Am I eligible to claim for spraining an arm in a fall? I was on a visit to a hardware shop recently when as I was browsing the aisles, I fell over a box full of tools sitting in the middle of the aisle. The accident has left me unable to type and as I work in an office job, impeded my ability to earn.
You may be able to claim compensation if you are able to prove that your accident was caused by the negligence of a third party. The management of the hardware shop, in this case, would be the party you would most likely pursue for compensation. People trip and fall all of the time and most of the time people walk away unharmed – some cases, such as in yours where a serious injury has been sustained, are more serious however.
Sprains occur when a ligament is overstretched, damaged or torn. No matter how serious the injury, it is always prudent to have a doctor examine you and if necessary, summon an ambulance. Having a doctor assess your injury will allow you to access a medical report, which will be vital when you pursue a claim for spraining an arm in a fall. It is important that you receive medical attention directly after the accident occurs – not just to safeguard your own health however; if you wait to receive treatment or settle for first aid at the scene you may not be able to pursue compensation and the negligent party may argue that your injuries were not serious enough to warrant treatment or that you exacerbated them by waiting to have them treated.
We use our arms in almost every aspect of our daily lives and being temporarily without the use of one can dramatically impact our ability to perform certain tasks and engage in activities which we enjoy – and as you mentioned in your question sometimes hinder our ability to perform our jobs.
Fortunately, it is possible to be compensated for the loss of amenity that we often experience after using the full use of a limb. It is also possible to be compensated for any earnings missed out on while recovering – as part of the special damages portion of the settlement. Special damages may be used to recover any quantifiable costs associated with injuries – medical treatments and devices, alternative transport or in extreme cases, home alterations.
No matter what your personal circumstances are or what type of compensation you believe you might qualify for, it is always best to bring your questions to an experienced injury claims solicitor at the earliest possible opportunity. Pursuing a claim for spraining an arm in a fall can be a stressful and time-consuming process and it is always in the best interests of an accident victim to enlist the help of a solicitor.