Category: Uncategorised

Liverpool vs Arsenal 2001: Why was this game so special for Michael Owen?

Posted on June 23, 2020 by Hannah Fletcher - Blog, Uncategorised

As you watch the clip from the Liverpool vs Arsenal match of 2001, you can practically experience the euphoria that flooded the crowd when Michael Owen scored two second-half goals to give Liverpool victory over Arsenal. This was no small feat. The last time these two English teams had met on in the FA cup final was in 1971, where Arsenal beat Liverpool 2-1 in extra time. That meant that the Liverpool team was under pressure to deliver a win for the sake of their fans and their own personal pride.

So, why was this match was such an important moment in Michael Owen’s history? Michael Owen was a fantastic player and helped make Liverpool the successful football team that it is today. Read on to learn more about this historic football event!

The Historical Context: Arsenal vs Liverpool

As you can see from the image above, the rivalry between Arsenal and Liverpool was mostly because of how evenly matched they were. After all, they were only separated by one point in the final league table 1971. Arsenal finished second with seventy points and Liverpool finished third with sixty-nine points. Therefore, there was an innate desire to distinguish themselves from one another. Yes, they both had fantastic players that could work their magic on the pitch, but to be shown as similar in stature made the rivalry more intense. It was time for one team to claim ascendancy.

This was certainly shown in the 2001 match at the Millennium Stadium where Michael Owen showed the true stamina and power of Liverpool’s football team.

The build-up: Arsenal

Leading up to the finals, Arsenal had already a run of successes against strong teams like Blackburn and Chelsea. Their real challenge was their London rival, Tottenham, in the semi-final. Luckily enough for Liverpool, their route to the final was relatively easier with victories over teams like Rotherham and a struggling Man City. However, they did have to overcome the challenge of Leeds, beating them 2-0 at Elland Road, and the Wycombe Wanderers from the third tier of English football were on an incredible cup run. This meant they reached their first final since losing to Man UTD in 1996. It was time for them to play off against Arsenal.

The Match: Michael Owen’s triumph

Football greats Robbie Fowler and Dennis Bergkamp were benched for this game, Michael Owen and Emile Heskey were up front for Liverpool and Thierry Henry and Sylvain Wiltord for Arsenal. At the start of the match, Emille Heskey hit the ground after a tackle from Gilles Grimandi. However the penalty appeal was refused by the referee, Steve Dunn. Another penalty appeal was declined, this time from Arsenal, when Thierry Henrys’ effort on goal was stopped by Stephane Henchoz on the goal line. The footage did show that Stephane Henchoz was in contact with the ball with his arm, but the match still continued.

Arsenal were in possession of the ball more due to Liverpool’s unsuccessful counter-attack. However, the teams were well-matched and in deadlock by half-time. In the second half, Emille Heskey had a good early chance with a header but this was well stopped by David Seaman. The tight battle continued but eventually Arsenal took the lead through Freddie Ljungberg. Liverpool were now down one nil with only 20 minutes left on the clock.

This was when Michael Owen came into play.

With only 8 minutes left on the clock, Michael Owen with a flourish of skill, scored an equalizing goal. Arsenal failed to clear the substitute Gary McAllister’s free-kick, and Michael Owen was able to use his right foot to shoot past David Seaman from eight yards. A second goal was then scored with 2 minutes to go when Michael Owen moved onto a long ball from Patrick Berger. He managed to outpace Arsenal’s Tony Adams and Lee Dixon, and shoot accurately across David Seaman into the net.

Why was this an important event for Michael Owen?

For the majority of the game, Liverpool and Arsenal had been equal. With Arsenal scoring a goal in the second half, and with so little time left on the clock, it seemed impossible that Liverpool could do anything but tie with their competitor. However, Michael Owen smashed these odds. It may have been the adrenaline, or it could have been his natural ability as a sportsman, but he managed to outrun and outmaneuver great opposition players to bring home a win for Liverpool. In eight spectacular minutes, Micheal Owen had turned the Liverpool vs Arsenal game on its head and claimed Cup victory.

This showed his natural skill and impressive athletic ability. It shows us all that no matter how grim the odds look, there is always a chance to turn the game around. The same thing could be said for Michael Owen throughout his life, including his own battles with his injuries. No matter how badly he was hurt on the pitch, he always came back for more. Nowadays, Michael shares these stories to allow for a realistic glance into the life of a footballer. We do not just see a football legend. We see a real person who has a genuine love for the sport.

The Liverpool vs Arsenal match of 2001 made football history, and allowed Michael Owen to move forward in his career. It stands as a reminder of why we should all work hard to follow our dreams. This is so we can become the best of the best in any area that we choose to be. He truly is a role model for the next generation.

Michael Owen and Charity Work

Here at Gowing Law Solicitors, we have worked with Michael Owen for over 4 years. Not only has he visited our office, but he has also worked with us on charity projects. Michael has spearheaded our “Together in Football Foundation”. This is a charity that aims to bring together children and young people from all backgrounds. This is to enjoy a game of football. These games are held at professional stadiums and are great for building comradery and friendships that will never break.

If you are interested in learning more about our foundation, please click the link above. This will take you to our page where you can find out how you can get involved.

Gowing Law Solicitors: Excited to be partnering with Michael Owen and Communicorp!

It is Gowing Law’s aim to help as many as people as possible if they have been involved in accidents. We understand that these sort of events can be extremely traumatic. That’s why we have partnered with Michael Owen and Communicorp to bring you some advertisements. These can show you how Gowing Law can help you move forward with your case.

For more information, please contact Gowing Law Solicitors now at 0800 041 08350, email info@gowinglaw.co.uk or directly message us by visiting our contact page.

We wish you the best of luck with your case and hope you get in contact with us soon!

Germany vs England 2001: Why was this game so special for Michael Owen?

Posted on June 23, 2020 by Hannah Fletcher - Blog, Uncategorised

As the pandemic has started to turn around, football is slowly coming back to Britain. The first match day of the return saw Aston Villa face off against Sheffield United and Man City beat Arsenal behind closed doors. It was certainly a different atmosphere to the time thousands of fans flocked to see England play football against Germany in the FIFA world cup of 2002. This match was one of the highlights of Michael Owen’s career and showed how talented he truly was. It is an honour for Gowing Law’s firm to be working alongside Michael Owen to help people all over the UK get justice for any injuries they may have suffered from.

With that said, let’s talk about what really matters: Football. Although the Germany vs England match was only to qualify for the world cup, it clearly left its mark on football history. Let’s find out why.

Sport Context: Germany vs England

As you can see from the image above, England and Germany in football have always had an intense rivalry against each other. In every game, they had strong players and usually relied on penalties to reach the winner. However, with Germany’s winning streak against England, it was clear that the 2002 English team had a lot to prove. Due to this winning streak, the old manager (Kevin Keegan) was forced to resign, and now England had more to lose than ever. This is why the Germany vs England match was such an important event

The two rival football teams had already met earlier that year for a final match in Wembley Stadium. Germany won again, Dietmar Hamann scoring the only goal of the match to grant Germany the victory of 0-1. Having been defeated so recently by the giants of the German team, England was the underdog. Many people didn’t believe that they could even make it to the FIFA cup.

With surmounting pressure coming from English fans for a win, it was clear that England’s team needed a change in their training regime and tactics in order to overcome the strength of Germany’s football style and professional players during the England vs Germany match.

The next match against Germany

Due to this defeat from Germany, England went into the Christmas second-bottom within their group division.Sven-Goran Eriksson, the new manager for the English team, announced:

“The Germany game is, of course, an extremely tough test for the players but we are looking forward to the challenge… It may be a hard task but it is certainly not an impossible one. We will not be changing our style because we are strong and have confidence in our own ability.”

Whilst Eriksson remained realistic in his tone, Rudi Voller (the German manager) presented himself with an air of confidence, practically declaring that Germany would be expected to “go through directly.” However, this time the English team was bolstered by a number of strong players, including strong Manchester players like Paul Scholes, Rio Ferdinand, Andy Cole, Gary Neville and David Beckham. At this point in time, Michael Owen was playing for Liverpool, meaning that the local rivalry between him and the others players was still there, but put aside in order to focus on the bigger picture: beating Germany.

The team trained as hard as possible and it was clear from the start that Michael Owen was a talented asset to the team.

