Category: Covid-19

Covid-19 & Construction Work Accidents: What are your legal rights?

Posted on May 27, 2020 by Hannah Fletcher - Blog, Covid-19, Uncategorised, Work Place Accidents

As the Covid-19 lockdown in the UK starts to lessen, if you are a construction worker you may find that you have been sent back to work earlier than you originally expected. This is because you are not one of the groups of workers that can literally work from home. However, this will mean that you are in one of the groups of workers that is put most at risk construction work accidents. Although the first wave of the Corona Virus may be lessening, it is going to be a difficult task to try and reintegrate into the work environment. That is why it is essential that your employer does their best to make the construction site as safe as possible.

Before you go back to work, it is important that you know your worker rights. That way if you are unfairly dismissed, are forced to work too close to other workers or, worse still, suffer construction work accidents, you know exactly what to do. Read on to learn about Covid-19 and your rights as a construction worker.

The Fear of Returning to Work

If your work has been deemed “essential”, aka. you are construction worker, you are probably packing up your work bag and getting ready for a day on your employer’s building site. Life cannot return to normal but you are going to try and make the best of a bad situation. However, the main question is, should you really be going back to work when the first wave of Covid-19 has not yet subsided?

According to the HSE,

“If you see something in a workplace that you think is breaking health and safety law and is likely to cause serious harm, you can report it”.

Whilst you may feel like this is whistle blowing, it is important to maintain social distancing and cleanliness on the worksite. Your employer owes you a duty of care. This means that they need to be kept updated on the latest government advice and protection equipment against Covid-19.

Already, many construction workers fear for their lives due to inadequate care from their employer and from the UK’s government. They have been sent back to work in order to try and restart their daily lives. However, most construction workers know that this comes with a cost to their safety

No one can prevent:

Crammed commuting conditions (e.g. The Tube)
Overpopulated business worksites
A lack of hygiene products in the work place (aka. hand sanitizer and soap)
Communal projects (aka. machine use in close proximity)

Some sites have thousands of people going in and out on a daily basis in order to conduct business. This cannot be stopped if site managers want to maintain a steady flow of customers. One architect, interviewed by the BBC even warned:

“Even though they have added hand sanitizer stations everywhere, people still have to use fingerprint scanners to gain access to the site when they go in or out which seemingly defeats the object of social distancing. Everyone is very worried.”

If you are worried about the conditions of your work environment, then you have a duty to your colleagues to speak up. In some case, you may even want to change your contract before serious construction work accidents happens.

Changes to your work environment

It is entirely up to your construction site’s employer whether or not they want to stay open or shut. It is a difficult time for all those involved in construction, namely due to the amount of delays that are happening with projects. The Government has requested that all of workplaces have a strict standard of hygiene to lessen the spread of the disease. However, it is important to remember that this must be balanced with time sensitive projects. A delay in a construction project could mean that you employer loses a contract or are forced to pay penalties for the delay. It could mean that they find it difficult to find business in the future. So, as you can see, your employer is currently stuck between a rock and a hard place.

However, your employer still has a duty towards you and any other people who work on your construction site. They should be employing the following regulations:

You deserve to feel safe when you are entering a work place. Every day, you should not have to suffer emotional damages as you worry about whether or not you will spread Covid-19 or, worse, bring it home to infect those that you care about. When you speak to your construction site manager about being in the workplace, you need to justify why your work site should be closed in the first place. This may not be as easy as you think.

A Worker’s Rights

No matter what your area of wok, you have the right to speak up should you feel threatened by your work environment. By speaking up, you can prevent construction work accidents from taking place. You have the right to receive information/training about preventative hazard measures. You can also have the right to review the records of work-related injuries that have happened on your construction site. So, if you notice that quite a few workers have fallen ill from Covid-19, it may be in your best interests.

It’s important that you speak to your manager to find out what preventative measures are being put in place. If you feel they are not up to scratch, you may want to ask for your union to get involved. They can act on your behalf and enforce more safety regulations to ensure that the virus does not spread around your construction site and work teams.

Covid-19: The Problems

Of course, the main problem for any employee is the human sacrifice needed to keep a construction site open. With people actively being in a worksite, this gives room for the virus to spread, therefore making it more likely that you, or your colleagues, may suffer from a workplace accident. Many building contractors seem to struggling to justify the closure of their construction sites due to:

It is up to the “principle contractor” to give their opinion on how the project will be able to carry on safely. They need to consider contractual liabilities that involve health and safety risks. You may also need to seek advice from the client and the client’s health and safety advisor.

The Work Place Contract

In some cases, if you feel like your life is currently at risk by working on your site, you can talk to your employers about a “Force Majeure.”

Under this clause, there is room to renegotiate the completion date of the project. The delay was due to circumstances out of the company’s control (in this case the UK lock down). Following government advice, the project was temporarily closed in order to protect the employees. If you still feel like this protection needs to be maintained, you can suggest that smaller teams enter the worksite in order to stagger shifts. It is important that the amount of work available is built up so that none of the team are put at risk.

Keep in mind that if you want to use this policy, it will provide time for the workforce to stay away from the construction site. However, it will not provide financial relief for you to continue the wages of your work force. These will need to be covered by the company.

Work Accidents & Risks

Naturally, with a smaller work force on your construction site, there is a higher chance that an accident may occur. This may include:

Worker injury
Employee illness (Covid-19)
Machine faults/breakdowns
Machine-Related Injuries

Although you may be working with a smaller team, it is important that you still keep up safe practices. You may need to speak to your employer if you find that they are forcing you to do more than what is expected of you, or what is safe to do so. Should you have an accident due to the negligence of your employer, you may find that they breached their code of practice. Therefore, you could have an employer liability claim on your hands.

Is this really the best time to be claiming compensation from construction work accidents?

