Category: General

Every day, thousands of people are involved in an accident that wasn’t their fault. From slip and falls to injuries as a result of poor safety measures, the effects can be life-changing.

If you find yourself in a similar situation, you may be considering processing a claim to gain the compensation you deserve. In this blog, we explain how a personal injury can affect your life.

Financially

Depending on the severity of your injury, it could pose a serious burden to your financial situation. The biggest impact is the loss of income you may experience due to extended time off work and if your injuries are long-term this will put a huge strain on your family’s budget or ability to provide for yourself. Furthermore, the cost of prescriptions, medical care, taxis to the hospital, child care and other similar services are all additional expenses that can be difficult to cope with.

Physically

Personal injury claims can be filed for short-term and long-term injuries – it only takes one accident to change your body permanently. There is a whole range of physical symptoms you may experience such as your ability to sit, stand or even walk – not to mention any cuts and scarring once everything has healed.

Emotionally

It can be very hard to comprehend your personal injury and the changes you will have to make to adapt. It’s not uncommon for people to develop physiological problems as a result of their physical injury, however, this type of trauma is much harder to quantify. You may also suffer emotionally due to the additional stress you are and under, such as worries about money, or post-traumatic suffering directly related to the accident itself.

Here at Crystal Law Solicitors, based in Leicester and Nottingham, we have a team of professional solicitors ready to provide clear legal advice for your case. Our areas of expertise include but are not limited to personal injury, family law, immigration and employment law. Get the help you need today and contact us for more information about our services.

Employers have a legal responsibility to ensure that work environments are as safe and healthy as possible for employees. Unfortunately, accidents do sometimes happen and statistics from 2018/9 show that 28.2 million work days were lost due to work-related illness or workplace injury. 

If you’ve had an accident at work then you may be worrying about your legal rights, loss of earnings and what to do next. If you believe the accident wasn’t your fault, then you may be able to make a compensation claim, but it can be difficult trying to navigate this process on your own. If you’ve suffered an accident or injury at work and want to know what your next steps should be, see below for our handy guide. 

Make a record of the incident

It’s important to keep detailed evidence of your accident, including a description of what happened, photos of any injuries and statements from witnesses. This can help your case if you need to claim a benefit like Statutory Sick Pay, or if you want to seek compensation. You can also ask for notes from your doctor or the hospital if you’ve had to seek medical attention. 

Report it to your employer

It’s significant to tell your employer about the accident as soon as possible, or get a colleague to report the incident on your behalf. If the company or organisation you work for has more than 10 employees, then they’re legally obligated to record the incident in an accident book. 
It’s also a good idea to keep a copy of the report for yourself, especially if your organisation doesn’t have an official accident book. 

Make a personal injury claim 

If you believe the accident was due to the negligence of your employer, then you may want to make a personal injury claim for compensation. This can be a long and complicated process, so it’s important to seek legal advice before you go ahead. Many solicitors work on a ‘no win no fee’ basis, but they’ll be able to advise you on whether you have a case and the chances of it being successful.

If you’ve had an accident at work and want to make a personal injury claim, get help and advice from the professionals at Crystal Law Solicitors. Our experienced team is on your side every step of the way, and we can help you put together a case and understand your legal rights. We’ve helped hundreds of clients make successful claims after an accident or illness, and we’ll fight to get the best outcome for you and your family. For more information or to arrange an appointment, give us a call today or visit our website. 

If you wish to claim compensation for a personal injury, you will need to get advice from a solicitor who specialises in these types of cases. This must be done as soon as possible, as there are strict time limits on taking legal action.

Most personal injury cases need to be brought to court within 3 years of you becoming aware of your illness or injury. So, with this in mind, here we outline a few helpful things to know in regard to personal injury law.

What is your timeframe?

There are different time limits within which you need to begin legal action in a personal injury claim. You must get legal advice urgently if you want the right to claim compensation. The most common claim in a personal injury case is negligence, this comes with a time limit of 3 years. This also means that court proceedings need to be issued within 3 years of your first being aware that you have experienced an injury. In some scenarios, a court may actually extend a time limit, however, this is dependent on the circumstances of the specific case in question.

