Having fallen ill on Holiday 2 years ago for one week of a two week holiday, I found that it ruined my holiday as I couldn’t eat and could barely hold down water. I received various medications from the Hotel Doctor at a cost of over £120. When I came home I was still ill and it lasted for several months but I never thought to make a claim as I just thought it was “one of those things”. However, since my experience I have been reading various stories in the press about hundreds of people getting ill on Holiday and I thought to myself if no one complains about it then how do we expect the Hotel and or tour operators to know that it happening and therefore do something about it? Yes we can just complain, but why shouldn’t we get some of our money back for the holiday that was ruined, that we have saved and saved to afford!

With the summer Holiday season coming to end and Holiday sickness claims rising I thought I would advise people of what Holiday Sickness is all about.

Some people can suffer severe food poisoning resulting in long lasting stomach problems. Some only suffer a few days to a few weeks.

So who can claim? Well if you have been on Holiday (in the UK or abroad) and you have suffered from Holiday sickness then ask yourself the following questions:

1. Did you eat or drink only in the Hotel? If you ate outside the Hotel then it may be difficult to prove it was the food in the Hotel that caused the illness, unless it was only after you became ill.
2. What food in particular do you believe caused the illness, and on what date and were was it served?
3. Did you eat food that looked like it had not been cooked properly?
4. Did you see food left uncovered? For example in outside eating areas in the heat? If so what was the average heat on that day(s)?
5. Were antibacterial hand gels provided in the food areas?
6. Do you know of any other guests getting ill?
7. Did you see insects, birds and/or animals around the food service areas?
8. Did anyone else in your group become ill?

If you have suffered Sickness whilst on Holiday and you informed your Rep / Hotel and sought treatment then you may be able to claim.

Call Alisha Butler-Ward at Burd Ward Solicitors on 0800 0190 324

The European Commission will meet with various consumer groups and national protection agencies this month to look at the question of compensation for European consumers affected by the VW emissions scandal.

VW has so far rejected claims for compensation, but has said that it is regular dialogue with Brussels. However, there is growing pressure to offer compensation as the number of European owners who have set up claims increases.

There is currently a case ongoing in Mayo, Ireland which many firms will be waiting to see the outcome of before starting costly Court Proceedings on other cases.

Currently the European Commission is assessing whether VW breached two EU consumer laws, the Consumer Sales and Guarantees Directive and the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive both of which prohibit companies from making false statements over products.

We will keep you updated but in the meantime, if you have any queries please do not hesitate to call.

Burd Ward are pleased to welcome Jenna Ellison to our expanding Family Law team. Jenna finished her Training contract to qualify as a Solicitor at the end of June 2016. Jenna graduated from Liverpool John Moores University in 2012 obtaining a law degree and a post graduate diploma in Legal Practice.

Jenna joins Burd Ward from The National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS) who are a UK charity providing socio-legal services offering information, advice, advocacy and legal representation to children, young people and vulnerable adults. During her time at NYAS Jenna worked within the Legal Department and represented many children in both public and private law proceedings. Jenna has also assisted children making their own applications for contact with their siblings and provided assistance to children who are subject to care plans and special guardianship orders. Further to this Jenna has assisted young parents at pre proceedings meetings and assisted other young parents finding mother and baby units across England and Wales in order for them to be able to remain as a family unit. During her time as NYAS Jenna also worked as a Contact Facilitator within the contact centre and worked with families offerings supervised and supported sessions for children with non-resident parents, siblings and grandparents.

Jenna brings this wealth of experience and knowledge to the Family department and during the last year whilst she has completed her training at Burd Ward she has been able to represent both males and females who have been victims of domestic violence and has supported them obtaining orders to protect not only their own safety, but that of their children and home. Jenna works closely with the Family Safety Unit and the Refuges to be able to deal with these issues sensitively and effectively.

Jenna is also experienced in dealing with Private law proceedings where residence and contact have been an issue for parents, Jenna’s experience representing children have allowed her to assist both parents come to a child focused arrangement. Jenna has also had experience acting for both Fathers and Mothers when children have not been returned and offers an approach that is timely and professional.

