A worker is seeking substantial burn injury compensation after being caught in an explosion while at work.

Adam Segrave was working for Adcock Refrigeration and Air Conditioning when the accident occurred back in June last year. He was working as part of a team of three, who were replacing the air conditioning system at Cambridge Science Park. The work involved initially cleaning the pipes out by rushing nitrogen gas through them. However, one of the other members of staff flushed the pipes with oxygen rather than nitrogen, and this caused an explosion.

Cambridge Newspapers Ltd are reporting that Mr Segrave was knocked off his stepladder in the blast and was set alight. He suffered 14 % burns to his body, including burns to his face. His injuries required 12 days of hospital treatment, and extensive skin grafts on his hands and arms.

Now Mr Segrave is seeking burn injury compensation from the company, claiming they were negligent and used unsafe practices. These include not marking gas canisters clearly, and not providing adequate training.

While the insurers of the company have admitted liability for Mr Segrave’s terrible injuries, they dispute the amount of damages he should receive. He is seeking £150,000 in damages, and a writ has been issued to the High Court to rule on a suitable compensation package.

A pensioner who suffered injury when she slipped on a prawn cocktail on a shop floor has won her retail injury claim for compensation.

Janet Morritt was shopping in a Marks and Spencer store when the accident happened in February 2009. The 71 year old was walking around the store shopping when her left foot slipped on a wet patch she had not seen. She reached for a display stand to try and stop her fall, but her other foot slipped too and she crashed into a sandwich cabinet. She was helped by a member of staff in the store and was informed she had slipped on prawn cocktail sauce which had spilled onto the floor and mixed with water which was dripping from a valentine flower display stand.

Mrs Morritt suffered severe injuries in the fall, breaking her hip. The injury required quick surgery and a metal plate was inserted onto the bone. The injury has also caused her mobility problems, as she is no longer able to drive. She spent eight days in hospital recovering and still feels pain and discomfort to this day.

Mrs Morritt sued Marks and Spencer’s for compensation after the accident, claiming the injury was their fault. Her legal team stated that the store had a duty to protect the safety of shoppers, and had failed in this regards by failing to clean up the floor. M & S denied liability, saying that Mrs Morritt was liable and had a duty to watch where she placed her feet.

However, a court ruled last week in favour of Mrs Morritt and she was awarded £7,500 in compensation.

A woman from Skelmersdale is suing after her plane was hit by a bus as it was parked on a runway. She is now considering legal action after suffering whiplash.

Stephanie Wills was returning to England after two months working as a holiday rep in Majorca. The 18 year old reports that the accident occurred as passengers were boarding the Thomas Cook flight at Palma airport. As they were loading their hand luggage into overhead compartments and finding their seats, the plane was rocked violently as a shuttle bus carrying disabled passengers crashed into it.

Passengers were allegedly thrown to the floor with the impact, with some suffering minor injuries too. Stephanie has told the Liverpool Echo newspaper that passengers received little to no assistance after the crash and were sent to a hotel to prepare for a later flight.

Ms Wills suffered whiplash in the accident, and medical staff have told her to not return to work for at least two weeks. She has instructed a legal team to look into the accident.

Thomas Cook has announced that it will launch an inquiry into the incident but have received no contact from Ms Wills in regards to her injury.

Millions of car divers across the UK are travelling on roads and motorways with poor and inadequate eyesight.

A survey by the insurance company LV has revealed some extraordinary results. 7% of drivers, who require the use of glasses or contact lenses for driving, do not wear them all of the time.

Another finding states that of all drivers who don’t wear glasses to improve their vision while driving, a whopping 23 % said that they themselves felt that their eyesight was not perfect, and caused them problems at times (e.g. driving at night).

At present the law requires that you can read either an old style number plate from 20.5 metres or a new style number plate from 20 metres away on the day of your driving test. If you need glasses to do this on test day, then you are required to wear them whenever you drive. The survey discovered that 9% of drivers couldn’t read a number plate from this distance, rising to 18% of those over 55.

Changes in the law look set to be introduced in the next few years that would make eye tests compulsory for drivers every ten years.

Drivers who have been injured in an accident caused by another road user failing to ensure that their eyesight is safe by wearing glasses or contact lenses, could make a car accident compensation claim against them.

A serious outbreak of salmonella at a wedding reception has caused the tragic death of one woman and put three others in hospital. Now a total of 14 guests are seeking compensation for food poisoning.

The outbreak occurred at a large Jewish wedding banquet in Bury, Greater Manchester. Although the reception was at a hotel, an outside caterer – Shefa Mehadrin – was used because of the need for kosher food. The guests tucked into canapés, salmon, chicken soup, potatoes and vegetables, as well as dessert of chocolate pudding and ice cream. Many guests were later taken ill with food poisoning.

An eighty two year old woman was rushed to hospital with salmonella poisoning, and despite the best efforts of medical staff she sadly passed away. Three other guests – an elderly couple and a middle aged woman – also needed hospital treatment. Overall there were nine cases of salmonella confirmed with lab tests, although more guests claim to have suffered from illness. Symptoms of salmonella include severe vomiting, diarrhoea and stomach cramps.

Fourteen guests are now taking legal action against Shefa Mehadrin, seeking compensation. The catering company has issued a statement offering its sympathies to the family of the elderly woman and has confirmed it will co-operate with all inquiries into the outbreak. This inquiry is being performed by environmental health officers and the Health Protection Agency, who admitted that fatal cases of salmonella poisoning are rare.