Honestly, the worst thing that you can do is wait to collect compensation. If you have suffered from an injury on a construction site, then asking for compensation can help ease some of the burdens that come along with it. It is your legal right to be compensated if the injury was no fault of your own. Construction work accidents deserve to be compensated. It can also help you by:

Giving you the financial tools to pay for private healthcare and therapies. This should assist you in your recovery.
Providing lost income that you may have been forced to give up due to your injuries.
Helping you have time to recover and understand if it affected you psychologically or caused you any distress
Providing your loved ones with support and compensation

Worried about social distancing during your case? You can relax knowing that the claims process can be handled remotely by a trained accident at work solicitor. They can send all of your documents electronically and talk to you either through a video call or over the phone. That way you and your loved ones can remain protected whilst maintaining social distancing regulations.

Gowing Law Solicitors can help you get compensation for your accident at a construction site

Construction work accidents are not your fault. Gowing Law’s trained solicitors can help you get justice. You deserve compensation for your injuries. This is why our helpful team of experienced solicitors will get you the outcome you deserve. We offer free advice and consultations to get you started. If you choose to work with us, we work on a no win, no fee basis. That means you will always come out on top, even if you are not successful in your case.

Ready to claim your compensation? Fill out our personal information form on our accidents at work page, call 0800 041 8350 or email inf@gowinglaw.co.uk for more information. You can also use our direct messaging system on our contact page.

Do you like what you read?

Our talented law writers will always do their best to keep you updated with the latest law knowledge. We write about Covid-19 and different topics, including will-writing and employee rights. So make sure to keep updated with our latest posts. We would also be happy to accept any topic requests. Let us know what you would like to see in our blog and we will make it a reality. Contact info@gowinglaw.co.uk with your ideas.

We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Safety in the Work Place & Covid-19: What are Your Rights?

Posted on May 15, 2020 by Hannah Fletcher - Blog, Covid-19, Uncategorised, Work Place Accidents

How often do you think about safety in the work place? Whether you are a health worker, social carer or you work in a retail environment, if we are going to stop the spread of the Corona Virus, it is essential that you have the proper tools to do this. No one can go into a battle unprepared, and if you are forced to continue working without the proper equipment then you have the right to either stop working or claim for negligence in the workplace. Not everyone has the luxury of working from home, therefore it is important that we prepare those on the front line for the worst.

If you have found that your workplace has inappropriate safety gear, rules or social distancing measures in place, then this is where people can get injured (i.e. ill with Covid-19) or accidents can happen. You can claim compensation for this if your injury was due to problematic protective equipment. Your employer owes you a right of care, therefore if you have been injured it shows that they are failing to meet standard safety regulations. Gowing Law Solicitors can show you precisely how you can make a claim to ensure that the safety of your workplace is maintained. Make sure to check out Gowing Laws Accidents in the work place page for more information!

The Lack of Protective Equipment & Safety in the Work Place

Three weeks ago, the UK was up in arms about the lack of protective equipment that was needed by doctors, nurses, care staff, customer retail space and other public jobs that could not be undertaken at home. Yes, #ClapForCarers appreciated the staff who were out risking their lives for the sake of others. But the fact that the government was not getting people the equipment they needed was a shortcoming. Clearly they were not thinking about safety in the work place.

Those in hospitals were suffering from a lack of personal protection equipment (PPE). The PPE at Work Regulations 1992 states that PPE should be supplied at work wherever there is a major risk of the health and safety of the employees that cannot be controlled through other means. The PPE must be:

Properly assessed before being used to ensure it will not break.
Stored and maintained throughout job activities.
Given to employees with instructions on how to use it safety.

To ensure safety whilst working in the pandemic, each professional area will need a specific set of equipment. Does your own work environment supply you any of the following things:

If your workplace does not have an adequate supply of the relevant PPE, then you have the right to speak up about it. People in the front line should not feel like they are being “bullied” into working for a good cause, especially if there are people around who do not respect the challenges that the job may entail during the pandemic.

Safety in the Work Place Case Study: Belly Mujinga

Belly Mujinga was a ticket worker at Victoria Station. A man approached her and spat on her after claiming that he had Covid-19. Belly Mujinga had underlying respiratory conditions and was admitted to hospital on the 2nd April when she started experiencing symptoms. She died three days later, leaving behind a husband and 11 year old daughter.

This is a tragic case that could have been easily prevented if protective measures had been put in place. That is why we need to ask ourselves these three questions:

Why was a vulnerable person allowed to keep working?
Why did she not have protective equipment, such as face masks, hand sanitizer, protective barriers, etc?
When she complained about this, why did her company not take action? Why did they ignore her?

According to the BBC, the TSSA general secretary, Manuel Cortes, claimed:

“As a vulnerable person in the ‘at-risk’ category, and her condition known to her employer, there are questions about why she wasn’t stood down from frontline duties early on in this pandemic.”

The safety of the employee needs to be made the ultimate objective of any sort of employer. What this case proves is that not enough was being done to ensure that front line workers are being protected against the virus and other people. Key workers do not deserve to feel threatened by just doing their job. That is why, if you think you are in a similar position and feel like your job is not following government advice, you may need to make a claim against them for compensation and better working conditions.

Are you being bullied into silence?

On the 15th May 2020, the BBC announced that some NHS managers were trying to make doctors not speak publicly about the PPE shortage in hospitals. WhistleblowerUK claimed that more than 100 healthcare workers had come forward to say that there were concerns about Covid-19 and PPE. Workers were told through posters and newsletters that they were to stop

“commenting on political issues, such as PPE”.

Do not be afraid to speak up about any mis-treatment or lack of protective equipment. Clearly there is a flaw in the system if people focus on you and your mistakes, rather than the message that you are trying to communicate. By bringing up these issues you could save lives.

