PPI claims (Payment Protection Insurance) are becoming more and more common as people who have got (or have had) personal loans and credit cards realise they were mis-sold the extra PPI insurance cover and that they can claim it back – plus interest, often the amount of money claimed back runs into thousands of pounds.

Many people were pressured into having extra PPI on their loan or told they couldn’t have the money without taking PPI, now after many successful settlements and millions of pounds recovered from loan companies there is a wave of PPI claims.

As a result PPI claims companies have sprung up across the UK, they promise to help people who want to make a claim, but people considering making a PPI claim have been warned they should be very careful who they choose to act for them.

People with a PPI claim should beware, it is crucial the case is handled by an expert who understands the complex nature and legal arguments surrounding payment protection claims.

Many claims companies simply churn out template letters and send them to the loan company, the letters are not specific to the individual case and they aren’t all geared up to handle the difficult legal arguments that may follow or to properly assess any offers of compensation to ensure claimants receive the right amount of money.

In addition, some PPI claims companies have been charging clients a fee to take their case on, rather than handling them on a no win, no fee basis.

The problem is so serious that the Ministry of Justice has written stern letters to hundreds of PPI claims companies, amongst other things they have been warned against using template letters to lenders and not being specific enough about the individual PPI case they are complaining about.

The Ministry of Justice also warned firms that their clients face having PPI claims delayed or declined if they continue not to handle them properly.

This could have very serious consequences for people using a third party claims company, a copy of the letter sent to PPI claims companies can be found here.

If you are interested in claiming back PPI that was attached to a loan or credit card you should get in touch with a proper legal expert, the best person to speak to is a Solicitor who handles PPI claims.

Pinto Potts are Solicitors who specialise in PPI claims, by dealing with a Solicitor directly you have peace of mind that you are dealing with a company regulated by the Law Society.

In addition, Pinto Potts Solicitors take pride in the fact that we have some of the best PPI legal experts dealing with the many hundreds of cases we handle for PPI mis-selling victims across the UK.

Pinto Potts handle claims on a no win, no fee basis and don’t charge any upfront fees, you can have your case assessed totally free of charge, simply call: 0800 316 4434 for instant advice on whether you can make a claim.

Or you can take a simple, quick online test to see if you were mis-sold PPI.

Video – Making a PPI Compensation Claim

A broken bone or fracture is a serious and very painful injury that will require urgent medical attention and normally a minimum of four to six weeks recovery time.

A bone that has a crack or break is termed a fracture, a fractured bone can happen to any of the bones in the human body, but the most common are broken arms, broken legs and fractures to the hand, wrist and foot.

When the skin around the area injured remains unbroken the fracture is termed ’closed’ or ’simple’, in cases where the bone has penetrated the skin the terms ‘open’ or ‘compound’ fractures are used.

Open or compound fractures are the most serious kind of broken bone as the wound can be left exposed and therefore open to infection, there are many other different kinds of fracture, the most common are:

• Avulsion Fracture - Means a small piece of broken bone has detached from the main bone.
• Bowing Fracture – Means the bone has bent but not broken, generally only affects children,  as young bone is less brittle that an old bone.
• Comminuted Fracture – Means a bone is totally crushed or shattered into pieces.
• Complete Fracture – Means a bone is broken into two pieces.
• Complicated Fracture – Means there is other injury near the fracture,  such as veins, major blood vessels or nerves.
• Compound Fracture or Open Fracture – Means the bone penetrates through the skin.
• Compression Fracture – Means the bone has collapsed (common with spinal injuries).
• Fracture dislocation – Means a joint has dislocated and one of the joint bones has fractured.
• Greenstick Fracture – Means a bone has fractured on one side only (common in the young).
• Impacted Fracture – Means a fragment of broken bone has driven into the other, rather than separating as normal in a break.
• Longitudinal Fracture – Means a break that runs down the shaft of the bone.
• Oblique Fracture – Means a slanting break across the bone.
• Single Fracture – Means the bone has only broken in one place.
• Spiral Fracture – Means a break that goes around the bone.
• Transverse Fracture – Means a break that goes straight across the bone

More serious broken bones and fractures can lead to osteoarthritis (the most common type of arthritis in the UK) this is most common in breakages involving joints (knees, hips, elbows etc’).

Someone who has broken a bone may not always know it, depending on the severity and location of the fracture there are many different symptoms, the most common and obvious are:

• Swelling and pain (in many cases the pain is extreme) 
• Limbs may be bent at an unusual angle
• A grinding sensation may be felt in the area of the joint or bone
• Bruising in the area of the fracture 
• Restricted movement
• Inability to put weight on injured area

The best treatment for a broken bone or fracture is to keep the injured bone immobile, many people also require a series of physiotherapy sessions after the fracture has healed, this can help build mobility and strength.

