Every year in the UK, tens of thousands of people make compensation claims for injuries caused by accidents that were not their fault. Some can be surprising injuries. People commonly make personal injury claims for:
- Injuries caused by a slip, trip and fall
- Injuries caused by an accident at work
- A whiplash injury caused by a road traffic accident.
However, people can make uncommon personal injury claims for injuries caused by unusual accidents that weren’t their fault. Even if you have been injured in unusual circumstances, you may still be able to claim compensation for your injuries if the accident was caused by another party’s negligence.
In this guide, we will look at surprising injuries that you could claim compensation for and explain how personal injury claims work.
If you have been injured due to an accident that was not your fault, call Legal Expert today for your free personal injury claims consultation. A claims advisor will be happy to speak to you in-depth about your accident and if we can see that you are owed compensation for your injuries, a skilled personal injury lawyer could start working on your claim right away.
To see if you can begin your claim for a surprising injuries compensation, call Legal Expert today on 0800 073 8804. Or alternatively, use our online compensation claims form to contact us for a callback at a time that suits you. Otherwise, carry on reading this guide to learn more.
Select A Section
- A Guide To Surprising And Uncommon Injuries You Could Claim Compensation For
- What Surprising Injuries Can You Claim For?
- Injuries Caused By Reperfusion
- Injuries Caused By Exposure To Radiation
- What Are Injuries Caused By Exposure To Liquefied Oxygen?
- Injuries Caused By Exposure To Heat
- Injuries Caused By Dry Ice
- What Are Injuries Caused By An Overdose?
- Surprising Injuries Compensation Claims Calculator
- No Win No Fee Compensation Claims For Surprising Injuries
- Starting Up Your Surprising Or Unusual Injury Claim
- Essential References
A Guide To Surprising And Uncommon Injuries You Could Claim Compensation For
When it comes to health and safety, a duty of care is when one party is supposed to take reasonable actions to protect the health and safety of another party. Many parties owe others a duty of care.
For example, the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 states that employers owe their employees a duty of care. They should take reasonable measures to protect their employees’ safety and health.
Similarly the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957 states that those in control of places that are accessible to the public should ensure they’re safe to use. For example, shops and other businesses owe their customers and members of the public that use their premises a duty of care.
If a party that owes you a duty of care causes an accident or incident in which you’re injured, you could have the right to claim compensation.
In this guide, we are going to look at unusual personal injury claims that can be made for compensation. If you have been injured in strange circumstances and it wasn’t your fault, we could help. Our advisors and solicitors are trained to handle your compensation claim in a sensitive and professional manner.
To see if you could begin your personal injury claim. call Legal Expert. Alternatively, use our online accident claims form to reach us for a callback. We’re looking forward to hearing from you.
What Surprising Injuries Can You Claim For?
In this guide, we will look at 6 surprising injuries you could claim compensation for. These six injuries are caused by:
- Exposure to liquefied oxygen
- Exposure to radiation
- Dry ice
- An overdose
- Reperfusion
- Exposure to heat
Many people who have been involved in an accident suffer from psychological trauma as a result. Some even develop Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Can you claim compensation for psychological trauma?
If you have evidence such as a diagnosis from a psychiatrist that you have suffered trauma as a result of an accident or injury that wasn’t your fault, you may be able to claim compensation. What’s more, you could be awarded funds to pay for any psychological treatment you may need for your PTSD or trauma such as counselling or cognitive behavioural therapy that the NHS can’t cover.
We will now look at types of unusual personal injury claims our clients can make for unusual accidents in more detail.
Injuries Caused By Reperfusion
The first of our surprising injuries is reperfusion injury.
What is reperfusion injury?
First, let’s explain what ischemia is. Ischemia is when blood flow is reduced or restricted to part of the body, depriving it of oxygen. It could cause tissue damage or even death.
Reperfusion is the restoration of blood flow to a part of the body (such as tissue or an organ).
Reperfusion injury can happen when the flow of oxygen is restored again. The tissue is damaged when blood flow returns to it. This can result in irreversible cell damage.
Medical practitioners such as doctors, surgeons and nurses should attend to their patients with a minimum standard of care at the very least. Negligence could cause their patients harm.
Not every instance of reperfusion injury will be caused by medical negligence. For example, a medical professional may have acted appropriately, but the patient suffered regardless.
However, if you have suffered avoidable and unnecessary harm because your medical team did not take the minimum standard of care when treating you, this could be seen as negligence. Therefore you may be eligible to make a medical negligence claim. Call Legal Expert today to see if you have legitimate grounds to claim.
Source: https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10.1161/01.CIR.0000016602.96363.36
Injuries Caused By Exposure To Radiation
Thankfully, injuries caused by exposure to ionising radiation are not necessarily common. Those who do suffer from an injury caused by radiation exposure could do so in an accident at work.