However, if you do think that your managers are getting out of hand, or are treating the situation inappropriately, you could make an employer negligence claim. These are normally linked to a work injury claim, where the employer has failed to provide a safe work environment. Worse still, these conditions may have caused an accident (i.e. the spread of the Corona Virus) and could lead to a workplace accident claim. After all, safety in the work place regulations were not being adhered to. You could claim compensation from this.

What are your work rights?

One of the main responsibilities of any employer is to provide the worker with a safe environment. If you have not received any help to maintain your safety when interacting with customers, you have every right to either leave the environment or make a formal complaint. This advice applies to more than just key workers. If you are an office worker, then you have the right to either work from home (if you think the office is not a suitable environment) or ask for social distancing measures to be put into place.

Right now, you may be feeling a little nervous about your working conditions. That is because the world of work is constantly changing- sometimes even on a daily basis. The government’s advice so far has been basically “if you can work from home then do it.” This is because it makes it less likely that a second wave of Covid-19 will hit and cause another lock down. However, there are always going to be employers who try to cut corners and force you to do the maximum on minimum supplies. This is why it is essential that you know at least the basics of your right in a period of crisis.

To put it bluntly:

Covid-19 is an accident waiting to happen

When you think of safety in the workplace, you may think of potential hazards that could affect your physical health. This could be a wet floor, electric cable or perhaps dangerous work appliances. If you are forced to commute or perhaps are in charge of a vehicle, this could also include car accidents and motorbike accidents.

Covid-19 is an invisible hazard that your employers should be trying to protect you against. If you fall sick and they refuse to pay you statutory sick pay (SSP) that is you and your family’s livelihood on the line. Safety in the work place is a big issue. If your employer is neglecting their responsibility for their employees, you can make a claim against them. Whether or not it is through an employer tribunal or is an accident at work claim depends on your personal employment situation.

What has made your work environment unsafe?

Everyone is at risk of catching Covid-19. However, there are things that your employer could be doing that are making the situation even more dangerous. Worse still, due to their actions, someone may have already caught Covid-19.

Have any of the following happened at your work place?

Safety equipment (PPE) has been denied to you and your colleagues.
You have been told to sort out your own safety equipment.
You have not been updated with the latest government safety advice
Social distancing regulations have not been applied (i.e. people are still working in large groups)
Your work place lacks any hand gel, sanitizer or soap facilities
You have not been allowed to work from home despite being able to
You cannot work from home despite living with a vulnerable person
Someone has come into your workplace with Covid-19. Nothing g was done about it- i.e. Safeguarding measures were not implemented to send them home

If any of these things have happened, and they have caused the spread of Covid-19, you could either file a a employer tribunal claim or you could ask for accident at work compensation. Both of these depend on whether or not you were the person who caught Covid-19 because of the lack of safety in the workplace. Either way, Gowing Law Solicitors can help you with these claims.

Accident at Work Claims Procedures

As mentioned previously, accident at work claims tend to be more around physical injury. However, if your employer was the main reason behind you catching the disease, you are entitled to compensation if they are proven to be at fault. In some cases, you may not need to do anything because they will pay you SSP. However, if they have simply washed their hands of you because of your illness, you could be entitled to compensation.

Gowing Law Solicitors can help you process a negligence claim against your employer, especially if it was due to a lack of safety in the work place. That way you can support your family even if you cannot go to work. We can help you do this from the safety of your home. Our specialist accident at work claims team can represent you whilst you remain isolated.

Gowing Law speaks about Covid-19 Related Topics

Covid-19 is a big topic right now when it comes to the world of work. After all, in just a few months it has managed to turn the world upside down. Every day there is something new happening that could change the routine of your world. That’s why Gowing Law is dedicated to getting you the right advice at the right time. We want to make sure that safety in the work place is properly adhered to. But don’t forget to look at some of our additional Covid-19 related blogs. This includes writing a will during the pandemic and what to do if you have been the victim of an unfair dismissal case. Let us know how we can help you.

What should you do next?

Is your employer at fault for negligence or has been the reason behind you catching Covid-19? you can either visit our accident claims page or you can reach out for more information.

To contact Gowing Law Solicitors, please call 0800 041 8350 or email info@gowinglaw.co.uk. You can also message our team directly by visiting our contact page.

We look forward to helping with your case soon!

Top 5 Tips for Making a Will during the UK Lockdown

Posted on May 11, 2020 by Hannah Fletcher - Blog, Covid-19, Wills

As you may have seen from Boris Johnson’s speech on May 10th, the lockdown rules are about to be relaxed for specific types of workers. However, that does not mean that the lockdown has been entirely lifted. It’s important that we stay aware of our own action and keep up with social distancing. If we want to protect our families from Covid-19, then we need to think more about the future. Have you been thinking about making a will? It may be the best thing to do if you want to prepare for the worst. Gowing Law Solicitors, and our trained will-making specialists can help you draft your wishes into a specific written format. That way you can ensure that, even after you have passed, you can leave something behind for your family, friends and loved ones.

Is this your first will?

We all need to start somewhere! Making a will is going to be one of the hardest things you have ever done in your life. It can be difficult to confront our own mortality. However, the main purpose behind a will is to let your loved ones know exactly what your wishes are after you have died. Your will should contain information about:

Your financial assets
Any land/Property
Legal guardianship
Your investments & debts
Mortgages & tax

For some people this may be very simple, but for others it may be a bit more complicated. That is why it is essential that you create a will checklist that can organise your thoughts. Check out our will making checklist below:

Use our list whilst looking at your own property and the assets that you legally have possession over. When you have listed out each of these assets, make sure to tick them off on our checklist. By the time you have finished the checklist, this should have helped you list out all of your requests and what should be passed on to your benefactors. If you are interested in learning more information about the basics of constructing your will, make sure to have a look at this useful video by The Law Society. It will help tie up any loose ends:

If you have any additional questions, remember to ask your specialist will creation expert from Gowing Law Solicitors. They can help put your mind at ease and solidify your will check list.

