Motorcycle accidents occur often and can result in serious injuries for the riders, due to the vulnerable nature of motorcyclists on the road. However, as a motorcyclist you have as much right to use the road and feel confident when you do so as any other driver, which is why, if you’ve been the victim of a motorcycle accident that wasn’t your fault, you may be entitled to make a claim for compensation.

Making a claim may seem daunting but it doesn’t have to be. With the right professional legal assistance, claiming for motorcycle accident compensation is straightforward and relatively stress-free.

While every motorcycle accident and resulting personal injuries are unique, there are a few simple steps you should follow if you’ve been injured in an accident that wasn’t your fault, to make the claims process easy:

1. Note details

If possible, write down the details of your accident immediately and try to speak to any witnesses, making a note of their contact details. Photos of the scene are very useful too, and keep all associated medical notes and receipts somewhere safe too.

2. Contact a personal injury solicitor

It’s recommended that you speak to a personal injury solicitor about your motorcycle accident for advice on the best way to proceed. Depending on the details of your circumstances, you’ll be advised if you have sufficient grounds to make a claim. A solicitor will look after your best interests and provide you with accurate, honest advice so you can make an informed decision.

Our specialist teams include experienced motorcyclists who will understand the difficulties you are facing if you have been involved in an accident.

3. Establish the cause

If you decide to make a claim, your solicitor will work fast to establish the cause of your accident. Motorcycle accidents are often caused by the rider swerving to avoid an object in the road or a pedestrian who’s stepped out in front of them; pot holes in the road; or a car door being opened onto the motorcycle or cars emerging from side turnings. The established cause can then be used to prove you’re the victim of the accident and your personal injuries were caused by an individual’s or company’s negligence. It’s worth remembering that any claim you make won’t be against an individual but against their insurance company.

4. Have your injuries assessed

You should have a medical professional assess your injuries to discover just how serious and long-term they are. This assessment should also clarify the extent of your emotional injuries as well as physical, and estimate the likely financial costs to you in terms of ongoing care and lifestyle changes.

5. Receive support throughout the claims process

Your personal injury solicitor should support and guide you throughout the claims process, to make it as stress-free and successful as possible. Contact us today

Workplace accidents happen all too often and can result in serious personal injuries – but who should pay for the related medical expenses? Regardless of the cost of your personal injury, if your work related accident happened through no fault of your own, you shouldn’t have to pay the medical bills and may be entitled to claim for compensation.

Employers have a duty of care towards all employees to keep them safe in the workplace. This includes putting appropriate safety measures in place, providing the right safety training to all staff, and ensuring staff have access to the necessary equipment to carry out their job safely.

Do you believe your workplace accident happened due to a lack of safety precautions or training, faulty equipment or exposure to harmful substances? If your personal injury or illness was caused by your employer’s negligence, you have a right to claim compensation.

Your Employer Covers The Costs

Businesses are insured against accident claims and if you make a claim against your employer, you’re actually claiming against the insurance company and not your employer directly. Any personal injury you’ve experienced at work because of something your employer did or didn’t do should be compensated – including your employers insurance company paying any associated medical expenses.

This is true regardless of your employment contract. Whether you work full-time, part-time, on a temporary basis, or as a contractor, the cost of treating personal injuries caused by workplace accidents will be the responsibility of your employer and will be covered by their insurance company – if it can be shown they were at fault.

Know Your Rights

The easiest way to find out if you have a right to claim compensation for your work related accident, is to contact a personal injury claims specialist at Bartletts Solicitors.

Knowing what to do following an accident at work will make claiming more straightforward and increase your chances of a successful outcome. Always report any accident at work to your employer, and if possible take photos of where your accident happened, especially if this highlights the cause such as faulty machinery or hazards in the workplace. Furthermore, make sure you see a medical professional and have your injuries assessed as soon as possible .

