Researchers have found a huge rise in personal injuries due to pedestrians wearing headphones - in particular, young males. Research from the US analysed pedestrian injuries data from 2004 - 2011 showed that the number of fatal or serious accidents had tripled, with 70% resulting in death. The study also found that 2 out of every 3 accident victims were young males.

The researchers commented on the study, "The use of headphones with handheld devices may pose a safety risk to pedestrians, especially in environments with moving vehicles. Further research is needed to determine if and how headphone use compromises pedestrian safety."

There have been many studies over the years that have shown that the use of headphones or mobile phone pieces cause people to become distracted and respond less to their environment around them such as traffic noise and horns when they are crossing the road.

Pedestrian accident claims can be extremely serious, resulting in head and spinal injuries. Freeclaim Solicitors have dedicated solicitors who are expert in serious injuries and pedestrian accident claims. To discuss your road accident claim with one of our solicitors, call today on 0800 24 34 09 or contact our road accident solicitors online.

A grandmother who worked at Asda has been awarded £27,000 after a slipping accident at work.

The former bakery assistant slipped on a broken egg in the warehouse and suffered injuries to her back which left her unable to walk long distances or carry heavy objects.

She returned to work and due to her injuries she asked to be put on lighter duties. However the supermarket said there were no positions and subsequently she retired.

The grandmother pursued a compensation claim against Asda who acknowledged that her lifestyle had been seriously curtailed after the accident at work and she was awarded £27,000 accident compensation.

Slips and trips on debris or dangerous surfaces are very common workplace accident claims. If you've been injured in a trip or slip  accident or other workplace accident, Freeclaim Solicitors have specialist work accident compensation lawyers who will be able to help you make a claim. Call today on 0800 24 34 09 for expert claims advice or contact Freeclaim Solicitors using our online form.

The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) have fined the owners of a farm in Cornwall after one of their farm workers was severely injured in an accident at work.

The farm worker, 55, was run over by a tractor whilst trying to open a gate. The tractor was parked on a slope and rolled forward and ran the farm worker over, leaving him with severe personal injuries. He suffered multiple personal injuries, including broken ribs, back injury and permanent damage to his eye socket.

Because of his injuries, the 55 year old farm worker has not been able to return to his job since.

The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) found that the tractor had a faulty handbrake and had not been maintained properly.

As a consequence of the framing accident, the owners pleaded guilty to a breach of Regulation 5 (1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998. The farm owners were fined £7,500 and ordered to pay £9,000 in costs.

Agriculture has one of the worst records for fatal accidents at work and occupational ill-health/illness. If you've had a farming accident whilst at work, we have specialist personal injury lawyers who can advise you on making a work injruy claim for compensation. Call Freeclaim Solicitors today for accident advice on 0800 24 34 09 or fill in our online contact form and one of our accident at work solicitors will call you straight back to discuss your claim.

A lady from South Wales has received £37,000 in injury compensation following a horse riding accident at a riding school.

The lady, who was an experienced rider, was riding a horse that had only recently been ‘broken in' when it became startled by another horse and she was thrown off.

The other horse was being ridden by an employee of the riding school whom the lady had spoken to requesting him to stay behind her as her horse was becoming anxious. The rider claimed her requests were ignored and the horse reared up.

The lady suffered a broken back and pelvis as a consequence of the fall and still suffers pain and cannot ride for long periods. She received £37,000 accident compensation after successfully suing the employee and the riding school.

If you've been injured in a horse riding accident or other accident, our personal injury solicitors can advice you on whether you have a claim for compensation. Call today on 0800 24 34 09 or contact our accident lawyers online.

Freeclaim Road Accident Solicitors have welcomed the announcement that learner drivers will be able to take driving lessons on a motorway.

Mike Penning the road safety minister confirmed that learner drivers will be able to drive on a motorway but only if they are accompanied by a qualified driving instructor.

It is hoped that the move will ensure learner drivers develop good motorway driving skills and therefore reduce the number of motorway accidents.

Although motorways are statistically safer than many dual carriageways and A roads, there are greater risks of more serious injuries and multiple vehicle accidents.

If you need help or advice after a car accident or other road traffic accident, Freeclaim Solicitors have an experienced road accident compensation team. To find out whether you can claim compensation after being injured in a road accident, call today on 0800 24 34 09 or use our online contact form and we'll call you straight back.

