Catriona Ralls

The question of holiday pay for the additional bank holiday this year is causing somewhat of a headache for employers across the UK. The extra bank holiday is for the upcoming Coronation on the 6th of May, where people will raise a toast to the King. The...

A diagnosis of mesothelioma will be a devastating one and will mean making significant changes to your life for both you and your family. A diagnosis due to exposure to asbestos in the workplace will mean that you are entitled to make a claim for compensation to help you with the necessary costs for care and to cover loss of earnings. Catriona Ralls, Industrial Disease specialist within our Personal Injury team, explains more here about how much you may be entitled to claim and how we can support you and your loved ones at this difficult time.

Recently, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) published figures showing that deaths caused by mesothelioma reached 2,523 in 2017, with the majority of cases stemming from contact with asbestos in the workplace. This shows that, despite the use of asbestos in the UK being banned completely since 1999, the after effects are still being felt. Here, Catriona Ralls, mesothelioma specialist within our Personal Injury team, details why we need to still take precautions when dealing with asbestos.

Most of us will spend the majority of our time at work, and it is our employer’s legal duty to ensure we work in a safe environment. This is not always the case however, with the Health and Safety Executive reporting 555,000 injuries occurred at work in 2017/18. Sustaining an injury in any situation will be life changing, but if it happens at work you may also be worried about approaching it with your employer for fear of dismissal or detrimental treatment. Aimee Brown, Personal Injury Executive, explains here what you should do if you have had an accident at work and how we can help you move forward with your life

If you have had an accident at work that was not your fault, then you may have the right to bring a claim for compensation. While you may be concerned about bringing a claim against your employer for fear of being treated unfairly, or even losing your job, you have the right to not be treated detrimentally for bringing the claim. Aimee Brown, Personal Injury Executive, explains more here about your rights if you have an accident at work, and the steps you should take following an accident.

Secondary exposure to asbestos is when someone who does not typically come in to contact with the substance is exposed through the transference of the asbestos fibres. Catriona Ralls, mesothelioma specialist within our Personal Injury, here explains more about secondary exposure to asbestos and whether you can bring a claim for compensation if you develop this life threatening illness.

Employers are once again being reminded of their responsibilities regarding asbestos following a compensation award of £360,000 for the family of a woman who died from mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure in her workplace. Catriona Ralls,...

A recent survey from the Institution of Occupational Health and Safety (IOSH) has revealed that one in four construction workers believe they could have been exposed to asbestos and therefore susceptible to developing the fatal illness, mesothelioma. Catriona Ralls, Industrial Disease specialist, reviews here the results of the survey and why it is so important that workers in this sector take the proper precautions.

The now banned use of asbestos in property and industry has led to thousands of fatalities over recent decades. According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), in 2015 there were 2,542 deaths from mesothelioma, an incurable lung cancer caused by exposure to asbestos.

The Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) will be hosting their own Injury Prevention Day on Wednesday 16^th August. The focus for 2017 will be on raising awareness of the dangers of tailgating, and encouraging safer driving to reduce the number of low-speed collisions on UK roads. Several of the Personal Injury team at Warner Goodman are members of APIL, and here Aimee Brown highlights why this campaign is so important.

Here at Warner Goodman, our Personal Injury team work tirelessly for those who have become injured through no fault of their own; whether that be due to an industrial illness such as asbestosis, a fall, an accident at work, or a road traffic collision leading to a serious injury.

Last November, it was announced that the fines for drivers caught using their mobile phone behind the wheel was to increase, and now the date for this implementation has been announced. Currently drivers who are caught receive a £100 fine and three penalty points, but from 1^st March this year this will be increased to £200 and six penalty points.

We spend a significant amount of time at work and so staying safe is something both employees and employers are responsible for. According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), 1.3 million working people suffered from a work-related illness in 2015/16, with 144 workers killed while at work, and a further 621,000 injuries occurred at work, according to the Labour Force Survey.

Road Safety Week begins today; an annual event co-ordinated by road safety charity, Brake. The UK’s biggest road safety event has a different theme each year, with this year’s theme aimed at encouraging everyone to “Make the Brake Pledge”.

A new statement released this week from the Department for Transport (DfT) demonstrates how seriously the government is taking this issue as they announce proposals that drivers will no longer be given the option to attend a remedial driving course as they are now, and will automatically receive the penalty points.

We all know the hazards of using our mobile phones when we’re driving, and it’s easy to be tempted, but do we consider the implications before we do? Is it one of those situations where we think, “I won’t get caught” or “It won’t happen to me”? Figures from the Department for Transport have shown that 492 road traffic accidents were caused in Britain in 2014 because the driver was impaired or distracted by their phone. Unfortunately, 21 of these were fatal, and 84 classed as serious.

As this week draws to a close so too does Road Safety Week for another year; a cause that Hampshire law firm, Warner Goodman LLP, are avid supporters of. The week is organised by road safety charity, Brake, who have released startling figures demonstrating why we all need to review our habits on the roads and question whether we need to use a car to make our journeys.

Hampshire law firm, Warner Goodman LLP, is taking part in this year’s Road Safety Week (23-29 November) for the second year. The firm are corporate partners of road safety charity, Brake, who coordinate the national campaign, with support from the Department for Transport and headline sponsor Specsavers.

It’s Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week this week, which comes shortly after the implementation of new regulations for landlords to ensure their properties are adequately fitted with appropriate alarms.

In June of this year, the Department for Transport released its 2014 road casualty statistics, which worryingly showed an increase in road deaths from the previous year, plus significant increases in the number of casualties, whether that be serious or minor injuries.

The world of personal injury is open to a mixture of positive and negative undertones; helping the genuinely injured back to health with financial support for medical bills and rehabilitation while at the other end of the spectrum the idea of supporting a compensation culture. A new law introduced last month has helped us take one step further away from the latter as the battle against dishonest claimants continues.

Staff at Warner Goodman LLP are calling on families in Hampshire to take part in Child Safety Week (23rd to 29th June) to educate themselves on how to prevent their children from having devastating accidents.

Following the recent change to the clocks, motorists should now be adjusting to driving in the dark. It will come as no surprise that the number of road traffic accidents increases in the winter months, as it’s harder to see hazards, we have slower reaction times, and there is more ice or snow on the roads. But have you considered the impact on all of your passengers if you’re involved in a road traffic accident?

With Halloween approaching, everywhere we turn we see carved pumpkins, severed limbs and cobwebs adorning our shop windows. Our thoughts are turning to decorations to adorn our porches, and stocking up with sweets for trick or treaters. However, home owners also need to ensure that their home is safe for those trick or treaters, and that they don’t get faced with a nasty trick themselves in the form of an injury claim.

Most people will look forward to their next hair appointment, excited about having a new style or colour. One thing you don’t expect is to lose your hair as a consequence. This is exactly what happened to one lady, and here Catriona Ralls, member of the Personal Injury team, explains the impact this had on her clients’ life, and how coming to her gave her access to the help and support needed to rebuild her confidence.

With summer approaching our thoughts are turning to ones of sea, sun and fun. 82% of us are planning to holiday abroad in 2013, and it’s important that we’re prepared, for any eventuality. Andy Munden, Partner at Hampshire based law firm Warner Goodman LLP, takes a look at exactly what could ruin your well-earned holiday…other than the inevitable sunburn!