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Burd Ward Solicitors are happy to announce that Mrs Alisha Butler-Ward, a Catastrophic & Serious Injury Solicitor has now joined their specialist Personal Injury team.
Alisha is a Solicitor Advocate with over 18 years experience in Personal Injury and specialises in Brain Injury, Spinal Injury, and Amputation Claims, to name but a few.
This year alone Alisha has won a claim in the sum of £1 million, for a traumatic amputee client. Alisha is involved in various charities who offer support to Amputees and those who have suffered Catastrophic injuries following an accident.
When dealing with Catastrophic / Serious Injury claims the relationship between the client, their family and the Solicitor is extremely important. More often than not these claims can last several years due to the complexity of the injuries and the rehabilitation required. It is therefore vital that victims instruct an experienced Solicitor who they can build a relationship with and who they can rely upon for support and advice, not only for themselves but for those around them.
A Catastrophic / Serious injury can change not only the clients life, forever, but the life of their family and friends. All those affected need the right support and advice to assist in coming to terms with the effects of the accident. This is why the Solicitor is not only a Legal advisor but often becomes a companion to the client and family, and the only constant in a time of uncertainty.
Clients and families of those who have suffered as a result of Catastrophic / Serious accidents, will have a higher demand for Justice, as opposed to a concentration on monetary compensation and this demand must be handled sensitively and expertly. Unless liability is established quickly, no immediate compensation will be forthcoming and therefore the main focus when initially dealing with such a claim should be on establishing liability, as well as working alongside the medical professionals to ensure that the client is receiving the right treatment and rehabilitation.
Ensuring the right treatment is given, by the NHS or Privately, is aided by a Solicitors experience in dealing with the relevant medical professionals and having the right knowledge, experience and contacts in the medical industry. It can be imperative for surgery, prosthetic limbs, adaptations and other medical aids to be provided at the earliest opportunity and it is the Solicitors role to ensure that all recommendations are provided.
A Catastrophic / Serious Injury can affect many people, not only the injured person, but those around them and particularly those who care for them. These additional issues will need to be considered when the care regime is formulated. It should be standard practise for a Rehabilitation Report to be prepared at the earliest opportunity to give
the client, their family and the Solicitors involved, a better understanding of the client’s requirements and to assist in obtaining the correct treatment and rehabilitation for the client.
For most clients and their families the idea of making a claim is the last thing on their minds and the thought of litigation is stressful but an experienced Solicitor will be there every step of the way and will understand these feelings and will explain in detail the process involved. It is also important to know that your Solicitor is on hand at any time and will support you through your rehabilitation as well as the litigation.
If you or someone you know has suffered a Catastrophic / Serious injury as a result of an accident then please contact Mrs Alisha Butler-Ward at Burd Ward Solicitors on 0151 639 8273; or 0771 4236784; or email on alishaward@burdward.co.uk
I have recently purchased my first house and something I have had to consider is making a Will. Research has shown that most people fail to make appropriate arrangements for their death which impacts upon those closest to them. A study by the Dying Matters Coalition showed that over half of us are unaware of our partner’s final wishes and we are unlikely to have made suitable arrangements for our own deaths. I had avoided making a Will as I didn’t want to think about death but especially since becoming a home owner I realised it was a sensible step to take to ensure my loved ones are looked after.
I would urge home owners to make a Will or review their Wills to ensure they are up to date. It is especially important when buying a house with someone else to consider what you would wish to happen to your interest in your home upon your death. This is something that needs to be considered with your conveyancer when purchasing your home and to be confirmed in your Will. It is essential that you receive professional advice from an expert to ensure you are aware of all your options and that your Will reflects your wishes.
At Burd Ward we regularly advise and act for clients in this area. Buying a home can be a daunting time and it is important that you have advice from professionals who can guide you through the process and ensure that you have provision in place to ensure your wishes are met in the event of your death. We appreciate that making a Will may be the last thing on your mind amongst the stress of moving home but it is the perfect time to take stock and consider what you would want to happen to your home if you died and at Burd Ward our wills are competitively priced and you can be assured of a speedy service from our qualified advisers.
For more information please contact Laura Prysor-Jones on 0151 639 8273 or email her at lpj@burdward.co.uk
Whether children/young adults play Football or Rugby they could be in danger of sustaining at the very least a concussion and/or “minor head injury”. Most recently Tottenham keeper Hugo Llioris briefly lost consciousness during Tottenham’s game against Everton when he collided with Romelu Lukaku. He was assessed on the pitch and allowed to carry on. But Football unions called for changes to the Head Injury Guidelines with the Professional Football Association saying that footballers should be removed from play is they lose consciousness.