A demolition worker has received £1.75 million pounds in compensation plus a yearly payment of £135,000 for life after a serious accident at work.

Mr. Kaye was working on a building site when a metal bar sprung out whilst he was trying to change a grapple attachment on an excavator. The bar hit him in the face and knocked him to the ground. He underwent life-saving surgery but has been left with severe brain damage and needs 24 hour care.

His employers denied liability at first but finally accepted 90% liability. The brain injury compensation will allow Mr. Kaye to have the long term care and support that he now needs.

Brain and head injuries are devastating for both the family and the victim. It is essential that you speak to experienced head injury solicitors who have the proven legal expertise to deal with these complex claims and provide essential support services. Freeclaim Solicitors are members of Headway's Head Injury Solicitors Directory (Headway is a brain injury association and has compiled a directory of lawyers experienced in handling brain injury compensation cases.) If you would like to speak to a solicitor who is experienced in handling head injury compensation claims, call today on 0800 24 34 09 or contact Freeclaim Solicitors online.

A factory worker from Manchester has lost three fingers after whilst using an industrial saw. After an investigation by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE), they found that the 21 year old had not received any training or instructions on how to operate the machine and had been left without supervision. They also found that the industrial saw did not have the required adjustable guard to prevent factory workers from sustaining a personal injury whilst using the blades.

The engineering company has been fined £8,000 after admitting a breach of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations and the Health and Safety at Work Act.

All too often, many workplace accidents can be avoided if employers ensure staff are fully trained and supervised and ensure that all equipment meets the necessary Health and Safety regulation.

If you've been injured in an accident at work and would like specialist confidential, advice, contact our experienced workplace injury lawyers on 0800 24 34 09. There's no cost to enquire, and thereafter there's nothing to pay (win or lose) and you keep 100% compensation guaranteed.

Last year we experienced one of the coldest winters with ice and snow hazards across the country and many councils struggling to keep the roads gritted and safe.

Winter driving requires extra vigilance and planning to ensure you keep safe on the roads and avoid the risk of a road traffic accident. Here are a few top tips but you will be able to find more detailed tips for safe driving in poor wether online.

• Make sure you set aside time to fully prepare your vehicle for driving. Remember to remove snow from the roof so it cannot slip down whilst you are driving.

• Try and plan your routes to keep to major roads that are more likely to have been gritted.

• Keep an emergency pack in the car including de-icer, a shovel, extra clothes and blankets, battery, boots, tow rope etc. in case you are stranded.

• Remember to drive slowly and keep a much longer distance tha normal between your vehicle and other road users. Stopping distances are 10x longer in ice and snow!

• Whilst driving, if your tyres are making no noise hardly, beware as this could mean that you are driving on ice. If you do start to skid, depress the clutch and turn the steering wheel into the direction of the skid until the vehicle straightens up. Don't brake as your wheels will lock yup and you'll skid further.

• In any event, always break gently.

• Use second gear when pulling away and ease your foot off the clutch slowly to avoid wheel spin.

With the prospect of bad weather conditions again over the festive period, it is likely that motor accident claims may increase. In some cases, nobody can be blamed, however if the actions (or inactions) of other road users or pedestrians have contributed towards the accident and the injuries sustained, you are advised to seek advice from specialist road accident lawyers. Give Freeclaim Solicitors a call today on 0800 24 34 09for advice on whether you can make a road accident compensation claim.

Please note our accident helping is open 24 hours a day over the festive period or you can contact our personal injury lawyers using our online form and we'll call you back as soon as possible.

Accident compensation and personal injury specialists Freeclaim Solicitors are helping the local community at this difficult time of year.

Working with the churches of St. Hilda and St. Aidan, they have donated 40 Christmas hamper bags of food to distribute to families less well off to try and help with the cost of Christmas. With money tighter than ever, Freeclaim Solicitors have stepped in to help again, donating parcels of food to help with fundraising efforts in the local community. Bernard Caine, President of St. Vincent De Paul Society in Wythenshawe commented, "When I received a call from Tranters Freeclaim Solicitors offering to help in the food project I was delighted. It is appreciated and clearly illustrated their commitment to the community. "

Freeclaim Solicitors have also teamed up with the local Round Table to help a variety of local causes and charities. They are each donating £1,000" to a "help" fund which will be distributed to good causes this Christmas.

