There is much talk of the "blame culture" in the UK, with critics saying people should take more responsibility for their wellbeing and not expect compensation if they have an accident.
Although it is right that we all have to look after ourselves, if you suffer an accident at the hands of someone else you might be able to make a personal injury claim and should not be afraid of doing so.
This is not a way to make some easy money or to throw off the expectation to look out for your own safety; it is your legal right if another person or a company has acted in a way that has caused you harm.
Accident claims are possible in many different situations, but the common factor is that someone can be proven to have behaved illegally, negligently or irresponsibly and caused an accident in which you were involved.
"Placing blame is not an ideal phrase; it should be thought of as seeking justice," explains Matthew Briggs, CEO of www.claims.com.
"If you bought a toaster and it turned out to be faulty you would not think twice about asking for your money back, so if someone's actions cause you harm and mean you are out of pocket you should also seek compensation."
As well as the potential for financial compensation to help pay for treatment or ease the strain of being unable to work, making a personal injury claim can have benefits for the wider community too.
It is right that people or firms who do something wrong should be held to account and that others can see the importance of upholding responsibilities towards the health and safety of others.
In some cases a breach of health and safety law may be clear, in others it might be that a generally-held duty of care is not kept up, or that responsibilities were simply not taken seriously.
Whatever the situation, you should not be afraid of making an accident claim - you have the right to take legal advice and action.