So what happens at schools or local football matches that children/young adults play in, what are the guidelines there and is there someone suitably qualified to spot the signs of concussion and/or a minor head injury.
We certainly do not want to stop our children/young adults from playing such sports but we have to be confident that the continued participation in such sports is not causing lasting damage to those who play.
Many Rugby players will suffer will suffer repeated concussions during their career. But similarly footballers who header a fast moving ball can find that the impact is severe given the force by which the ball is travelling.
Such is the issue that The Washington Post reported on 30 May 2014 that the First ever summit was to be held on Sports Concussions was to be held in the White House with President Obama stating that the Culture of American Sports needed to shift to cope with danger of concussions suffered in sports.
The summit resulted in new financial commitments by the federal government and the private sector into research into concussions to help train paediatric neurologists specialising in sports concussions and research into how to prevent diagnose and treat the injuries amongst young athletes.
So what should we do and what should we look out for?
Well top scientists suggest that for someone with suspected concussion, you take them off and watch them that night. But what if you are not present at the game? Being observant and talking to player afterwards is key. Ask them if they came into contact with anyone else or headed the ball. Look out for signs of concussion/head injury such as:
Further information can be found on the NHS website at: http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/head-injury-minor/pages/introduction.aspx
Contact Alisha Butler-Ward at alishaward@burdward.co.uk
Question: Do you rent your home but find it difficult to get your landlord to carry out even the most basic of repairs?
The above are just a few examples of problems you may be facing on a daily basis, however what do you do when nobody turns up to fix these problems and what rights do you have to take matters further?
Answer: Firstly, you should detail your complaints in a letter to your landlord and ensure that you keep a copy, and also take photographs of any of the problems. If your landlord fails to respond then you may wish to consult a legal expert who should be willing to write to your landlord on your behalf asking for the repairs to be carried out. In some circumstances you may be able to receive advice which is funded by the Legal Aid Agency.
It is wise to keep a diary of events surrounding your disrepair problems as times, dates, and ‘who said what’ will be important if your landlord continually ignores you or refuses to see to the problems.
Even if your tenancy agreement has now expired you may still be protected by the law, and may be able to take your landlord to court to obtain an order forcing him/her to carry out the works. In some cases tenants can receive compensation.
Your legal expert should aim to try and resolve the issues with your landlord without going to court, however if your landlord does not do what is required by the law then court proceedings could be issued to try and enforce your statutory and tenancy rights.
If you are in doubt then you should contact Paula Suckley at Burd Ward on 0151 639 8273 or email her at ps@burdward.co.uk
At 2pm on Thursday 31 July 2014 the West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service was alerted to a fire a Power Station C of the Ferrybridge Power Station, Knottingly.
At one point 15 fire engines were in attendance at the power station which is a coal powered station. Thick smoke and flames could be seen rising between two silo-like structures which were located near the cooling towers. The black smoke could be seen rising from miles away and local roads and motorways were also affected.
The blaze had resulted in the partial collapse of the tower, believed to be used to remove sulphur dioxide from gases produced at the power station.
Whilst it was reported that there were no immediate injuries reported, we are interested in hearing from local residents or employees that have sustained injuries, such as the following:
If you or someone you know has suffered any of the above symptoms and sought medical attention as a result then we would recommend that you contact us for guidance and support on making a claim.
Please contact Alisha Ward at Burd Ward Solicitors on 0151 639 8273 or at alishaward@burdward.co.uk
David Cameron is considering making domestic violence a specific criminal offence and has acknowledged the justice system needs to be more sympathetic towards victims. This comes at the same time as the Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper criticised police for letting perpetrators of domestic violence off too lightly by using Community Resolution which was never intended to be used in domestic violence situations.
It is pleasing that the Government seems to finally be realising the impact of domestic violence and the need for it to be dealt with firmly by the police. Whilst the police should be contacted if you are suffering as a result of an ex partner, it is important to consider other options that may be available to you. At Burd Ward our family team are specialists in this area and are able to offer you confidential advice and support to help you deal with violence and harassment and protect yourself and your family. Our family practitioners will be able to explain your legal options to you and represent you in Court if you require the protection of a Court Order. If you have suffered recent physical violence it may be possible to go to Court the same day as your appointment to obtain an injunction to protect you from future violence. We will be able to advise you accordingly depending on the circumstances of your situation. We are able to offer legal aid to cover advice and representation in domestic violence proceedings also.
