Month: October 2019

Beware Trick or Treaters

Posted on October 29, 2019 by - Latest Blogs, Road Traffic Accidents, Slips, Trips & Falls

Whilst Halloween should be filled with ghostly fun, it can also cause unintended frights. To avoid your Halloween becoming a nightmare, ensure you are careful and mindful of any risks.

This blog highlights the common causes of accidents around Halloween and how you can avoid them as a Pedestrian, Parent and a Home-owner.

Road Traffic Accidents

October 31st sees a higher number of children aged 10 and under involved in Road Traffic Accidents on UK roads than at any point during the four-week period around Halloween.

New analysis of Road Traffic Accident data by Churchill Car Insurance reveals that Road Traffic incidents increase by 75% compared to the rest of the month, with 49 child pedestrians involved in Road Traffic Accidents on Halloween. Nearly twice the average number for the two weeks before and after October 31st.

The analysis also revealed the time of day incidents are most likely to occur. On Halloween, 47% of Road Traffic Accidents involving child pedestrians take place between 6pm and 9pm. On a normal day this would be 18%.

*Head of Car Insurance at Churchill, said: ‘’The dangerous combination of a higher number of children on the roads, poor lighting and the clocks going back three days before Halloween, means that drivers need to be extra vigilant this Halloween. Halloween is an exciting time for both children and parents, so we urge everybody to take extra care while trick-or-treating to avoid any accidents’’.

* https://uk.motor1.com/news/271739/halloween-spike-accidents-involving-children/

We are advising you (parent/or guardian) to be cautious when letting your children go trick-or-treating. This week the Child Brain Injury trust (CBIT) have started their annual autumn campaign – GloWeek. To highlight the importance of road safety and being bright after the clocks go back – Be Seen and Not Hurt!

https://childbraininjurytrust.org.uk/campaigns/gloweek/

We are reminding you to:

  • Ensure your child is wearing fluorescent clothing/accessories which will increase visibility on dark streets and alert drivers to nearby pedestrians.
  • Remind older children how to cross the road safely and accompany the younger children.

Slip, Trip, Falls

Whether you love or loathe Halloween, you are likely to receive a visit from a mini monster on October 31st.

As a home-owner or a tenant, you are responsible for the safe-keeping of your property. If someone slips, trips or falls due to a hazard on your property, you can be held liable for any injuries sustained. It is important you ensure there isn’t anything dangerous on your property which might cause someone an injury.  You should:

  • Ensure walkways are clear and your home is well lit
  • Highlight any dangers by putting warning signs by cracked or uneven pavements
  • Keep your pets indoor – no matter how loveable and well-trained they are.
  • Consider fire hazards – use battery operated candles or decorative lights as an alternative.

As personal injury solicitors, if you find yourself or a member of your family involved in an accident, as a result of someone else’s negligence, contact our expert solicitors: 0800 888 6888 or

Workplace Accidents – The Statistics

Posted on October 23, 2019 by - Accidents at Work, Latest Blogs

Workplace accidents are sadly very common. Every year, countless workers suffer an accident or injury in the workplace through no fault of their own. Accidents in the workplace can happen because equipment is not safe to use or a risk assessment hasn’t taken place.

Employers are bound by a duty of care, they have the responsibility to provide safe, reasonable working conditions for their employees. The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 places a duty on all employers ‘’to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work’’ of all their employees.

People working in different types of jobs obviously face a range of different hazards.

An office worker may pose fewer safety risks than those working in manufacturing, healthcare, driver or  construction worker etc. But there are a range of common accidents and injuries which happen across all sectors – unsurprisingly Slip, Trips and Falls top this list.

According to The Health and Safety Executive, between 2017/18, 3.9 million working days were lost due to non-fault injuries. Overall, 71,062 non-fatal workplace incidents were reported. The Agriculture, forestry and fishing, Construction, Accommodation and Food Services, Wholesale and Retail Trade, Public Administration and Defence and Manufacturing had statistically significantly higher injury rates than for all industries.

