Archives for 2020

The World Museum’s famous Planetarium celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2020, making it the longest surviving planetarium in a British museum, having attracted over two million visitors to explore the wonders of the universe since its opening in May 1970.

The Planetarium has enjoyed many special moments over the years. Its inaugural display of moon rock brought back to earth by the crew of Apollo 11 drew queues stretching hundreds of metres and 32,000 visitors over the course of three days.

In September 1993, the space and time gallery was officially opened by the groundbreaking physicist Dr. Stephen Hawking. The gallery provides a fascinating introduction to the Planetarium with displays including rockets, telescopes, meteorites and (of course) moon rocks.

In February 2016, the World Museum set up a live connection with the International Space Station and the British astronaut Tim Peake, who then took questions from pupils attending the event from schools all around the country and others watching online.

The Planetarium is a truly unique Liverpool institution that has entertained and educated millions over the last half century. Bartletts Solicitors sends our heartfelt congratulations to everyone at the World Museum, and our hope and expectation that the Planetarium will continue to electrify and inform visitors for the next 50 years and beyond.

The Walker Art Gallery hosts a magnificent collection of Western European fashion and costumes, showcasing a range of styles dating from 1700 to the present. The collection covers both female and male fashions, representing the very latest trends at various points in time over the last 300 years.

The collection includes day and evening wear, hats, gloves, underwear, shoes, handbags and jewellery. One area of focus is Liverpool’s dressmaking trade, which was at its peak between 1870 and the 1930s, and revolved around Bold Street – the ‘Bond Street of the North’. With the city booming at the time, Liverpool was renowned for its quality shops and luxury fashion designs.

Modern designer fashion is reflected in pieces by the most famous designers of the last 50 years, and the gallery also displays a collection of leisurewear and streetwear, with examples of designer tracksuits and trainers dating from the 1970s onwards. A collection of 19th century ivory fans provides fascinating insights into their origin and often surprising uses.

Help make sure that people in the local community don’t go hungry during the coronavirus pandemic by supporting the valuable work of our friends at Liverpool Cathedral and their Micah Liverpool food bank project.

The food bank gives out between 230 and 250 emergency food parcels each week to anybody in need, containing essentials like milk, cereal, tinned goods, tea, coffee, vegetables, fruit, pasta, rice, bread, biscuits, cake and toiletries.

The busy food bank has come under increased pressure during the current pandemic and urgently needs supplies of breakfast cereals, tinned tomatoes and, in particular, UHT milk for pregnant women and toddlers.

As the situation evolves, demand on the food bank is sure to increase, so now is the perfect time to donate food and toiletries, offer financial support or volunteer to assist.

It’s only natural to want to know how much compensation you’re entitled to if you’ve been injured in an accident that wasn’t your fault. However, compensation for claims depends on the nature of the accident – and no two accidents or injuries are alike.

How Is Your Claim Assessed?

Every claim is assessed on an individual basis and the amount of compensation your solicitor decides to claim for from the negligent party depends on your physical injuries as well as mental suffering and any financial loss.

Furthermore, compensation varies depending on whether your case is settled outside of court or in court.

Claims Settled Outside Of Court

Most claims are settled outside of court and typically a claimant asks for as much as possible for their client whereas the defendant tries to keep the amount as low as possible. The negotiations between both parties will decide on the settlement.

The factors your solicitor takes into account when deciding how much compensation to claim for on your behalf, include:

• Your personal injuries
• The emotional impact of your injuries
• Financial losses
• Guidance from the Judicial College Guidelines for the Assessment of Damages in Personal Injury (15th edition) (Oxford University Press)

Claims Settled In Court

A judge will usually consider the following factors when deciding how much compensation to award:

• Your personal injuries
• Any rehabilitation you have had
• Whether your injuries are long-term
• Any loss of earnings
• The mental impact of your injuries

What Are You Awarded Compensation For?

You are awarded compensation in two parts:

• General damages
• Special damages

General damages include compensation for your injuries and any loss of earnings, and special damages cover other losses you’ve suffered as a result of your injuries.

How Much Compensation Can You Claim For?

