Wrigley Claydon Solicitors

Author:

  • Wrigley Claydon tackles personal injury at work

    Wrigley Claydon tackles personal injury at work

     

    Our client was working for a building company on site. Failing to recognise the vital importance of health and safety on a building site, their co-workers did not organise the site as they had been instructed to do by the company, creating a hazardous environment. A piece of building material was left in the way, and our client tripped and fell, causing painful back injuries.

    We successfully recovered £61,000 for our client.

    Making a claim against your employer may seem nerve-wracking. Many fear losing their job or ruining a working relationship. However in a case like this one, the injury was incredibly severe and our client deserved compensation. Injury to the back makes it very difficult to work, especially in the building trade. This can take its toll both on the injured person’s finances and their personal life.

    Ensuring that employees are safe in their working environment is essential in all industries, however on a job where dangerous tools, heavy materials and unstable structures are present, health and safety protocol needs to be followed to the letter. In a case such as this one, where workers did not follow instructions precisely, it can create unnecessary dangers with very unpleasant outcomes.

    As a building or construction site worker, you have certain rights regarding health and safety, and employers have a responsibility to ensure that the site is as safe as possible. This involves carrying out risk assessments, consistently maintaining structures such as scaffolds or hoists and keeping the workplace in a safe and tidy condition.

    If you have suffered a personal injury at work due to the negligence or unsafe actions of others, be sure to contact Wrigley Claydon. Our team of personal injury solicitors can assess the problem – making sure that not only are you compensated for any physical or financial damage caused by the accident, but that any hazards are rectified, creating a safer working environment for others and hopefully preventing any further injuries.

    Contact us today with any queries on 0161 785 3534 or use our contact form and we can review the details of your case.
  • Coughs and colds can have a similar effect on driving as booze!

    Coughs and colds can have a similar effect on driving as booze!

    A recent survey has shown that the symptoms associated with a cough and cold can reduce your level of alertness to a similar level as if you had consumed 4 pints of beer or lager. The survey indicates that coughs and colds can have a similar effect on our driving.

    Nevertheless needs must and it’s not unusual for us to jump in the car and drive in order to do our daily tasks.

    However pause for a moment; if you have consumed 4 pints of beer, would you be so casual in jumping into your car and driving? Probably not as we all know that not only will you most likely be over the legal limit but the consumption of alcohol dulls our senses and makes us less competent drivers.

    Our specialist litigation and personal injury solicitor, Vijay Srivastava comments, “During this season of coughs and colds it is likely that on some days you will feel less than 100%. The blocked nose, fuzzy head, aching bones, bleary eyes and blocked ears makes one feel very sorry for oneself.

    It is all a question of reaction time. Accidents can be avoided if our eyes, brain, hands and feet can all act rapidly so as to avoid us driving into that child, cyclist or car. The slower our reaction times the more likely we are regrettably to collide with one of those people or objects.”

    The next time we suffer with a cold and cough and feel sorry for ourselves, spare a thought for others and consider whether our reaction times have been reduced.

    Our personal injury team would be happy to offer you advice on any accident you have been involved in or injury you may have suffered. Please call 0161 624 6811 to start with and then we can either arrange a face-to-face meeting to discuss the incident in more detail or we offer consultations via Skype.
  • Wrigley Claydon’s latest successful occupier’s liability case

    Wrigley Claydon’s latest successful occupier’s liability case

    In this recent case, our client was walking down some outdoor stairs which were not structurally sound. When one of the flagstones which made up the steps moved, our client lost their footing and sustained a painful injury to the foot and ankle.

    We successfully recovered £14,100 for our client.

    When you suffer from a painful fall, it is important to question who is really at fault. In this case, the defendant had not properly maintained their outdoor stairs, which was therefore a health and safety hazard for anyone who used them. Our client’s injury was of no fault of their own and while it would have been easy to put it down to clumsiness and forget all about it, landowners have a responsibility to ensure their property is as safe for everyone as possible.

    Personal injury does not only affect the injured party. Someone who has suffered an injury may not be able to work, making paying bills and rent difficult, and possibly putting strain on the family. As well as financial difficulties, injury can  be an emotional struggle for the victim and their family, especially when it comes to more severe injuries, such as damage to the spine or head.

    Accidents happen, but in case like this one, it didn’t have to. Occupier’s liability covers a wide range of avoidable injury, and hazards on land or property belonging to homeowners, tenants, shopkeepers, hotel owners and farmers all fall under this category. If somebody is inviting you into their building or onto their land, it is their responsibility to remove or clearly signpost any possible risks.

