Archives for October 2020

A business Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) protects your interests and looks after your company at a time when you’re no longer able to do so yourself.

Designed to help in a similar way to standard Lasting Power of Attorneys, business Lasting Power of Attorneys safeguard the interests of a business as well as the interests of its owners and its companies.

Why Have A Business LPA?

With a business LPA, you can appoint one or more Business Guardians who are able to oversee the running of your business for a short or extended period of time.

Having a business LPA in place gives you the peace of mind and security that, should you lose mental capacity at any time due to a serious illness or accident, your business won’t suffer a big disruption to its day-to-day operations.

Business owners who can benefit from appointing an attorney, include:

• Shareholders
• Sole traders
• Partners

What Happens If A Business Owner Loses Capacity & Has No Lasting Power of Attorney?

If you suddenly became unable to make commercial decisions but had no LPA in place, this could have a serious impact on your business.

Your business could be affected badly with difficulties including no one able to:

• Sign documents
• Access your bank accounts
• Authorise staff payments
• Order supplies

It can take months for someone to make an application to the Court of Protection to request the court appoint them as deputy in order to make decisions on your behalf, and is more expensive than creating an LPA in the first place.

How We Can Help You Create A Business LPA

Our specialist Wills and Probate solicitors at Bartletts are here to help you ensure every aspect of your business is protected by putting a business LPA in place.

We will assist you at every stage of drafting a business LPA including making sure the Business Guardians you choose are the right people for your firm.

To speak to one of our solicitors about making an LPA for your company, contact us at our Hoole office on Tel: 01244 311 633 or freephone on 0800 988 3674 or email advice@bartletts.co.uk

 

Will My Personal Injury Claim Progress ?

Since the start of the first lockdown in March, we have been working as normal to help our clients with their legal matters, the only difference has been location as we were initially working remotely from home rather than from the office.

All our solicitors are contactable as though they were in the office and continue to speak to clients, insurance companies and other solicitors to ensure the work is still completed.

Cases are settled weekly and meetings / Court hearings still go ahead via telephone or video calls.

Can Deadlines Still Be Met?

Yes, they can. At the start of lockdown, the Government amended the Civil Procedure Rules to provide greater flexibility for parties meeting Court deadlines and directions.

Practice Direction 51ZA now states both parties can agree extensions of deadlines by up to 56 days. The Courts are also showing greater leniency when extension requests are made.

We are all working diligently to make sure all cases progress as they would outside of lockdown, and always meet our weekly deadlines to keep cases on track.

What Can You Do To Help With Your Personal Injury Claim?

In addition to speaking to a qualified personal injury lawyer about your claim, there are things you can do to support your case and make it stronger.

Document Your Injuries

Any official reports will support your claim, so if you’ve been injured in a road traffic accident contact the authorities straightaway so they can document the incident.

Take photos of the scene of the accident and the details of the other party and witnesses, and store these somewhere safe.

Keep A Diary

It’s a good idea to write down your life since your accident, and the physical and psychological impact it’s had on you. Document any pain or mental suffering, keep photos of your injuries, and stay in touch with your GP as your medical records can be used as evidence.

Also keep a record of your financial losses since your accident, including receipts and evidence of extra costs incurred.

Talk To Your Lawyer

Your solicitor is there to help you so be sure to communicate with him or her, asking questions and checking if ever you’re unsure. Make sure you don’t settle your case too soon – you should wait until your treatments are completed, including any physiotherapy, surgical operations or therapy you may need. It’s a good idea to speak to your personal injury solicitor before accepting a settlement.

How We Can Help You With A Personal Injury Claim

Our personal injury solicitors are providing the same high standard of service throughout lockdown and are fully committed to ensuring it is business as usual for all our clients.

The nature of the coronavirus situation is that it is changing on a regular basis – we will provide you with the most relevant advice and guidance for your personal injury claim and support you throughout the entire process.

As always, we will ensure we fully understand your situation and the circumstances of your accident before tailoring our advice on the best way to proceed and to secure the best possible outcome for you.

To speak to one of our specialist solicitors about making a personal injury claim, contact us on 0800 988 3674 or email advice@bartletts.co.uk

 

 

If you’re injured at work because of an accident that wasn’t your fault, you may be entitled to make a claim for compensation.

If you can show your injury was caused by someone else’s negligence or mistake, you can make a claim for compensation.

Who Pays Accident At Work Compensation?

The law states your employer has a legal duty to keep you safe while you’re at work and could be responsible for paying compensation to you for your no-fault accident at work.

Your employer is legally required to pay statutory sick pay while you recover from a work-related injury or illness.

In the UK, all organisations – regardless of size – must have sufficient employers liability insurance in place that covers medical costs when an employee is injured at work or becomes ill due to exposure at work.

So, if you’ve been injured in an accident that wasn’t your fault, while doing your job, then your company’s insurance firm should cover the amount of compensation you’re entitled to.

Types Of Accident At Work

Every accident at work is different but as a guide, personal injuries are usually caused by one-off accidents or repeated exposure at work.

One-off accidents at work include:

• Slips, trips and falls
• Falling from a height
• Being hurt by a falling object
• Being crushed by heavy machinery
• Being hurt by faulty equipment
• Sustaining burn injuries from accidental contact with hazardous materials

Repeated exposure accidents at work include:

• Carpal tunnel syndrome caused by repetitive activities
• Tinnitus or hearing loss from noise exposure
• Back pain due to lifting heavy items without proper training or support
• Respiratory illness due to toxic fumes exposure

What Should You Do If You’re Injured At Work?

The most important thing to do if you’re injured at work is to deal with the formalities of notifying your employer of your injury or illness – once you’ve made sure your immediate medical needs have been taken care of.

You need to create a record of your accident to support your claim and try to ensure the incident is recorded in the accident report book at your place of work.

Every accident at work is unique and requires a slightly different approach, but as a guide if you’re injured at work and it is severe, you should call for an ambulance before asking a colleague to deal with the formalities (detailed below) on your behalf.

As a guide if you’re injured at work, you should:

• Report your accident to your site or floor manager
• Create a written incident report in the accident book at work
• Take photos of the scene of your accident
• Establish if any witnesses and get statements from them

You need to have evidence that your accident at work was due to no fault of your own and that it was caused by someone else’s mistake or negligence, and that your employer was aware of your accident straightaway.

How Much Compensation Will You Get For Your Injury?

Every compensation case is different and the amount of compensation you receive will depend on a number of factors.

Your level of compensation depends on:

• The severity of your injury or illness
• Medical treatment costs
• Any lost income
• Ongoing care costs
• Personal pain and suffering

How We Can Help You Claim Compensation For Your Accident At Work

The law is particularly complex when it comes to accidents at work, which is why it’s important to use a qualified and experienced personal injury solicitor – and our specialist solicitors have successfully handled a range of accident at work cases, helping to secure the best possible compensation and outcome each time.

If you have been injured due to an accident at work or become ill because of exposure at work, caused by someone’s negligence or mistake, we will support you at every step of the process. We offer a free no-obligation initial consultation to discuss the details of your accident and establish if your employer is responsible, and provide ongoing advice and guidance, should you decide to make a claim, to help you secure the compensation you deserve.

To speak to one of our specialist solicitors about your accident at work or to make a claim for compensation, contact us on 0800 988 3674 or email advice@bartletts.co.uk