and other asbestos related diseases. Contact our asbestos lawyers on 0800 24 34 09 to discuss whether you or a loved one could have an asbestos compensation claim.

Freeclaim accident solicitors are pleased to announce their acceptance as members of the Motor Accident Solicitors Society (MASS).

MASS is a non-profit making Society of solicitors specialist in motor accident compensation claims.  All members have proved their expertise in road accident claims and are committed to adhere to service standards, including speed, expertise, communication, care and professionalism.

If you've been injured in a road accident and would like to make a claim for compensation, our specialist road traffic team can help. You can call us 24 hours a day on 0800 24 34 09 or contact Freeclaim road accident solicitors online.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has just launched the "Asbestos - Hidden Killer" campaign to help tradesman and maintenance workers to know when they may be dealing with asbestos.

Asbestos is described as a hidden killer because it can cause four serious diseases (mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, asbestosis and pleural thickening) that often take a long time to develop and once diagnosed, it can be often too late to do anything. Many recent asbestos compensation claims have related to workplaces from many years ago.

Tragically, many tradesmen have suffered the devastating affects of working with asbestos, including electricians, joiners, plumbers, builders and general maintenance workers have been affected. Some of the work environments and industries in which people came into contact with asbestos include shipyards, schools, railways, engine rooms, industrial and chemical plants, asbestos plants, hospitals, the electrical industry, chemical laboratories and building and construction sites.

Families of tradesman or people who have worked directly with asbestos can also be at risk where they have had indirect contact (for example washing their work clothes).

It is crucial to speak to a solicitor who is experienced in asbestos compensation claims and have the investigative expertise to pursue claims that may relate to previous workplaces form years ago. For advice on making a claim for asbestosis, mesothelioma and other asbestos diseases, call Freeclaim specialist solicitors on 0800 24 34 09 or contact Freeclaim online.

Tom Offer has been awarded £25,000 in compensation after an accident at work left him with permanent nerve damage to his hand. The accident at work happened whilst he was dismantling a tractor for shipping purposes without the correct equipment.

He required a special hammer for the task, but despite his complaints, he was told to continue taking the tractor apart with a piece of metal. Despite wearing safety gloves, he sustained a nasty cut to his hand, severing the tendon, and has been left with nerve damage.

Injuries and accidents at work are often caused by not using the correct work equipment or using faulty work equipment. Having dealt with many work equipment compensation claims, Freeclaim Solicitors are experts in helping clients claim personal injury compensation. For help and advice, call today on 0800 24 34 09 or contact our work accident solicitors online.

Freeclaim Solicitors are continuing to work on a number of high profile contamination cases linked to radioactive material in the Rutherford Building at Manchester University, despite a recent report concluding that the deaths were coincidental and not linked to radioactive material.

The Rutherford building was home to Ernest Rutherford, the father of modern nuclear physics, where he conducted various experiments at the turn of the century, leaving behind contamination which may have affected the health of those who later moved into the offices within the very laboratories where the experiments were carried out.

The report by Professor David Coggon ruled out the possibility that radioactive contamination was to blame for a cluster of cancer cases among former staff.

Freeclaim solicitor Liz Graham who is acting on behalf of some of the families, has dismissed the findings and commented, "Because no record was kept of the radiation measurements before 1999, he assumes they must have been at a safe level. That is not a safe assumption." She has also written to the coroner to say that the report is deeply flawed.

The coroner has already intervened when earlier this year it was announced that yet another academic was dying of pancreatic cancer. The coroner took the quite extraordinary step and contacted his relations whilst he was still alive to ensure no burial took place until they had examined the body.

Professor David Coggon did state that the rate of early cancer deaths in the building was unusually high, but he did not agree it was a strange coincidence that that three people who worked in a small corner of the Rutherford building had died from pancreatic cancer.

Freeclaim solicitor Liz Graham went on to say, "We urged Professor Coggon to contact all the people who worked in the building, but he refused, even though he accepted their evidence could have helped him. He himself says the number of people affected is striking."

Further evidence of the serious contamination problem exists in the history of the building. A confidential minute in the 70's suggests that security staff at the university were reluctant to enter the building as they were concerned at the deaths of four colleagues. Then in 1999, the rooms surrounding Rutherford's laboratories were discovered to be heavily contaminated with nuclear materials and mercury. However staff did not find out until two years later when a member of staff found an instruction not to enter and a radiation hazard warning on his office door.

Many staff members have chosen not to speak on record, however a recently retired former employee has told the Independent, "Why in 1999 did they move us out of our rooms to do remedial work, if they did not have any evidence of serious contamination?"

Liz Graham continues to be at the forefront of the campaign, representing the families of former employees of the university who have tragically died of pancreatic cancer.