Stephen Tranter, Director of Freeclaim Solicitors commented, "Every year we try to help local causes over this difficult period. We are pleased to be helping provide much needed food parcels for the local community and helping the local Round Table to distribute £2,000 to benefit a number of good causes and charities." Mark Jeffries from the Round Table responded by saying "The donation from Freeclaim Solicitors was a fantastic surprise and in a time where money its getting tighter everyday it's great news that we can help even more local causes out at this special time of year".

Every year the Round Table association of Great Britain and Ireland raises millions which is directly donated to local charities and good causes.

Freeclaim Solicitors support the house of Lords in their call for a ban on third-party capture by the insurance industry.

Third-party capture us where insurers contact road accident victims direct to try and settle the case once they know that the accident victim has legal representation. Freeclaim specialist road accident solicitors have been campaigning for over two years after seeing many clients being put under pressure by insurers to try and settle their claim before even medical evidence has been obtained.

Both MASS (Motor Accident Solicitors Society) and Brake (the road safety charity) have also voiced concerns about the insurance industry contacting clients and settling claims for less than they are worth. They have warned road traffic accident victims about the danger of dealing with insurers directly and they are advising anyone who has been injured in a road accident to seek independent advice from a specialist solicitor.

Our specialist road accident solicitors have the experience to help clients claim the appropriate level of compensation. In one case, although our client had quite a minor rear end shunt, she suffered significant whiplash injuries and problems which were on-going two years after the road accident and for which she would not have been compensated had she been persuaded to settle early. Freeclaim Solicitors secure £35,000 in compensation.

If you've suffered injury due to a road accident or other accident, our advice is always to ensure you speak to independent personal injury solicitors. For confidential advice, contact our road accident solicitors today on 0800 24 34 09 or use our online form and we'll call you straight back. All enquiries are free and thereafter there's nothing to pay, win or lose, and you keep 100% compensation.

Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke has revealed that there a referral fees ban will be introduced into legislation currently passing through Parliament.

"Referral fees" are paid by solicitors to insurance companies and claims management companies to in effect "buy" people's injury and accident claims. Kenneth Clarke commented, "Until now, middle-men have been able to profit from selling personal injury claims onto solicitors for a fee."

Freeclaim Solicitors have long campaigned to ban referral fees and the practise of buying and selling people's accident claims. As specialist injury solicitors, we believe in maintaining our independence, enabling our solicitors to act without fear or favour on behalf of our clients, free of any commercial obligations or ties with claims companies or insurers.

To find out more about our accident claims service, call today on 0800 24 34 09 or contact Freeclaim Solicitors online. We're open 24 hours a day and can offer you independent advice on a variety of injury claims, including road accident claims, accident at work claims, trips and slips, serious head injury and spinal injury claims, military injury claims, injuries due to faulty products, holiday accidents and more.

A former schoolboy rugby player has received £54,000 in accident compensation following injuries received when he was sixteen during a training session.

At the time of the injury, the boy was aged sixteen and whilst trying to score during training at Syston Rugby Club he suffered a serious, disabling fracture to his right kneecap. He landed on a broken plastic boundary marker which was sticking out half an inch but was hidden in the grass.

The boy was described in court as "a fast player of ability" and that his rugby career had been ended by the injury. He sued Syston Rugby Club claiming that they were negligent in not carrying out a thorough pitch inspection before the game.

Although the club argued that a legal requirement for the club to carry out what would have been a fingertip search of the pitch "exceeded what was acceptable".

However the court agreed with the injury compensation claim and awarded £54,000. The rugby club is appealing the decision.

Freeclaim Accident & Injury Lawyers. For advice and to organise a free home visit, call 0800 24 34 09 (open 24 hours a day) or contact our accident solicitors using our online contact form.

Vicki Hart who was severely injured in a taxi accident has won her multi million compensation claim at the High Court in London.

Vicki suffered catastrophic injuries when she was hit by a taxi at just fourteen years old. She suffered serious injuries including a broken neck and fractured skull, which have left her severely disabled and requiring 24 hour care and support.

Now at the age of 22, she has finally won her compensation claim against the insurers of the taxi driver and will receive £3 million which will help to provide for her care for the rest of her life and improve her quality of life.