For example, if a nuclear power plant does not take the necessary steps to protect its workers from exposure to radiation, such as by providing the necessary personal protective equipment (PPE), it could cause injury.
Those who work in the below industries could also be at risk due to radiation generators and radioactive materials if they don’t have proper training or protection, for example.
- medical and dental sectors
- gas and oil production
- engineering
- construction
- waste processing, manufacturing and food production
Injuries caused by radiation exposure can include radiation sickness, cancer and/or neurological problems. In some tragic circumstances, radiation exposure can be fatal.
If you have suffered injuries due to exposure to radiation at work or elsewhere, you may be eligible to claim compensation if the injuries weren’t your fault.
In the tragic circumstances that your next of kin relative died of injuries caused by radiation, you may be eligible to make a compensation claim on their behalf.
To see if you can begin a compensation claim today, call Legal Expert to speak to an advisor.
What Are Injuries Caused By Exposure To Liquefied Oxygen?
Liquefied oxygen (usually known as liquid oxygen) is a liquid form of molecular oxygen. It is used in the gas, submarine and aeronautical industries and is an explosive material.
What are the risks of working with liquefied oxygen?
If liquefied oxygen is not used correctly, the excessive coldness of the substance can cause burns. Explosions can happen due to the use of material that isn’t compatible with it or equipment that isn’t designed for it. Liquefied oxygen also causes objects it touches to become extremely brittle. Therefore, it’s very dangerous if it comes into contact with human skin.
If you have sustained an injury caused by exposure to liquid oxygen which was the fault of your employer, or the supplier of the chemicals (for example the contained was not properly insulated), you may be eligible to claim compensation.
Trust Legal Expert to discuss your claim. If we believe you are owed compensation for an injury caused by exposure to liquid oxygen, we could connect you with the right personal injury solicitor to handle your compensation claim. Call us today to get started.
Injuries Caused By Exposure To Heat
Another unusual accident you could claim compensation for is an injury caused by exposure to heat. Heat injury is when someone experiences extreme exposure to heat. For example, a worker or military personnel could suffer due to heat exposure.
The worker may be engaging in strenuous activity or a military training exercise during high temperatures when the sun is exceptionally strong. Rigorous activity, heavy protective clothing and not being given enough breaks or water can result in heat injury. Employers including the Ministry of Defence should take proactive steps to prevent soldiers from suffering heat injury.
Symptoms of heat exhaustion can include:
- Exhaustion and fatigue
- Headaches
- Dizziness and confusion
- The person’s body temperature exceeding 37C.
Severe heat exhaustion injuries can be fatal.
You could also suffer burns due to exposure heat. This could be a particular risk for certain industries if the necessary PPE isn’t provided or is in poor condition.
If you have suffered heat illness or surprising injuries caused by exposure to heat at work, or in any other setting and it wasn’t your fault, call Legal Expert today to speak to an advisor. If we can see that you have a solid claim, we could connect you with a No Win No Fee solicitor.
Injuries Caused By Dry Ice
Another surprising injury that you can claim compensation for, is an injury caused by dry ice. Dry ice is carbon dioxide in a frozen, solid form. As it melts it releases a vapour which, unlike real mist, does not leave any watery residue.
It is often used in theatres, on film sets or in nightclubs for dramatic effect. It can even be used in making avante garde cocktails.
Can dry ice be dangerous?
If dry ice is used negligently, accidents and injuries can happen. It could cause burns on the skin, similar to frostbite.
If too much dry ice collects in a small and unventilated space, too much carbon dioxide can build up. After inhaling too much carbon dioxide, a person can become unconscious or even die.
If you’re eligible to claim compensation for an injury caused by dry ice call, Legal Expert today to speak to an advisor. We will be happy to assess your claim. In addition, if we believe that you have favourable grounds to claim compensation, we will connect you with a No Win No Fee solicitor.
Whether you wish to make a claim against a theatre, a nightclub, a film or television set or even a cocktail bar, call us about claiming compensation for dry ice injuries today.
What Are Injuries Caused By An Overdose?
A drug overdose is when a person takes more medication (or illegal recreational drugs) than it is safe to do so. An accidental overdose can occur if the person who took the medication misread the label, for example.
However, sometimes an overdose can be caused by a medical professional’s or pharmacy’s negligence. An injury caused by an overdose can happen because the doctor or pharmacist instructs the patient to take the wrong dosage of medication. If this instruction is a consequence of negligence and causes avoidable unnecessary harm, the person who suffers because of the overdose could claim.
An overdose can also be caused by medical negligence on the part of a doctor or a nurse who administers an overdose of medicine while they are in hospital. They may do so for sound reasons. However, if they do it because, for example, they neglected to read the patient’s medical notes despite been advised to, it could constitute medical negligence.
What injuries can be caused by an overdose?
Unfortunately, some of the injuries that can be caused by a person having a drug overdose can be very severe. An amphetamine overdose increases the risk of suffering a seizure, stroke, heart attack or a psychotic episode.