As soon as you’re ready, contact a specialist solicitor to discuss the details of your accident. He or she will be able to advise whether you have a case to make a claim and, should you decide to go ahead, provide professional support and guidance throughout the claims process.

In addition to seeking compensation for your personal injuries, your solicitor will likely advise you also to claim compensation for any loss of earnings and travelling expenses as well as related medical costs.

Make a free compensation enquiry today.

For specialist advice on your personal injury claim, call us now on 01244 752 999 or complete a Free Online Enquiry and we will soon be in touch.

At Bartletts our specialist personal injury solicitors in Wrexham meet lots of people who have been involved in an accident at work. We understand that making a personal injury claim against your employer requires sensitive handling, especially if you plan to continue working within the same organisation.

When a factory worker tripped over a wire at work, our experienced lawyers successfully secured compensation for her and she returned to work just three weeks later.

The 35-year-old production operative was working at her station on the conveyor belt, when she tripped over a wire that was connected to a printer. The lady fell to the ground, banging her head and back on the concrete floor.

The lady was taken to the accident and emergency department of her local hospital. She had suffered a chronic mechanical lower back injury where her lumber spine was damaged. She was prescribed strong painkillers that she needed to take for three months following the accident, and she was unable to work for three weeks.

All employers should have employers liability insurance in place to cover accidents at work. Bartletts quickly and efficiently helped the lady claim compensation from her employer’s insurance company. This included compensation for pain and suffering as well as an additional amount of compensation for loss of earnings.

 

 

 

When a lady cut her finger on a knife while browsing in her local supermarket, Bartletts personal injury solicitors in Wrexham helped her successfully claim compensation.

The lady was rummaging through a display basket filled with kitchen utensils, when she cut her finger on a knife. She discovered that the knife was loose in the basket without a plastic cover on it. Her finger was bleeding profusely so she immediately alerted the supermarket staff.

The lady went to the accident and emergency department of her local hospital, where they diagnosed a severe laceration and applied a surgical dressing to her right index finger. She continued to be in pain for 10 days following the accident and needed to take painkillers. The injury also affected her work, restricting her when using the computer keyboard.

When the lady came to see Bartletts Solicitors, our expert personal injury lawyer contacted the supermarket. We then skillfully negotiated a fair amount of compensation on the lady’s behalf, reflecting the level of pain and suffering she had endured.

Probate is a document that is applied for by the Personal Representatives of a deceased person’s (the testator) estate which gives the Representatives the legal power to manage the estate and ensure the assets are distributed according to the Will of the deceased. The Personal Representatives are known as the Executors when the deceased left a Will, or where there is no Will, the Personal Representatives must instead apply for Letters of Administration to administer the estate.

On the testator’s death, it is the duty of the testator’s executors to administer the estate. In order to collect assets, pay liabilities (including taxes) and distribute the estate in accordance with the will, it is usually necessary for executors to obtain a grant of probate.

How Long Does Probate Take?

The time-scale for dealing with the affairs of someone who has passed away depends on what assets are involved, how complex the estate is and how well documented the details are. If everything is relatively straightforward, it takes around one month before an application to the Probate Registry can be submitted. The process involves the executors’ confirming that they are willing to act and, having previously obtained details of the assets, liabilities and any tax due in an estate, swearing a prescribed form of oath containing these details.

Usually a Grant of Probate is issued with 2-3 weeks after this date. Many organisations may be involved in the process, for example, banks, building societies, insurance companies and Depending on the size and nature of the estate, it may also be necessary to give details of it to Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs.

Is Probate Always Granted?

No. Probate is not given in cases where the will is disputed or deemed invalid, for example, due to no signature or unreliable witnesses. Often, if an earlier will has been made, probate could be granted for this version instead.

What Is The Probate Process?

Our professional probate solicitors are here to make the probate process as simple and cost-effective as possible for you, enabling you to fulfil your duties as a personal representative as well as maximise the value of the estate.