    Whether your injury is big or small, if you think that you have grounds to make an occupier’s liability claim following an accident that could have been avoided, get in touch with Wrigley Claydon today. Call us on 0161 785 3534 or use our contact form and we can review the details of your case.

  • Helping landlords with noise

    All landlords need to be aware of their obligations under laws governing noise and their responsibilities to neighbours. Local councils have a duty to deal with statutory nuisances, however this does not mean they always make the correct decisions.

    In a recent case we successfully appealed against a Noise Abatement Order that had been served on our client  who was the Licensee of a local public house. Our client had been served with the Noise Abatement Order by the Local Authority for allegedly carrying on activity contrary to the Licensing Act 2003. They then came to Wrigley Claydon for advice and we considered the allegations.

    After taking a look at the facts surrounding the case, we advised our client that based on the evidence we had seen there were grounds to appeal the Noise Abatement Order and our client asked us to proceed.

    We arranged for the drafting and filing of the Appeal Notice at the local Magistrates’ Court and following that, the Appeal Notice persuaded the Local Authority that there was no basis for their Noise Abatement Order and they subsequently withdrew the Order.

    As we felt the Order was not justified we also successfully argued at Court that the Local Authority should pay our client’s costs. It is worth noting that had the Appeal not succeeded then this could have had a devastating effect on our client’s profits and livelihood so it is always worth taking advice if you feel you have been unjustly served an Order.

    If you would like to talk to one our team about a legal issue concerning your business then please call 0161 785 3534.

  • Oldham Divorce Solicitor says rates are set to rocket this month

    January to see more divorces than any other month with divorce rates set to soar by 80 per cent after the strain of the festive period.

    Oldham Divorce Solicitor Specialist at Wrigley Claydon Jill Walker comments, “It is true that we see an increase in new divorce instructions in January, there can be several reasons for this”:

    • The New Year is a time many of us assess our lives and relationships. This can result is some wishing to initiate a new or fresh start, which can mean terminating a marriage which they feel is no longer working.
    • The emotional and financial pressures of spending time together as a family can be the final straw for some relationships. Existing problems can reach boiling point over the festive period when families spend more time than usual together and issues are brought to the forefront. (Incidentally, the second most popular time for a divorce is September, following the end of the school holidays).
    • The social pressure to enjoy Christmas as a family forces many couples to wait until the New Year. Often they do not want to spoil this time for their children and wider family so wait until the New Year to avoid causing distress during what is meant to be a special time.

    Research from Relate shows figures will increase this month as many struggling couples see the New Year as a new start. The relationship support service said it experienced an increase in calls from December 2012 to January 2013, with 10,608 calls in December and 19,138 calls in January.

    For anyone in the Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Yorkshire area considering a divorce, Jill explains what steps to take,

    “Choosing to divorce your partner is a huge decision to make and it is helpful to understand your legal position. Speaking to a solicitor is often the first step, we can give you advice on your rights, duties and entitlements. We can discuss what your options are, the process of separating and getting divorced. We are here to help and support people through a very difficult time, whilst most importantly helping achieve the desired outcome.”

    Anyone interested in discussing a divorce or other legal query is offered a free 30 minute interview, either at Wrigley Claydon’s free clinic on a Wednesday afternoon or at a time to suit.

    For more advice on divorce proceedings email us on info@wrigleyclaydon.com or to speak to Jill our Oldham Divorce Solicitor Specialist call 0161 624 6811

  • Twitter at work

    Do you allow your employees to use  Twitter at work? Or are you in a muddle about whether social media could enhance or inhibit their performance?

    According to a study commissioned by Robert Half Technology, an IT staffing firm, 54% of American companies say that they have banned workers from using social networking sites like Facebook, LinkedIn, MySpace and  Twitter at work.

    The study also revealed that 19% of companies allow social networking use only for business purposes, while 16% allow limited personal use.

    ACAS, the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service which supports both Employers and Employees comments on the use of social media sites like Twitter at work,

    “Some estimates report that misuse of the internet and social media by workers costs Britain’s economy billions of pounds every year and add that many employers are already grappling with issues like time theft, defamation, cyber bullying, freedom of speech and the invasion of privacy.”

    ACAS have outlined these guidelines to help businesses decide how to use and whether to allow social media in the workplace:
    • Develop a policy on the use of social media at work. This should include what is and what is not acceptable behaviour for the use of the internet, emails, smart phones, blogs and tweets.
    • Be careful if you screen potential candidates by looking at their social networking pages – this may be discriminatory.
    • Employees should review the privacy settings on their social networking sites.
    • Inform and consult with your employees if you are planning to monitor social media activity.
    • Update your policies: for example, bullying policies should include references to ‘cyber bullying’.
    • Be sensitive to work-life balance – the line between work and home is becoming increasingly blurred by the use of modern technology.
    • Smart phones, internet, tweeting, blogging – we have accepted all of these innovations, and many more, as part of our working lives, helping us to work more flexibly, stay in touch for longer and respond to each other more quickly.