31% of these accidents were caused by a Slip, Trip and Fall and 21% of accidents from handling, lifting or carrying. The rest were filtered down into injuries caused by, acts of violence, falls from heights, and being struck by moving objects/vehicles.

Also, in 2017/18, 144 fatal workplace accidents took place. The majority accounted for by two types of accidents – 26% falling from a height and 18% being struck by a moving vehicle. The other fatal injuries were caused by being struck by a moving object, trapped by something collapsing and contact with moving machinery.

You can read the full report here: http://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/overall/hssh1718.pdf

If you have been affected by an accident at work, Hampson Hughes are here to get you the compensation you deserve.

The common causes of accidents are work accidents are:

  • Improper working practices
  • Lack of supervision
  • Lack of proper training
  • Struck by a moving vehicle e.g. forklift truck
  • Wet surfaces (Slip, trip & falls)
  • Falling from heights
  • Item falling overhead
  • Faulty machinery

This is not an exhaustive list, so even if your cause of injury does not appear here, you may still have a case to pursue a workplace accident compensation claim

We understand that making a claim for an accident at work can be a daunting prospect. Many people feel anxious about claiming against their employer, but you are actually claiming against your employer’s insurance policy. Even if the accident was caused by your colleague, your employer is ultimately responsible.

But our expert solicitors will guide you through the process making it as straightforward and easy as possible. So, if you feel your employer could have done more to prevent your workplace injury, contact Hampson Hughes today.

0800 888 6888

£4,319 Awarded Due To Road Traffic Accident

Posted on October 22, 2019 by - Road Traffic Accidents, Success Stories

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Hampson Hughes Solicitors has secured compensation for a client that was involved in a car accident causing injuries to the driver.

Sapna was travelling in a car along A240 in London with her two children when the defendant who was driving a Volkswagen, failed to give way which caused a collision with the client’s correctly proceeding vehicle. Both the Defendant and the Client’s vehicle were damaged as a result.

Sapna suffered whiplash injuries which lasted 10 months and required physiotherapy to help with her recovery.

A Total of £4,319 was secured for the client

The client left a comment about the service provided, mentioning:

“Wonderful service, Can’t fault them at all.”

She also mentioned that the process was easy and that she would highly recommend Hampson Hughes Solicitors to anyone wanting to make a claim for an injury they have had.

Have you been involved in a Road Traffic Accident?

If you’ve been injured on the road due to an accident that wasn’t your fault, then you could be entitled to claim road traffic accident compensation. Whether you’ve suffered a minor injury or something more serious, our Road Traffic Accident Solicitors can help you to claim the compensation that you deserve.

Call 0800 888 6 888 or send an email to [email protected].

Road Safety Quiz

Posted on October 21, 2019 by - Latest Blogs

How well do you know the roads? It pays to understand the rules of the road to minimise your risk of a road traffic accident.

Ahead of Road Safety Week (18th-24th November), we are testing your knowledge. In total, there are 12 multiple choice questions linked to road safety. Once the quiz is closed we will release the findings.

Every person who enters the quiz will be entered in to a prize draw with the chance to win a £100 Amazon Gift Card. The winner will be announced Friday 15th November.

Let’s see how safe you really are:



Share the quiz with your friends across your socials with the hashtag #HHRoadSafetyQuiz for a second entry into the prize draw.

Have you been injured in a Road Traffic Accident?

If you’ve been injured on the road due to an accident that wasn’t your fault, then you could be entitled to claim road traffic accident compensation. Whether you’ve suffered a minor injury or something more serious, our Road Traffic Accident Solicitors can help you to claim the compensation that you deserve.

Call 0800 888 6888 or send an email to .

Successfully challenged a fundamental dishonesty case against our client

Posted on October 9, 2019 by - Road Traffic Accidents, Success Stories

A few years back a client of Hampson Hughes had a Road Traffic Accident who sustained injuries and losses.

The defendant insurers rejected the claim and claimed they had a recording of the client saying ‘he wasn’t injured’ but this never came to fruition. This is something our client denied throughout.