Michael Owen & The Match

Although Michael Owen was suffering from a hamstring injury at this point, his dedication and love of football pulled him back and motivated him to keep working. He put his rivalry with Manchester United aside to focus on pulling England back into the world cup. This was a defining point in his career because it showcased his natural talent and how he thrived under pressure, making the match an unforgettable event in football history.

What happened in the 2001 FIFA World Cup Qualification match?

In the first half, it looked as if it was going to be a normal football match, both teams trying to maintain possession of the ball. Germany scored 6 minutes after the match started thanks to Oliver Neuville going down a lofted pass into England’s penalty area. However, Germany’s lucky streak was about to end.

Michael Owen was then fouled outside of the German penalty spot and England was given a free kick. David Beckham, the English captain, took the kick and managed to get the ball out of the distance of both the attacking and defending players. Gary Neville headed the ball into the penalty area, moving it to Nick Barmby who managed to head it down to Owen. He managed to slam the ball past Oliver Kahn, the German goal keeper.

By the end of the first half, England was up 2-1, meaning that they were at a great advantage with the next half. This was a morale booster to both the team and the fans of England in the stadium.

Literally three minutes into the second half, Beckham manged to pass the ball to Emile Heskey who headed it to Owen. Owen then managed to score another goal, meaning that England had a 3-1 lead.

Michael Owen’s Triumph during the Germany vs England Match

It was the next goal that saw Owen claim the title of the first English player, since Geoff Hurst, to score a hat trick against Germany. Gerrard gave a successful tackle to take possession of the ball. He then passed it to Owen who sprinted to the goal and kicked the ball straight over Kahn’s head into the net. At this point, it was obvious that Germany was not going to win the match. Michael Owen had performed a successful hat trick and the second half was nowhere near ending.

By the time the match was done, England had beaten Germany 5-1. This was the biggest victory England had since the Luxembourg win in 1999. English fans were ecstatic and England was off to the world cup. Take a look at some of these highlights below to see how intense the game actually was. You can see Michael Owen in action:

English vs Germany Football match: A Game Changer

This game gave Michael Owen international renown in the world cup. Not only had he proven that he was a strong sportsman, but he was clearly a team player that knew how to work well with other greats in the industry. This allowed him to move forward with his career. He eventually played for a range of different teams, including Real Madrid, Newcastle United and Manchester United. However, he could never forget his roots playing for Liverpool.

Nowadays, Michael Owen is renowned for his skills on the playing field and his honesty about the game in general. Although he was injured during his time as a football legend, he always managed to overcome it. That is why you will now find him working for charities, speaking about his experiences. We are proud that such a national treasure is working alongside us.

Four Years of Charity Work

Without Michael Owen’s help, our own charity foundation, “Together in Football” wouldn’t be where it is today. This charity exists to encourage children from different backgrounds to come together. This will be in professional stadiums to enjoy a game of football. Michael is the face of this campaign. He has worked with us to encourage the younger generation to follow their dreams. Please click the link above if you would like to learn more information about our foundation.

Working with Gowing Law Solicitors

Michael has had an impact on the world of sport and charity. That is why Gowing Law Solicitors have been working alongside Michael Owen to advertise the skills of our experienced solicitors. No one should have to deal with an injury on their own. Michael had the support of his family, friends and team mates whilst he was recovering. We want to provide the same support to anyone in the UK who needs it. If you need help with your accident compensation claim, please feel free to contact Gowing Law Solicitors for more information. We work on a “no win-no fee” basis and can offer you free advice and consultations.

Call 0800 041 08350, email info@gowinglaw.co.uk or directly message us through our contact page.

We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Collaborating with Michael Owen and Communicorp

Gowing Law Solicitors is delighted to announce that we are partnering with Michael Owen and Communicorp. This is to spread our radio advertisements around the UK. That way we can help as many people as possible get justice. Check out our advertisements below:

Michael Owen: A Life in Football

Posted on June 23, 2020 by Hannah Fletcher - Blog, Uncategorised

Hasn’t it been the dream of every young boy to become a world renowned football player? It’s a career path that takes skill, dedication, planning and leadership. Not everyone can succeed in this career, however Michael Owen did. Even Brazilian Football legend Pele claimed that “my favourite player is Michael Owen.” His confidence and natural ability on the pitch spoke for itself, that is why Gowing Law Solicitors is proud to be working with Michael Owen on a number of projects, including the “Together in Football Foundation” and advertisements to help people find the justice they need if they are faced with an injury.

With that said, it’s time to learn a little more about the man behind the ball and his golden years as not only a striker for Liverpool, but a sports icon for many other teams, including Newcastle United, Real Madrid, Manchester United and Stoke City. We are truly proud to be working with such a football legend that has given back so much to his community.

The Early Years

There is a reason why Michael Owen is known as a “boy wonder”, practically being the Harry Potter of his age. He was born on the 14th December 1979 to Terry and Janette Owen in North Wales. Football had always played a big part in the Owen’s lives. After all, his father was a professional Football player at, ironically, Everton, the rival of his son’s future club Liverpool. Seeing the talent of a sportsman in his son, Michael went to study at the Football Association’s School of Excellence at Lilleshall in Staffordshire when he was only 14 years old. By the time he was 17, he was already signed up as a full professional, playing for Liverpool and debuting for England’s football team.

He appeared in the public eye when he was 18 years old, the world’s focus eventually settling on him when he scored the “wonder goal” against Argentina in the World Cup. He became the BBC sports personality of the years and an international football legend.

The Football Triumphs of Michael Owen

Now, after his amazing debut, you would think that Michael had reached his peak. However, despite suffering from his injuries, he still led an extremely successful career. Take a look at the timeline below to get a glimpse of the high standard that Owen set for himself and the other players around him.

These are only a few of his triumphs in the UK. Michael has also played successful seasons with Newcastle United and Manchester United. Internationally, Michael Owen also proved that he had the skills to represent England against some of the best players in the world. One of his most famous triumphs is against Germany in the world cup qualifier.

Germany vs England: 2001

Let’s set the scene here. Michael had been trying to recover from a hamstring injury at the same time as continue his football career. He bounced back into action when he played with England in 2001 against Germany. Not only did he perform a hat-trick against Germany, scoring a goal in the process, but he also became the first England player to score three goals against Germany since Sir Geoff Hurst in 1966 during the World Cup final. No injury could keep Michael down, he was ready to become a football legend.

International Triumphs

Of course, Michael’s main international triumph came from his match with Germany, but he also became England’s captain when David Beckham was injured. This meant that he was the youngest captain in 40 years. With Michael’s help, England managed to get to the quarter finals of the World Cup. They defied the odds and showed England was not to be messed with on the football field.

Michael also went on to play for Real Madrid in 2008. The club paid around £8 million for this famous Liverpool striker and Michael was extremely proud of this achievement, stating:

“My Dad has been telling me about the great Real Madrid teams of the 1960s… Gento was the quickest No 11 he had ever seen. Today I’m so proud to be wearing his No 11 shirt.”

Although he did go on to score a number of goals for this amazing team, Owen struggled to settle into the team dynamic. By 2005, he had returned to the English Premiere League to play alongside his friend Alan Shearer at Newcastle United.

What was his best goal?

Honestly, there are a number of goals we could choose. After all, he is one of only nine players to have scored over 150 goals in the premier league! But to us here at Gowing Law, there is one goal that stood out in particular and that is the goal that brought him his notoriety in the first place. In 1998, Michael was only 19 years old and was playing in the World Cup against Argentina. Fighting against a number of older and more experienced players, Michael triumphed in a display of speed, dexterity and grit to score the second goal for England.

As you can see from the video above, it was a moment to go down in the history books. Some may even claim that it was one of the most glorious moments in Michael’s young career. After all, it showed how his natural skill elevated him above any other player and predicted his future triumphs when he played on the pitch.

What do you think was Michael Owen’s best goal? Let us know!

Overcoming Injuries

Now, one of the things that we do admire about Michael Owen is how open and honest he is about his career in football. He presents his moments of triumph with great dignity, but is also exceedingly honest about some of the difficulties that life on the pitch entails. Michael was injured a number of times on the pitch and opened up about these injuries in an interview with the BBC:

“I was petrified of running into a channel. I just knew I was going to tear a muscle. The worst thing about it is your instinct is to do what you have done all your life but you start thinking: ‘Oh no, don’t.'”

One thing we can learn from Michael is how to overcome the odds. Although he had these fears, he never let them interfere with his work. Although he did suffer from a hamstring injury, a striker’s nightmare, he proved that he was resilient enough to fight back. Despite his injuries, he managed to score a hat-trick against German in the historic 5-1 match in the 2001 World Cup qualifier.