     

    If you are a business owner or manager and need our support in creating a Social Media policy, or an employee guidance on the use of social media and  Twitter at work please get in touch with us at Wrigley Claydon. We have the required breadth of knowledge and depth of experience to advise on a broad range of related matters.

    Wrigley Claydon is one of few firms in the Oldham and Todmorden area able to boast a dedicated team of lawyers dealing solely with the needs of businesses. This team is led by John Porter, our experienced business solicitor.

    Acting as your business’s solicitor we understand your individual needs, and have a team of specialist lawyers ready to assist you.

    For more information or to speak to one of our specialists within this area of law, please call us on 0161 785 3529

    Team: John Porter

  • Saddleworth Lawyer

    We run a weekly legal clinic in Uppermill, Saddleworth every Wednesday,  9am to 12.30pm at the Conservative Club on the High Street. Come by and talk to a Saddleworth Lawyer.

    The aim of the clinic is to provide initial advice to those within the local community of Oldham and Saddleworth, either by appointment, or as a drop in clinic. It will allow people to raise queries and get help or information on crucial matters. With recent changes and cuts to the legal aid system concerning many people, we hope our clinic will be a source of advice to those who have been affected.

    Solicitor and Partner at Wrigley Claydon, Rachel Daminoui explains the thinking behind the project,

    “We want to provide the local community with a service that no other law firm does. We have a long history in the area, and work hard to ensure our reputation as the area’s oldest, most established and best regarded solicitors is maintained.  This means we always look to provide that ‘added extra’ to our services, and feel that going out to meet our potential clients in their community is one way of doing this.”

    Rachel adds,

    “With the current metro link work causing much disruption to the centre of Oldham, it is proving difficult for many people to get into, and out of the town. We hope our new legal clinic will also help those finding it problematic to travel to our offices in the town centre.”

    We are the oldest law firm in Oldham serving Lancashire, Yorkshire and Greater Manchester. We were established in 1795. In 1980 we opened our second office in Todmorden. This provided us with the flexibility to serve our clients’ legal needs at their offices, at their home or place of business.

    With the two offices in Oldham and Todmorden, we specialise in several areas of law; Employment, Family, Commercial, Property, Litigation, Employment, Wills, Probate and Trusts.

    For more information please call us on 0161 624 6811 or pop in next Wednesday for a chat with a Saddleworth Lawyer.

  • New Year’s Resolutions

    As we say goodbye to last year and welcome in a new one, now is the time to make some changes and make your New Year’s Resolutions…

    Here are Wrigley Claydon’s Top New Year’s Resolutions:

    Make a Will

    Quite worryingly nearly two thirds of adults in the UK do not have an up-to-date Will. By making a Will, you can choose to whom you want to leave your estate, as well as appointing guardians to look after any young children should you die whilst they are under 18. By planning ahead, you can ensure that you do not cause unnecessary difficulties for your loved ones. Without a Will, the law decides who will be entitled to a share of your estate, so ensure that 2014 is the year you get your affairs in order.

    Put in Place a Power of Attorney

    A Lasting Power of Attorney is a legal document, granting to a named person or persons authority to act on your behalf even if you become mentally incapable. It is unpleasant to contemplate that you may ever lose the ability to manage your own affairs. However, by signing an LPA, you can ensure that if this should ever happen, your affairs will be looked after by someone you have personally chosen who you trust.

    Resolve your Disputes

    Start the year by resolving any disputes you may be involved in, be they with family, another individual or a commercial organisation. If you need to take a legal route, Wrigley Claydon can competently and systematically deal with the considerable paper work and procedural issues within the dispute resolution process. Whilst doing this, we will do all we can to find ways to strengthen the case and resolve the issue as quickly as possible

    Business Owners – Get Up To Date!

    Make sure that your paperwork, such as employee contracts are up to date. Do your contracts still refer to the default retirement age? Does your grievance policy still include a “modified procedure”. A review of your contracts, policies and procedures may seem arduous, but it really does pay for itself in the long run. We regularly advise businesses on recruitment policies and as your employment solicitor will assist with the preparation of contracts of employment, preventing problems that may otherwise arise.