The Law Society has recently urged anyone involved in a car accident to seek legal advice from a qualified solicitor. 

The comments came to light after it was found that some insurance firm as are contacting accident victims directly and trying to urge them to resolve the case direct without getting solicitors involved.

Alison Donnelly from the Consumer Council has warned that this could lead to road traffic accident victims not receiving the full compensation they deserve and may not be confident enough after an accident to inisit on their rights, "Any insurance company that actively discourages consumers from getting this advice is behaving unfairly and should be stopped."

Freeclaim Solicitors reported back in July 2009 on the problem and advised that anyone involved in a car accident, even if their injuries are relatively minor, should seek legal advice before they speak to their insurers about a potential compensation claim for their injuries, as complications can develop long after the accident.

If you've been injured as a passenger or a driver in a car accident or other road accident, we have a dedicated road accident team who can advise you as to whether you have a compensation claim and discuss how much compensation you may receive for your injuries.

Freeclaim road accident team will handle any road traffic compensation claim on a no win no fee basis. There's nothing to pay, win or lose, and you receive 100% compensation. Contact our road accident team on 0800 24 34 09 to book a free consultation and free home visit or contact our car accident solicitors online.

Cycling England, a Government funded agency, has proposed a change to the law to make drivers liable for road accidents involving cyclists. This would mean that all drivers and their insurers would be liable for cycling accident compensation claims.

There are already tensions between drivers and cyclists and many car drivers are absolutely furious at the suggestion that they would be to blame where the cycling accident was not their fault. The proposal is based on regulations in the Netherlands, Denmark and Germany whereby the law is more favourable to cyclists in road accidents. In these countries, even where the cyclist may have caused the road accident by an illegal or dangerous manoeuvre, the motorist can be blamed.

If you've been injured in a road accident either as a cyclist or a driver or passenger, Freeclaim Road Accident Compensation Solicitors have a specialist department with the legal expertise to deal with cycling accident claims and car accident claims. Contact our road accident department online for further information or call free 24 hours a day on 0800 24 34 09.

Freeclaim accident compensation and personal injury solicitors have launched additional websites to focus on specialist areas of personal injury law. The websites have useful information about making a claim for compensation after an accident or injury at work, motorbike accident compensation, serious head and brain injury compensation, whiplash compensation and road accident claims as well as providing information on how much compensation you may receive after an accident or injury.

If you've been injured and would like free, no obligation accident advice, call our specialist solicitors on 0800 24 34 09 or to find out more information, click on the links to the additional Freeclaim accident and injury websites below:

www.compensationhowmuch.co.uk

www.whiplashhowmuch.co.uk

www.injurywork.co.uk

www.compensationbraininjury.co.uk

www.motorbikeaccidentcompensation.com

www.injured.co.uk

Freeclaim Solicitors, personal injury and compensation specialists, are pleased to announce our inclusion in the prestigious Legal 500 guide to law firms. In the definitive guide to reputable solicitors, we have been recommended for the fifth year running as leading personal injury solicitors, reflecting the firm's continuing reputation in helping accident and personal injury victims claim compensation.  

The Legal 500 guide to personal injury solicitors comments; Freeclaim Solicitors is a niche personal injury firm with 60 fee-earners offering ‘clear and easy to understand advice‘. Practice head John Barstow demonstrates ‘commitment to the client and enthusiasm for a successful outcome‘. Liz Graham is ‘outstanding‘.

Freeclaim Accident Compensation Solicitors provide you with free, confidential, no obligation advice on making a claim. We offer free home visits and we guarantee that you don't pay a single penny, win or lose, and you keep 100% compensation. We have over 20 years specialist personal injury litigation experience and our commitment to client care is reflected in our Legal 500 recommendation and reputation in this field.

For further information, call 0800 24 34 09 or contact us online for confidential advice on making a compensation claim.

A school caretaker has received over £3,000 in a settlement for his work injury claim. Mr. Alan Thomas was a school caretaker when he suffered a hernia injury at work whilst lifting and moving a heavy room divider. He was advised to move it by hand rather than using lifting equipment. After surgery to repair the hernia and two months off from work, he bought a workplace compensation claim against his local Council. The Local Authority admitted negligence and settled his compensation claim out of court. His injury has now been resolved and he is back at work.

In another recent accident claim, a care worker who suffered whiplash due to faulty work equipment has been awarded £4,000 in workplace injury compensation. Whilst trying to lift a patient out of a bath at a daycare centre, the bath seat caught on a panel which had been broken but never repaired. The sudden jerk caused whiplash injuries similar to neck injuries commonly sustained in a rear end shunt. Under the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998, lifting equipment must be examined every six months for faults and problems.

