About Radiation

Radiation is a substance that has the ability to penetrate many different kinds of materials. There are two types of radiation – ionising and non-ionising. Ionising radiation poses the most dangerous threat, while non-ionising radiation has lower levels of energy.

Ionising radiation sickness often causes the following symptoms:

• Tissue damage
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Weakness or confusion
• Bleeding from the nose, mouth, gums or rectum 
• Infections or blistering, bruising and sores on the skin
• DNA damage
• Cell mutations which can often lead to cancer
• Flu symptoms
• Hair loss
• Skin discolouration
• Haemorrhages 
• Fever
• inflammation of exposed areas of the body

As with many industrial illnesses, you do not necessarily see the effects of radiation exposure for a long time as it often takes decades for the symptoms to show.

Risk of Radiation Exposure

There are small amounts of radiation exposure in many different places, such as on aeroplanes which is referred to as background radiation. If you work regularly around ionising radiation, then there is a greater chance of being exposed to it. Health care workers who work with X-Ray machines, nuclear plant workers and those who operate in research institutions are most at risk. If you work in an environment where there has been radioactive waste exposure, then you are also potentially in danger of exposure.

Employer Responsibility

All machines which utilise radiation must be maintained and regularly checked to the highest standards. Personal protective clothing, such as masks and hazmat suits, must be provided to employees if necessary and risk assessments must also be regularly undertaken.

The Ionising Radiations Regulations 1999 outline how to protect employees who work with ionising radiation in the workplace. These regulations also highlight what the dangers are to the body if someone does not follow these regulations.

There is usually a three-year limit on making a personal injury claim, beginning from when the exposure happened or when the symptoms started to appear, so when you first became aware of the illness. Therefore, you should aim to contact a personal injury solicitor as soon as you feel able.

How Much Compensation?

All personal injury cases are unique and so the amount of compensation that is awarded in each case is also unique. Compensation is understood by looking at two specific factors: general damages and special damages.

General Damages

The pain and suffering that your injuries have caused are main factors that are used to determine how much general damage compensation you are owed. This will usually be determined by undergoing a medical examination, from which a report is created that highlights the length of time the injuries will take to heal as well as their severity. Our compensation calculator will give you an indication of how much general damage compensation you might be entitled to based upon your injuries.

Special Damages

In addition to receiving compensation for your injuries, you may be able to reclaim any financial losses that you might have suffered as a result of your injuries. Compensation for financial losses is known as special damages compensation. This can include losses such as loss of earnings due to not being able to return to work, the cost of treatment as well as travel to treatment. It is important that you keep any receipts or evidence of additional losses in order for these to be reclaimed. With the exception of children, there is a three-year time limit on making a personal injury claim. This time limit begins from the date that the accident initially occurred. Therefore, you should contact a personal injury solicitor as soon as possible to assess your case.

Making Personal Injury Claims

You may be entitled to compensation for a range of compensation claims under accident claims. Our experts will help assess your potential claim going forwards and provide you with proficient advice. Contact First Personal Injury to discuss your potential compensation claim today by ringing 0333 358 2345 or by filling out the online claims form.