No matter what sort of injuries a player may suffer, they endure it for the sake of their fans, livelihoods and their own personal devotion to the game. This is what we truly admire about Michael. He never gave up and even now he serves as an inspiration to those who are injured to keep following their dreams and ambitions. Working with Gowing Law Solicitors, we can spread this message to a wider audience to ensure they get the help that they need.

Charity Work

Not only has Michael Owen worked with Gowing Law Solicitors to support the “Together in Football Foundation”, helping children of all communities enjoy a game of football together, but he is famous for his kind heart and charity work. Not only did he take part in the Ascot Charity Race, but he is known for spreading the word about different charities on his Twitter, such as The Lewy Body Society. Make sure to check out his Twitter for more information on what he is doing in the present and the different causes he supports.

Gowing Law Solicitors & Michael Owen: Working together

Gowing Law has had the pleasure of working with Michael Owen for over four years. He is a kind man who is truly an inspiration to those who want to follow their dreams, just as he did all those years ago. Not only has he visited our office but he has become the face of our brand. We are proud that he has chosen to champion our firm.

If anyone knows the pain of what an injury can do when trying to progress a career, it is Michael Owen. That is why we urge you to contact us if you have had an injury that is not your fault. We can help you get the justice that you deserve. Not only can you find out more information about our different services on our website and law blog, but we can offer you free advice and work with you on a “no win, no fee basis”. Feel free to call our Manchester law firm at 0800 041 08350, email info@gowinglaw.co.uk or directly message us through our contact page.

Gowing Law is delighted to announce our radio collaboration with Michael Owen and Communicorp Radio Station

In order to help as many people as possible get the justice they need in the UK legal system, Gowing Law Solicitors has partnered up with Communicorp and Michael Owen to spread our message around the UK. Check out our radio advertisement below!

A Quick Guide to Road Traffic Accident Compensation Claims

Posted on June 4, 2020 by Hannah Fletcher - Blog, Traffic Accidents, Uncategorised

Road traffic accident compensation can really help you through a difficult time in your life. Being involved in an accident on the road can be traumatic and can leave you with both mental and physical scars. That’s why if you have recently been in an accident where you were not at fault, you may be considering claiming compensation from the other party. RTA claims can be very complicated and depend mostly on the evidence that is brought to the courts. You do not want to undertake them by yourself, especially if you have been injured.

If you learn about the basics of RTA compensation claims, you can leave the difficult parts of your case to your experienced solicitor. That way you can know exactly what sort of evidence you need, how to determine who was at fault and how much you could potentially receive from a successful RTA claim. This guide will help you get started with the basics of RTA compensation claims. Read on to learn more!

What is classified as a Road Traffic Accident?

A road traffic accident usually entails a collision between vehicles or a personal injury that someone has experienced due to driving on the road. There are lots of different ways that people could be involved in a traffic accident:

As you can see, there are many different types of hazards that come in the forms of other vehicles, people and stationary objects. These can damage you and the vehicle you are driving. Always be aware of the road and the different types of drivers that inhabit it. Your situation can change in a split second. This is when an accident can happen. There are several factors that can determine whether or not an accident can happen on the road. However, the main two that you need to understand are negligence and liability.

If you were involved in a road traffic accident, you need to prove that someone else was the cause of it. In other words, you need to prove that they hold the liability. This could include the other driver, the government for not ensuring your environment was safe or even your vehicle’s manufacturer. This is why RTA cases can get very complicated.

For more information about different types of vehicle accident compensation claims, please visit the following pages:

Determining who was at fault

Road traffic accident compensation is only given to those who can prove that they were not the cause of an accident. Instead, they did everything in their power to try and stop it. However, the situation was simply out of control. This is where your evidence will need to come into play. It will determine what the real factors were in your accident. Take a look at some examples of who may have been at fault in the first place:

When you make a road traffic compensation claim, you can ask for a pay out from any of these potential parties. If they were at fault then it is their responsibility to ensure you are helped financially. This includes helping you with:

Coping with your injuries.
Covering any financial burdens you may have thanks to being off work.
Any vehicle repairs

Do not worry about asking for this compensation. This is one of the main reasons why the UK government requires all vehicles to have some form of insurance if they are actively on the road. You will not be actively taking money from the person if they are protected by their insurer. Instead, you will simply getting help from another financial source. You will only be burdening them if they have not been insured.

Contributory Negligence

When you make a compensation claim about an accident on the road, you need to consider the reasons behind your injuries. If you are at fault for the accident, you will not get compensation for this. Instead, you may have to end up paying compensation to the other party. However, even if you are the main victim of the accident, there are factors that may lower the amount of compensation you receive.

For instance, were you wearing your seat belt? If you were not then this could mean that this was “contributory negligence.” You knew that not wearing a seat belt could worsen or prevent some of your injuries. But you still did it.

Just remember, the injuries you do receive depend on the medical opinion of a doctor. However, if you are found guilty of contributory negligence, you could lose up to 25% of your compensation. Try your best to keep as safe as you can when you are on the road. That way if you are in an accident, you can claim as much compensation as you can.

What if both participants in the accident were at fault?

Road traffic accident compensation claims are not always simply cut and dry. Instead, they may show that both parties were at fault for the accident. For instance, both may have been under the influence of alcohol or experiencing road rage that made them compete against each other.

If this is the case then liability can actually be shared. Each party must pay a certain percentage of the claims through their insurance. Make sure to discuss this carefully with your lawyer. If you were slightly at fault for the accident, it can still mean that you can get a small pay-out.

How do you make a vehicle insurance claim?

Any accidents you experience in your car will be traumatic. When you exit the vehicle you may not be thinking straight. You may immediately just want to get away as quickly as possible. However, it is essential that you take down the licence plate, time, location and insurance details of the other driver. You may also want to take pictures and call the police in order to have a police report filed to make sure no details are skipped over. You may also want to contact your insurer or the Financial Ombudsman Bureau so you can talk about making a claim or how you can take the case to court. This can also be done with an experienced lawyer.

Why should you claim compensation from a traffic accident?

Being involved in a RTA can be one of the most traumatic events in your life. It can cause physical and mental damages that can throw your world into disarray. You may feel out of control, especially if you have been forced to take sick leave in order to recuperate. It’s time for you to take back control and help yourself move on from your injuries.

Here are some additional reasons why you may want to file for road traffic accident compensation:

You are making a very good move claiming compensation, despite the bad situation that you have been thrown in. Sometimes accidents simply happen and it can’t be changed. You are legally entitled to the money, therefore, you should be able to take it and use it to help your recovery. You did not ask for someone else’s carelessness to injure you. In fact, you may be forced to endure constant treatments to help you get back on your feet.

Can you claim for more than just physical damages?

Yes! You can. If you have suffered any mental trauma, psychological issues or financial damages due to your injuries, you can reclaim this from your compensation. You can even use the compensation to hire out a vehicle whilst your own is being repaired. Think carefully about you want to use the compensation for. This will greatly affect your case.

What do you need for a successful RTA compensation claim?

Think of your road traffic compensation claim as a number of building blocks. You may start off with trying to figure out the main cause of your claim. This includes figuring out who was to blame for the accident. Remember, someone at fault is not the same as someone being liable. Road users have a duty of care towards others. Failure to take safety actions, e.g. to stop an accident, can mean that this duty of care has been breached.

Looking into The Highway Code can be a good way of determining whether someone is liable for an accident. For instance, an experienced driver would make sure to check all of their blind spots to ensure they can safely carry out a manoeuvre or enter into a junction. If not, then they have breached their duty of care for others on the road and, also, the passengers who have been in your vehicle.

All of these different factors will be determined by the type of evidence you have. You may want to consider using:

Photographic Evidence
Video Footage (Aka. a dash cam)
Witness Notes
Diary Entries
Police Reports
Insurance Reports
Doctors Reports
Expenses Receipts
Work Information (I.e. SSP or sick notes)

Make sure to take down as much detail as possible, especially if you are making notes about different communications with important figures in the case. This could include your lawyer, your insurance firm and any firms that require payment (i.e. medical recuperation specialist centers).

How much compensation could I claim from an accident?

