May 23

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A paralyzed man who was involved in a car crash has been awarded a record 11.15 million in a compensation payout. This award went to Wasim Mohammed, and is thought to be the highest ever personal injury compensation claim settlement in the UK.

The accident in question occurred in 2006 when Mr Mohammed then age 22 was the passenger in a car in which the driver (who was speeding) decided to overtake at a junction. A collision took place when the car hit a vehicle which was turning right. The road traffic accident (RTA) left Mr. Mohammed with serious injuries to his spine and a broken neck. The extent of his injuries has left him with limited movement in his arms and a paralyzed lower body. The driver who was at fault in the accident also convicted on the charge of careless driving.

Mr. Mohammed instructed experienced Personal Injury Lawyers, who were able to take his case forward to produce this record compensation settlement, the astonishing amount of 11.5 million. The driver was also charged with careless driving. Daniel Herman a catastrophic injury specialist assisted Mr Mohammed in his case. Although the case was supposed to be heard at a County Court in Birmingham, settlement has already taken place. This often happens in large personal injury cases such as this one.

The unusually large payout won’t happen in one lump sum. A first payment of 4.25 million will be made immediately followed 235,000 each year. These annual payments are put in place to pay for the high level of care that Mr. Mohammed will need every day for the rest of his life. The extent of his injuries dictate that two carers will be needed at all times to help him have as normal life as possible.

It was judged necessary that the settlement should be so large because of the horrific affect the accident has had on Mr. Mohammed’s life, what the cost of ongoing care for the rest of his life, plus taking into account the fact he cannot work and therefore has lost his income and much more. It is planned that part of the settlement be used to finance the building of a new house opposite his family’s home so he can remain near to them. As his family is Pakistani, it is traditional for the eldest son to stay with his parents to take care of them when they are elderly. This course of action would enable him to be near to them.

If you have been the victim of a road traffic accident, for a no win no fee service visit Duncan Gibbins SolicitorsPersonal Injury #1, Duncan Gibbins Solicitors specialise inCompensation #2 for people who have been injured in RTA’s

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May 18

The first asbestos lawsuits settlement case occurred in the late 1920’s, at a time when research into health problems related to asbestos inhalation was becoming more prolific. Medical researchers found that long-term exposure to asbestos, a material commonly used as insulation in businesses and schools and even as a textile for clothes in ancient Greece, caused an increased risk of lung cancer.

The cancer caused by asbestos exposure is called mesothelioma. This cancer occurs when the asbestos fibers are inhaled into the lungs and get stuck. Over time the area surrounding the fibers begins to swell and become irritated. Eventually, a malignant tumor can form in the mesothelium area of the lungs. Because of the long-standing research on the harm caused by inhaling asbestos, and the construction industry’s negligence at switching over to a non-toxic insulating material, many lawyers focus specifically on helping plaintiffs with mesothelioma class action lawsuits.

Recovering and Using the Settlement

The main way a settlement benefits a plaintiff is to provide financial means for paying off medical bills. Since symptoms of mesothelioma can occur for years before someone seeks medical treatment, many people find themselves in advanced stages of the disease once they seek treatment. This means the most expensive procedures and medications will be needed to try and fight the spread of the cancer. Depending on a person’s health insurance plan, he or she could be covering more than 50% of the medical bills. A plaintiff can also use the money to help pay for the cost of living, especially if the disease has left them unable to work.

If a victim passes away before the case is over, the family can win the asbestos lawsuits settlement. A judgment will fall in favor of the family if there are outstanding medical bills, hardships endured because of loss of wages, and punitive damages caused from the victim’s wrongful death.

Victims of asbestos exposure need an attorney with experience handling mesothelioma cases. An experienced attorney can help claimants manage and collect the settlement. Families should look for an attorney who has experience not only filing but winning asbestos cases.

Class Action Settlements Help with Some Costs

In some cases, employees, consumers, or other groups of people join together and file a class action lawsuit. This type of lawsuit allows a business to be sued by a large group of employees who claim that the company exposed them to asbestos. Consumers can also band together and file a claim against businesses who sell products that contain asbestos.