Whilst we were confident in helping the client with his claim and have helped many overcome such defences, it is not uncommon sometimes for a claimant to decide to discontinue their claim.  They have a legal right to do so and simply choosing to invoke that right is their prerogative.

In this case, the solicitors for the defendant’s insurer then made an application to set aside the discontinuance and pursue the Claimant for Fundamental Dishonesty. We are increasingly seeing this as a tactical tool to put the Claimant under pressure and seek costs even though they have merely exercised their legal right to discontinue.

We were not satisfied that there were suitable grounds to set aside the discontinuance and vigorously defended the Defendant’s application.

At the application hearing the defendant solicitors, if successful, were trying to enforce a large costs bill on the Claimant – which he would have been personally liable for.

However, the Barrister we instructed (a specialist in in these types of applications) not only managed to get their application dismissed so the claimant didn’t have to pay a penny but managed to secure the costs of defending this application.

This was a difficult situation for the Claimant who merely sought to exercise his legal rights.  We were not deterred by the Defendant’s heavy handed approach and continued to support our client with this further litigation.

We will always fight for our clients!

Well done team!!

If you have been involved in a Road Traffic Accident you can call us on 0800 888 6888 or send an email to  to start a no win, no fee personal injury claim.

5 ways to improve your wellbeing in the workplace

Posted on October 8, 2019 by - Company News, Latest Blogs

Mental health affects everyone.

Your mental health doesn’t always stay the same. We all have times when we feel sad, stressed and anxious. Most of the time those feeling pass but if we don’t have control of our Mental Health sometimes those feelings develop into a more serious problem.

Looking after your mental health is not something you should only do if you are struggling. It is something we should invest continuously in. Having good mental health can help us sleep better, feel better and play a full part in those relationships that matter.

The NHS has launched a new ground-breaking platform to support Mental Health – Every Mind Matters. It is a free online plan to help you deal with stress, boost your mood, improve your sleep and feel more in control.

Visit ‘Every Mind Matters’ to answer 5 quick questions and get your personalised plan of simple ideas to help improve your mental health and wellbeing: https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/your-mind-plan-quiz/

This blog primarily focuses on improving your wellbeing in the workplace. The following five tips listed on the mind.org website have been researched and developed by the New Economics Foundation:

  1. Connect

Social relationships are critical for promoting wellbeing. There is strong evidence that indicates that being valued by other people is a fundamental human need and one that contributes to positive mental health. With this in mind, focus on:

  • Talking to someone instead of sending an email
  • Speak to someone new
  • Put five minutes aside to find out how someone really is
  • Travel to and from work with a colleague
  • Participate in a social activity
  1. Be active.

Regular physical activity is associated with lower rates of depression and anxiety across all age groups. Why don’t you focus on becoming more active at work? Here are a few ideas:

  • Take the stairs not the lift
  • Go for a walk at lunchtime
  • Walk into work
  • Get off the bus/train one stop earlier and walk the final part
  • Get involved in the work-place activities.
  1. Take notice.

Studies have shown that being aware of what is taking place in the present enhances your well-being and savouring ‘the moment’ can help reaffirm your life priorities.

Heightened awareness also enhances your self-understanding and allows you to make positive choices based on your own values and motivations. Take some time to enjoy the environment around you.

  • Clear your desk weekly
  • Take a different route on your journey to or from work
  • Visit a new place or lunch
  • Get a plant for your workspace
  1. Learn

Continued learning through life enhances self-esteem and encourages social interaction and a more active life. The practice of setting goals, which is related to adult learning in particular, has strongly been associated with higher levels of wellbeing.

Learn something new today:

  • Find out something about your colleagues
  • Research something you’ve always wondered about
  • Listen to the news/read a book
  • Do a mental activity – crossword, sudoku etc.
  1. Give

It is proven that committing an act of kindness once a week is associated with an increase in wellbeing.

  • Give to charity
  • Participate in a social activity
  • Help the community

October Employee of the Month

Posted on October 4, 2019 by - Company News, Latest Blogs

HUGE congratulations to Joan Simpson, who has won Employee of the Month for October.