Go on any sort of claims website and you will see them predicting that you could earn thousands in compensation. This is true, but it honestly depends on the type of case you have. You need to look at the evidence you have of liability, the severity of your wounds and whether or not the other driver accepts blame. Instead of predicting the amount of compensation on your own, it would be better to speak to a trained specialist who can estimate the amount you could be due, such as a Gowing Law solicitor in Manchester.

How long will it take to make a claim?

Again, this depends on the complexity of your case. If it is a simple case with clear evidence of who was to blame, it could be settled in a few months. However, more complicated cases could take longer, especially if the defendant wishes to also ask for compensation for damages. Speak to your lawyer about a timeline. They can help you figure out how long you will need to collect compensation and what obstacles could be in the way of it. Remember to ask for updates about your case! That way you can always know what is going on.

A Gowing Law Solicitor can help you with your claim

You need help if you are thinking about making a claim for road traffic accident compensation. These cases can get extremely complicated, even if you know all about the basics of making a claim. That’s where a Gowing Law Solicitor can help you. Our trained experts offer free advice and consultations. They can estimate how long your case will take and how much compensation you could be owed. If you decide to work with them, they work on a “no win – no fee” basis, meaning that you will always come out on top.

Each case is different, meaning that there is no guarantee that you will get the perfect outcome. However, if you have an experienced traffic accident lawyer on your side, you can improve the chance that you will be able to apply for compensation. Make sure to tell your lawyer as many detail and facts as possible. You may also want to present them with a file of your evidence. That way they can quickly let you know how likely it is that you can prove that you were the true victim of the road accident.

If you want to learn more about different traffic accident compensation cases, contact Gowing Law Solicitors today! You can do this by calling 0800 041 8350, emailing info@gowinglaw.co.uk or directly chatting through our contact page.

Let us know how we can help you win your case!

Interested in learning more about road traffic accident compensation?

Gowing Law Solicitors updates our blog page weekly to ensure that our clients are kept updated about the latest law news. This includes top tips about safety at work, PPI tax claims and much, much more. Make sure to explore our blog page to see what else our experts can offer you.

What sort of evidence do you need to win traffic accident compensation?

Posted on June 1, 2020 by Hannah Fletcher - Blog, Traffic Accidents, Uncategorised

Traffic accident compensation cases can be complicated. Not only do you need to figure out precisely who was at fault for the accident but a lot of the time you may not have the right evidence needed to satisfy a jury that you were primarily the victim of a traffic accident. A verdict may come back that it was due to split liability or even contributory negligence, aka. Only partial negligence on the road. You need to be prepared for any sort of outcome. However, if you have appropriate evidence to back up your claim then it is likely that you will get an extremely high pay out. But you may be asking yourself what sort of evidence would stand up in court? That is where this blog can help you!

Gowing Law Solicitors can offer you expert advice on your claim and can go through your case to ensure the right evidence is presented at the appropriate time. Let’s learn precisely what evidence you need to consider if you want to have a successful traffic claims case.

What counts as a traffic accident?

Whether you have suffered a large or small injury due to a traffic accident, you could be legally entitled to compensation. This is available to any type drivers, including:

Road accidents can include whiplash, airbag and seatbelt injuries to anyone of any age. It does not matter whether you are a child or an adult. If you have been hurt during a traffic accident, you (or someone that you love) are due compensation. Here are the main causes of road accidents, if any apply to you then you may need to consider speaking to a solicitor about your claim.

Were you at fault for the traffic accident?

Road traffic accidents (RTA) can be traumatic experiences for all victims involved. This includes the victims in the motor vehicles or any pedestrians. You may be feeling a bit shaken from your accident. However, it is essential that you consider whether or not it was your fault. That way you can figure out whether or not you could be owed compensation. These are the ways you may not be able to claim compensation, if you are found to be at fault:

If none of these apply to you, then your next step is to consider how much compensation you think you could be owed. Your compensation will depend on your injury severity and the cost of any resulting losses. This may include:

Earnings that you have lost (i.e. through time off work).
Any medical expenses that you received whilst in hospital or physio-rehabilitation.
Any travel expenses (i.e. being forced to travel to a distant specialized hospital).
Private support/care to help rehabilitate you.
Disability additions to your house.
Emotional & Physical damages.
Mobility assistance

Every traffic accident claims situation is different. Small details can make a big difference. For instance, were you wearing a seat belt during the accident? Whilst it is a legal requirement to wear a seat belt, it will not stop you from making a compensation claim. Instead, it will just affect the amount of compensation you receive if your claim is successful. Think carefully about the small details of the traffic accident you were involved in. This can potentially create a big impact.

The Evidence of a RTA Claim

Your case cannot be a matter of “he said, she said.” Instead, you need to have cold hard facts to back up your version of events. Yes, you may have vehicle insurance to protect your automobile financially, should it need repairs, but you need to think about what could count as evidence to provide you with additional compensation for your own personal injuries and to help fix your vehicle.

Let’s have a look at Mr Carl Claim’s story for some basic ideas of what we should be looking for:

Now, the first thing from this story that you need to consider is whether or not Carl Claims was at fault. If he has appropriate evidence then he can prove that he did try to prevent an accident by doing an emergency break, but the speed of the other car stopped it from being effective, this can show that he was the victim of the incident. This could mean that he is due compensation to help with the damages of his car and to get him through medical treatment. He clearly indicated that he had a job, therefore, it can also help him re-claim any costs he may have lost from not being able to go to work or claim statutory sick pay (SSP).

So, what could Carl use to back up his claim? Here are some examples of useful evidence:

Photographic Evidence

One of the most useful things that you are going to have for evidence are photographs. Most people have a phone nowadays, therefore you should have access to a camera! Now, don’t try and harass the other person involved in the accident with your photographs. Instead, snap the essentials. Take their licence plate number, pictures of the damages, any injuries you have suffered and, most importantly, your environment. You will need to prove that you were in a specific area at a certain time when the accident happened. If there are any road markings or witnesses, you may also want to use photos to capture them if they are happy to be photographed.

Why, you may ask? Well, all of these photos are to prove that the liability of the incident should either fall on the other person in the incident or on a factor that is outside of your control. For example, a pothole on a road may have burst one of your tires and forced you to swerve. This was due to government negligence, not your own driving ability. Try to take as many photos as possible to prove:

How the accident was not your fault.
What hardships you suffered due to the accident.
Who was there at the time of the accident.
How you tried to handle the accident in a calm and mature manner.

These photos corroborate your story. Therefore, you should aim to capture as many important images as possible. You will never know what you will find useful, especially if you take pictures of road signs and the other person is charged for negligence (aka. speeding!)

Video Evidence

There is only one thing that is more powerful than photographic evidence. That is video evidence! Nowadays, you can get “dash cams” that can attach to the inside of your car and record both you and the road. This can help you prove that you tried to implement basic manoeuvres to avoid the accident. You can show liability and point out evidence where you were the clear victim, including problematic driving, negligence or even dangerous environments. You can also video the incident after it happened. Make sure to film any injuries and the environment, and show the result of the negligence of the other driver or what happened to any other victims.

Police Documentation/Evidence

Were the police called at the time of your accident? Perhaps the other person in the crash became violent, or maybe you required urgent medical assistance. Either way, the police force can be witnesses in themselves. They take notes from both parties and evidence from the scene, and will file reports that talk about what happened for the accident to occur. As this is an impartial view, and is completely unbiased, this can add to your case if the documentation is in your favor. If you have been in contact with the police, make sure to alert your lawyer to this. They can ensure that you have their appropriate statements ready to be used for your case.

Witness Reports

Carrying on from the previous point, other drivers and pedestrians can make your case stronger by providing testimonies. If you know of anyone who witnessed the accident, and you do not require immediate medical attention, make sure to ask for their contact details. If you are worried that they might forget what they saw at the crash, you can ask for their statements to provide evidence to validate your case. Witnesses testimonies are impartial therefore they can really help with your traffic accident compensation claim.

Diary Events

It can be traumatic being part of an accident. When you are in one, the first thing you have to do is ensure that you are not hurt. The stress can make everything far more difficult, especially if you are trying to concentrate and make sure you are safe. But if you have put yourself in a safe place, and you do not require immediate medical treatment, make sure to write out your version of the events.

If it was written at the time of the traffic accident, this can show an account of what happened without your memory getting in the way. Whilst it may be biased, it can still detail specifics that you may forget about as time progresses. You may also have suffered from head injuries, making certain details more difficult to remember. If you cannot remember what happened, it would be wiser to rely on your witnesses for their testimonies.