What should not go in a will?

Some parts of your property may not actually be yours to give away. It’s important to remember that some properties or assets already have a default heir listed upon your passing. These are some examples of what you should avoid putting in your will:

Living Trust Properties

A living trust will move straight to the beneficiary and completely skip probate. If you add it to your will then it may create contradictions, i.e. in who is the beneficiary.

Joint Tenancy Properties

As this is owned by both you and another person, the joint tenancy property will go to the “survivor.” This is known as the “right of survivorship.” It means that there is an automatic pathway to give the second owner the full rights to the property, including any accounts or savings.

Life Insurance

If you have a life insurance policy in place, it does not need to go into your will. This insurance policy will already go to a pre-arranged beneficiary. You can choose the beneficiary/ beneficiaries by updating your policy at any time.

401(k)s, 403(b)s, pensions, and IRAs

If you have already created these financial agreements, then they will come with a set beneficiary/beneficiaries. That means you will need to update those contracts as often as you update your will. Just make sure that you keep them separate. That way they won’t contradict each other.

Finding a Will Executor

If this is your first will, it’s important that you enlist the help of someone who can be trusted to carry out the wishes of your will. This will be your Will Executor. Keep in mind that this can be two people if you wish to divide up the responsibility, such as your partner, children or perhaps a very close relative.

The duties of your will executor include:

Helping beneficiaries receive what is owed to them
Paying any bills owed by you or your estate
Tax Payments
Valuing and distributing your estate (depending on your will)
Appearing in court to settle disputes
Probate applying
Ensuring that they have the latest version of the will
Arranging your funeral

This can be quite a hard job, so make sure that your executor is present when you visit your solicitor for appointments about your will. They can inform your executor about how they can fulfill their responsibilities should they get complicated.

Corona Virus & Will Inquiries

Presently, the UK has experienced over 31,855 deaths due to the Corona Virus. This is why there has recently been an increase in will inquiries from many different areas of the UK. Svenja Keller, the head of wealth planning from Killik & Co has claimed:

“We have seen an increase in the number of enquiries regarding wills since the Coronavirus outbreak – roughly an increase of 50% compared to April last year – the majority of which are for new will clients.”

Now, you may feel like you do need a will. Covid-19 is an invisible threat that can affect anyone, especially if you are a part of the older generation. So, now that you understand the basics of making a will, you may be asking how you can make one for yourself. You can make one with the help of the Government website, but this may leave you confused if you are trying to adhere to social distancing policies.

This is why you may need the help of a Gowing Law Will Solicitor in Manchester to clarify your current situation. We can ensure that you remain completely safe in your home whilst we validate your will.

Making a Will during Lockdown

Over the last few weeks, Covid-19 has changed the way that we have all live our lives. Some people may be suffering from a unfair dismissal whilst others may have been furloughed whilst they isolate. If you want to keep yourself safe as you create your will, Gowing Law Solicitors can help you. We understand that you may want to keep all face-to-face communication at a minimum, which is why we will ensure that any discussion of your will can be over the phone or through a video call.

But this isn’t the only thing that can help you create your will. Read on below to learn the top 5 ways you can make your will without breaking social distancing regulations. You can apply these tips to both our solicitors and your witnesses.

Adhere to Social Distancing

Although it will be quite difficult to find witnesses to sign your will, all you need to make sure is that each of you can see each other sign the will. Make sure that each of your participants can add their names, addresses and signatures. Keep an eye on the latest laws and updates as the situation in the UK can change fast. On the 11th May 2020, there has even been news that the courts will reopen in Wales. Therefore, it is likely that more news on will construction may be coming up soon. Make sure to keep an eye on the BBC and their latest updates. Just remember, you can create a will during this challenging time. You may just need to get creative with how it is witnessed!

On your Behalf

Now, normally when you make a will, you will need to have two impartial witnesses that have no right to anything from the will itself. However, in some circumstances this may not be possible. For instance, if you have a serious illness, dementia or cannot sign the will on your own, you will need someone else to act on your behalf. However, you will need to have a confirmation that you are aware of the contents of the will, and that you were happy to have the will signed on your behalf. You must be fully aware of everything that was written in the will to ensure its validity. Make sure to tell your solicitor this as well. They will let you know whether or not you need a medical practitioner’s statement to confirm that you understand what you are signing in your will.

What to do if you already have a will?

It is normal to want to change your will around every 5 years. Your circumstances are not going to stay the same. People are going to come in and out of your life over time. Therefore, you need to be prepared for it.

If you want to change your will, then you can follow the same procedures as if you were creating a new will. Adhere to the social distancing policies and work with Gowing Law Solicitors remotely. We can look at your previous will, speak to you about what you want change and then help your draft up something new. We can work with you until you are completely happy with your new will. Then you will need to find witnesses to sign the new contract. Do not worry. We can help guide you through all of this, as we understand it may get a little tricky with the lockdown laws in place.

Any future minor amendments can be added to your will as a “codicil”. However, keep in mind that this must be signed and witnessed like your will. You do not have to have the same witnesses for any amendments that you make.

Gowing Law Solicitors can help you!

You can work on a will by yourself with the help of information on the internet. However, it is better to hire a lawyer to make your will. That way you can avoid common pitfalls and ensure your will’s validity. Gowing Law’s will experts can talk you through what you need to include in your will. They can offer specialist advice to ensure it is fully personalised to your wishes. Once it is completed, we can also keep it safe until you either need it or want to change it.