    Make a Change for the Future

    Now could be the perfect time to let us help you make some important changes to your life. We can help you re-establish contact with your children with our experienced matrimonial solicitors. It’s important a child has two parents, when this bond has been broken we can help you take the right approach in becoming a part of their lives once again.

    Buy Your Dream Home

    Is this the year that you will be able to buy your dream family home? Let our conveyancing department handle the transaction. We are panel solicitors for all of the principal banks/building societies which means that we can represent you and your lender, usually at no extra cost to you and with a saving in time.

    A very Happy New Year from all of us at Wrigley Claydon and here’s to a successful 12 months.
    Oldham – 0161 624 6811, Todmorden – 01706 815712

  • Civil Litigation Solicitors

    Establishing whether you have a claim

    There are lots of different types of possible civil claims. You may have been injured or defamed. You might be owed money by someone who has failed to pay, or you may have contracted a disease as a result of some condition in your workplace.

    In each of those cases, your first step is will be to establish whether you have a claim. Ordinarily you will do this be getting the advice of a solicitor, who will consider the law together with the relevant facts and decide whether you might have a valid claim against someone else.

    Wrigley Claydon’s Civil Litigation Solicitors; Vijay Srivastava and Shalish Mehta handle cases efficiently and methodically, analysing the issues involved and advising on the most cost effective way to resolve the dispute in question.

    Should there be no choice but to issue court proceedings, Vijay and Shalish will competently and systematically deal with the considerable paper work and procedural issues within the dispute resolution process. Whilst doing this, they do all they can to find ways to strengthen the case and resolve the issue as quickly as possible

    If we think that you may have a valid claim we will begin putting together the various elements of your case.

    Examples of civil litigation cases we can help with:
    • Breach of Contract
    • Bringing and defending residential and commercial property disrepair claims. Suing builders and contractors where building work is incomplete, unsatisfactory or delayed
    • Claims in respect of faulty goods and services where one party has failed to keep their side of the bargain.
    • Making and defending claims for the renewal of business leases.
    • Recovering payment in respect of unpaid invoices for work done and goods sold.
    • The recovery of unpaid residential and commercial rent
    • Bringing claims where wills do not make proper provision for dependents and acting for estates defending such claims.
    • Cases arising about the mental capacity of the deceased, or questions of undue influence.
    • Claims for compensation, damages and injunctions where copyright and trademarks have been infringed.
    • Claims against any professionals including solicitors, accountants and architects for substandard service, which has caused you financial loss.
    • Protecting your reputation by bringing and defending defamation and libel proceedings where false and malicious statements have been made.
    • Injunctions and damages in respect of neighbour and boundary disputes.
    • Partnership disputes including expulsion of partners and dissolution of partnerships.
    • Claims brought by shareholders in companies whose rights have been breached by the company or other shareholders.
    • Directors disputes including the removal of directors and claims arising from alleged breaches of duties by directors.
    • Statutory demands, bankruptcy and winding up petitions.
    • Landlord and Tenant disputes

    During what is often a challenging and frustrating time for our clients, we use the benefit of our skills and expertise as Civil Litigation Solicitors to offer optimum advice and support.

    For more information on our civil litigation solicitors services please take a look at our Civil Litigation page or call us on 0161 785 3534.

    Team: Vijay Srivastava and Shalish Mehta

     

     

  • Who is entitled to Legal Aid?

    Legal aid could help pay for legal advice, family mediation or representation in court or at a tribunal.

    In order to apply you’ll be asked general questions about your legal problem and your financial situation.

    You may be able to get legal aid to help with some family matters, however you will need to provide a solicitor with evidence that you are entitled to legal aid. The following guidance explains the steps you will need to take to get that evidence:

    • If you are a victim of domestic violence and are divorcing or separating from an abusive partner

    You can get legal aid to help with the divorce or things such as child contact or how to share money or property, but you will need to give your solicitor some evidence that you have been a victim of domestic violence by your partner.

    • When a child is at risk of abuse from a partner

    You can get legal aid to help with issues such as child contact or removal of a father’s or mother’s parental responsibility, but you must be able to give your solicitor some evidence that child abuse has taken place.

    It is aimed at people on benefits or on very low incomes.

    Significant changes to civil legal aid in England and Wales came into effect on 1 April 2013, as part of a plan to reform the system and save £350m a year.

    The changes mean some types of case are no longer eligible for public funds – including divorce, child contact, welfare benefits, employment, clinical negligence, and housing law except in very limited circumstances.

    Since April nearly all family law advice has been removed from the legal aid scheme. This means people can no longer get funding for divorce or child contact or residence disputes.

    If you would like to us about Legal Aid and whether you think you qualify, please call us on 0161 624 6811.