Expenses/ Receipts

One of the main things that you need to prove after you have had a traffic accident is that the other person caused you more than physical damages. You may have financial damages that are due to the state of your vehicle and your inability to do your job. That’s why you need to provide documentation that showed you were forced to pay to help with your recovery. This could include medical bills and evidence to prove that you have lost your wage (i.e. a letter from your company.) Write down what expenses you have been forced to pay and then see what documented evidence you can produce to show that your injuries are causing you financial damage.

Doctor’s Notes

If you need additional evidence to show the extent of your injuries, it is always wise to seek the help of a medical professional. They can assess your injuries and let you know what help you might need to recovery. This can include physio sessions and different types of medication you will need to pay for. Having your doctor’s note can also prove the expenses that needed to be paid after you suffered from your accident.

How do you organize your evidence?

This is where you need the help of an experienced solicitor to organize your traffic accident compensation evidence. You need to decide what will be the most relevant to your case. You may want to consider:

Keeping a file of your evidence that can have different sections for photographs, lists, your documents and even your correspondence with the other victims and witnesses.
Organizing your letters so your know where to find your notification letters, insurance company letters, medical letters, “demands letter” and any other correspondence.
Creating an online file for your photographs and videos. Don’t forget to keep them secure on a transfer stick. That way if your computer breaks then you will still have your evidence.
Asking your solicitor to start organizing your evidence. However, you will need to bring them all of your documentation.

Your trained traffic accident solicitor will look at all of the details of your case and let you know which are the most important aspects of your case. That way, when you do go to court, you know which pieces of evidence will create the best impression of what happened during your accident, and how it has affected you now. Remember to take your notes effectively and be as specific as possible.

Gowing Law Solicitors can help you with your traffic accident compensation claim

Traffic accident claims can be extremely complicated. You can choose to file a compensation claim on your own by visiting the UK Government’s website, however you may find that you earn less compensation than you originally think you are entitled to. An experienced lawyer in Manchester can help you understand your case in detail and tell you what you are owed precisely. That way you can know exactly whether or not you should try and make a claim.

Gowing Law’s trained solicitors can offer you free advice and schedule in a consultation to talk about what happened to you. You can bring your evidence and they will make sure to look at everything in detail. If you decide to work with our team of experts, you will see that they work via on a “no-win, no-fee” basis. That means even if you do not win your case, you will not need to pay any fees to your solicitor. The solicitor that works with you will bring their experience and help you get the compensation that you decide.

To get in contact with Gowing Law Solicitors and our experienced traffic accident compensation team, please call 0800 041 8350, email info@gowinglaw.co.uk or chat via direct message on our contact page.

Love reading about the law?

Here at Gowing Law, we always want to make sure our clients are kept up-to-date with the latest law knowledge and information about the UK. We understand you may be feeling nervous about the recent pandemic, especially if you are being forced to go back to work. Make sure to learn about your rights as an employee and how to work in a safe environment. If you have a topic you would like to suggest for our blog, make sure to let us know by contacting info@gowinglaw.co.uk. We would be more than happy to write about it.

We look forward to helping you with your traffic accident claim soon!

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.

How to Choose the best Self-Invested Pension Plan (SIPP Scheme)

Posted on May 22, 2020 by Hannah Fletcher - Blog, Pension Claims, SIPPs, Uncategorised

Sipp Schemes are complicated. As you get older, you may become worried about how much money you have saved up for your pension. Sometimes what you have worked for just isn’t enough. That’s why you may be considering investing in a SIPP scheme. If you place your pension in the appropriate SIPP, this can help you receive more than you originally intended on settling with. There are over 750,000 SIPP schemes in the UK, collectively having around £110 billion in savings. That’s why you will need to be careful about which scheme you choose to invest in. If you can avoid being mis-sold a SIPP then you will find that the return you receive is worth it.

If you are new to the world of SIPPs, you may need some help maneuvering through your different options. You will need a good financial advisor and, in some circumstances, may need an experienced lawyer just in case you are mis-advised about your SIPP investment. Let’s learn together how to choose the perfect SIPP scheme for you, and what you can do if it goes wrong.

What is a SIPP?

Basically, SIPPs are pension plans for people who are looking for more flexibility and control over their pension savings. Now, most people would go for a standard pension either provided by the state or from their company. However, there are other people who would prefer to gather all of their pension funds together before they retire. With a SIPP, the pension owner can control how their money grows and where the money is put into. They do not need to rely on any sort of Pension Company or the government. Instead, they have the power to control their own funds. Finally, once they are happy with the size of their nest egg, they can ask for their savings to be refunded.

This may sound easy in theory, however it is important that investors are aware that there are SIPPs out there that are less than savoury. You do not want to become the victim of a mis-sold pension. That’s why it’s crucial you make the appropriate financial decisions.

Are you suitable for a SIPP?

If you are a retirement saver, you may be considering your options between an ISA and a SIPP. Most people tend to invest in both, however if you are solely considering a SIPP it may because you want use an “income drawdown”. However there are other reasons.

Should you fall into one of these brackets, you may want to start looking online for an appropriate SIPP scheme to invest in. You should also consider one if:

A financial advisor is employed under you who can make decisions on your behalf
You have a large pension pot that you will continue to make significant contributions to before retirement
As an experienced investor, you understand the risks and are interested in a wider array of options

Having experience in investment plans can help you when it comes to picking the perfect SIPP scheme for you. That way you can avoid any problematic schemes that may be looking to take money away from you, rather than trying to repay your investment.

The Different Types of SIPP Schemes

Now, if you don’t have an Individual Savings Account (ISAs) due to being self-employed or due to not having enough savings, you may be considering putting your pension pot into a SIPP. There are quite a few examples of SIPPs. These include:

You can expand your pension with any of these investments, however it is important that you consider what you are actually going to be investing your pension in. You need to make sure you are not choosing a SIPP scheme that is unregulated (i.e. not regulated by the FCA) that may ask you for additional funds. The property you invest in may include:

Investment Trusts on the stock exchange
UK Government bonds
Foreign Government bonds
Stocks & shares
Gilts & bonds
Open-ended investments & companies
London stock exchange ETFs
European markets ETFs
Bank deposit accounts
Offshore funds
Commercial properties
Real Estate on the stock exchange
Unit Trusts

Having an experienced financial advisor can help guide you through these different investment options. If you have chosen the best financial advisor for you then they will offer you clear advice that will help you grow your pension pot. Make sure to check their qualifications and how much experience they have actually had in SIPP investments. If you are mis-led by them due to their lack of knowledge, then you may be owed compensation.

The Amount of SIPP Risk

With every investment comes a potential risk. Some investments may be low-risk ventures, meaning that you get a substantial amount of money whilst knowing that your main investment is relatively safe with the company that has been invested in. However, other investments may be high risk. These include luxury properties abroad, diamonds or perhaps commercial projects. It is the job of your financial advisor to give you advice on which of these investment is the most suitable to your needs.

In some cases, you may be willing to accept the risk of your SIPP as part of your investment. However, if you are aware of it, keep in mind that this may go against you if you ever want to seek out compensation for a bad investment. However, larger risk does constitute larger returns.

At the end of the day, it is up to you assess the risk that each SIPP brings to the table. Make sure to do your research and ask your financial advisor for help. You can look up each SIPP online and discuss their investment potential, fees and pay backs.

When you are looking up different SIPPS, and are getting ready to discuss them with your financial advisor, make sure to consider the following:

Mis-Sold SIPPs

Whilst we would like to think that most financial investments you make will be risk free, there are some that simply won’t be the case. There are always going to be some shadier SIPPs that are solely interested in claiming your money rather than helping you grow it. If you have lost money on a SIPP due to extortionate fees or bad financial advice, rather than your own decisions, it is very likely that you have been mis-sold a SIPP. You can claim compensation on these rogue SIPPs through the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS)

Bad financial advice is normally one of the main reasons why you may have been mis-sold a pension SIPP. However, there are other reasons why. Could any of the reasons below apply to you and your investment situation?

The terms and conditions of your investments were not explained by your financial advisor or in your contract.
Your advisor did not have the qualifications or experience they claimed to have (i.e. a qualification from the Pensions Management Institute (PMI) or the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII)).
There were additional fees & charges associated with your pension that you were not aware of.
There was more risk involved in your pension than you wanted to originally take.
Your financial advisor instructed you to transfer your pension from a work place pension.
You were cold-called and given a free pension review.
You ended up being pressurized into the SIPP and found out it was a tax avoidance scheme.