As a guide, the probate process usually involves 5 steps:

1. Value Assets and Liabilities
   Immediately following the person’s death, all assets must be found and valued by the personal representatives. This includes land, property, vehicles, shares, businesses and personal items. For the high-value items, it’s important to use professionals – a trusted surveyor should value land and property for you; a stockbroker should assess any shares; and the individual’s accountant should be able to advise you on the worth of any businesses owned by the deceased.
   The same assessments made for assets should be made for liabilities too. This includes any mortgages, credit cards, loans and unpaid bills.
2. Tell the Tax Man
   Once the assets and liabilities have been assessed, you need to fill in an Inheritance Tax Return. This needs to be done even if there is no inheritance tax due. Your probate solicitor will complete this for you .
3. Apply for a Grant of Representation
   At this point, you need to submit a Grant of Representation request to the Probate Registry. To find your nearest Probate Registry, visit https://courttribunalfinder.service.gov.uk/search/postcode?aol=Probate
4. Pay the Tax Man
   Your probate solicitor will be able to help with negotiations with HMRC regarding how much tax is due and help you achieve a reasonable outcome. Tax has to be paid within six months of the individual’s death. We would also calculate whether any income tax is due to or from the estate during the process
5. Gather and Distribute
   Once you’ve been issued a Grant of Representation, you can handle the assets and liabilities. This includes selling assets and holding money for beneficiaries, as well as settling liabilities from the funds of the estate.The beneficiaries can then receive their inheritance, or it may be money is kept in trusts if the beneficiaries are children.

Do I Need A Probate Solicitor?

A probate solicitor will be able to advise and support you at every stage of the process, helping you complete all necessary forms and documentation in an accurate and timely fashion. Furthermore, a probate solicitor can help with negotiations between family and friends, should there be any disputes during the process, as well as with HMRC to arrange the inheritance tax settlement owed, and set up trusts if needed.

While you can handle the probate process without a probate solicitor, these are just some of the benefits of using a professional:

• Legal expertise
• Assistance with will disputes
• Assistance with disputes between family and friends
• Help with HMRC negotiations
• Help with valuations
• Help with all forms

How Much Will You Charge To Help With The Probate Process?

Our legal fees are always competitively priced to ensure our clients receive value for money and we always ensure that our fees are fair and proportionate to our Clients. We operate in a straightforward, transparent way, we are always upfront about our costs and will advise you before going ahead.

We are here to support you throughout the entire probate process, to make it as stress-free and productive as possible for you.

For further information on our wills, trusts and probate services, please contact our specialist team at Bartletts Solicitors today on Freephone 0800 988 3674 or email advice@bartletts.co.uk

 

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a relatively common condition, which occurs as a result of compression of the median nerve in the wrist. Symptoms include tingling sensations, numbness and dull aches and pains in the fingers, hands and arms.

For many sufferers, the condition may be temporary and symptoms will disappear on their own or through self-treatment. In more serious cases, surgery, known as carpal tunnel decompression, may be required to reduce pressure on the median nerve in the wrist and relieve the condition. Depending on the severity of the case, it may take some time to recover and return to work.

One of the known causes of carpal tunnel syndrome is repetitive strain on the hands or wrists. Employers have a duty to protect workers from prolonged exposure to repetitive actions that may lead to such injuries. Regular risk assessments should be carried out and if a risk of injury is identified, then workers or the type of work should be rotated so that they do not do one task for too long.

Bartletts personal injury solicitors in Chester recently helped a labourer who was suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome successfully secure compensation from his employer for his injuries.

The 25 year old, who had been doing the same job pulling heavy hydraulic and water lines for 10 months, began to feel a ‘pins and needles’ sensation in his wrist. This turned to numbness and constant aching. His GP sent him to hospital where he was diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome and told he would need an operation.

Our experienced personal injury solicitor commissioned a report from a consultant hand surgeon to get a full assessment of his condition and his prognosis. We then presented the information to his employer to secure a settlement under their employers’ liability insurance.