For all her hard work, Joan will be rewarded with a £250 Liverpool One voucher.

Some of the reasons why Joan was nominated are listed below:

  • Stepping up whilst Gary has been on annual leave, handling all admin duties alone but always has a smile
  • Joan is in the office each morning before 8am, she cracks on with the daily grind and never fails to have a smile on her face, always happy to help and goes above and beyond every day
  • The past couple of weeks has seen the admin department go through a lot of changes, Joan has taken everything in her stride and has really pulled it out of the bag. Her personality and smile can bring anyone out of a bad mood! Absolute credit to Hampson Hughes.

Also, congratulations to Daniel Bowers, Sophie Doran, Lauren Cavanagh, Jade Ivory and Nick Scarth for all being nominated. All nominees will be sent out on an afternoon out of their choice.

Keep up the good work everyone!!

What do you do if you are hit by an uninsured driver?

Posted on October 2, 2019 by - Latest Blogs, Road Traffic Accidents, Uncategorised

This October police forces across England, Wales and Northern Ireland are set to carry out a month-long crack down on uninsured driving – ‘Operation Drive Insured’.

Motor insurance is a legal requirement and with the right level of cover, provides financial protection in the event of your vehicle being damaged. It is also designed to protect victims of road traffic collisions, by providing them with financial compensation for injuries and damages.

In 2018, the Motor Insurer’s Bureau (MIB) recorded over 26,000 personal injuries – equivalent to one person in the UK being injured every 20 minutes by an uninsured driver*

Uninsured drivers also cause a disproportionately high level of fatalities with over 130 people killed by an uninsured or untraced driver each year.

The economic impact of uninsured driving to the insurance industry is said to cost around £400 million each year, which is ultimately funded by honest motorists’ insurance premiums.

If you are driving uninsured, you can be hit with a £300 fixed fine, 6 penalty points and the vehicle can be seized and potentially crushed.

You also face the risk of being referred to court, where you will face an unlimited fine, driving ban and a conviction charge. This can have a serious impact on your employment prospects as it will be visible on DBS checks.

Fortunately, If you are hit by an uninsured driver, you are still entitled to claim.

The MIB was established in 1946 to compensate the victims of negligent uninsured and untraced motorists.

At Hampson Hughes, our road traffic accident solicitors will liaise with the MIB on your behalf. We will ensure that the correct procedure is followed throughout the claims process.

What do you do if you are hit by an uninsured driver?

Get the details:

Ask for the name, address and insurance details. Also, make a note of the registration, make and model of their vehicle and any damages. If the driver refuses to give you their insurance details, get in contact with the police. It is a criminal offence to refuse.

Hit and run:

If the driver of the other vehicle doesn’t stop, you need to report it to the police immediately because the MIB will reject a claim if not reported straightaway.

If possible, try and get their vehicle registration. If there were any witnesses to the incident, ask them for their contact details, as they may be able to help the police or your solicitors with their enquiries.

Losses:

Collect as much information as you can about your loses. This includes:

  • A note of any visits to your GP or physiotherapist following the accident.
  • Any documents relating to your medical care – prescriptions, receipts, x-rays etc.
  • Any letters from your employer evidencing lost working hours and income
  • Any receipts for any other out of pocket expenses you have incurred as a result of your accident.

Call a solicitor:

After you have reported the incident to your insurance company, to ensure you receive the best advice and service, for damage repairs, medical treatment, and/or compensation, you should contact a specialist law firm. They will guide you through the process, making a stressful situation somewhat easier.

Have you been involved in a Road Traffic Accident?

If you have been affected by a road traffic accident that wasn’t your fault, you could be entitled to compensation. Start your claim today by filling out our short contact for here.

Our team of specialist RTA solicitors are always on hand to offer legal advice and support to those affected.

For more information please contact us on 0800 888 6888 or email [email protected]

*source: https://www.mib.org.uk/media-centre/news/2019/october/one-injured-every-20-minutes-police-launch-national-campaign-to-protect-the-public-from-uninsured-drivers/