Unregulated Third Parties

When a SIPP scheme takes your investment, they normally use it in an investment to help you grow your pension pot. However, for those who mis-handled your funds, the investments they made were in non-standard assets. This included luxury foreign properties, commercial properties and diamonds.

A lot of the time, these investments were extremely high-risk. This meant that there was more chance that you would not see any of your investment back, especially if the investment became illiquid. If you were forced into one of these schemes, it is very likely that you could have a mis-sold SIPP compensation case on your hands. You should not wait to see what will happen with this case. After all, if you have lost your pension due to misinformation and misguidance from your financial advisor, you deserve to claim for your losses. Instead, go to a solicitor and see how much you could be due.

Have you heard of any of these mismanaged SIPPs?

In 2018, the FSCS had around £40 million in compensation claims to hand out for those who had been mis-sold a pension SIPP. This is because they were investigating some of the largest SIPPs before they fell into administration. A lot of these SIPPs were investing in non-standard assets or were cold-calling clients into order to transfer their funds into a SIPP scheme that would be sent back to their business. This meant that the pension SIPP owners would usually get enough investments to line their own pockets, whilst the unfortunate investors would lose out, some of whom lost their entire pension funds.

This list contains only a few of some of the biggest SIPP names that have been mis-sold to their clients. What they have in common is that they have all lost their clients’ money or have pressurised investments. They have now either gone into investigation from the FSCS. Some are even being sued under a fraud case.

Gowing Law Solicitors have already had successful claims made against some of these mis-sold pension SIPPs. We aim to ensure that all of our clients are happy with their settlements. It is not fair that some larger SIPP schemes can get away with mishandling their client’s money. Most of our clients have spent a life time earning these funds for their pension.Therefore they do not deserve to lose out. Here at Gowing Law, we are on your side and will do everything we can to make sure you are rightly compensated against even the biggest SIPP names.

How to handle a mis-sold pension SIPP

If you believe that you have a mis-sold SIPP and are due compensation, the first thing you have to do is consolidate the evidence that you have. This could include written communications, signed documents or information packs. What this evidence needs to prove is that you were unaware of the investment you were getting involved in. You need to show that you were unaware of any of the risks or potential pitfalls that the investment had. Go through your documentation carefully and highlight anything that you think may be of importance.

You may also want to consider writing a letter of complaint to either the SIPP, the business that now owns the SIPP, or the FCA. That way you can make them aware of your case and the action you intend to pursue. You may think that this may make your case more complicated, but it is actually the opposite. If a company knows that they are in the wrong then they may simply agree to your terms and conditions to avoid any more legal trouble.

From there, it is time to get a legal specialist on board to help with your mis-sold pension SIPP case. They can offer you advice that is fully personalized to your case. With their experience you will find that the case will move smoothly and you will get the compensation that you deserve.

Gowing Law Solicitors can help with a mis-sold SIPP compensation case

We understand that pursuing a mis-sold SIPP pension case can be quite daunting on your own. That’s why our trained SIPP mis-selling solicitors are here to help you. Gowing Law’s expert team can offer you a free consultation about your case. If you do choose to work with us, we operate on a “no win-no fee” basis. That means no matter what the outcome of your case is, you will always come out on top.

Feel free to get in contact with Gowing Law Solicitors now to discuss your mis-sold SIPP. We would be happy to offer you our advice. Call 08000418350 or email info@gowinglaw.co.uk. You can also contact us directly by either using the Mis-sold SIPP form or by using our direct messenger on our contact page.

Have you read our other law blogs?

Here at Gowing Law, we pride ourselves on keeping our claimants informed about the latest information. With the current pandemic, the laws of the UK are constantly changing. That’s why it’s important to keep up-to-date with the latest law info. Our blog page contains facts and tips about mis-sold pensions, PPI tax reclaims, mis-sold mortgages and much, much more. Feel free to scroll through our blog to see if anything catches your eye. Better yet, tell us what you want to see in our blog! Please contact info@gowinglaw.co.uk. We would be happy to help.

We hope you enjoyed reading our latest Gowing Law blog!

Motorcycle Accidents: Who’s at fault?

Posted on May 19, 2020 by Hannah Fletcher - Blog, Traffic Accidents, Uncategorised

Motorcycle accidents can happen to anyone. You could be the safest driver on the road and still one day be thrown from your bike. That’s why it is essential that you know your rights on the road, especially if you are trying to figure out who’s at fault for the accident. Did you know that motorcycles make up only around 1% of the UK roads traffic? However, motorcyclists still experience over 14% of serious injuries, or even death, from a road collision. That’s why if you think you have a motorcycle accident claim, the first thing you need to consider is “who is at fault for the accident?”

Now, some people will tell you outright that it is normally a motorcyclist’s fault for being “cocky” and thinking that they can quickly get through a tight gap or dangerous situation without thinking of others on the road. Others will tell you that it is due to an automobile not staying aware of smaller and quicker vehicles that also have the right to be on the road. In reality, it is not that simple. Instead, the entire claim depends on situational evidence. Read on to learn how you can figure out whether or not you can make a claim.

What does it mean to be “at fault” for a traffic accident?

Normally, when a court is looking at a traffic accident claim, they are trying to figure out which of the parties is guilty of a “comparative negligence apportions fault.”

This fault applies to both of the parties who have been involved in the traffic accident and how much damage was caused overall to:

The Drivers
The Vehicles
Any third parties (i.e. pedestrians, exterior destruction, third party vehicles)

All of these factors will be tallied up in order to see which of the parties was at fault in the accident. However, keep in mind that if you ride a motorcycle, the type of vehicle you have is not a reason in itself to be able to claim compensation. Yes, a driver must keep an eye on the road and be aware of vulnerable vehicles (including bikes, scooters and motorcycles), but if an accident occurs the motorcyclist could still be liable for damages.

To be blunt about it, be aware that being a motorcyclist does not automatically make you a valid traffic accident claimant. During your motorcycle training, you have learned how to safely operate a smaller vehicle on the road. That means that you are also aware of all the vulnerabilities it possesses. If you are in an accident, just because you are a smaller vehicle does not mean you will automatically win your case. Each incident is circumstantial.Make sure you understand this before you consider who was at fault for your accident.

Negligence Claims on the Road

If you have been in a traffic accident whilst riding a motorcycle, and believe you are entitled to compensation, you are going to be looking for a “personal injury claim” to prove that the other party’s negligence resulted in your injury or the destruction of your vehicle. If you want to have a valid claim, these are the four main components that you need to consider:

It can be difficult to think about motorcycle accidents that you have been a part of. After all, accidents on the road can happen so quickly it can be difficult to see who did what at a precise time. That is why you need to document out your thoughts as quickly as you can. The closer to the time of the accident, the better. This is because your memory will still be fresh, therefore you will be able to remember smaller details, including times, dates and information about the accident. The smallest traffic accident detail could be the difference between a successful compensation claim and a failure.

If you are struggling to remember details of your motorcycle accident (perhaps due to a head injury) you may want to enlist the help of witnesses to re-account what happened during the incident. You may also want to consider investing in a “dash-cam” so if this sort of thing ever happens to you then you can have video evidence ready to prove that you were not the driver at fault.

The Different Types of Motorcycle Accidents

Now, if you are a motorbike user, it is highly recommended that you look at DanDantheFireman’s Youtube Channel as it is full of useful information on how to keep safe on the road. You are a faster vehicle, meaning that if you are aware of your surroundings, there is a higher chance that you can hold your brakes and prevent an accident.

With that said, there is always a chance that you could get into an accident whilst you are on the road. That’s why you need to be as safety-conscious as possible whilst you are out driving. Over 78% of the time, a car-on-motorbike collision will mean that the motorcyclist will be hit from the front. This means that the impact will be head on. In most cases, this could mean that the accident could turn fatal for the cyclist, or at least leave them with a painful recovery period. Here are some additional common motorcycle accidents that could happen to a motorcyclist.

Additional Motorcycle Accidents

Whilst the aforementioned accidents may affect both cars and motorcycles, there is a likely chance that you might be hit by a different vehicle, including other motorcycles. Common incidents may include:

Left turn accidents
Swerving in front of a different vehicle
Yield Failures
Failing to look out for vulnerable vehicles (bikes, scooters)
Blind spot failure
Speeding
Emergency Stops
Space between your motorcycle and the vehicle
Not wearing safety equipment (i.e. helmets, goggles)

How can I tell who is to blame for the accident?