Many people suffer broken bones and fractures in accidents that are not their fault, some examples of common non-fault accidents that result in breaks to bones are:

• Road Traffic Accidents (drivers, passengers, cyclists & pedestrians)
• Slips & Trips (on wet floors, icy surfaces and uneven pavements) 
• Accidents at Work
• Injury sustained while playing sport
• Accidents on holiday

Anyone who suffers a broken bone in an accident that isn’t their fault is very likely to be able to make a claim for personal injury compensation.

With an injury as serious as a broken bone it is important that anyone considering making an accident claim seeks specialist legal advice. A personal injury Solicitor will have considerable experience of handling claims involving similar kinds of injury.

In addition a specialist injury claims Solicitor will normally have access to a UK wide network of medical experts and their clients will be provided with the very best private treatment to ensure the quickest possible recovery.

An experienced injury claims Solicitor will take care of all the complicated negotiations and legal arguments with a view to making sure the maximum amount of compensation is paid by the party responsible for the accident (or their insurance company). 

Pinto Potts are expert personal injury claims Solicitors with considerable experience in handling claims for people who have suffered broken bones and fractures, for free, confidential legal advice about making a claim call: 0800 316 4434.

Anyone who has used a high powered jet pressure washer will know the incredible force they are able to spray water with, especially modern industrial pressure washers.

When used with care jet pressure washers are excellent pieces of equipment that can help quickly clean anything from cars or bikes to pathways and brickwork covered in thick moss or dirt.

As with any high powered equipment it is essential that health and safety measures are followed with care, otherwise there is a significant danger of accidents and injuries happening, especially when using industrial pressure washers while at work.

The power of the water from a jet pressure washer can literaly peel away someones skin if it comes into contact with them, there are also other significant dangers, some of the most common injuries with jet pressure washers are:

• Injuries to the face and body when the hose is dropped and recoils
• Slips and trips (wet surfaces, wires and the hose itself)
• Injuries after being hit by high pressure water
• Electric shock injuries (often when plugs come into contact with water)
• Accidents on ice (when water has frozen in cold conditions)
• Falls from ladders whilst using pressure washers at height
• Injury from flying debris (often to the eyes and face)
• Burn injuries (common with hot water pressure washers)
• Chemical injuries and burns (common with industrial pressure washers)

Anyone who suffers an injury through no fault of their own whilst using a pressure washer will likely be entitled to make a claim for personal injury compensation.

Video – How to Use a Pressure Washer Safely

This is very much the case for people who use pressure washers as part of their work (car wash assistants, high pressure cleaning contractors, sandblasters etc’). If an employer fails to follow health and safety guidelines and a worker is injured the employer is very likely to face having to make a personal injury payout through their insurance.

Examples of employers being negligent and causing workers who use pressure washers to have an accident are:

• Failing to provide suitable safety equipment (goggles, gloves and other protection)
• Not taking care to suitably water-seal electrical sockets and wires
• Not providing sufficient safety training on how to use the pressure washer
• Failing to follow working at height regulations

For a person injured in an accident with a pressure washer it can be a life changing experience, if the injury is severe they may require ongoing medical treatment and even home help.

By speaking to a specialist injury claims Solicitor anyone who has been injured can discuss what to do next with a highly skilled expert, normally the Solicitor will also arrange for private medical treatment to ensure the quickest possible recovery is made.

The Solicitor will also be able to make a claim for compensation and ensure that the sum of money properly reflects the level of injury that was sustained in the accident.

Pinto Potts are specialist personal injury Solicitors, if you or a member of your family have been injured in an accident with a pressure washer you can call for free, confidential advice about making a claim on: 0800 316 4434.

Popular makes of pressure washer are: AR Pressure Washers, BE Pressure Washers, Briggs & Stratton Pressure Washers, Central Wash, Delco, Demon, Dirt Killer Pressure Washers, Global, Honda, Karcher, Kranzel, Maxus, Mazzoni, Mi-T-M Pressure Washers, Pressure-Pro, Shark, Simpson, Taskmaster

Some insurers are deliberately settling car accident injury claims before victims get a chance to contact a Solicitor and injured people are getting lower payouts as a result, this is according to the Law Society.

The Law Society said insurance companies are intentionally reducing how much compensation an injured party could receive by contacting people involved in accidents with their customers directly and trying to settle any claims quickly, before a solicitor gets involved.

