The hidden dangers in your home

It’s well a well documented fact that most accidents happen in our own homes, and we all know that leaving roller skates on the stairs and using wobbly chairs to reach heights is not wise. But what about the every day events that take place in every home and household across the country that can cause serious personal injury and even death?

Next time you’re putting on your socks – beware. A truly astonishing 60 people will be seriously injured in this way over the course of the year and 12 will die. When you look more closely at the circumstances, then the staggering statistic becomes a little easier to understand. Many people are disorientated when they first wake up, and if they’re in a hurry it could be very easy to stumble while putting on socks and perhaps hitting their heads on a piece of furniture or a radiator.

If you think that the safest place to be is tucked up in your own bed, think again. 20 people a year die falling out of bed, resulting in the same types of injuries that putting on your socks can cause.

Switching off your alarm clock could give you a bit of a shock – literally. In the course of just one year, 11 people die from electrocution just switching off their clocks at the start of the day.

Perhaps you decide that your bedroom is far too hazardous a place to stay for long and decide to go downstairs. But take care on your journey, 600 people a year are killed falling down the stairs, and countless others are seriously harmed. In fact, together with DIY misadventures, stair accidents make up the largest proportion of home accidents that we see, so take care.

For some people, indulging in a pastime as innocuous as taking a relaxing bath can turn into tragedy with 30 people drowning in their own bathrooms on an annual basis.

It seems that we’re never truly safe anywhere and no activity is entirely without risk. Accidents can strike out of nowhere and in places that we least expect. One sobering statistic is that we are 20 times more likely to die in an accident at home than we are to win the lottery. And that, if you buy a ticket on a Monday the chances of you dying before the draw comes around on a Saturday are much higher than your chance of winning.

Having said that, the likelihood of any individual coming to harm in the ways mentioned are extremely small. But being aware of your surroundings and the possible harm that could be caused is always a sensible precaution.

The Claim Solicitors are only too aware of the dangers lurking around every corner for all of us. “We often have calls from potential clients who have been hurt in ways they can never have imagined, and couldn’t possibly have avoided. Recently we represented Catherine George who was electrocuted switching off a light in her brand new house. Her hands were not wet, and she had absolutely no reason to suppose that this action could have harmed her at all. It was a terrifying and painful event for her, and she suffered quite a severe burn injury to her hand."

“We were able to demonstrate that the building contractor had failed in his duty of care to Catherine, and she was awarded £4,000 in damages for her personal injury, and £1,800 to compensate for related expenditure. But this all goes to show that, no matter how careful we all try to be none of us are ever completely safe from unexpected incidents.”

Any type of accident can have a devastating impact both on both the sufferer and their family. Financial consequences can be very serious and often have far reaching repercussions. That’s why the law allows for anyone who receives a personal injury under circumstances where someone else was to blame, then they have the right to claim accident compensation.

Using solicitors who specialise in this type of compensation claim is the best way to maximise any award. The Claim Solicitors are always happy to provide free and impartial advice to anyone who is thinking of making a personal injury claim.

For more information call 0800 197 3232 or visit. www.the-claim-solicitors.co.uk