The words 'personal injury lawyer' have become synonymous with 'compensation culture' and 'no win no fee' television adverts which seem to aim to persuade us that we should really try and have an accident, so that we can blame someone.
But the majority of claims are from people who really have been the victim of negligence, and rightly deserve to be compensated.
Clinical negligence in particular can have devastating consequences, resulting in severe injury or even death.
For example, in September 2008, father-of-two Michael Hart, 37, went to have a routine operation to remove a compressed disc from his spine. Unfortunately, the replacement disc the surgeons put in to replace the removed one was too small. It slipped out of its place, damaging his spinal column irreparably.
He had to spend the next six months in hospital, is now confined to a wheelchair, and has limited use of his hands only.
The hospital involved has admitted full responsibility for the damage to Mr Hart, and, with the representation of a good personal injury lawyer, he may be in line for a seven-figure payout.
Lynn Main was also a victim of clinical negligence when surgeons stitched up her bowel whilst performing a routine three-hour hysterectomy operation. In an interview with the Telegraph newspaper, Lynn said that the pain emanating from her stomach was so bad that she was convinced she was suffering from a heart attack.
Doctors had dismissed her concerns and told her that she simply had constipation. They said that she should eat more to clear the blockage. Eventually an internal rupture occurred and Lynn needed another operation to rectify the damage.
Lynn had developed a life-threatening infection due to the botch, and surgeons had to staple her bowel and place a stoma to her abdomen which drains waste from her stomach.
The 55-year-old grandmother from Oxfordshire is now suing the NHS with the help of a personal injury lawyer.
The term 'personal injury' covers all manner of things, and not just physical injury. It can describe a psychological injury or illness, a work injury, or even a psychological illness somebody has developed as a result of being abused as a child.
If you believe you have a claim and need a personal injury lawyer, do your research first. Ask around and get recommendations from friends, and if possible, try to get a lawyer who has handled a case similar to yours in the past.
Be prompt in getting legal advice as there are often time limits on claims.
Thomas Pretty is a lawyer with many years of experience in the personal injury law sector. Find out more about personal injury lawyer at http://www.stewartslaw.com/
