When I woke up, the doctors told me that I had fallen from the platform and that I had suffered a severe head injury, broken a couple ribs and had bruising all over my body. It turns out that the scaffolding was defective.

I was in the hospital for a week, because doctors said I needed to stay for observation. For weeks, I was limited in my movement. I had intense pain all over my body and suffered from severe migraines. More worrying and frightening than the pain from broken bones and constant headache, was the memory lapses and troubles with cognitive function.

For days, I was in a dazed state. I was shocked, bewildered and angry – there must have been a million different emotions and thoughts running through my head. But, as hard as I tried, I couldn’t comprehend what happened. In the days following my accident, I tried to make sense of what happened. I wanted answers to all of my questions: “Why did this happen?” “Who is responsible?” Why did I have to be the one injured?” Why did this happen now, of all times?” What am I going to do and will I make a full recovery?”

But, more than anything, I wanted to be healthy and I wanted things to be normal again. I wanted to return to work and get back into the routine that I had been so accustomed to. I was frustrated that I couldn’t go to work, that I had to rely on others for help and that my cognitive function was impaired.

Despite pain and suffering, there was some light at the end of the tunnel. After working with an expert lawyer who specialises in injury at work claims, I was able to receive compensation. As with all companies, employers are responsible for providing as safe of a working environment as possible. Since the accident was caused by faulty equipment that should have been better supervised/regulated, I was not at fault.

After gathering all the paperwork, medical documents and months of litigation, I was able to receive a generous compensation for my misfortune. The process, albeit long and complicated, was well worth the time. The money I received covered all my medical expenses and the ongoing treatment and therapy I still undergo.

It has been almost a year since the accident, and physically, my body has recovered. There are no signs other than the scars from scrapes and sutures. However, I still suffer headaches frequently and have troubling remembering some things. Doctors say that these are just some of the many, extended side effects of a concussion and that I must keep up with therapy to help.

I am extremely grateful for my health and recovery. I know that my injuries could have been much worse and that I could have suffered from more severe brain damage. It is a reminder that life is short and that we should appreciate the friends, family and experiences that we do have, instead of complaining about what we don’t have.

…sometimes, a supporting hand isn’t enough…

Successful fatal accident compensation is the result of expert legal processing

Perhaps the last thing on the minds of the loved ones left behind after a fatal accident or incident is the potential of fatal accident compensation. To make a claim on for the loss of life of a loved one is the most emotionally stressful element of trying to reclaim some semblance of order out of the chaos. The grieving and healing process takes time and often fatal accident compensation is not given a second thought.

It is impossible to put a price on the life of someone (anyone) taken tragically from us, and yet the consequences of not doing so may be felt in the months and years ahead. It is essential you take care of this so you can grieve in your own time, while the specialist legal team can deal with all the relevant legal issues surrounding your unique circumstances.

The team will support your claim for compensation at a time when you are at your most vulnerable. Securing the future of your family at a time when there is far more pressing matters to attend to is often given little thought, and yet it is an essential element in seeking justice for the deceased and the bereaved.

The guiding hands of your team of legal experts and the subsequent compensation package they are able to negotiate for you and the family will help ease the financial burden which always results from these tragic situations. Either as a result of the legal process conducted in a court of law or through robust negotiation with the solicitors or legal team of the reckless, negligent or careless party, a package of compensation can be arrived at.

The legal framework which covers compensation and litigation of a third party is complex, and proving negligence or recklessness can often be fraught with difficulty. The punishment element of any case is decided by criminal law, whereas the compensation element is decided through a court dealing with civil law. Specialist investigators gathering evidence and facts can also be an extremely complex and time consuming process. Without gathering facts, interviewing witnesses and establishing exactly what happened and how, could potentially affect the outcome of any compensation claim, and the subsequent right to justice.

Life can be extremely cruel and unforgiving at times; in the time it takes to blink the lives of an entire family can be irrevocably changed. If you or any of your family ever find yourself in this position, although it will be extremely difficult and painful, it is essential you seek the services of an experienced law firm to help you through the legal processes in the aftermath of a fatal injury.

Graham Green is a freelance writer and has frequently written about and investigated the myriad circumstances which cause fatal injury, and why it is essential to engage an experienced fatal accident compensation expert.