If you have physically or mentally suffered because of an overdose that was caused by medical negligence, you may be eligible to claim compensation. Call Legal Expert today to see if you have grounds to make an overdose injury claim.
Our advisors are available 24/7 and give free legal advice. Plus, you’ll be under no obligation to proceed with our services.
Surprising Injuries Compensation Claims Calculator
If you wish to make an uncommon personal injury claim for compensation you can use the compensation table below to estimate how much you could claim in general damages. General damages is a head of claim that compensates you for mental or physical injuries caused by the incident that wasn’t your fault.
The recommended compensation amounts in the table below are based on guidelines from the Judicial College. The guidelines are used by legal professionals to value injuries.
| Nature Of Your Injury | Possible Settlement | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Other Pain Disorders – Severe | £39,530 to £59,110 | There are on-going and significant symptoms which are expected to be persistent. This impacts the ability to work and carry out some normal tasks. |
| Lung Disease – (b) Cancer | £65,710 to £91,350 | Lung cancer which leads to impairment of your quality of life, reduced functionality and pain. |
| Serious Burn Injuries | Likely to exceed £98,380 | Significant and serious burn injuries which cover more than 40% of the body. |
| Post Traumatic Stress Disorder – Moderate | £7,680 to £21,730 | Whilst there could still be some effects, these are largely recovered from and the person can carry on with their life. |
| Kidney Damage – (b) Serious | £158,970 to £197,480 | Damage to or loss of both kidneys. Damage will be serious and permanent. |
| Kidney Damage – (a) Significant Risk | Up to £60,050 | Significant chances of future illness and infection affecting the kidney or urinary tract. |
Of course, a strange injury claim for an unusual accident can be difficult to estimate using a table. So for a personalised quote that takes your individual circumstances into account, call Legal Expert today to speak to an advisor.
Special Damages For Surprising Injuries
If you make a successful unusual personal injury claim you could be awarded two heads of claim:
- General damages, which is compensation for the pain, suffering and loss of amenity caused by your uncommon accident.
- Special damages, which is compensation to reimburse you for any costs associated with your injuries.
You may have suffered trauma due to a surprising injury that wasn’t your fault. In that case, you could claim compensation to cover the cost of any counselling you needed or need in the future that isn’t available via the NHS.
Similarly, the special damages included in your unusual personal injury claim could also include funds to pay for any cosmetic treatment, such a camouflage, you may need for burn injuries.
Special damages that could be recovered in your uncommon personal injury claim can include the following:
- Medical supplies such as plasters or painkillers.
- Travel costs for getting to and from medical appointments.
- Funds to reimburse you for loss of income if you took unpaid leave to recover from your injuries.
If you suffer from a serious injury that leaves you with a permanent disability, you could reclaim the costs of:
- Necessary adaptations to your home or car (if you suffered a disability, for example).
- Carer costs if you need someone to help you.
- Mobility equipment you needed.
To begin your claim for surprising injuries compensation, call Legal Expert today. If we can see that you are eligible to claim compensation, we could connect you with an experienced lawyer to handle your case.
No Win No Fee Compensation Claims For Surprising Injuries
Our solicitors could handle your unusual personal injury claim on a No Win No Fee basis. This means that you will not have to pay your solicitor’s fee before work on your compensation claim begins.
Instead, you will be offered a Conditional Fee Agreement (a different term for No Win No Fee agreement). Under the agreement, you would not have to pay a solicitor’s fee if your claim is unsuccessful.
You would be charged a success fee if you win your claim. This fee is a small percentage of the compensation payout. Additionally, it’s capped by law.
Firstly, this is more affordable for many of our clients that wish to use the services of a solicitor. That’s because there is no upfront solicitor’s fee to be paid. Secondly, your success fee will only be charged if you win your claim. Thirdly, there are no ongoing solicitor fees.
To check if you could begin a No Win No Fee claim for an uncommon accident, call Legal Expert today. You’ll get a free unusual personal injury claims consultation.
Starting Up Your Surprising Or Unusual Injury Claim
If you have been injured in an unusual accident because of negligence on the part of another party, you may be eligible to make a claim for surprising injuries compensation.
We could connect you with a solicitor to handle your claim. Our solicitors have experience in handling personal injury claims. And they try to win you the optimum amount of compensation you could be owed.
- Call Legal Expert today on 0800 073 8804 to begin your unusual personal injury claim.
- Alternatively, use our online compensation form to reach us.
- Or use our live chat to get quick answers online.
Essential References
We hope you have enjoyed this guide to surprising injuries that you could claim compensation for. You may also find these guides useful if you wish to make a personal injury claim.
Medical Negligence Claims: How Much Compensation Can I Claim?
How To Make A Misdiagnosis Claim?
I Was Given The Wrong Medication In A Care Home, Can I Claim Compensation?
Written by Chelache
Edited by Victorine