A class action asbestos lawsuits settlement doesn’t usually provide as much of a monetary award per individual as a single claim does. The judgment must be split between all of the claimants in the suit. Victims are usually awarded enough money to help pay for medical bills, but not necessarily lost wages. Individuals who were knowingly exposed to asbestos by an employer for a long period of time and at a great intensity may be able to file both an individual claim and a class action lawsuit. By exploring all avenues of asbestos litigation, victims can expect some form of compensation for their illness.

Want to find out more about Asbestos Lawsuit Settlement, then visit www.asbestoslawsuitsettlement.org on the best information about mesothelioma and getting an asbestos settlement.

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May 13
Which Lawyers Should You Trust
Posted by Adriana Noton in Compensation Articles on 05 13th, 2010| | No Comments »

One of the most difficult tasks is finding good lawyers. There are plenty of lawyers out there, but how many can be trusted to do a good job or be best for your case. You need the best to help you, especially if yours is an important case. To find the best be prepared to do plenty of research and have lots of time consumed.

The best place to search around is the internet; this will throw up results and referrals of many firms. If there is some that interest you then spend more time trying to find individual reviews or complaints. You want a firm that specializes in your areas that are worth the money you will be paying them.

The only drawback with going to the bigger firms is that they will tend to charge higher prices; you need to establish whether this is something you can actually afford. It may be out of your price range but if they have won similar cases you may be willing to pay that little extra so research into their history as well.

One of the best ways to find the best lawyer is through word of mouth. You will know a family member or perhaps a friend of a friend who has been through a similar ordeal. If they have, what was their lawyer like? If they give you a good referral then why not start your search by contacting that lawyer to see if they can help you.

Experience is another key to finding a great lawyer. You do not want a newbie handling your case, especially if it is very important. If they have experience and have been with the firm for a long time then you are in safe hands. Look into how many cases they have won on your topic though – do not assume they have experience so will be best for the job.

Be prepared for an interview with your lawyer. Some will offer this and if they do, it shows they are reliable and want to work for you. Bring all your evidence or documents needed for the case so that you lawyer can examine them. He (or she) will also be able to tell if the case best matches his criteria or not.

Your lawyer is there to serve and help you. One way to betray your lawyer is by giving them incorrect information; you do not want to do this! Stick to the truth. Treat them with the respect they deserve. Lying can also cause setbacks, being honest will mean your case will be resolved quicker and you will have fewer costs to pay out.

Previously mentioned was the price, a top lawyer can be incredibly expensive. Many associate prices with quality of work, this does tend to be the case normally. However, you can find a good lawyer for less. By less I do not mean for cheap, just a cheaper price. So look around.

Personality traits in your lawyer are important. You do not want to find a lawyer who looks down their nose at you. You want one able to see eye to eye with you who is professional and wants to do their job. Aggressiveness can be a good trait to have, just not over aggressive, you will want someone to assert you through your case, not someone who is too laid back to care.

The above is fairly generic, information which you may have already known. But, hopefully, it will aid you to finding the best lawyer or lawyers for your needs. Remember to make your points and worries well known. Do not be shy, tell them anything you think is necessary.

If you are ever in need of legal assistance, contact the appropriate lawyer or law office; there are many different types of lawyers to choose from such as, family, civil, taxation and more.

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May 3
Salary Negotiation Master Technique
Posted by Trevor Davide Grant in Compensation Articles on 05 3rd, 2010| | No Comments »

We know we should never reveal what what our old salary was – it can be negotiation suicide if you do – but how can we avoid giving it away if asked?

A good rule of thumb is to always be honest. Discussing salary during the early part of the recruiting process is not a good idea.

Consider the following if you are pressured for your salary history when you aren’t comfortable with it:

1) State that you’d rather not answer that question because your previous salary is not terribly relevant to the current job you’re applying to. You’d rather be paid commensurate with the market and within the companies standard guidelines for the role and responsibility.

