Walking and cycling have become more popular during the pandemic. So-called “active travel” has benefits for personal health as well as the environment. Department for Transport figures show that, over the last year, there’s been a 46% increase in the number of miles cycled on British roads. Tellingly, that’s a larger increase than in all of the previous 20 years combined. To take even one corner of Moray as an example... While the Lossiemouth - Elgin cycle path beside the A941 has been an active travel benefit for many years, the long-mooted track to connect Lossiemouth to Hopeman has only recently gained significant traction, despite years of campaigning. Now that the charitable organisation (SCIO) Laich of Moray Active Travel Routes is in existence, and with help from Sustrans, a connection between Lossiemouth and Covesea is coming. Hopefully, the final link from Covesea to Hopeman - to cover places such as the Green Road, Gordonstoun and Duffus - will not be far Continue Reading
Why it’s worth knowing about Cauda Equina Syndrome
Cauda equina syndrome (“CES”) is a medical emergency. Any delay in diagnosis and treatment of CES can result in life-changing physical disability and psychological injury. What is cauda equina syndrome (CES) exactly? CES is an uncommon but serious neurological condition. It is caused by compression (i.e. squeezing) of a bundle of nerve roots at the base of the spinal column. Cauda is Latin for tail and equina is Latin for horse (ie, the "horse's tail"). The seat of the problem is around where your tail would connect to your body, if you had a tail. The ‘cauda equina’ nerves provide feeling to, and enable control of, the bowel, bladder, anal and genital areas. Also, the legs and feet. So it all sounds quite crucial, doesn't it? Compression of these nerves - say, as a result of a slipped disc or lower back injury - puts the injured person at risk of permanent disability. Someone with suspected cauda equina must be referred for urgent assessment. Typically, this Continue Reading
Why keeping your personal injury claim simple (or as simple as possible) is best
“You’re ignorant. But at least you act on it.” So comments an eye-rolling Hobbes to Calvin in response to his friend’s rant about knowledge only leading to paralysis by analysis. That’s an outcome which, as a “man of action”, Calvin simply cannot afford. In other words, it’s a "simple" explanation for why Calvin will be better off not doing his homework. Calvin’s logic may be flawed but, with a personal injury claim, the simplest approach is usually the best. But can we keep things simple? In this article, we’ll consider, firstly, some of the factors that can complicate a personal injury claim. Secondly, we’ll look at complexity from the injured claimant’s perspective. And finally at “control” issues surrounding complexity: in other words, who has the power to make things simple or not? There are lots of ways a personal injury claim can become complicated. Allegations of contributory negligence - that you were partly to blame for your injuries. Where it appears Continue Reading
Rehabilitation in Personal Injury Claims
Personal injury compensation claims are about money. The purpose of the process is to put you, the injured person, back in the same position you would have been in if the accident had not happened. At least, as far as that is possible through money alone. We know from research that, in many cases, rehabilitation can help injured people recover more quickly, improve their quality of life and get them back to work more quickly. This means that rehabilitation can be a key factor in getting an injured person back to the state they would have been in were it not for the accident. Where rehabilitation has to be paid for, the cost can generally be recovered as part of your compensation, provided it is reasonable. When is rehabilitation appropriate? It can be helpful in relation to both physical and psychological injuries. If you have a whiplash injury, you may benefit from a course of physiotherapy. In more serious cases, for example, involving loss of a limb, rehabilitation may include the Continue Reading