The Judicial College Guidelines set the maximum level of compensation for general damages at £337,700 for injuries resulting in severe brain trauma or paralysis.

For special damages, the amount of compensation can go into the millions.

The amount of compensation you can claim for depends on the severity of your injuries, loss of earnings, and any other losses suffered because of your injuries, and will consist of a mixture of general and special damages.

How We Can Help You Make A Personal Injury Claim

Our specialist personal injury lawyers have the experience and proven track record to help you secure the compensation you deserve.

We provide an initial, free and no-obligation consultation to give you the opportunity to discuss your personal injury claim with a specialist solicitor and discover how much your claim is worth. Should you decide to go ahead, your solicitor will advise and guide you at every stage of the claims process, and work hard to achieve the best possible level of compensation for you.

To speak to one of our solicitors about making a personal injury claim, contact us on freephone – 0800 988 3674 or Chester Tel: 01244 405 399 or email advice@bartletts.co.uk

 

 

Zoë’s Place Baby Hospice is a registered charity providing 24 hour care and support for families of babies with life-limiting or life-threatening illnesses.

The hospice relies on fundraising for 80% of its annual income, and has recently lost thousands of pounds as a result of cancelled events. It desperately needs help to be able to continue with its vital work helping seriously ill babies and infants.

Bartletts Solicitors is a proud supporter of Zoë’s Place Baby Hospice, and we would like to encourage everyone to support the charity at this critically important time.

As the nationwide series of lockdowns continues, it is important to remember that some wonderful exhibitions and collections can be viewed from the comfort of our own homes. National Museums Liverpool offers a wealth of content online, including virtual tours of galleries, exhibitions and museums, such as the World Museum and the International Slavery Museum.

To take one example, the Dinosaurs and Natural World gallery at the World Museum explores the story of life on Earth through a collection of full-size dinosaurs skeletons, time tunnel and Climate Change displays.

Bartletts Solicitors has a longstanding relationship with the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool.

Established in 1877, the Walker Art Gallery houses one of the UK’s largest and most prestigious art collections, featuring beautiful paintings, sculpture and decorative art from the 13th century to the present day.

Often referred to as ‘the National Gallery of the North’, the gallery closed temporarily in 1931 to allow an extension to be built. Gifts of £10,000 each from George Audley, FC Bowring and Thomas Bartlett helped pay for the work.

Today, our firm is proud to continue to support the Walker Art Gallery and its collection, which reflects the people of Liverpool’s commitment to and appreciation of the arts.

Where do you think the highest and heaviest collection of church bells are located? Are they in London, Paris or Rome?

All wrong, they are in Liverpool Cathedral, and they have a direct link to Bartletts Solicitors.

Thomas Bartlett was a successful Liverpool businessman who worked from Marldon Chambers where we are based. You might have guessed already from his name that he was a direct relation of our owners. Thomas left money in his will for a ring of 12 bells for the new Cathedral which was under construction.

He died on 4th September 1912, more than a quarter of a century before the bells which bear his name were cast, and 39 years before they were first rung. In accordance with his wishes, his final resting place is in the ringing chamber where his ashes sit in a coffer on a stone plinth.

Writing a Will is one of the most important things you should do in your lifetime, as it enables you to continue caring for family and friends long after you die – so is a DIY Will worth the risk or should you use a professional to help you write your Will?

Many people choose a DIY Will to save money compared to the cost of using a solicitor or an online Will service provider. However, Wills are complex and getting them wrong can be both costly in the long-run and stressful for loved ones left behind if they need to resolve any issues that arise from mistakes made in your Will.

DIY Wills Vs Using A Solicitor

A Will is designed to give you peace of mind that everything will be just as it should be when you die, as all your wishes are written down clearly in your Will to help your chosen executors administer your estate and carry out your wishes.

There are so many things to consider when it comes to writing your Will, and it is all too easy to miss items out or draft them incorrectly with a DIY Will.