The labourer made a full recovery after his operation. He was able to return to work after 4 weeks and had made a full recovery by three months.

 

 

When a child under 18 is injured they do not have the legal status to make decisions and claim compensation for themselves. Instead an adult, usually a parent, can claim compensation on their behalf. If your child has been injured, Bartletts expert personal injury lawyers in Chester can guide you through the legal process to help your child get the compensation they deserve.

We recently helped parents of a toddler, who was left permanently scarred after an injury, do just that. The little girl was just 21 months old when she tripped over in a high street shop and cut her face on a broken display unit. While the wound on her cheek was deep, it did not require stitches but did leave a scar. Later, the little girl developed a complication which made her cheek look permanently red, known as hyperpigmentation, around the scar.

Our specialist personal injury solicitor helped the parents apply for compensation on their daughter’s behalf. Children’s injuries have to be monitored over a period of time to see how they develop and to get a better idea of the future prognosis. We commissioned a specialist report from a plastic surgeon to assess her progress and give a medical opinion on the likelihood of permanent disfigurement.

Once we had a clearer prognosis for her recovery, we skillfully negotiated a substantial sum in compensation for personal injuries on the little girl’s behalf from the shop owner’s insurance company.

When compensation is agreed on behalf of a child, you have to attend a short court hearing. The judge has to approve the figure agreed to ensure that compensation is only settled once the child has made a recovery. The compensation must be in the best interests of the child. Once approved the compensation is paid into a court fund, which becomes available to the child when they turn 18 years old.

 

 

When you report a public safety hazard to the council, you would expect steps to be taken to rectify the problem. When a pensioner who did just that was injured by the same hazard herself, Bartletts helped her secure the compensation that she deserved.

The 80-year-old lady spotted that a neighbouring mesh fence had blown down leaving the mesh strewn on the pavement, posing a potential danger to pedestrians. As a responsible citizen, the lady telephoned the council who were responsible for the property and reported the problem on their repair line.

A week later, the lady was walking along the same stretch of pavement when her foot got tangled in some loose mesh and she fell over. She fractured one of her fingers and was bruised and shocked. The lady was taken to hospital by ambulance where her finger was put in a splint.

When the lady came to see one of our specialist personal injury solicitors in Chester she had been in considerable pain for a number of weeks. Her pre-existing arthritis meant that when the fracture healed, her finger had remained permanently crooked. She had been unable to use her left hand and her sister-in-law had been caring for her.

When our experienced lawyer contacted the council they initially denied that the problem had been reported. We proved that it had by providing copy of the lady’s telephone bill, and established that the council had failed in its public liability duty by not taking any action. Bartletts successfully secured compensation for personal injuries and care expenses on the lady’s behalf.

A trip to the beautician is supposed to leave you looking and feeling good, but if something goes wrong the experienced personal injury lawyers at Bartletts Solicitors in Chester can help. We recently won compensation for a lady who had suffered an allergic reaction following a treatment at her local beauty parlour.

The 22-year-old sales assistant had made an appointment at a local beautician to have false eyelashes applied for the first time. When she arrived, she was taken straight into a cubicle and the procedure was carried out to fix the false lashes with specialist glue to the base of her lashes.

The young woman went home, but by the next day her eyelids were red, swollen and sore. She had suffered an allergic reaction to the glue used to fix the lashes. She returned to the beauticians to have the false eyelashes removed and went to see her GP for medical treatment. The doctor told her she had not only suffered an allergic reaction but she had also developed conjunctivitis in both eyes. She was prescribed eye ointment to ease her symptoms.

When the young lady came to see one of our specialist personal injury solicitors in Chester she was in a great deal of discomfort. Our tenacious lawyer tracked down the beautician, who had left the salon, through a social networking site. We quickly established that no patch test had been carried out before the eyelashes were fitted and secured compensation for personal injuries from the beauty parlour’s insurance company.