Category: General / News

Employers must take steps to ensure the safety of all their employees, which includes taking all reasonable steps to eliminate or minimise the risk of workplace injury Unfortunately some employers fail to act until after an accident happens, often resulting in the serious injury of one of more employees

When a workplace injury occurs which is caused by an employer’s inaction or negligence, the injured employee is entitled to compensation for both their injuries and any financial losses caused as a consequence Unfortunately in many cases, instead of holding their hands up, employers often deny any blame to escape payment of damages rightly owed and legal redress

A common defence to a workplace injury claim is to allege that the accident did not occur as described, if at all This calls into question the credibility of the employee, adding insult to injury At Aston Knight Solicitors we have a wealth of experience in dealing with allegations of fraudulent and exaggerated claims on behalf of honest, injured employees and can help you successfully pursue your rightful claim for compensation even when your character is called into question

Recently reported in the news is the case of a cyclist, Robert Hazeldean, who has been ordered to pay £4161 in compensation to a pedestrian he struck whilst cycling along London Bridge

Whilst there is nothing particularly out of the ordinary regarding the amount of compensation awarded to the pedestrian for his personal injury, or the Court’s decision, the focus in the covering news media has been on the fact that Mr Hazeldean has been ordered to pay the claimant’s legal costs, which could end up personally costing him in the region of £20,000

Now, it is in fact the usual rule in court proceedings that the loser pays the winner’s costs and, as such, there is nothing unusual about the costs order However, the key point to note here is that, unlike motor vehicle drivers, there is no mandatory requirement for cyclists to have insurance cover It is the insurance cover that would ordinarily pay out compensation, and legal costs, in these circumstances In the case of motor vehicle operators, should they not have insurance (which is of course illegal) there is a government body, called the Motor Insurers Bureau,…

Being hurt in an accident can have far reaching financial consequences, some of which will impact you straight away Time off work may be required when your injuries are at their worst; depending on your employment terms, you may not be covered for some of the time off needed during your recovery Additionally, you may need to fund unexpected treatment and medication costs, as well as expensive journeys to and from appointments

These costs are often recovered at the conclusion of your claim; however you may feel the pinch whilst your claim is ongoing At Aston Knight Solicitors we understand this and can lend a helping hand whilst acting for you in your claim for compensation
We can arrange for you to receive an advance of up to £100000 in cash from your final compensation award to ease your financial burden whilst your claim continues

You will qualify the first advance of £20000 once the following conditions are met:

• The insurers of the person(s) at fault for your accident have been identified and fault for your injuries…
  

Injury as a result of an accident can have a sudden and devastating impact on those involved, as well as their loved ones For some it can result in months of recovery, time off work, and distress For others, it can be a life changing experience causing permanent disabilities which require extensive medical care and cause future financial uncertainty

Traditionally, if you needed help pursuing a personal injury claim you would have chosen a trusted local firm of solicitors to help; nowadays you are more likely to begin your search online

In the digital world, money talks and often larger national or multi-national firms with a hefty advertising budget seem like the wise choice However, a bigger firm is not always a better firm and more importantly; it does not make them the right solicitors for you

Contrary to what you may think, entrusting your case to a large firm does not always mean your case will be handled by an experienced solicitor In larger firms cases are often in the hands of unqualified paralegals with limited…

Engaging a solicitor to represent you for your claim and compensation can often be daunting, raising a lot of questions, which adds further stress what might already be an extremely stressful situation Therefore, having the frequently asked questions at your disposal, you’re able to fully understand your situation, your right to claim and any ramifications surrounding the course of action you decide to take with regards to making a legal claim

Here is a list of the most frequently asked questions, we as a solicitor often receive during a compensation claim

When Should you Report an Injury at Work?

The answer is quite simply… immediately if possible Should you be harmed because of an injury at work, you should immediately report this to your employer, unless you need immediate medical attention At the first chance you can, you should formally report the injury to the employer, including the details of the hazard that caused the workplace injury

When will you Get Paid for an Injury at Work?

Typically, you will either receive an out-of-court settlement agreement, which your solicitor will present to you for approval, or should your claim go to court, you will…

I prepared a brief article on this topic a few years ago  My writing on that topic then was triggered by coming into contact with the client of a large Manchester personal injury firm, who I shall not name, who were seeking to deduct 30% of their client’s compensation (by adding VAT on top of the statutory maximum of 25%) along with a very large legal expenses insurance policy premium  I was so appalled by the circumstances I wrote my short blog to sort of “set the record straight”

Yesterday however I was approached by another client of that same firm who had been subject to the same predicament, with the same firm, and who had located my article  The main focus of my earlier article was to point out the law states the 25% deduction is inclusive of VAT ie you cannot charge VAT on top of the 25% to thereby take 30% of a client’s compensation  This is what the client was facing: the firm was trying to charge him VAT on top of…

Compensation claims can sometimes be less than straight forward Deciding on whether your particular circumstances entitles you to compensation can be difficult, and the advices can vary from solicitor to solicitor

Some solicitors will have a team of paralegals who will tell tell everyone they have a claim in an effort to take down your details, send you some paperwork, get you ‘signed up’, only for then a solicitor to review your matter and advise you you do not have a claim, leaving you disillusioned with the process and dismissive of obtaining a second opinion Some solicitors will simply say you do not have a claim as they lack the knowledge and/or it is too difficult a claim for them to pursue

At Aston Knight Solicitors, we ensure you talk to a solicitor specialising in the area of law relevant to your circumstances, whether that be an accident at work, road traffic accident or a medical negligence claim We will provide a detailed review of your chances of success, highlighting the possible scenarios and the approach the third party…