For more information, you may want to visit our will writing page. There you can learn more about our prices and services about making a will. From there, you can get in touch with our specialists. Check it out through our link below:

Contact our Manchester will lawyers now

If you have any questions about writing or changing a will during the lock down, please call Gowing Law Solicitors on 0800 041 8350 or email info@gowinglaw.co.uk. You can also use our contact page if you want to use our direct messaging system.

We look forward to hearing from you soon!

Writing a Will in the Corona Virus Pandemic

Posted on May 6, 2020 by Hannah Fletcher - Blog, Covid-19, Uncategorised, Wills

You should not try will writing on your own. There comes a time when we need to think about our last will and testament. No one likes thinking about death. But eventually our age is going to start catching up with us and it’s extremely important to start thinking of the future.

The Corona Virus has made a lot of people start to think about their mortality and how they can protect their families. That’s why there has been a jump in will inquiries by 75%. A will can grant you peace of mind during this troubling time. After all, there is only so much you can do to protect yourself. If the worst comes to the worst, a will can ensure that you can help your family and friends even after you have passed. That’s why it’s crucial that you are able to contact an experienced solicitor to help you through the process.

Your Vulnerability to Covid-19

As you can see from the video, there is a higher chance that you may die from Covid-19 if you are older or have an underlying health condition. That is why the government has imposed a lock down of at least 12 weeks for these vulnerable categories of people. During this time, it is essential that you stay indoors, although you can open a window if you need fresh air. You must not visit anyone and impose social distancing from others who are not currently living with you. The people you live with may also need to discuss their work options so that they do not bring anything home that could be transferred to you.

This whole process is known as “shielding” and has probably given you enough time to yourself to think about the future and what are you going to do if the worst comes to the worst. According to deVere group’s CEO, Nigel Green, he has claimed that the current will enquiries from vulnerable people are due to “minds being more focused” on a post-death financial plan. More specifically, Green claimed:

”The corona virus pandemic has had an unprecedented, collective focusing-of-minds effect. Like too many aspects of financial planning, including retirement planning, drawing up a will is not something that most people rush to do. It remains ‘on the back burner’ until something, such as an illness or a change of circumstances, focuses minds.”

People have more time on their hands to think about their own personal lives thanks to social distancing. Without the distraction of work, socialisation and private matters, it is natural to think about the prospect of the future and how your family will be able to cope if the worst comes to the worst.

Why is it so important to have a valid will?

This is a time of uncertainty. You cannot possibly leave anything to chance, including your own health. You may be following all of the lock down rules perfectly, but there is still a chance that you could potentially catch Covid-19. That’s why it is important to consider what you want to leave behind if your children or family are struggling due to an unfair dismissal case once the pandemic has ended.

However, there are additional reasons why you need to consider creating a will in this pandemic:

As you can see, there are a number of emotional and logical reasons why creating a will can help both you and your family. Documenting your financial assets can help your family and friends organise themselves based on what your wishes were. During the grieving process, this can ease the burden on them, especially if they are your executor.

So, now that you have motivation to start creating your will, you may be considering how you can even begin whilst you are still under lockdown. Well, the answer is a lot simpler than you think.

The Basics of Will Creation: Corona Virus Edition

If you are interested in creating a will, it’s important that you understand what information you need to place in it. Yes, you may have assets, but you need to know precisely what you want to pass on to your friends, relatives and loved ones. Working with a Gowing Law Solicitor can help simplify the process, however until you make a consultation, we have made things easier with an infographic. Please see below for more information:

Remember, Gowing Law Solicitors can help you with this will creation process. If you bring us all the information that you want to put into your will, it can be constructed in an extremely organised manner. We understand that the Corona Virus has caused some difficulties in the will writing process. That’s why not all of these will writing legalities will be able to be adhered to in the future. If you are concerned about this, make sure to contact our lawyers for their advice. It is completely free.

The Call for a Laxing of the Law

Amongst this rise in will writing, some problems have occurred. As we are currently all self-isolating and are social distancing from each other, this has made it extremely hard to find witnesses to validate the will. Although there has been talk about video-calling being a way of getting around it, it has been agreed that a physical presence is still required in order to make sure that the will writer has not been forced and is of sound mind. That’s why the following options may need to be considered in order to get around it:

All of these ways will suitably ensure that you are kept away from people, whilst ensuring that you comply with will validation rules. With two witnesses saying that they signed and saw you sign your contract, that means that it is legally binding and will ensure your peace of mind.

If you want more advice on how to validate your will during the pandemic, please speak to our will specialists for their opinion. Although you cannot sign a contract with an electronic signature, the influx of will requests may soon change this.

The Use of a Trained Will Solicitor

Yes, you can create a will on your own, and can seek government advice to get started, but have you ever considered what will happen if you make a mistake in your will? This could destroy the validity of your writing altogether. It will not hold up and instead will force the UK court system to try and divide your assets up equally to your family. If that is not what you wanted then this could spell disaster for you!

Specialist will writers, like Gowing Law’s team of experienced will solicitors in Manchester, will ensure that no mistakes are made before, during and after the will writing process is complete. Here are a few examples of some benefits that may convince you further:

The Perks of having a Will Solicitor

You can avoid common mistakes that may invalidate your will.
Your solicitor will understand the formal requirements of making a legal will.
Your lawyer will take into account all of your money, property and assets available before making the will.
A solicitor will understand how to make quick changes to the will should your beneficiary die before the will-maker.
A lawyer will know how to simplify a complicated will and ensure that your wishes are carried out efficiently.
A specialist will be able to advice you and your executor how to hand out the assets of your will, even if there are assets or a business that are overseas.
You will have full control over the will, but your lawyer will be able to draft it in a way that is logical, understandable and valid. You can suggest any additional changes that you need.