It is important that you do not suffer in silence if you are experiencing harassment or threats from an ex partner.
Burd Ward offers a 24 hour domestic violence hotline where you can receive confidential and sensitive advice on 07531 689 780 or for further information please contact Burd Ward Solicitors on 0151 639 8273 and ask for Laura Prysor-Jones or email on lpj@burdward.co.uk
The Shoe-Be-Do Campaign is designed to encourage families from across Wirral to think before they discard their unwanted school shoes or other useful items once their children have either grown out or no longer need them.
Read the full article at Wirral Globe.
For more information about this year’s campaign visit the Shoe-Be-Doo Campaign page.
People are involved in accidents at work every day, from office workers to factory workers. It is important that any accident, no matter how minor, is recorded in your employer’s accident book as the smallest of injuries can in some cases result in more serious consequences.
Your employer is under a duty to ensure that you are in a safe working environment, which can range from keeping the workplace clean and tidy to employing capable members of staff to be your colleagues.
If you are injured as a result of a breach in this duty then you may be entitled to claim compensation and should seek legal advice.
If you are involved in an accident at work then besides ensuring that the matter is recorded in the accident book, you should speak to your first aider, report the matter to your supervisor, record details of any witnesses and seek medical attention.
If you are concerned about making a claim against your employer you should be aware that you actually have 3 years from the date of the accident in which to issue court proceedings. Quite often serious injuries result in long absence from work, possibly meaning that your employment will come to an end, and it is important to remember that you may still be able to pursue a claim once your employment has finished, providing it is within the 3 year period.
Burd Ward are pleased to announce that Laura Prysor-Jones has been accepted on the Law Society Children Panel reflecting her knowledge and experience in dealing with all matters relating to children law. She joins John Burd, senior director and head of the family department who is also a Panel member and has over 30 years’ experience in dealing with family matters.
It is extremely important when faced with social services involvement with your family that you have advice from a specialist. It is one of the most stressful times people can face and at Burd Ward we ensure that you receive expert advice to guide you through this difficult time. We recognise how stressful this time can be for families and so deal with matters in a supportive and understanding manner to help you achieve the best outcome.
We recommend that you seek advice as soon as possible when told by social services that they have concerns about the safety of your child/children. People often wait until Court proceedings have been issued and there are tight timescales imposed by the Courts which means parents have little time to demonstrate that they can safely care for their children. At Burd Ward we offer advice every step of the way to ensure clients are in the strongest position possible when attending Court.
Social Services sometimes hold a Pre-Proceedings Meeting to discuss their concerns with you about your children and we are able to accompany, support and advocate for you at such meetings. We also have vast experience of representing client’s in Court during proceedings brought by the Local Authority. Legal Aid is available for pre-proceedings meetings and representation in Court when Social Services apply for a care or supervision order. In other cases there is still legal aid available depending on the circumstances and our expert team can advise as to whether legal aid is available in your situation.
Don’t struggle on alone, get advice from the specialists today.
For more information call 0151 639 8273 and ask for Laura Prysor-Jones or John Burd.
Did you or someone you know work for BT as call-centre staff, or any other call-centre in the 60’s, 70’s or 80’s?
Do you turn the television up because you cannot hear it properly? Do you struggle to follow conversations when in a group or out socially because you cannot hear what is being said? Do you suffer from hearing loss in both ears, one-sided hearing loss, tinnitus or other hearing problems. If so, this may be as a result of working on the telephone exchange for BT.
Another form of injury to the ear can be Acoustic Shock which is characterised by sudden, loud and unexpected noise coming from the headset. This can be through an audio technology malfunction or even a disgruntled caller shouting down the phone at staff. The loudness and length of the audio shock can cause permanent damage to the hearing and/or tinnitus.
Acoustic shock can have the following symptoms:
Hearing loss and/or tinnitus or Acoustic Shock can be as a result of being provided with equipment that completely covered the ear, leaving no chance of the sound dissipating. The sounds often encountered were alarms ringing and coins dropping into telephones, which are thought to have caused the damage to operators wearing old-fashioned head-sets.
Most people may not be aware they have a problem. It is not total deafness, it is more subtle. You may notice problems only when in groups or maybe your family have pointed out that you have the television on quite loud. You may even experience problems hearing when you are on the telephone.
If you or someone you know has suffered any of the above problems and you worked in a call-centre between 1970 and 1990 and you would like advice on whether or not you may have a claim then please contact Michael Ward at Burd Ward Solicitors on 0151 639 8273