Since joining Burd Ward Jenna has also gained an understanding of other family law matters such as divorce, wills and Lasting Power of Attorneys. Jenna has also worked alongside the Housing department and can assist clients on possession and eviction proceedings.

Jenna is a member of the committee in the Women Lawyers Division Merseyside and is also school Governor at the Emslie Morgan Academy

Jenna is also currently working with local Charity Brightside and offers a legal drop in Clinic for anyone requiring legal assistance with any family matter. Contact Jenna directly on 0151 639 8273 or at je@burdward.co.uk.

One of the most common concerns clients have when getting divorced is how much it is going to cost them. At Burd Ward we aim to provide fixed fee services where possible so that client’s know exactly how much their case is going to cost.

In divorce proceedings the major cost that clients have to pay is the Court fee. The Ministry of Justice increased the Court fee for issuing a divorce petition from £410 to £550. This is despite the fact that the work the Court carries out on a divorce file only costs them £270! It seems that the Ministry of Justice is profiting from divorcing parties at a time when they are vulnerable. Thankfully they decided not to pursue their original proposal which was to increase the fee to £750 however we consider the increase to £550 to still be too high.

There is hope however for those hoping to obtain a divorce. The Justice Select Committee has recently called for the increase in the divorce petition fee to be rescinded. They concluded that it was “unjustified” for the Courts to charge people double what it costs them to provide the service. We at Burd Ward wholeheartedly support the recommendations of the Justice Select Committee and hope that the Ministry of Justice will stop “taxing” people to obtain a divorce.

If you are thinking of getting divorced then we can help you. Our fees for straightforward divorce proceedings are £350+VAT. As stated above, there is also the Court fee of £550 to pay however depending on your income you may be eligible for fee remission which would mean you don’t have to pay some or all of this fee. We will be happy to assist you with your application for fee remission as part of our service to you.

If you would like more information regarding divorce proceedings please contact Laura Prysor-Jones on 0151 639 8273.

Burd Ward are pleased to welcome back Laura Prysor-Jones from maternity leave. Laura qualified as a solicitor in 2012 and has worked at Burd Ward since 2010 after obtaining a law degree from Liverpool University.

Laura works in the family department undertaking all areas of family law. In 2014, Laura was accepted onto the Law Society Children Panel, recognising her specialism in the area of children’s law. Laura is experienced in representing parents and children within family proceedings. Laura has also represented many clients in relation to domestic abuse proceedings and divorce.

Laura is also a member of Resolution. Resolution members aim to deal with matters as quickly as possible for clients whilst taking a non-confrontational approach. Laura recognises that family matters are delicate and solicitors need to understand the situation and try to resolve matters without creating further conflict.

Speaking about her return Laura said

“I am pleased to be returning to work and am looking forward to helping many more clients in the future. Since becoming a mum, I feel that I am well placed to understand family dynamics and the realities and pressures of life with a child. I will continue to support clients through what is often a very difficult time and aim to handle their case sympathetically and speedily”.

Laura can be contacted on 0151 639 8273 or at lpj@burdward.co.uk.

At Burd Ward we specialise in Motorcycle accidents and our experienced Solicitors know all too well the injuries that can be caused to motorcyclists even at very low speed.

Motorcyclists are particularly vulnerable to injuries due to lack of protection that a motorcycle affords when compared to a car. Head injuries can be caused in very low speed accidents and motorcycle helmets offer good protection. It is believed that helmets reduce the risk of fatal head injury by around 50%.

The Failure of car driving motorists to detect and recognise motorcycles in traffic is the predominant cause of motorcycle accidents. So at Burd Ward we provide our Motorcyclists with High Vis jackets, in varying sizes to help with visibility.

If you would like to speak to one of our specialist Solicitors about a Motorcycle accidents then please call Alisha Butler-Ward on 0800 019 0324 or email abw@burdward.co.uk

When we seek medical treatment we all place a lot of trust in the experts we see. However, mistakes can be made by
medical professionals, sometimes with devastating and/or serious consequences. We’ve all heard the horror stories and more recently, with the radical changes and cuts happening in both the NHS and the private sector, medical negligence claims are increasing.

These claims can include Dental claims, Surgical mistakes, the misdiagnosis of a condition, incorrect medications prescribed, claims arising out of problems with pregnancy or childbirth, or cosmetic surgery.

