An American radio competition led to disaster for one woman and her family – who are now receiving $16million (£9.7million) in compensation.
Jennifer Strange had entered a competition entitled ‘Hold you wee for a Wii’, in which she had to drink as much water as possible without going to the toilet. However, she later died after a fatal chemical reaction in her body from the huge intake of water.
The radio station and its owner were found liable for the death of Mrs Strange – a mum of three, who had entered the competition to try and win a Nintendo Wii for her children.
After losing the competition she went home complaining of having a head-ache. She was later found dead at her home.
Mrs Strange died of acute water intoxication - a rare but fatal disease which develops rapidly when too much water is taken into the body. This causes a massive chemical imbalance, meaning the kidneys and other organs cannot perform properly, and will eventually cause the brain to swell and stop the sufferer from breathing.
As well as having to pay compensation to the family of Mrs Strange, 10 employees of the radio station, KDND-FM were sacked.
The Health and Safety Executive have released new figures which show the numbers of deaths and injuries from accidents at work have reduced over the last year.
Fatalities from accidents at work fell from 233 in 2007.08 to 180 in 2008/09 – a record low.
33.9 million working days were lost in the UK due to injury and ill health; this figure fell to 29.3 million over the last year. As well as this, over 7,000 less ‘serious’ injuries (causing an absence of three days of more) occurred in the workplace in 2008/09.
29,389 major injuries caused in accidents at work were recorded in 2007/08, compared with 28,692 in 2008.09. Numbers of those suffering from a work-related illness is also down 79,000 to 1.2 million.
Overall, three million fewer working days were lost over the last year than in the previous.
A group of British tourists have been awarded personal injury compensation after they suffered from chemical burns whilst on holiday.
The holidaymakers, who were staying at a five star resort in the Greek Island of Corfu, were burnt after spending time in the hotel pool. Despite people complaining to the hotel staff about this, the hotel continued to pump chemicals into the pool and said that people would be safe to use it.
42 tourists managed to make successful compensation claims against a range of tour operators for negligence – stating that the holiday companies should have carried out appropriate checks for safety before allowing visitors to stay there.
Included in the group was Susan Austin and Lee Sanders, who stayed at the Mitsis Roda Beach Hotel in July 2007. They suffered from chemical burns just hours after arriving at the resort and getting in the pool for what was supposed to be a relaxing swim. Instead they had to endure agonising pain for the majority of their holiday.
The couple were awarded an undisclosed personal injury compensation amount, along with many others who suffered pain.
A pedestrian has died in a road traffic accident after being hit by a fast-moving car on the A1(M) near Darlington.
The man, identified as Stephen Ridley, 54, died instantly when he was hit by the BMW 320 vehicle near junction 58 on the northbound carriageway.
Although Police are unsure of exactly why Mr Ridley was near the area, it is thought that he could have been trying to cross the road whilst out for a walk at around 9.45pm last Saturday.
The stretch of road past Darlington, Country Durham is unlit and therefore it would have been much harder for any motorist to avoid hitting him on a high-speed road. A pedestrian would also find judging the speeds and distances of oncoming traffic much more difficult.
The driver of the BMW, along with his wife were both treated for shock following the road traffic accident, however they did not sustain injuries. The Police are currently looking for more witnesses.
Fans of Manchester United that attended the Carling Cup away game at Barnsley will be forced to pay compensation for the criminal damage they caused.
Many of the staff from the ground have been treated for shock after United fans destroyed food and drink kiosks after they were refused alcohol on police instruction.
The damage caused is likely to cost Barnsley thousands of pounds – money that they can’t afford, and therefore are attempting to make a compensation claim against Manchester United to help clear up the mess.
Police were also injured in the incident. One officer in particular suffered a facial injury after bottles were thrown at them. Food was also thrown at them from the stands.
Workers at the kiosk stands had to lock themselves in a storage cupboard to prevent themselves become a victim of the criminal attacks. They remained there for up to half an hour while fans destroyed the food stalls and stole food, drink and money just metres away.
Barnsley manager Don Rowing said: “I’m very angry that people could do what they’ve done. To threaten the staff and steal money is tantamount to robbery with violence. The staff don’t deserve that. It was a frightening experience for them and they’ve been traumatised by events.”
Manchester United have promised to supporters found guilty of the damage from attending any future games. It is yet to be revealed whether staff or police at the ground will make compensation claims for personal injury.
The likely future rise in asbestos compensation claims has forced the government to put by £85million for those affected by diseases brought on by asbestos exposure.
A number of developments and fresh cases in the past few months have caused concern for health officials. Many who attended schools in the 1960’s have been found to have developed asbestosis, and more recently a change in the law has been brought forward to award asbestos compensation to those who have developed pleural plaques.