Serous road accidents can be devastating for both the victims and their families. Due to the gravity of the injuries, it is extremely important to seek specialist legal advice from personal injury solicitors who have experience in serious brain injury claims and serious spinal cord injury claims. Freeclaim Solicitors have over 25 years experience helping clients who have been seriously injured with expert legal advice and importantly, rehabilitation and support. To speak to one of our specialist solicitors, call today on 0800 24 34 09 (open 24 hrs) or fill in our enquiry form and we'll phone you straight back.

Freeclaim Solicitors, specialists in personal injury are pleased to announce their rise in the Legal 500 2011 rankings for law firms.

The Legal 500 provides independent law firm recommendations based on intensive research of firms and their clients and is regarded as offering "the definitive judgment of law firm capabilities".

Freeclaim Solicitors have been consistently recommended for seven years now, a reflection of the dedication to client care and the hard work of all staff in helping clients claim compensation after an accident.

" Freeclaim Solicitors handles work across the value spectrum. In 2010, John Barstow handled a number of £2m-plus RTA cases, and Alastair Fernie regularly recovers damages in excess of £1m for brain injury cases." The Legal 500.

For confidential advice on making an accident claim, contact Freeclaim Solicitors using our online form or call 0800 24 34 09.

Over 25 years experience. Legal 500 Recommended. Specialists in Personal Injury & Accident Compensation.

A widow has been successful in her compensation claim after she lost her husband to Mesothelioma.

Her husband was diagnosed in 2007 with the asbestos related cancer and tragically died in 2008 due to being exposed to asbestos whilst working as a ceiling fixer installing asbestos tiles for a building firm, and was often covered in asbestos dust at the end of the working day.

The widow successfully won the asbestos claim against the construction firm who admitted liability and paid £160,000 compensation.

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is almost always linked to exposure to asbestos and can develop many years after the initial exposure - it is also almost always fatal.

Unfortunately, asbestos-related diseases are all too common in the building and construction industries. The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) launched the "Hidden Killer" campaign in 2008 to raise awareness amongst different types of tradesman of the risks associated with being exposed directly or indirectly to asbestos.  

Freeclaim have specialist solicitors who are experienced in investigating and pursuing asbestos-related illnesses claims and Mesothelioma claims. Because the disease can develop many years later, it is important to speak to solicitors who have the investigative knowledge and experience to help you with your claim. For further advice, call today on 0800 24 34 09 or click here to fill in an online enquiry form and one of our solicitors will call you straight back.

The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) have fined Duco International Limited after an employee suffered fatal injuries when he was crushed to death in a clothing factory machine. Mitesh Prashar a 24 year old employee became trapped in a high powered roller on one of the machines that checks the fabric.

The HSE fined the firm £200,000 and it was ordered to pay £43,000 in costs after the company pleaded guilty to breaching health and safety rules. The HSE found that the company failed to brief staff and had not looked into the dangers of using the machine, nor was there a guard rail.

A HSE inspector commented, "This needless tragedy is typical of what can happen when health and safety management systems fail. Had the hazards been assessed, the lack of ay guarding would have been highlighted and this death could have been avoided."

For workplace injury advice on making a compensation claim, call Freeclaim work accident lawyers on 0800 24 34 09 or use our online contact form and one of our personal injury lawyers will call you back.

A cycling accident has left a 53 year old father of four with serious injuries after he was sandwiched between a lorry and a bus.

Olimpo Galarraga was cycling to work when the accident happened leaving him with a smashed pelvis and his left leg amputated.

The injured cyclist commented, "I was just cycling down the road, traffic was moving very slowly.

The next thing I knew I had a bus on one side of me and a lorry on the other.

My wheel was clipped and I was knocked off my bicycle.

The tanker went over my leg and I felt a huge pain.

I was conscious and could feel it. I just feel so lucky to be alive and would warn all cyclists to be very careful."

Mr. Galarraga now has to use a wheelchair or crutches and visits a local Rehabilitation Centre for physiotherapy.

Cycling accidents can be particularly serious, leaving accident victims with devastating injuries. To enquire about cycling accident compensation, call our accident helpline open 24 hours a day on 0800 24 34 09 or contact our personal injury solicitors online.

Freeclaim Solicitors support the recent announcement by the Justice Minister to ban referral fees paid to insurers and claims companies for passing on people's details after an accident. 