If you are interested in pursuing a liability case for compensation, it’s important that you figure out exactly how the other party is liable for the accident. Every traffic accident case is circumstantial. Keep in mind that it may not even be the person in the other vehicle that is at fault. Blame for incident could go on a different party altogether, including:

Think carefully about the different factors of what happened in your accident. You may want to immediately blame the other person who hit you, but there could be other factors involved. For example, you may think you are at fault because you swerved into another cyclist. But would you have swerved if that pot hole had not been there in the first place?

This is why it is so important to document your thoughts immediately after the motorcycle accident happens. That way when you are making a compensation case, you will know what factors built up and who is at fault. However, keep in mind that the end result may be that you were the one at fault. Think carefully and seek the help of a road accident expert to make sure you can claim compensation.

Was it really the other vehicle?

It really is important to stress that some motorcycle accidents are not due to the fault of another person. Instead, they could be due to the environment on the road. If you are driving on a road alone and fall off your bike, do you really think you are going to pin your fall on another person? No, instead take a look around you at the safety of the road. Consider what sort of condition the road is in.

Was it covered in potholes?
Did it have cracks, bumps and lumpy tarmac? Aka. Poor maintenance
Was the surface wet without a safety indication?
Have unfinished road works without any safety signs?
Were there any oil spills on the road?
Was there a missing guard rail?

All of these environmental effects can have an effect on your driving ability. If they caused you to fall off your bike then this can mean that you are not liable for your own accident. Instead, you can send in a complaint to the UK government’s traffic department for compensation. You can also discuss this with your traffic accident Gowing Law solicitor so that you can have an experienced lawyer on your side before you make your complaint.

Was it the manufacturer of your motorbike?

Another source of liability that you could look at is your motorcycle’s manufacturer. You may have owned a sturdy motorbike for a number of years, however if you have recently brought it in for repairs, then there is a chance that the repairs made on your bike could have caused your accident. Of course, this also applies to if you have just recently bought the bike, but make sure to take your vehicle out for a small test drive before you get back on the road. This way you can ensure that all of your brakes, lighting and engine functions are working to the best of their ability. You don’t want to get onto the road and find that your brakes have cut out. This is a complete recipe for disaster!

If you do suspect that the cause of your accident was due to a manufacturing or repair fault, you can consider suing their business for compensation. However, you will need evidence to prove that it was definitely the main cause of your accident. If your bike has not been destroyed in the accident, you can use it as evidence. You may also want to consider investing in a dash cam to ensure that you can prove that you did everything you could to prevent your vehicle going out of control. However, you were unable to because of the manufacturing or repair issue. This can prove that the firm was negligent in its care and this resulted in your accident.

Motorcycle Accidents can change your life!

Motorcycle accidents can have a serious impact on your life. Not only can it leave some physical trauma behind (including brain damage and lasting disabilities) but it may impact you financially (especially if you have been unfairly dismissed due to being unable to work) and mentally (through trauma, anxiety and panic attacks). You may have to suffer through months of recovery before you even feel ready to go near your bike again. That’s why it’s important to get the right help.

The same logic can be applied to your legal counselling. If you think that you could be owed compensation, then having an experienced traffic accident solicitor on your side can only strengthen your case.

Gowing Law’s motorcycle accident compensation solicitors can help you win your claim. With our experienced team’s successful track record of won cases, you know that you will be in good hands when you work with Gowing Law’s traffic accident solicitors. We will be attentive to your case and ensure that we make sure to run everything past you to keep you on board throughout the claims process. Our talented law team can help you get the pay-out that you deserve.

Find out more about Motorcycle Accident Claims with Gowing Law!

Gowing Law have a team of experienced traffic accident claims solicitors that can help you get the compensation that you deserve. They can support you throughout your claim and provide you with expert advice. We can also offer you a free consultation and work with you on a no win-no fee basis. That means no matter the court outcome, you will always come on top.

Motorbike accidents claim can get complicated. This is why you need a trained solicitor on your side to help you make things simple. We can help you plot out a timeline for your claim and estimate how much you are entitled to. An injury from a motorcycle accident can be life changing and you deserve as much support as you can get. That’s why you should visit our motorcycle accident claims page and get in contact.

Please call 08000418350 or email info@gowinglaw.co.uk. You can also visit our claims page and fill our traffic accident form. This way one of our solicitors can contact you directly to discuss your case.

Learn more about the law

We have decided to keep our clients updated about the most recent law topics and the basics of law in general. That’s why you may want to check out some of the other blogs on our website. We will keep you updated about the latest Covid-19 information, including how to write a will or deal with an employee legal claim during the pandemic. You can also find information on PPI tax reclaims, mis-sold & miscalculated mortgage claims and immigration.

Please let us know if there are any blog topics that you would like us to cover. We would be more than happy to write about it!

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!

Are you the Victim of a Mis-Sold Pension?

Posted on May 12, 2020 by Hannah Fletcher - Blog, Pension Claims, Uncategorised

No one deserves to be the victim of a mis-sold pension. As we get older, we deserve to enjoy our golden years with a secure pension to support our livelihoods. After all, you have worked hard to earn this period of relaxation. However, if you have opted out of your job’s pension scheme, you may have been unintentionally mis-sold a pension by an unscrupulous firm or financial advisor. Whether you want to move pensions or are considering a specific SIPP, it’s important that you are aware of all of the s that come with investing pensions into money schemes.

Here at Gowing Law Solicitors, we understand that many people investing in more high-risk schemes are simply looking for a stronger pension fund altogether. So, if you have already become the victim of bad financial advice, we can help you make sure that you receive the compensation that you deserve. Today, we are going to learn what sort of high-risk pension schemes are out there that could make you lose money!

The Three Types of Pension Schemes

Before you consider whether or not you have been the victim of a mis-sold pension, it’s important to know what sort of pension you already have. There are three options available to you:

For both your defined benefit pension and defined contribution pension, you will usually get around 25% of your nest egg tax free. However, keep in mind that any private pension arranged by yourself may go up and down depending on what sort of investments were put into it. The value of how your pension pot will perform will then depend on how well your investments perform.

Automatic Pension Enrollment

One of the main questions that you need to ask yourself before you retire is ”How much money will I have to live on?” For most people, the answer is going to be that it will be significantly less than what you may have been earning whilst you were employed. If you don’t want to be living on the bare minimum, then you will need to consider whether or not it’s worth it to invest in a state pension all together. Now, Martin Lewis, in an interview on This Morning gives some useful tips on improving the state of your pension. But is this really enough?

If you are thinking about leaving your “auto-enrolled” pension, you may have been looking into a privatized financial scheme. This would help you take the money that you have saved, invest it in a validated scheme and then reap the reward.

Pension Investment Schemes

There are quite a few schemes that you can invest in.

SIPPs (Self- Invested Personal Pensions)

A SIPP is an investment scheme where you can use pension funds to create a higher return. Whilst you can get advice from your financial advisor on these plans, remember that they are more suited to experienced investors. This is because the bigger risks tend to have more returns. Try to avoid investing all of your pension into one SIPP, that way it is less likely you will be too badly impacted by a mis-sold SIPP.

GSIPPS (Group Self-Invested Personal Pensions)

GSIPPs are offered by employers to build up a larger retirement fund. They focus on a group of people under a specific scheme. Each person under the scheme has an individual SIPP contract between you, the other members, and the pension provider. Your employer can contribute to your GSIPP, but they may also need your contribution as well.

SSASs (Small Self-Administered Pension Schemes)

This scheme is a workplace pension that is established by key members of staff and company directors. They can offer this scheme to any employee who wants it. The best part of these schemes is that you can choose precisely how your money is invested. You can even decide to invest in the company you’re employed by. Just make sure you know all of the risks of the investment before you confirm your interest.

Private Sector Investments

A private sector investment can be high-risk, as you will need to look into the potential investments yourself and consider their risks. The private sector includes a wide range of industries that can be sponsored and return your investment at a higher price. This should increase your standard of living.

Defined Benefit Transfers

You may decide to transfer your salary-defined pension in exchange for cash. This is what is known as a defined benefit transfer, aka. A final salary transfer. You must then invest this money into a defined contribution scheme, aka. A personal pension or a SIPP.