Remember, you can hire multiple people to help you with your will. For instance, you can seek the advice of a solicitor, but if you are part of a trade union, they may offer a free will writing service. However, make sure that if you use their services, make sure that it belongs to The Institute of Professional Will writers. That way you can ensure that the will created will be completely valid.

How much does it cost to create a will?

Now, this depends on the solicitor that you decide to use and the complexity of your will. However, if you tend to use Gowing Law Solicitors, here are the following prices:

How long does it take for writing wills?

Again, this depends on how complicated your will is and how many assets you have. Gowing Law’s trained will solicitors aim to get you a draft of your will as quickly as possible after your initial consultation. Whether it takes a few weeks or a few months depends on your redrafts and how many financial obligations you have. Make sure to contact Gowing Law Solicitors to discuss your own situation and your will.

Ready to learn more about the law from our blog?

As we are all currently in lock down, Gowing Law Solicitors wants to entertain and inform our clients with large law blogs about a range of topics. This includes the basics of PPI tax, miscalculated mortgage claims and even UK immigration during Brexit. Feel free to look at our blog page if you want to know more. We are confident you will like what you find. Happy reading!

Contact Gowing Law Solicitors for help!

Here at Gowing Law, we will prioritize your will to ensure that it is quickly validated. We understand that as we are all working remotely, this may make things quite difficult. However, we will work around your schedule and maintain social distancing. This way we can keep on track without any danger to you or your family. We will work with you to ensure that writing your will has your own personal touch. Our specialist will solicitors in Manchester are extremely sensitive and will treat your case with care. Make sure to provide them with as much information as possible. That way we can construct your will in a way that counts.

You can also contact Gowing Law Solicitors through our contact number (0800 041 8350) or through our email (info@gowinglaw.co.uk.). We would be happy to discuss any additional queries you may have about our will-writing series.

Keep safe, secure and stay at home!

Covid-19: Legal Advice for all Employees

Posted on May 5, 2020 by Hannah Fletcher - Blog, Covid-19, Employment, Uncategorised

No one can deny that Covid-19 has changed the face of employment and the world of work forever. So many people have become the unfortunate victims of unfair dismissal due to the fact that their business has been locked down, or they have been unable to leave the house. That’s why it’s extremely important that you understand your rights. Whether you are still employed, have been furloughed, or have lost your job, it’s time for you to understand how you can take your fate into your own hands and figure out how to protect yourself and your family from any financial threats.

Overview: Covid-19 & Employment

As lock down hit the UK, it brought with it a feeling of uncertainty. Not everyone had been able to predict that they would lose their jobs, but as a result it had a knock-on effect that left them without an opportunity to go out and look for more work without putting their families at risk. The situation is in flux. What occurred last week may become obsolete by the time the next week occurs. That is how fast the situation is changing.

Now, smaller businesses and have been offered a life line called the bounce back loan. Within the first minute, Barclays received around 200 applications and Lloyds gained 5,000 applications within 3 hours. These loans go up to around £50,000, so hopefully this will protect employees that are currently on furlough and those that are working from home. Make sure to check out the government’s website for more information.

With the lock down still going strong, the basic gist of the situation is that the world of work is going to be changed forever. As an employee, you will need to get used to a new work environment, as well as figure out how you will undertake tasks whilst respecting the new social distancing regulations.

What has happened to your job?

No matter what type of career you have chosen for yourself, you will have to accept that you will have to make some changes to your daily life. Unfortunately, according to Citizens Advice, there are no policies in place yet to protect you from being dismissed by your employer. If they have been shut down then that is it. You cannot keep your job. Here are some examples of what you could be experiencing:

If you are an essential worker then you may find that you are made a priority when it comes to the work force. Your job may become busier or new health policies may be put in place. This includes social distancing, hand washing and face mask policies. Remote workers will still be paid their wage but will be have a VPN or method of communication to ensure that work will continue to be done. This will be suitable for office workers and, potentially, teaching staff.

However, things may be a bit more difficult if you are experiencing furlough or have lost your job completely.

Self-Employed Workers

Naturally, if you are a self-employed worker, you may also be starting to struggle with payments, customers or even wages owed to freelancers that you currently employ. But don’t worry! During this troubling time you are not alone. Instead, you could be eligible for a range of loans and grants from different financial service providers and the government. Some of these grants can go up to 80% of your profits up to £2,500 if you sign up to the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme. Check your options out now on the UK government’s website!

Furlough: Emergency Aid

If you have been furloughed then that means you are still being employed by a company, however it is not safe to go to work. You may be feeling a little frightened by this situation. On the 20th April 2020, it was confirmed that over 1 million people had been furloughed by their company and even now it’s predicted that around 9 million people will be furloughed in the future. That’s why it’s more important than ever to know what you, as an employee, are legally entitled to.

As you can see, if you have been furloughed you will still receive most of your pay to support yourself and your household. You also have the opportunity to go out and find an additional job if you are not making enough money. Remember, if you do find additional work, to inform your current employer. That way, when they rehire you then you can know when to keep your notice in.

If you are currently working for more than one employer, each of the employers can furlough you up to £2,500. That does mean you have the potential to earn higher than this allowance. However, keep in mind this depends on how much of a wage you were earning in the first place with all of your employers.

Are you not being paid through the Job Retention Scheme?

Before we start this section, make sure your employer knows about this video and knows about the Job Retention Scheme:

The Job Retention Scheme is designed to support businesses and keep their employees working, even if they have been furloughed or cannot travel to their place of work. That way they will be able to keep up their standard of living and support their families.

Not everyone can feel confident that their employer will actually pay them throughout the pandemic. Your employer may not have realized they could have used the scheme, or perhaps just told you not to work. Whether or not you can continue to be paid depends on what your employer has told you. Read this carefully:

“You are being made redundant”: This means that there is no work for you and you are no longer employed.
“Just go home”: There is no work or pay for you.
“You are being laid off”: This can mean that you are a still employed but you are not going to be paid, namely because there is no work to be done.