All medical professionals have a duty to treat you to the best of their abilities or to refer you to someone who has the correct expertise. Sadly, some of us do not receive the proper care and treatment we deserve whether this is due to a lack of experience, lack of judgment, incompetence or negligent behaviour on behalf of the professional.

If you have had treatment that has gone wrong it is hard to know who to turn to. These are often very sensitive claims and our expert Solicitors will handle your case in a sympathetic manner, listen carefully to what you want to achieve, and provide you with the best legal advice to meet your needs.

Your claim will be dealt with by Alisha Butler-Ward who has over 20yrs experience in Personal Injury claims including Medical Negligence and Catastrophic Injury claims. Alisha deals with all types of medical negligence, serious or catastrophic injury including recent claims involving Amputation resulting from the failure to treat Diabetic ulcers, gout and other medical diseases. She also deals with claims resulting from problems during pregnancy or childbirth as well as poisoning as a result of prescribed medication.

We will inform you of the process from the outset and take you through the stages of a medical negligence claim.

• We act on a no win, no fee basis.
• We off er a no obligation 30 minute free appointment with a specialist Solicitor
• Your Solicitor will deal with your case from start to finish and you will have a dedicated free phone and mobile number for direct contact with your Solicitor 24/7, 7 days a week – not a call center!

If you or someone you know has suffered from medical negligence then please contact Alisha Butler-Ward on 0800 019 0324 or abw@burdward.co.uk

Client testimonial

Approximately 12 months ago, I contacted Alisha to help me. I was struggling. I was upset because of how poorly I had become.

Through Alisha’s gentleness, understanding and outright empathy, I was able to discuss my requirements and be empowered to stand my ground for my wellness and wellbeing.

In the past 12 months, I have had to talk to Alisha and each time, she has been spectacular. I have struggled at times to keep supporting Alisha in fighting for me and yet she always found a way for me to stay standing and do what was the correct thing for me.

Today, she rang me with a final outcome. Her determination to do the best for me and to make sure that I was empowered to keep going has just been above and beyond.

It will change our life.

We can advise that this issue has now been highlighted again but by the Transport select committee members who have recently accused Minister Robert Goodwill of attempting to protect reputation of VW in light of emissions scandal

Consumer groups and MPs have criticised the government’s response to the VW scandal, as a minister refused to state if the vehicle manufacturer had done anything illegal and whether British drivers should be compensated.

The British Transport Minister has confirmed that Volkswagen have not begun fixing the 1.2 million vehicles affected in Britain despite them alleging that some software modifications had begun. He further advised that VW will have to have the “fix” approved by the Government before they do it.

However, in the US Volkswagen has agreed to offer “substantial compensation” and car buy-back deals as part of a settlement of the diesel emissions scandal to US owners.

The US government have struck a deal with the automaker for them to buy back some of the nearly 600,000 affected diesel cars, they have also reportedly agreed to spend just over $1bn to compensate owners. Details of exactly how much car owners would be offered in compensation were not disclosed, but owners were assured that it would be a “substantial” amount.

This news will not be of any consolation to affected vehicle owners in the UK however, Volkswagen have so far maintained that they do not plan on offering UK owners any compensation of any type. The reasoning being that the fix to VW cars in the UK will have no impact on performance or economy, whereas in the US, the cars need the fix in order to legally pass the more stringent emissions standards applied to all new cars.

As it currently stands all firms of Solicitors who have taken on these claims are waiting for the 1st round of fixes to take place so that it can be established whether or not they will work or if further fixes will be needed.

We, therefore, will be waiting before taking any action, as advised by Legal Counsel.

We would advise you to continue with any loan payments on the vehicles. If you wish to sell the vehicle then you will do so at your own risk but we ask that you please keep the invoice / sales receipt so that we can still make any claim for you once things progress.

Whilst it is not ideal that VW have no taken any action to move things along, we equally must wait for the 1st round of modifications to take place before we know what the real cost of any claim will be.

We will keep you informed.

In the meantime, if you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact us.

The “Cow Shed Crew” and will take place at the Shippons Inn, Thingwall Road, Irby, Wirral on the 21st May from 11am onward.