The three that you are most likely to invest in are SIPPS, SSAS and Defined Benefit Transfers. This is because the majority of them do come with less risk. You can find out the best schemes for you and your pension through a reliable financial advisor. But be warned, it is also useful for you to do your own research on the schemes that you have been recommend.

The Signs of a Mis-Sold Pension

When you are deciding on which pension scheme is right for you, it is essential that you get solid advice from a financial advisor that can steer you in the right direction. However, not all pensions are the perfect fit for everyone. Sometimes your advisor can tell you to invest in the wrong type of pension. This is where there is potential for you to make a mis-sold pension claim.

If you have been mis-sold a pension, you need to consider:

Was it sold to you due to bad financial advice?

If you did not understand the full risk of your pension investment, and therefore lost your funds due to it, this could mean that you are due some form of compensation. This is because you were not made fully aware of what sort of financial scheme you were getting yourself into. Instead, you lost out due to the negligence of someone else. This means you deserve to be compensated for your losses.

There are other ways that you could have been mis-sold a pension. Check out some of our examples below!

What really brings these types of claims together is the fact that you did not have any knowledge of them. You were promised a certain type of pension scheme and, instead, received something completely different. You are the victim of negligence, and your investment was used for selfish reasons. This may have put you in a notably worse financial position than when you first started. If you were really unlucky, you may have lost your entire pension fund altogether! That’s why, experienced mis-sold pension lawyers, like Gowing Law Solicitors in Manchester, are here to help you claim any compensation that is owed to you.

Don’t forget about mis-sold SIPP schemes!

As you can see from our infographic, there are quite a few pension schemes that have the potential to be mis-sold to you. Mis-Sold SIPP schemes work in a similar way, meaning that you will have to keep an eye out on the invested company and any advisors who recommend you the scheme in the first place.

Here at Gowing Law Solicitors, we want to make sure that you know exactly which bad SIPP schemes are out there. That way you can know precisely whether or not you have a compensation claim with them. This is why we have started creating a list of mis-sold SIPP schemes. This includes:

The Dolphin Trust / The German Property Group
Berkeley Burke
Harlequin Properties
Liberty SIPP
Fast Pensions
TailorMade Independent
One Stop Financial Services
Guinness Man & Trust
Point York SIPP

Make sure to check out our Mis-Sold Pensions page for more information on SIPPs!

Gowing Law & Successful SIPP Claims

If you are considering working with a Gowing Law pension solicitor, we want you to know that you have an experienced claims lawyer on your side. Our team of mis-sold pension specialists have already won legal battles against problematic SIPP providers and financial advisors. This includes:

Berkeley Burke
Harlequin Properties
The Dolphin Trust/ The German Property Group

It can feel intimidating going up against a large financial investment company on your own. But you don’t have to! With the help of a specialist mis-sold pension lawyer, we can help you get the compensation that you deserve and much more. No one deserves to have their retirement fund taken away from them due to false promises. That is why our expert pension claim advisors are here to assist you with your case.

What do I do now?

No matter how big or small your claim is, it is worth pursuing. You deserve compensation. After all, you invested your hard-earned money and expected something in return. If you have experienced a financial loss due to your pension investment, it’s time for you to get help. You can work on your compensation on your own, or perhaps visit the UK Government’s website for help, but having a solicitor on your side can simplify the process and increase your chances of a win.

The first thing you need to consider is the amount of information you have on your pension. No matter what you have been mis-sold, the more information you have on it the better!

The documents you have need to:

Prove you were unaware of the risks of the investment
Show that you were promised more than you received
List the main clauses of the agreement and what was expected from the financial advisor
The details of any parties that are involved
Any signed documents or letters of communication

If you want more advice on what you need, make sure to contact the FCA or the Financial Ombudsman to see what legal powers you have. You can also make the company aware that you plan to launch a complaint against them. From there, contact Gowing Law Solicitors to help prepare your case. Our trained lawyers can help make things simple for you and get all of your information ready for any legal battles that may ensue.

How long will it take to make a case?

Most people try to leave their mis-sold pension case in order to see how things change in the future. However, we would recommend that you get in contact with Gowing Law as quickly as possible. You deserve compensation and we can get it to you in a timely manner.

Remember, how long it takes to get compensation depends on how big your case is. Some mis-sold pension claims are simpler than others. Therefore some may just take a few weeks, whilst others make take a few months. Please make sure to be patient with you pension claim solicitor. They will give you the best information possible and how you can move forward

How much could I claim?

Again, this depends on how much you have put into your pension investment. Each claim will depend on an individual’s circumstances. That’s why some claims are worth thousands of pounds. The Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) can provide you 100% protection on a pension mis-selling claim for up to £50,000. Work with your solicitor to see how much you could be owed!

What do you want to read about next?

We want to make sure that you are up-to-date with the latest law blogs. That’s why we are always uploading new topics to our blog page. This includes topics on immigration visas, the basics of PPI tax claims and even information on Covid-19 & Wills!

If you’re interested in learning more about one of our specific services, please get in contact with Gowing Law Solicitors today through our email: info@gowinglaw.co.uk. We want to write about everything that you want to know.

Contact Gowing Law Solicitors today to learn more about mis-sold pension schemes

Mis-sold pensions are never fun to deal with on your own. That’s why Gowing Law Solicitor’s trained pension mis-selling specialists are ready to offer their help. We offer free consultation advice and work on a “no win- no fee” basis. That means you will not have to pay if we do not win your case. Any fees will be discussed with you upfront to ensure you understand what to expect when you work with us.

Contact Gowing Law Solicitors now by calling 08000418350 or emailing info@gowinglaw.co.uk. You can also use our direct chat on our contact page to message our staff about your enquiry.

From everyone here at Gowing Law, we wish you the best of luck with your mis-sold pensions claim and look forward to working with you soon.

Fill out the form to start your claim today!

The Historical Context: Arsenal vs Liverpool

The build-up: Arsenal

The Match: Michael Owen’s triumph

Why was this an important event for Michael Owen?

Michael Owen and Charity Work

Gowing Law Solicitors: Excited to be partnering with Michael Owen and Communicorp!

Sport Context: Germany vs England

The next match against Germany

Michael Owen & The Match

What happened in the 2001 FIFA World Cup Qualification match?

Michael Owen’s Triumph during the Germany vs England Match

English vs Germany Football match: A Game Changer

Four Years of Charity Work

Working with Gowing Law Solicitors

Collaborating with Michael Owen and Communicorp

The Early Years

The Football Triumphs of Michael Owen

Germany vs England: 2001

International Triumphs

What was his best goal?

Overcoming Injuries

Charity Work

Gowing Law Solicitors & Michael Owen: Working together

Gowing Law is delighted to announce our radio collaboration with Michael Owen and Communicorp Radio Station

What is classified as a Road Traffic Accident?

Determining who was at fault

Contributory Negligence

What if both participants in the accident were at fault?

How do you make a vehicle insurance claim?

Why should you claim compensation from a traffic accident?

Can you claim for more than just physical damages?

What do you need for a successful RTA compensation claim?

How much compensation could I claim from an accident?

How long will it take to make a claim?

A Gowing Law Solicitor can help you with your claim

Interested in learning more about road traffic accident compensation?

What counts as a traffic accident?

Were you at fault for the traffic accident?

The Evidence of a RTA Claim

Photographic Evidence

Video Evidence

Police Documentation/Evidence

Witness Reports

Diary Events

Expenses/ Receipts

Doctor’s Notes

How do you organize your evidence?

Gowing Law Solicitors can help you with your traffic accident compensation claim

Love reading about the law?

The Fear of Returning to Work

No one can prevent:

Changes to your work environment

A Worker’s Rights

Covid-19: The Problems

The Work Place Contract

Work Accidents & Risks

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

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

Do you like what you read?

What is a SIPP?

Are you suitable for a SIPP?

The Different Types of SIPP Schemes

The Amount of SIPP Risk

Mis-Sold SIPPs

Unregulated Third Parties

Have you heard of any of these mismanaged SIPPs?

How to handle a mis-sold pension SIPP

Gowing Law Solicitors can help with a mis-sold SIPP compensation case

Have you read our other law blogs?

What does it mean to be “at fault” for a traffic accident?

Negligence Claims on the Road

The Different Types of Motorcycle Accidents

Additional Motorcycle Accidents

How can I tell who is to blame for the accident?

Was it really the other vehicle?

Was it the manufacturer of your motorbike?

Motorcycle Accidents can change your life!

Find out more about Motorcycle Accident Claims with Gowing Law!

Learn more about the law