As a guide, it’s important to keep in mind the reasons why many people use a solicitor to draft Wills, which include:

• DIY Wills provide no advice on whether what you are doing is the best option
• DIY Wills won’t point out potential pitfalls of how you are implementing something
• DIY Wills won’t highlight any errors you make. For example, an incorrect signature could render your Will invalid or make it difficult for loved ones to prove the validity of your Will after your death
• DIY Wills provide no what-if scenarios for you to consider, such as what happens if any of your beneficiaries died before you
• DIY Wills won’t insist you are specific in your wishes, for example stating “my children” would not automatically include step-children whether this is your intention or not
• DIY Wills won’t ask you to check you’ve considered everything and everyone has been included, including pets and any personal gifts you may wish to make
• DIY Wills won’t provide advice on tax implications of your decisions

How We Can Help You With Your Will

We fully appreciate that making a Will using a professional solicitor may seem expensive compared to making a DIY Will, but it is worth remembering that mistakes can be costly – and our solicitors help clients to draft Wills that are both accurate and based upon the right choices for them.

A Will written well provides peace of mind and reassurance that your intentions will be acted upon when you die, and that you’ll be able to protect loved ones long into the future.

Our Wills solicitors provide a free initial no-obligation discussion to find out what you’d like to include in your Will and to understand your personal situation so they can provide supportive advice and guidance on writing a Will that is legally watertight and fully reflective of your wishes.

To speak to one of our specialist solicitors about drafting your Will, contact us on freephone 0800 988 3674 or Chester Tel: 01244 311 633 or email advice@bartletts.co.uk

 

 

During the winter months, ice and snow can make roads and pavements slippery and unsafe – and if you’re injured in a road accident because of the poor weather conditions, you may be able to make a claim for compensation.

Accidents on the road caused by ice or snow are often serious and traumatic for those involved, as below-zero temperatures make driving and walking conditions treacherous. If you or a loved one have been injured as a result of an accident that wasn’t your fault, our specialist personal injury solicitors are here to support and advise you if you decide to make a compensation claim.

Ice Or Snow Accident Claims

It isn’t only drivers who suffer personal injuries in ice or snow accidents – passengers, cyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians can all be affected too.

Depending on the circumstances of your accident, you may be able to claim for compensation against the person or organisation whose negligence caused your accident, including:

• The driver of the other car or vehicle
• The driver of the car you were a passenger in
• The local authority
• The Highways Agency

Ice Or Snow Accident Causes

Other Driver

If the driver of the other vehicle failed to adjust their driving to match the demands of the road and weather conditions – for example, by driving more slowly or by keeping a greater distance from the car in front – then you may have a case for making a claim for compensation which would be paid for by the other driver’s insurance company.

When the weather conditions are poor, it’s important to take extra care when driving, to help prevent an accident and personal injury.

There are naturally times when an accident happens through no fault of your own, but as a guide it makes sense to make a few checks before setting off and changes when driving in icy or snowy conditions, including:

• Drive according to the road conditions
• Remove ice and snow from all the windows
• Make sure there is no ice or snow on car lights or number plates
• Keep a greater distance from the car in front
• Drive slowly and in a high gear

Local Authority / Highways Agency

Your local authority and the Highways Agency have a duty of care to make sure the road and pavement surfaces are safe for all users – drivers, cyclists and pedestrians alike.

Reasonable measures should be taken to ensure the roads and pavements are kept clear of snow and ice, and where conditions are deemed dangerous the authorities should prioritise the main roads. There should also be warning signs in place if necessary.

If the authorities didn’t take the appropriate action or failed to follow the Highways Act 1980 and you’ve been injured in a road accident, you may be able to make a claim for compensation against them.

How We Can Help You With Your Ice Or Snow Accident Claim     

If you or a loved one have suffered a personal injury in an accident caused by ice or snow on the road or pavement, you may be able to make a claim for compensation.

Our specialist solicitors will take the time to fully understand the circumstances of your accident, the seriousness of your injury and the cause, and will tailor all advice to your specific needs and situation.  This includes whether you have a case to make a claim and if so, providing extensive support and guidance for the duration of the claims process to ensure the best possible outcome.

To speak to one of our specialist personal injury solicitors about your ice or snow accident, contact us on freephone – 0800 988 3674 or Chester Tel: 01244 405 399 or email advice@bartletts.co.uk