As usual Burd Ward Solicitors will be attending and sponsoring the event. Burd Ward work closely with the biking community and will be giving out High-vis jackets on the day. We will also have Solicitors on hand to give you advice on anything from Personal Injury, Wills, Family issues, conveyancing and much more. Burd Ward will be having a raffle for a magnum of Proseco which will be drawn just after the Best In Show prizes are awarded.

This year we are having four categories of “Best Bike in Show” Classic, Custom, Rat & General. Each category winner will receive a trophy emblazoned with “Shippons Bikers Bikeshow, Best Bike 2016”!The Best Bikes In Show will be judged between 12 noon and 3.30pm, so your bike needs to be at the show by 12 noon to be in with a chance of winning.

It’s an annual event and all the family are welcome. There is no charge for entry or to enter your bike in the show. It’s a “Show Us Yours” bikeshow and we have vintage/classic, custom, rat, restorations and modern rides arriving throughout the day. This is an opportunity for you to bring along and show your bike. Proud of it then bring it!! Show yours, see others and talk bikes.

At the event there will be Police Bikes, Fire Bikes, Bikesafe, RoSPA, Ducati Owners Club, WAM, Blood Bikes, Stalls, Hot Food & a Vintage Steam Train for the kids.

There are some fantastic raffle prizes. This great day out is in aid of a Portable Defibrillator for the village.

This year we have the famous Thwaites Shire Horses and the return of the Mason Brown Connection playing outside in the afternoon along with a Cask Ale, Cider & Sausage festival!

The show has been building year on year and is now a major local attraction especially as there is nothing like it locally. Last year was the best yet with over 80 bikes on display and over 900 bikes arriving through the day from all over the Northwest.

So come along and support a wonderful charity, bring your bike & just maybe you will take home one of the four trophies!

Contact Mike at mikeandbrenda@onetel.com if you need more details etc.

Having a baby should be an exciting and special time for mothers but last year it was reported that 151 mothers and babies died and 351 suffered severe harm, with approximately 340 mistakes being made on NHS maternity wards every day. NHS England figures show that 124,143 safety incidents were reported by NHS maternity wards last year alone. These figures where only based on those incidents that staff reported.

• Errors with forceps
• Epidurals being inserted into the wrong place
• Midwives not monitoring a foetus’ heart beat
• Emergency C-Sections being carried out too late
• Women and babies being harmed due to lack of staff
• Medical records being mixed up
• Drugs being incorrectly administered or drug charts being misinterpreted

Burd Ward handle Medical Negligence cases everyday including those involving pregnancy and child birth. One of our most recent cases involves an undiagnosed ectopic pregnancy which led to our client having to undergo the removal of her fallopian tube and subsequently reduced chances of fertility. Another of our current cases involves the failure to recognise an infection following a C-section which has resulted a significant stomach wound and post-natal depression. But other claims can involve stillbirths or babies born with brain damage as a result of poor care.

Other recently reported Medical Negligence cases by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman include:

• The death of a nine-year-old boy from sepsis could have been avoided if he received the right care and treatment
• A man who became paraplegic after a road traffic accident was wrongly refused IVF treatment by the NHS.
• The next of kin were not informed by a hospital that a patient had died, denying them the chance to go to the funeral, due to a series of errors by the hospital trust and a council.
• Hospital took 72 weeks to arrange hip surgery on straightforward case, leaving patient in unnecessary pain, 17 months after she was first referred by her GP.
• A failure to x-ray a child’s teeth led to root canal treatment.
• A GP practice failed to urgently refer patient to a neurologist leading to a long delay in diagnosing his Motor Neurone Disease.
• A war pensioner had to wait 18 months for travel expenses to be paid by the NHS for trips to have an artificial limb fitted
• Hospital trust incorrectly diagnosed a woman with schizophrenia.
• A dental practice’s failure to diagnose decay in a child’s teeth over a three-year period, resulted in her having four teeth extracted and a crown inserted

As it stands NHS trusts often deny liability until the family is forced to instruct Solicitors to investigate what exactly went wrong, thereby dragging out the complaints by months, even years, while the families continue to grieve and suffer.