All employers owe a very high duty of care to their employees to ensure their workplace is safe. If you have suffered an injury at work, illness at work or had an accident at work, you may be entitled to make a no win no fee workplace compensation claim. Freeclaim have specialist solicitors who have experience in accident at work claims and injury compensation. Call 0800 24 34 09 or contact us online.

A man who was diagnosed with Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS), also known as Vibration White Finger, has received £8,500 in workplace injury compensation. A Ford Motor Company employee, his condition was caused by the use of power tools and vibrating devices at work.

In 2005 he started to notice problems with his hands, and his fingers turning white in cold spells. He said: "I worked with Ford for 33 years and during that time I used a number of different vibrating tools every day. I was never warned about the dangers of developing this condition."

Ford Motor Company admitted that they had failed to protect the safety of their employees.

Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome is a condition often caused by working with vibrating machinery and tools such as chain saws, sanders and pneumatic drills. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) believes that as much as two million people could be at risk of developing the syndrome due to the tools they use in the workplace.

Symptoms of Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) or Vibration White Finger can include:

• The fingers may become numb and tingle which continues after the machine has been switched off.
• Just one fingertip may temporarily turn white and start to ache; the finger may then turn white with increasing frequency.
• Other fingers begin turning white, but the thumb is not usually affected. After several fingers turn white, the disease is probably irreversible.
• Your arms and hands may also ache and feel painful.

If you or a family member have worked with vibrating tools or machinery and think you may have Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome or Vibration White Finger, you may be entitled to receive workplace injury compensation. Freeclaim industrial disease and work injury solicitors have experience in handling these types of compensation claims. Contact Freeclaim online or call 0800 24 34 09 open 24 hrs a day.

Unfortunately, many holidays are ruined due to the growing number of accidents and illnesses suffered by holidaymakers when travelling abroad or in the UK.

Claiming compensation after a holiday accident or illness requires expert legal knowledge, particularly when dealing with accidents abroad in a foreign jurisdiction. Many accident victims complain directly to tour operators and airlines to no avail and do not realise that they may be able to bring a claim for holiday compensation. Freeclaim holiday compensation solicitors advise anyone thinking of making a holiday compensation claim to contact a personal injury solicitor who has the legal expertise and knowledge of dealing with more complex claims.

Below are just a few examples of successful holiday accident and illness compensation claims that have hit the news in the last year:

Cruise Accident Claim 

A woman has been awarded over £10,000 in holiday accident compensation after she slipped and fell on spilt ice cream on a cruise ship. The ice cream had spilt from a faulty machine on board. She suffered a broken wrist and had to wait two days before the cruise ship docked to get it set. Her husband commented, "This accident completely ruined our holiday. The cruise company should have replaced the faulty machine before such an accident could happen."

Hotel Compensation Claim

A toddler is expected to receive around £2,500 in holiday accident compensation after she tripped on a metal drain in the ground of a Scottish hotel where her family was staying on holiday. The toddler cut her chin badly, needing paper stitches and she is likely to be scarred due to the accident. Hotels have a responsibility to make sure that their premises are safe, ensuring that there is nothing that a visitor could trip or fall on.

Airplane Injury Compensation

A holidaymaker received £6,500 compensation after she was injured on an airplane. On her return flight home after hew holiday, the woman suffered injuries to her back, neck, thigh and coccyx as well as needing stitching after being injured in a toilet on the plane. The airline tried to settle for £2,000 but following negotiations, her holiday injury compensation was increased. "I ended up with 14 stitches in my head and passed out in the airplane toilet," commented the woman, "The accident really shook me and I haven't flown long haul since."

Road Accident Abroad Compensation Claim

A woman received £96,000 in holiday accident compensation after she suffered nasty injuries as a passenger in a car accident abroad. The car crash happened whilst she was on holiday in France, leaving the woman with a broken neck and broken wrist. She also suffered multiple fractures to her foot which has resulted in long term mobility problems.

Holiday Illness Compensation Claim

A man has received £300,000 in holiday illness compensation after he contracted dysentery from food at his hotel whilst on honeymoon in Venezuala. He could not find medical help abroad and on his return he was diagnosed with dysentery which left him on a drip for five days. He has also been left with long term health problems, including irritable bowel syndrome. Holiday illness in the UK or abroad due to food poisoning or other sickness is unfortunately very common. Always seek legal advice after food poisoning or other illness to see whether you could claim compensation.

Freeclaim holiday accident solicitors have the experience of dealing with holiday accident and injury claims for the UK and abroad. Contact us online to find out if you have a holiday compensation claim. We have experience in all types of accidents and injuries whilst on holiday, including road accidents, food poisoning, airport and airplane accidents, cruise ship accidents and illnesses, trips and slips, boating accidents, accidents on excursions, accidents at your hotel, resort or caravan park, and many other holiday accidents and injuries.