Make sure to check with your employer exactly what they mean by their phrasing. In some cases, they may have simply said the same thing. That means you can still have the chance to be paid through furlough and even have a second job. You can then remind your employer that they can backdate your pay to the 1st March. If they refuse you, make sure to ask them for a reason why and to give you it in writing .From there you can contact the Citizens Advice Bureau for help.

Employment Status Wording

It is the worst thing in the world to know that you have been laid off from your job. One minute you felt secure and that you had control over your life. Now, you may not know how you are going to afford groceries or support your family. It is a truly scary time. Some people are handling it better than others, but every person has their own personal story and situation.

If you have been made redundant or have lost your job, there are three things you need to check for before you do anything:

Has your employer had a group consultation if they have made more than 20 people redundant?
Have you been chosen for a fair reason?
Has your employer discriminated against you?

If you feel like you have been let go for an unfair reason, and have worked at the company for at least 2 years, there is a chance that you could file for unfair dismissal compensation due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Tribunal claims for unfair dismissal can be filed before 3 months have passed since you had been out of work.

Looking for a New Job

One of the main things that we need to stress about being made unemployed is that you need to find a new job fast! Yes, you can apply for benefits. But the Corona Virus has affected a lot of different people and has put them in the same situation as you. That means the waiting times for benefits are longer. The best thing you can do is try to find remote work that can pay you enough to get through the next few months. Start looking on Indeed, TotalJobs, LinkedIn and many other job websites to get started.

Remember to also look after your mental health. Losing your job can make you feel like the world has crashed around you. But it doesn’t have to be like that. Think of this experience like the tide. It has just gone out and taken everything with it, but soon it will come in and refill the dry sand with water. Use the time to think of your mental health and to make yourself feel better with apps like Headspace and Calm. You may also want to start looking into free online courses that can be used to fill out your CV. Turn this loss into an opportunity.

Gowing Law Solicitors can help you with your unfair dismissal tribunal!

Gowing Law has a number of unfair dismissal solicitors in Manchester that are ready to help you with your claim. Our staff members are currently working remotely, but we can still contact you in order to work through your case.

Make sure to provide our experienced unfair dismissal lawyers with as much information as you can about your case. You may also want to send your previous employer a letter of complaint. That way you can let them know that you intend to pursue legal action.

Contact Gowing Law Solicitors now to set up an initial consultation. We can do it over the phone or set up a call to help you. We offer free advice to our clients and work on a “no win-no fee basis.” That way you will always come out on top. Message info@gowinglaw.co.uk or call 0800 041 8350 now to talk to our specialists about what you could earn now in compensation.

Check out our older blogs for more information

We want to make sure that you are kept updated about the most useful law information during this difficult time. This includes information on the basics of PPI tax claims and mis-sold mortgages. If you can think of a topic, we will make sure to write about it. That way, you will never be in the dark about what sort of compensation you could be owed. Make sure to take a look at our blogging page to read more.

Keep safe and secure. Stay at home and save lives.

Good luck!

Accidents in a public place- Retail Stores

Posted on June 20, 2018 by GLAdmin - Accidents in Public, Blog, Covid-19, Uncategorised

Accidents in a public place can happen anywhere and at any time. Although you may not have ventured into many shops as of late, apart from food stores, if you are decided to visit a retail store when they were re-opened, there is always the chance that something could go wrong. Even the safest buildings still have their faults and you could get yourself involved in an accident. Not only that, but if a public place has not installed social distancing features that could protect both the public and employees, there is a high chance that Covid-19 could be spread between people. That is why it is your responsibility to stay as safe as possible when you are out in public.

If something does happen, then you have the opportunity to ask for compensation from the party responsible for your injuries. Should the public place be a retail store, then the business itself will need to pay out from their insurance to help with your recovery.

Gowing Law Solicitors know exactly how to help claimants who have experienced accidents in a public place. These types of accidents can happen suddenly and may leave you in a state of shock. That’s why you need the correct form of legal counsel. Some people may just shake off the injury as an unlucky action of fate. But we would say otherwise. We can help you prove it was due to the retail store’s negligence.

Accidents in a public place claims: What are they?

In order to understand more about accidents in a public place claims, in particular in retail stores, it is important that we understand a little more about shop injuries. If you have suffered from an injury in a store, the only way you are going to be able to claim compensation is if you prove that the store breached their “duty of care” towards you and your fellow customers. Most stores in the UK now have strict social distancing policies put in place to protect their customers. These include:

Wearing face masks/visors when inside the store.
Maintaining social distancing from other customers and store clerks.
Following the one-way system around the store.
Not touching items unless you are going to purchase them.
Using hand sanitizer and other germ disinfectants.

However, despite these safety measures, accidents can still happen. A lot of things can happen during the day and potential hazards may be missed or simply left unmarked by staff members by mistake. Take a look below at Harry’s story for a small example of what could happen in a retail store that may result in an accident:

How does this case-study show my eligibility?

Obviously, you are probably not in the same scenario as Harry. But you do have the right to feel safe in a retail store. If you look at Harry’s story, you can see that the store he was in was negligent in informing him of the hazard on the ground. Therefore, he had no idea that he was in danger when he walked down the aisle. The lack of safety preparation put Harry in an unsafe position and got him hurt. This is evidence that he could claim for damages.

To put things simply, you need to prove:

The store you went into was negligent and breached their “duty of care”.
You were hurt because of this breach and their negligence.

If you have been put into a similar position in a retail store, you could easily apply for compensation for your damages. But the main question is, what counts as damages? These are a little more complicated than just saying you suffered physical injuries.

