New laws on uninsured drivers moves a step closer

Wed 27th Apr 2011

Philip Somarakis head of Blake Lapthorn's Motoring Offences team reminds drivers that a new system for cracking down on uninsured drivers has moved a step closer to implementation. The Continuous Insurance Enforcement regulations will toughen the rules on insurance and make it an offence to keep an uninsured vehicle, as opposed to just driving without insurance. Road Safety Minister, Mike Penning, has now laid the final regulations for these changes in Parliament.

CICA rule that injury caused by another's suicide attempt is considered crime of violence and so compensatable under the scheme.

Tue 26th Apr 2011

In the case of Gareth Owen Jones who has suffered severe injuries when the vehicle he was driving was hit by a lorry which had swerved to avoid hitting a suicidal man (V) who had run onto the dual carriageway who was in fact killed.  Mr Jones made an application to the CICA for compensation but the application failed on the basis there had been "no crime of violence".

Food poisoning outbreak in Los Gigantes, Tenerife

Tue 19th Apr 2011

The Pros and Cons of Cycle helmets. Should you wear one?

Tue 19th Apr 2011

I attended a Mad Hatters tea party yesterday in aid of Headway, Isle of Wight Group, to which I took my two nieces.  As we drove from Hampshire across to the Isle of Wight I noticed the increased number of cyclists on the road.  Many, or should I say most, were cycling without helmets.  We started to count the cyclists and of the 32 we passed, only 12 wore helmets (just under 40%).  Of those wearing helmets, two were bicycle police officers and the vast majority of the others were what I would term seasoned cyclists, who were on racing bikes in full gear training as opposed to being out enjoying the good weather.

Blake Lapthorn secures £8.75M settlement for client

Fri 15th Apr 2011

Blake Lapthorn, one of the leading law firms in the UK, is pleased to announce that its client Darcie Hooper has today been awarded £8.75 million, to be paid by way of a lump sum and annual periodical payments, at an approval hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice in London.

Midwife Mistakes Cost NHS Millions of Pounds

Fri 15th Apr 2011

I was genuinely shocked yesterday to read the statistics widely quoted in the press (see this Guardian Article) and specifically in Legal + Medical which show the huge rise in compensation that was paid out in 2010 due to midwifery and obstetric errors in reading cardiotocogram (CTG) traces when compared with just 4 years ago in 2006.  See blog post.

Rollercoasters - Fun but dangerous

Wed 13th Apr 2011

Rollercoasters are one of the most popular attractions in amusement parks. People love to ride the tallest, fastest and longest hoping for the ultimate thrill. This can be terrifying and exhilarating ,  but  can also cause  soft tissue injuries to neck and back as well as traumatic brain injuries  (TBI's) 

Blake Lapthorn joins new Brain Injury Group

Mon 11th Apr 2011

Blake Lapthorn, one of the leading law firms in the UK with offices in the south east including Southampton, has been selected to join the new Brain Injury Group - a national network of expert brain injury lawyers working alongside a wide range of specialist support services.  Together they provide brain injured individuals and their families with complete support – not just compensation - throughout their claim and beyond.

Disabled servicemen win more medals

Wed 6th Apr 2011

In their first major para-cycling event, disabled war veterans Jon-Allen Butterworth and Terry Byrne have won world medals.  Competing at the  World Track Para-Cycling Championships in Montichiari, Italy this March, former RAF Weapons technician Butterworth, aged 25, set a new world record when he won the 1km time trial (C5) in 1-minute 7.615 seconds.  Former Para, 26 year old Byrne finished second in the 1 km time trial (C4) behind fellow team-mate Jody Cundy, who broke his own world record, no doubt with encouragement from his team mate right behind him.

Changes to Disability Benefits

Tue 5th Apr 2011

Most people will by now have seen and heard press reports about changes to the benefits system.  It appears that new tests for disability will result in more people being considered fit for work.  As a result, not only will they now be required to look for work in order to receive their benefits, but the benefits that they will receive will be reduced as a result,  because benefits paid to disabled people are generally higher than those paid to those who are unemployed.