Many insurance companies and claims companies are in effect selling on personal injury claims and can make hundreds of pounds from them. Insurance firms have passed on details of their own policyholders after they have contacted them to inform them about a road accident.  

Justice Minister Jonathan Djanogly commented that the no-win, no-fee system was "pushing us into a compensation culture in which middle men make a tidy profit which the rest of us end up paying for through higher insurance premiums and higher prices".

As specialist personal injury lawyers, Freeclaim Solicitors do not pay referral fees for accident claims. Our clients contact us directly for legal advice on making a claim.

Our advice would be to always go direct to solicitors who are specialists in personal injury.

For independent and specialist advice, contact Freeclaim Solicitors today on 0800 24 34 09 or contact our personal injury lawyers online.

Latest NHS statistics show a worrying trend in the increase of hospital admissions due to serious dog bites and attacks rose by 5% with 6,120 admissions in the year to April 2011, up from 5,810 in the previous year. Further, 1 in every 6 of the admissions for dog-related injuries involved children under 10 years old.

These figures are probably understated as not every dog bite is reported or leads to a hospital admission.

Sheila Merrill, a public health adviser for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), commented: "Owners are ultimately responsible for making sure that their pet does not pose a risk to other people.

"That means making sure that the animal is properly trained and restrained - where appropriate - and understanding what causes the animal to feel stressed, and therefore more likely to injure by biting or scratching.

"However placid you think your pet is you should never leave it alone with a small child."

Much of the current law concerning dog bits and dangerous dogs is contained in the 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act. There are however a few misconceptions surrounding dangerous dogs and dog bite claims.

Many people think that the law allows for the first bite; however you can still make a dog bite compensation claim if the dog had previously shown aggressive tendencies.

It is also commonly thought that to success in an injury claim after a dog bite or attack that for the owner to be liable, it has to be shown that the dog had bitten previously. However it is sufficient to show that the dog had shown aggressive tendencies (snarling, growling, trying to bite) on at least one occasion previously.

Many of the dangerous breeds listed in the Dangerous Dogs Act (such as Pit Bull Terriers) must be muzzled in public and registered on the Index of Exempted Breeds. They must also be micro chipped and insured.

Unfortunately it is not just breeds listed in the Act that can turn and become aggressive. Any breed, regardless of its pedigree or size can be potentially dangerous and can bite or attack.

There are many professions also where employees are more at risk of being injured by a dog, including postmen and women and delivery drivers, home-help workers and carers, anyone who helps maintain or repair property (both council and private) and individuals who are employed to read or check meters for gas, electricity or water.

At Freeclaim Solicitors, we have specialist injury lawyers who can advise you on whether you can make a compensation claim after a dog bite or attack. If you or your child has been a victim, ensure you speak to solicitors who have experience of acting for clients who have suffered dog-related injuries. Contact our solicitors using the online form or call 0800 24 34 09.

A soldier who suffered horrific injuries whilst serving in Afghanistan will only get around half of his million pound settlement as the Government have introduce caps on Ministry of Defence (MoD) compensation payouts.

Lance-Bombardier Ben Parkinson was hit by a landmine whilst on patrol in a Land Rover, leaving him in a coma for 11 weeks. As a consequence of the military accident, he suffered serious brain injuries, lost both legs and fractured four vertebrae.

He was originally offered just £150,000 in accident compensation but after review by the MoD, his claim was revalued to £1,087,000. However in another twist in the claim, he was then told that he would only receive £570,000 as the Government has imposed a cap on compensation payouts to injured soldiers.

He has also been told that he may be discharged from the army against his will which may lead to the end of his rehabilitation programme. His mother commented, "On Friday we received a letter from his base at Catterick Garrison saying he is being recommended for medical discharge, subject to a further review in December. That would mean the end of Ben's full rehab."

"He would be forced on to the NHS or we will have to pay for it ourselves. Ben has only had a year and a half of the MoD's rehab. For injuries of that severity he needs at least five years."

If you have suffered serious injuries and would like to find out more about making an armed forces compensation claim, call out specialist military accident solicitors today on 0800 24 34 09 or contact our specialist military claim lawyers online. Because of the complex nature of these claims, we would always advise that you speak to solicitors who are experienced in handling such claims.