In the capital the London Pensions Fund Authority is currently predicting that the number of asbestos compensation claims that they deal with will more than double, from approximately 12 currently to 25 a year – totalling 400 asbestos cases by 2035.
Changes have been made following a landmark case which saw asbestos compensation awarded to a widower of a teacher who died of mesothelioma – a strain of lung cancer caused by asbestos exposure. Over a 30-year teaching career, Joan Henry worked in two schools in which the buildings contained asbestos.
Her husband, Stephen Henry received £180,000 back in July, and is currently the only recipient of compensation following a death of someone who did not die due to direct exposure in an industrial environment in London.
Mr Henry believes that the result could open potential cases for many others who have been affected by asbestos exposure, and this includes pupils of the school where his wife worked, along with many others that contain asbestos. For this reason he believes the fund may even fall short of those wishing to make asbestos compensation claims.
Approximately 2,100 people develop mesothelioma each year, whilst it is suggested that around 90% of school buildings could contain asbestos. The two schools in which Mrs Henry worked at have since been closed.
A council worker has been awarded over £10,000 personal injury compensation after damaging her back in an accident at work.
Sharon Kerry suffered the injury despite warnings from fellow members of staff to employers, Leicester City Council about the potential health and safety risk posed in the area.
The accident at work occurred when Mrs Kerry bent down to reach a safe, which was kept on the floor. The position of the safe had been complained about many times previously by council workers, but these complaints had been ignored on numerous occasions.
After Leicester City Council admitted liability for the accident, Mrs Kerry was awarded £10,250 personal injury compensation.
It is said that Mrs Kerry had a pre-existing back condition that wasn’t causing problems with her mobility at present. However, following her accident at work, it’s likely that the symptoms and pain will be brought forward by two to three years.
Mrs Kerry is now contemplating whether or not surgery on her back is a viable option to reduce the pain she is likely to endure over the coming months; pain which is likely to prevent her working and hugely reducing her quality of life.
A stretch of road in Kent notorious for fatal road traffic accidents has taken its latest victim.
The stretch of the A26 near Maidstone has taken the lives of many motorists, whilst numerous more have had to make a road traffic accident compensation claim after being injured on the road following a collision with another vehicle.
The latest fatality was a 48-year old woman, who died when her Peugeot collided with a Mondeo on the dangerous stretch. The impact caused her to be trapped inside her car, whilst the driver of the other vehicle suffered a fractured ankle as a result.
Campaigners for the prevention of road traffic accidents in the area have managed to get speed limits reduced from 60mph to 40mph. They are now saying that these changes need to cover much more of the road, including the area of the latest fatality.
The brother of a man who lost his life on the A26 said: “It’s very sad that there’s been a serious accident. We desperately need more traffic calming. The road is busy and will get busier.”
An employer liable for a staff member’s accident at work will face compensation claims after being fined under the Health and Safety Act.
Lithuanian worker Gediminas Vasiliauskas fell through a hole in the roof and broke his back whilst helping to dismantle a former aircraft hanger.
It was declared that the accident at work was caused by the employer, Tim Philpott failing to implement adequate safety practices at the site. He was therefore fined £7,500.
Mr Vasiliauskas fell up to three metres through the aircraft hanger roof; smashing his back onto the concrete floor below. As a result he had to have a metal disk inserted into his back, lost his sense of taste and smell, and missed a year of work.
A Health and Safety Executive Inspector said: “Working at height is one of the most dangerous things employees can do. This case highlights the need for companies to do everything possible to minimise the risks employees face when working at height.”
No compensation has yet been awarded but it is believed that Mr Vasiliauskas will make compensation claims against Mr Philpott at a later trial in a county court.
A newspaper delivery boy who made a personal injury claim after being knocked down by a lorry is likely to receive personal injury compensation.
The boy, Joshua Smith, was left brain damaged and needing medical attention after the lorry hit him when he tried to cross a busy main road to deliver the final newspaper of his round.
However, after a review of Joshua’s personal injury claim, the amount of compensation he is now likely to receive will be less that originally thought.
Joshua’s original personal injury compensation claim against his employer, the Co-op Group Ltd was made on the grounds of liability, mostly in their failure to carry out an appropriate risk assessment before he took on his paper round at the age of thirteen.
After a court hearing, the judge ruled that the Co-op Group Ltd were not fully liable for the accident, and that the majority of blame was split between the lorry driver and the inattention of the boy. This means that any awarded personal injury compensation will be a lot less than if down to employer liability.
Personal injuries sustained by Joshua included a fractured pelvis, head wounds, ruptured kidney, bruised lungs, broken teeth and a brain injury. He is also likely to need help later in life due to suffering from poor short term memory.
The lorry driver and the boy will now need to come to a decision about appropriate personal injury compensation. If an agreement cannot be made, the personal injury claim will return to court.
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