A spokesman for the Law Society said determining the full extent of injuries and the amount of compensation due requires expert medical advice and will take more than a couple of weeks.

The Association of British Insurers has rejected the criticism.

The practice, termed “third party capture”, happens when the person who caused the car accident gives their own insurance company details of who else was involved.

The insurance company then use the details to contact other people injured in the crash, sometimes just hours afterwards, and offer to deal with all personal injury claims and vehicle repairs without involving lawyers.

The practice is believed to be depriving innocent victims out of millions of pounds in injury claims payouts.

The Law Society believe some insurance companies are involved in this bad practice.

The spokesman went onto say “Victims are being discouraged from taking medical advice, they are being actively discouraged from seeking legal advice.”

A representative from the Association of British Insurers defended the criticism, saying that ”Insurers may contact the innocent party to offer help with any claims direct.”

“Independent research has shown that claimants do not need legal representation to get fair compensation, and that legal advice does not lead to higher pay outs.

“Nevertheless insurers should always advise claimants that they have the right to seek legal advice.”

However, the Law Society’s stance has been backed by the Consumer Council.

“Any insurance company that actively discourages consumers from getting legal advice is behaving unfairly and should be stopped,” said a spokesperson from the Consumer Council.

“Consumers involved in accidents may be vulnerable because they are still recovering, or they don’t feel confident enough to insist on their rights because English may not be their first language or they are unfamiliar with the legal system.”

A visit to the hospital can be a harrowing experience even at the best of times, unfortunately for some people a trip can be made much worse when they have an accident or suffer further injury or illness while they are  in the hospital.

Hospitals are very busy places, with people, equipment and deliveries moving from one place to another all the time, on top of this there is a 24 hour cleaning routine carried out by busy teams of cleaners throughout the hospital building. 

In such a hectic environment it is inevitable that accidents will happen, injuries in hospital accidents can be sustained by visitors, staff and patients and anyone else who happens to be in the building or grounds of the hospital.

Some of the most common accidents that happen in hospitals that result in a personal injury claim being made are:

• Accidents involving faulty equipment (beds, lifting hoists, wheelchairs)
• Slips and trips (on wet floors and pot holes in car parks)
• Food Poisoning (hospital cafes and food served to patients)
• Illness from hospital infections (MRSA, C Difficile and other Superbugs)
• Injury from falling objects (items on shelves, signs)
• Accidents with vehicles (such as ambulances and delivery vans)

As with any area open to members of the public, all hospitals have a duty of care to its visitors, this means they must take the appropriate steps to ensure the chances of an accident occurring are as low as possible.

With most hospitals having thousands of visitors pass through their doors every week it is almost impossible to prevent accidents happening, anyone who is injured in a hospital through no fault of their own will normally be entitled to make a claim for personal injury compensation.

It is essential that anyone wanting to make a claim against a hospital (normally the claim will be made against the NHS trust or their insurance company) seeks expert legal advice about what to do next.

By speaking to a specialist personal injury claims Solicitor the person who has been injured will get an understanding of the process involved in making a claim and will also be given an indication as to the possible amount of compensation they might receive.

In addition, a Solicitor will normally provide anyone who requires further treatment for their injuries with access to expert private medical treatment, for example someone who has injured their back in a slip on a wet floor may be sent for a series of sessions with a Physiotherapist, Chiropractor or Osteopath. 

Pinto Potts are specialist personal injury claims Solicitors with considerable experience in handling claims against hospitals and NHS trusts, if you or a member of your family have been injured or suffered illness through no fault of your own get in touch for free, no obligation, confidential advice about making a claim for compensation.

A visit to a pub or restaurant is usually a pleasant experience, however on occasion the trip can result in injury.

As with any premises that is open to the general public there is always a chance of an accident occurring, pubs and restaurants have a duty of care to all visitors and should follow procedures to try and prevent accidents happening.

Pubs and restaurants can be dangerous places, especially if staff don’t take time to follow health and safety procedures, some examples of accidents that have happened in a pub or restaurant are below:

• Slips and trips (often on food or drink left on the floor)
• Falls and injury in the grounds (commonly pot holes in car parks)
• Injury on broken glass (generally from a dropped, broken glass)

Anyone hurt while visiting a pub or restaurant should seek specialist legal advice.

A personal injury claims Solicitor will fully understand the process involved in making a claim against a pub or restaurant, this means they will ensure the maximum amount of compensation is achieved before the claim is settled.

Pinto Potts Solicitors have expert legal staff with considerable experience in dealing with claims of this nature, for immediate, free advice about making a claim call: 0800 316 4434.