A man who was set on fire whilst wearing a sheep costume is considering legal action for burn injury compensation.

Arjuna Rabindranath was travelling on the train from Edinburgh to Aberdeen after watching a football match last October. He was wearing a sheep costume he had made himself for the occasion, which consisted of cotton wool and a tracksuit. He met rival supporter Peter Wallace on the train and they had some banter. Hibernian fan Mr Wallace flicked his cigarette lighter near Mr Rabindranath’s costume in an act – he later told court – of jest. However, the sheep costume set on fire and Arjuna ran through the train screaming in agony.

He suffered second and third degree burns to 40% of his body and at points his life was in danger after suffering complications such as sepsis, where the whole body goes into an inflammatory state. He was in hospital for months, carries extensive scars, and still has not fully recovered the use of his hands.

Peter Wallace told police at the scene that it was he who caused the accident due to his “mucking about”. Last week he admitted to culpable and reckless conduct in court, but was spared jail if he agreed to pay £25,000 compensation to Mr Rabindranath.

Now Mr Rabindranath has reportedly spoken out that the compensation amount is not enough for the terrible injuries and trauma he has suffered. He is supposedly seeking legal advice on seeking more compensation for his scars.

A teenager who suffered serious injuries in a motor scooter crash is seeking £3 million pounds in spinal injury compensation.

Ben Woodham was travelling on the scooter along the A143 in Suffolk when the accident happened in the autumn of 2007 the Bury Free Press is reporting. A Mercedes minibus driven by a Ms Sarah Turner allegedly pulled out of a side road into his path and they collided. Ben was thrown off the bike onto the windscreen and bonnet of the minibus and suffered devastating injuries.

He fractured his spine in the accident and underwent surgery followed by treatment at the National Spinal Injuries centre in Stoke Manderville. Unfortunately he has been left paralysed from the chest down. He also suffered head injuries in the accident.

A writ has now been issued at the High Court in London stating the intention of Mr Woodham to seek compensation for his injuries. The insurers of the minibus have denied liability for the incident so far, and hence the writ has been issued in order to decide who is responsible for the crash. In the writ it claims Ms Turner failed to wait until it was safe to make her manoeuvre.

Mr Woodham is seeking compensation up to £3 million. The money would be used to help him rebuild his life after the devastating injuries he has suffered.

Compensation claim review granted to Barry George

In August 2008 Barry George was cleared of the murder Jill Dando.

Barry George has won the first part of his legal bid for compensation. After spending  eight years in jail before being acquitted of TV presenter, Jill Dando’s murder.

After being convicted in July 2001, Barry George, aged 50, was acquitted of the 1999 murder of the former TV presenter. He was freed in 2008 after being granted a retrial.

The ruling from the High Court will allow a judicial review hearing to go ahead over the government decision to refuse him compensation.

This decision could open the way to a compensation claim award of up to £500,000

Mr George, was refused compensation in March this year by the then, Justice Secretary Jack Straw. He also had a request for a judicial review of that decision in May.

It has been reported that he suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder due to his wrongful conviction and sentence.

Ian Glen QC, his barrister says his rehabilitation will depend on his financial circumstances, as he is unlikely to ever obtain paid work.

It is said Mr George is also suffering from Asperger’s syndrome, epilepsy and has learning difficulties.

Barry George must now wait until February 2011 to take any further action, after the judge placed a ‘stay’ on proceedings pending a Supreme Court ruling relating to a number of other similar cases.

A student nurse has won her motorbike accident compensation claim after suffering a devastating injury in a crash.

The Bournemouth Echo newspaper is reporting the Lisa Bennett was on her way to work when the accident happened in December 2004. She was commuting on her 125cc bike to St Ann’s Hospital in Bournemouth to attend a night shift. Unfortunately, during her commute, she was knocked off her bike in a collision with a car and suffered devastating injuries.

Ms Bennett suffered a fractured spine and broken bones in her shoulder and ribs. It was her right leg however that was most seriously injured in the crash, and it had to be amputated below the knee. Despite being fitted with a prosthetic limb, she still regularly uses a wheelchair and suffers severe pain.

Ms Bennett made a compensation claim against the driver of the car that hit her. In an out of court settlement the insurance company for the car driver admitted to 80% liability for the accident. The other 20% liability was attributed to Ms Bennett, as a light on her bike wasn’t working and made it more difficult to see her.

She was awarded £800,000 in compensation for her injuries.

A former bomb disposal soldier has won a substantial compensation claim after suffering from post traumatic stress disorder.

The unnamed soldier had a long career in the armed forces, serving in the Gulf, Northern Ireland and Bosnia among other places. His duties included diffusing explosive devices and dealing with terrorist attacks. His duties had a devastating effect on his mental health.

He was first given psychiatric tests in 1998 but was declared fit for duty by top army psychiatrists. He was only diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder later in 2004 after seeing a civilian psychiatrist. After this he was in a car accident and he suffered a breakdown in the same year. His condition deteriorated quickly, and he was discharged from the army on medical grounds.

He has now made a compensation claim against the Ministry of Defence, claiming that if they had diagnosed his condition earlier in the late 90s then it could have been managed and he would not have suffered a breakdown.

The MoD contested liability for his condition, stating that he had been made aware he was suffering from post traumatic stress disorder in the 1990s and legally had three years from that date to claim.

However, an out of court settlement was reached in July this year in which the MoD and the insurers of the car accident admitted joint liability for his condition. He is reported to be receiving a six figure compensation sum, with the MoD paying 40% of this.