would you be surprised if you were told that more people are killed in their homes every week than die on the roads?

Research has shown that in excess of 2.8 million people each year attend hospital after being injured at home and almost 4,000 people die as a result of having an accident in the home.

Accidents can occur due to a defective product that you have purchased. We are currently acting for individuals who were injured after purchasing hammocks that collapsed upon use and homeowners who suffered allergic reactions to leather sofas they has bought. These individuals have claims against either the manufacturer of the product or the company who sold it to them.

Accidents can also occur due to unsatisfactory work carried out on your home (negligent builders/plumbers etc). If you are renting, you could have a claim against the private landlord or indeed the council if the property is poorly maintained or indeed the appliances such as the boiler or gas oven/fire are not regularly serviced.

You also need to think about the people who enter the grounds of your property. Each day you allow people to enter your home or the grounds of your property such as postman, delivery drivers, milkman and paperboys to name by a few. They come into the grounds of your property with your deemed permission. If the pathway is unsafe (potholes or raised paving slabs) or the steps are perilously slippery when wet and you know about these defects but do nothing to warn of the danger or take reasonable steps to rectify the defect and they are injured, then those individuals could have a claim against you. These claims would be covered under your Home Contents Insurance Policy.

If you have had an accident or indeed someone has been injured in your home – evidence is needed to prove what happened. Always report the accident to the owner, landlord or tenant of the property or report any defect to the shop an item was purchased from. Take photographs of where the accident occurred, take witness details, keep receipts for items purchased or work done.

For further information please contact Claire Howard in the Personal Injury team on 023 8085 7313 or email claire.howard@bllaw.co.uk