Today marks the start of Injury Awareness Week, an annual campaign led by the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL).
This year’s theme focuses on a crucial message: injured people matter. Through a series of articles and social media engagement, APIL is highlighting the difference between a genuine accident and a negligent act, while drawing attention to the lasting impact negligence can have on people’s lives.
APIL President Matthew Tuff explains:
“Most people are fortunate enough never to need interaction with personal injury law. For many, their only exposure is through insurance industry rhetoric or the occasional sensational headline. That’s why victims of negligence need an awareness week. The reality of what it means to be injured must be understood by both politicians and the public.”
When is an accident actually negligence?
This is an important question, and one many people may not know the answer to. Injury Awareness Week aims to raise public understanding of when someone may be entitled to claim financial compensation after being harmed.
To help explain this, APIL has shared a tool that outlines the difference between a simple accident and an incident caused by negligence:
Negligence can occur in various settings, including at work, in public areas, on the road, or during the receipt of healthcare. In medical settings, this is often referred to as medical negligence, and it involves substandard care that leads to avoidable harm.
As APIL puts it:
“Mishaps happen every day. Kids fall over in playgrounds, and DIY-ers get into scrapes with hammers and nails — these are simple examples of accidents. But reckless driving, faulty goods, and failing to take proper care, which then causes harm to others, can amount to negligence. It is right that those who are reckless or negligent are held to account so that injured victims can get the redress they need to help them get back on track.”
Supporting Victims of Negligence
Lester Aldridge is proud to support Injury Awareness Week. Our Personal Injury and Medical Negligence teams represent individuals who have suffered harm through no fault of their own, and we regularly recover financial compensation on their behalf.
We understand that injuries caused by negligent acts, whether through accidents or poor medical care, can have a serious physical, emotional, and financial impact. In the most severe cases, negligence can lead to life-changing injuries or even death. Many victims also experience psychological effects that can have a devastating impact on daily life.
Our experienced lawyers are members of APIL and are committed to securing the maximum compensation possible for their clients. Liz Oaten, Partner and Clinical Negligence Solicitor, is accredited under the APIL Clinical Negligence Specialist scheme. Melanie Lidstone-Land is an APIL-accredited Senior Litigator.
Get in touch
If you believe you or a loved one has been injured due to negligence, we are here to help.
Contact us at online.enquiries@la-law.com or call 01202 786260 to speak to a member of our Personal Injury and Medical Negligence team.