With the new term just beginning and thousands of children returning to school across the UK, it is worth remembering that accidents in the classroom do happen from time to time and children should always be careful while they are attending school.

There are many hazards in schools that can lead to an accident, some of the most common that lead to a personal injury claim being made are:

• Trips and slips in the school playground
• Accidents during PE (Physical Education) and sports lessons
• Injuries on transport (school bus)
• Accidents in the classroom
• Burns during science and cooking lessons

All schools have a duty of care to their pupils, any child who is injured at school through no fault of their own will generally be able to make a claim for compensation.

It is recommended that the parents and child seek specialist legal advice, because an injury claim involving a child may need to be handled slightly differently to a claim for an adult.

By dealing with a specialist personal injury Solicitor the injured school child should also be able to gain access to private medical treatment (if necessary) to ensure they make the quickest and most comfortable recovery.

A Solicitor who has experience of making claims for children against schools will have a sound understanding of the personal injury claims process and will increase the chances of the best possible payout being made.

Pinto Potts have Solicitors with experience of handling claims for children who have had an accident at school and suffered an injury, claims are handled on a no fee basis, which means clients receiving 100% of their compensation and don’t pay a penny.

For free, confidential legal advice about making a  claim call free on: 0800 316 4434.

Recent research has shown that many passengers travelling in cars that are involved in accidents don’t know that they are able to make a personal injury claim – regardless of who was to blame for the accident.

The fact is that even if the driver of the car they were travelling in was at fault for the crash, or even if it was the only car involved in the accident – a passenger in the vehicle may still make a claim if they suffer an injury.

The passenger injury claim can be made against the insurance that covers the car they were travelling in, which will pay out for injury to all passengers in the vehicle.

Some injured passengers are often reluctant to make a claim as it may be against a friend or family member, but generally the owner will be claiming for damage to the car and may also have a claim from the other driver against their insurance anyway - so a claim from a passenger would make no more difference in terms of their no claims bonus or future insurance premiums.

Obviously if another vehicle caused the collision then the claim for passenger personal injury would be made against their policy instead.

The most common injury suffered to by a car passenger involved in an accident is whiplash, it is also common to see cuts and bruising.

Pinto Potts Solicitors are specialists in dealing with claims for people hurt in car accidents, for free, confidential advice about making a personal injury claim call 0800 316 4434.

With the sheer number of cars on the road it may come as no surprise that London is the UK’s capital of road accidents that result in a whiplash injury.

There are over 20 million road users every week in the capital city, with this volume of traffic and the sometimes tricky driving conditions, accidents are common place.

Accidents aren’t restricted to drivers of cars, often passengers, pedestrians and cyclists end up being hurt, in many instances through no fault of their own.

Whiplash injuries commonly occur when someone in a motor vehicle is shunted from behind, causing their head to be thrown forward then quickly back again.

A whiplash injury can be very painful and last for a number of weeks before it starts to ease, for some more serious whiplash injuries, the pain can last for months, or even years.

Anyone suffering whiplash should take legal advice about making a personal injury claim, doing so will normally allow them to access expert private medical treatment and receive an award to compensate them for the pain and suffering.

Treatment for whiplash is available from medical specialists, such as physiotherapists, osteopaths and chiropractors, such treatment can greatly reduce the pain and suffering following an accident.

Pinto Potts Solicitors are specialist personal injury claims experts with considerable experience in dealing with claims for whiplash injuries, for immediate free, confidential legal advice about making a claim call 0800 316 4434.

What causes Asbestosis?

Asbestos is a fibrous mineral that occurs naturally, it can often be found in  the materials used for insulation around tanks and pipes, in tiles and in other building materials.

Asbestos was used extensively in the 1970s because of its heat resistance and strength.

White, blue and brown asbestos are all potentially dangerous and have been banned in the UK.

When asbestos is damaged, the fine fibres become airborne and can be inhaled.

When asbestos fibres are inhaled the fibres penetrate the lung tissue which triggers an inflammatory reaction. The body identifies a problem and sends white blood cells as a defense to attack the fibres.

The fibres will usually resist the attack and destroy the white blood cells, this causes further inflammation and scarring of the lungs, called fibrosis.

There is no known safe level of exposure to asbestos. However, it’s thought the higher the levels of asbestos and the longer the time someone is exposed to it, the greater their risk of developing problems.

Pinto Potts have specialist Solicitors and Legal Executives who specialise in making personal injury compensation claims for people whose lives have been affected by asbestosis and exposure to asbestos.

Asbestos compensation claims are handled on a no fee basis and clients always keep 100% of their compensation award.

For free immediate legal advice about making a claim call in total confidence on 0800 316 4434.