2) If pressed to disclose the previous salary, as is mentioned by other respondents, mention with the total value of your compensation package. Also, re-iterate that it is not the same company, and so your previous salary is not terribly pertinent. There are so many factors including work life balance, benefits, holidays, paid overtime, etc,etc, that factor in.

3) Be aware before going into the interview what the standard range is for that job, and know where your performance level would be within that range. Most people are not at the top end of the salary range, so unless you are a total star, don’t expect the absolute max unless you can justify it. Your clout will be confirmed by your reference checks it will be obvious if you are not in the highest percentiles.

4) Regardless of whether or not you were earning at or below or even above the market average for your career, your past salary is not relevant. You may have had any number of reasons for working below market in the past, but what is important now is that you earn current market rates for the work you do. Your past doesn’t explain your worth as a resource to the new employer.

5) If you divulge your salary, restate that you expect to be paid the standard industry rate for the posting, and explain what you do understand about the industry at that time. Most employers will respect you for standing your ground on the matter. Just remember that in negotiating you should be firm in your stance but respectful in your demeanor.

Never tell a lie to your prospective employer. Just be aware that they have ways of knowing or discovering the truth that you don’t have control over. The most important thing is to communicate honestly the value you can bring to the employer and impress them with that.

Trevor Davide Grant is a IT manager in the IT field and has extensive experience in salary negotiation. Trevor has worked for large telecom, electric utilities, software development consulting, and a prevalent web 2.0 site. He has learned salary negotiating in the most effective way. Learn great tips on the topic of salary negotiating at www.HowToNegotiateASalary.com.

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May 3
Re-negotiate The Salary Of Your Current Job
Posted by Trevor Davide Grant in Compensation Articles on 05 3rd, 2010| | No Comments »

A newsletter subscriber inquired whether or not it was possible to negotiate salary at a job your are already working at. After some investigating the local job market, they realized that they were quite underpaid and wanted to level set with their coworkers. Someone had advised them to quit their job and try to negotiate a higher salary elsewhere.

Absolutely! You can definitely negotiate a pay raise in your career. I recommend people start considering a number of things in order to approach their bosses for a raise.

Of course, if you just accepted a job offer, it is not a good time to ask for more money, but once you have some time and accomplishments behind you, you should look to salary negotiation. If you just accepted the offer, you did so fair and square. That is why it is important to know your value before accepting any job offer.

Not only is a salary an important factor of the compensation package, one can also look at factors like improved benefits, more time off, stock options or stock purchase plan. You may look to other creative compensation strategies to entice your employer to bolster your income.

Consider taking these steps before you ask your boss for a pay raise.

1) Research and have confidence in your value in the job market. Make sure you have multiple sources for this information. Many salary sites are based on anonymous reports by unqualified individuals. Surveys conducted by market research firms are far more reliable when they go to the HR sources in the region.

2) Your value-add is a very powerful salary negotiation tool. You should be aware of all the ways you add value to the business and prepare to communicate it effectively to the boss.

3) Prepare yourself to discuss this with the boss, and mention that you would like an increase to be in line with the current job market salary range.

4) Explain to the boss where you feels you fit within that range in terms of a percentile basis. Are you a top performer with lots of experience? Can you command a top percentile salary?

Salary negotiation is a complex art that requires both skills, knowledge and good timing. One thing is for sure, you won’t get ahead as fast as you can unless you be proactive about negotiating your salary!

My preference would be to negotiate salary in a job that I was happy with rather than go through the effort of finding a new job in hopes of a higher salary.

One tactic that can give you an upper hand is to first get yourself another job offer. With that as your back up measure, you will have more leverage in negotiating salary.

Trevor Davide Grant is a IT manager in the IT field and has extensive experience in salary negotiation. Trevor has worked for global telecom, power utililties, software development consulting, and a prominent social network. He has learned salary negotiating in the most effective way. Learn great tactics on the topic of salary negotiating at www.HowToNegotiateASalary.com.

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