Compensation Claims 101: General & Special Damages

Take another look at the Harry case study. If you look closely, you can see that there are more damages than just his physical injury (aka. his torn Achilles tendon). Not only did he have to visit the hospital, where he could have accumulated medical expenses, but he lost out on his wages because he could not go to work. Not only could Harry claim for his physical damages, he could also claim for his financial losses.

If you are claiming for damages then there are two types you claim for. These are known as general and special damages. General damages normally account for your pain and suffering. They are the most common type of damages but can be difficult to measure. After all, you are trying to prove how much you have suffered on account of your injuries. How can you prove this if other people cannot feel it? That’s why it is useful to have physical evidence of your suffering to back up your claims, including photos, witness statements and videos.

Special damages usually account for any financial losses made due to your accident. So, for instance, if you were forced to miss work and lose out on wages. Make sure to keep the receipts to prove any financial losses that you have made.

Just to keep it simple, here is a list of most of the things you can claim for if you have suffered from any type of accidents in a public place:

Damages may include:

Physical injuries
Emotional trauma
Medical expenses
Transport fees
Lost wages
Loss of opportunity (i.e. career progression because of your injuries)

Make sure to speak with a trained legal specialist to ensure that you know precisely what you are claiming for. You may feel a little confused about what count as damages and losses. Therefore, having a solicitor on your side from Gowing Law can help you understand your rights and what you could be owed to help you recover from your injuries.

Physical injuries and accidents in a public place

Before we talk about how you could claim for any type of losses in a public place, or in a store, it’s important to understand the type of physical injuries you may have encountered. One of the most common questions we received about any sort of claim, including work accidents claims, is ”how bad does my accident need to be to claim damages?”

Most people would assume that to make an accident in a public place claim, you would need to have a severe wound that would require hospital treatment. However, you can actually claim with any sort of small or large wound. If it happened due to the store’s negligence, you can easily claim for compensation. But the other thing you also need to consider is whether or not it is worth pursuing a claim. If you do not think you will get the return you expect based on the severity of your injury, it is not worth pursuing. For instance, if you cut your finger on a display, you probably won’t get a large amount of compensation in return unless the wound got infected or the wound was extremely deep.

Consider the costs of the claim vs the amount of money you would estimate to get out of the claim. If you think you could get a bigger return, it is worth pursuing compensation. Discuss this with a solicitor if you are feeling a little unsure about moving forward. They can estimate your total costs and let you know an estimated pay-out.

What evidence do I need to make a compensation claim?

If you have been hurt due to accidents in a public place or in a store, you may be considering how you can prove your claim. You can’t just state that you were hurt. Instead, you need to bring in solid evidence to show that you were hurt due to the store owner’s negligence. Here are some examples of the evidence you could use if you want to get a successful compensation claim.

As you can see, there are lots of ways that you can gather evidence. However, one important thing you may want to also consider is involving the police. If there has been a violent altercation, or perhaps the injury is extremely severe, having the police there can give you witnesses that will provide you with a police report. This police statement will be completely unbiased and will document everything that happened. It can serve as important evidence in any sort of case.

If you also want to prove that you suffered financial damages on account of your accidents in a public place injuries, you should keep as many of your receipts as possible. Whenever you are forced to spend something due to your injuries, for instance on medication or on transport to the hospital, keep the receipts or tickets that show how much you paid. That way you can put these costs together and show that small financial losses have built up.

The more evidence you have the stronger your case will be. Your lawyer can help you organize your evidence to show how badly you were effected by your injury. That way you will have a successful pay-out in no time!

Can I claim compensation for catching Covid-19 from a store?

Unfortunately, this is where things get complicated. Covid-19 has changed the entire world as we know it. We have experienced pandemics before but never to the extent of how this disease has affected how we view the world. Most people are frightened about going out to public places in fear that they will catch Covid-19. So, if you have unluckily gone in to a store and have found that you have developed symptoms a few days later, you may be considering how you can claim compensation.

The tricky part comes from the fact that you cannot actually make a claim on catching Covid-19 alone. Not only do you have to prove that caught it from the store specifically but that you did not catch it from somewhere else that you have visited. If you do want to make a claim, it will have to be in regards to the damages it leaves you with. So, if you lost out financially or suffered physical injuries or disabilities that reduced your quality of life, there is a chance you could make a compensation claim.

As you can see, this is a very complicated issue in UK law right now. It is not worth pursuing this type of claim alone. Instead, ask our Gowing Law solicitors for advice on whether or not you should consider making a claim. They can let you know more information about your options and how you could move forward. Feel free to write in to info@gowinglaw.co.uk if you have any questions about this. We understand that it can be quite confusing!

Are you ready to make a compensation claim for an accident in a public place?

If you are ready to make a compensation claim, Gowing Law Solicitors are here to make sure that you get the pay-out that you deserve. All of our lawyers can offer you free help and consultations to get you started. These can all be done remotely to make sure that there is no threat of Covid-19. If you do decide to work with us, we can offer our services on a “no win-no fee” basis. That means that you will always come out on top. There’s no risk, so what is stopping you from contacting us today?

Get ready to start your journey with Gowing Law Solicitors. Call us on 08000418350, email info@gowinglaw.co.uk or even use our live chat feature and our contact page. Our friendly team will then be in contact to answer any additional questions you may have about accidents in public places claims.

Ready to learn more about UK law?

We are proud to have an informative blog that has a number of articles about different legal topics. These can keep you informed about the latest law updates and specific compensation claims. Our blogs cover RTA claims, work accidents, public accidents, financial mis-selling and cosmetic negligence claims. If you cannot find a topic that interests you, why not let us know about it? We would be happy to write about any questions you want covered. Feel free to send in your suggestions to info@gowinglaw.co.uk.