Road accidents and public liability claims have soared in recent months, as a result of damage to roads caused by the winter’s cold weather. The public themselves have not been helping the situation either, as many people are avoiding servicing their cars in an effort to save money, or in fear that they will be hit with expensive repair and maintenance costs. This has also contributed to the rise in accidents, due to more cars on the road which could be considered as not roadworthy.

There has also been a sharp rise in the number of work accident claims in the country. According to recent research, firms are putting less importance on health and safety regulations, possibly in an attempt to cut costs. However this could work against them if an accident does occur and a compensation claim is made.

David Smith, 56, had been working as an apprentice electrical engineer when he was exposed to the deadly substance while working for Alstom Energy. He worked for the company from 1968 to 1980, using cable ducting that was insulated with asbestos.

He decided to bring a compensation claim after he was diagnosed with mesothelioma, an incurable cancer caused by asbestos, which often kills sufferers within months.

Mr Smith, who is married with three sons and has two grandchildren, was forced to close his own street light maintenance business, which employed two people, after he become too ill to work in 2007.

Mr Smith said he brought the compensation claim in order to secure his family’s future.

He said that the compensation claim would not make him well again. “I would rather have my health and be working. I had no idea back then that what we were working with could be so dangerous.”

Joanne Candlish, from Thompson’s Solicitors, who represented Mr Smith, said the compensation claim took into account the losses caused as a result of being forced to close down the business. “It was his wish that the compensation was secured in his lifetime,” she added.

Mr William Edge fell from his wet ladder onto concrete three metres below, breaking his ankle in the fall. After eight separate operations and sixteen months of treatment, his right ankle became infected and the decision was made to amputate his leg below the knee.

Mr Edge said the injury had taken away his career as well as leaving him traumatised, commenting “It’s difficult to comprehend how much my life has changed since this accident. It’s ruined my life in many ways. The most obvious effect has been on my mobility. I was fit, healthy and fully mobile before my accident.”

“I also suffer with post-traumatic stress disorder. I get flashbacks of the accident and the hospital.” Mr Edge was keen to stress that the infection was due to the break in his ankle, and not the standard of care at Derriford Hospital where he was taken.

Mr Edge received substantial personal injury compensation in an out-of-court settlement with building firm Ardmore Construction, his former employer.

A spokesperson for Ardmore Construction Limited said the company deeply regrets the accident, and that they “accept that there is always more that can be done to improve safety in the construction industry…we employ eight full-time safety officers who work tirelessly to prevent accidents. Although he was an older worker, Bill was fit, healthy and fully mobile, and considered more than able to climb a ladder.”

Nia Griffith, MP for Llanelli, said recent legislation that signalled the government’s recognition of Miner’s Knee as an industrial disease, had allowed the going-ahead of compensation claims in the form of the new Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit.

But she warned ex-pit workers against signing up with law firms that take part of the payments, arguing that miners can apply directly for the compensation, without the help of solicitors.

“I want to see every penny of any payment going into the pockets only of those who deserve it – miners – and not the pockets of greedy law firms,” said Ms Griffiths. “Some made millions of pounds out of processing claims in the past – providing a quite unnecessary service.

“What I would tell former miners is that claims should be made direct to the government’s Department for Work and Pensions at their Castleford IIDB Centre in Leeds.”

Ministers agreed with recommendations from the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council that coal miners who have worked underground for over 10 years should be entitled to compensation claims in the form of Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit. The scheme is expected to be up and running at the end of June.

Research carried out by the National Accident Helpline found that 97% of employees said that their boss had not taken any personal responsibility for what had happened.

However, the survey found that 88% of respondents would not change their mind about making an accident compensation claim just because their employer apologised.

The survey follows on from previous National Accident Helpline figures, which showed 62% of staff believed that health and safety had become less of a priority for their company since the recession.

John Campbell, legal director of National Accident Helpline, said the results showed that employers still did not take enough personal responsibility for the welfare of their staff.

He said: “Health and safety in the workplace must be more than just a box ticking exercise; if an employer is not truly invested in ensuring his employees are safe and well then, not only will he have difficulties retaining staff but he will leave himself open to financial redress should an accident occur.”

Employers who fail to take health and safety seriously, resulting in an accident to one of their employees, not only face the cost of lost man hours. They also leave themselves open to a compensation claim, meaning that they will pay out twice, added Mr Campbell.