Legal fees

Legal action for compensation for a personal injury can be costly. You may, however, be able to get help with legal fees from a conditional fee agreement or an insurance policy – lots of house contents policies, car insurance or travel insurance policies have legal expenses cover attached to them.

How long my case may take?

This will depend on:

●     Your individual case

●     How cooperative the other side is

●     If your case goes to court

●     If you come to an agreement out of court

In the case of a short-term injury, the case may be dealt with within weeks. If it is more serious, it could take between two and four years to legally settle. If you have become permanently injured or disabled as a result of your accident or illness, or if your case goes to trial, it could well take longer.

Here at Crystal Law Solicitors, our team has supported hundreds of individuals to make successful claims after an accident or illness. You can depend on us to fight your corner to protect your best interests and achieve a positive outcome for you and your family. Our expert personal injury Solicitors understand that compensation is only part of the story and could help you to access the right rehabilitation, medical care and support you and your family may need. To find out more about our legal services, please visit our website or contact us today.

Becoming a landlord is an excellent professional move that can provide financial stability. However, the legalities if the industry must be abided by, particularly when a difficult tenant lives in one of your properties. Here, we take a look at how landlord solicitors can help landlords who are struggling to deal with difficult tenants and why the law is such an important guideline.

Services landlord solicitors provide for troublesome tenants

Legal Advice For Serving an Eviction Notice

Strict laws surround when and how you can evict someone from a rented property. Without following a proper legal process, tenants could be evicted and left destitute through no fault of their own, which is why the laws are in place. However, it can also make it difficult for landlords to evict tenants who are blatantly breaching the terms of their contract. Local landlord solicitors can help by providing all the legal advice you need to evict tenants legally.

Helping Reclaim Outstanding Money Owed

If a tenant has refused to pay their rent, a landlord solicitor can help to reclaim the outstanding money through the courts and the proper legal channels. These legal experts are well-versed in this area of law and can ensure that tenants who owe money are compelled by the law to repay it promptly.

Advice To Ensure They Always Act Legally

Landlords must follow the letter of the law at all times. Harassing a tenant is a criminal offence and may include entering the property without permission, using threatening behaviour or making unnecessary repairs to frustrate the tenant. Seeking advice from professionals ensures that you always act responsibly and legally as a landlord while also ensuring that your interests are protected.

Draw Up a Contract To Protect Them From Troublesome Tenants

Writing a watertight contract can protect you from many issues that may arise with your tenants. Disputes are often caused due to differences between what the tenant and landlord deem as ‘wear and tear’ or taking money from a tenant’s deposit to pay for the damage they may have caused. With a clear contract outlining the exact condition of the property and the agreements of the tenancy, it is easier for both landlords and tenants to settle these disputes quickly.

Looking for local landlord solicitors? Contact Crystal Law Solicitors today

If you are a landlord, and you have been looking for landlord solicitors to help you with a tenancy dispute, contact the team at Crystal law Solicitors today. We’re experts in this field of law and can provide you with the advice and services you need.

---

To find out more about our services, please feel free to contact us today. You can find us at either of our Leicester or Nottingham offices. For Leicester, call 0116 255 1650 and for Nottingham call 0115 697 5555. Alternatively, email us at enquiries@crystallaw.co.uk or leave us a message on our contact form.

Many of us are aware that, unfortunately, life isn’t always as straightforward as we would like. Relationships and family matters can be complicated and there may come a time when you need professional help to resolve a family matter. 

A solicitor who specialises in issues such as divorce, separation or child custody works in the area known as family law. They provide many services to help couples and families resolve disputes and will work to come to a solution that’s in their client’s best interests. If you’ve been struggling with a family law issue and want to know more about the services available and how they can help, read on for our handy guide. 

What do we mean by ‘family law’?

Family law refers to the branch of law which regulates family relationships, including marriage and divorce, child custody and financial matters such as alimony or child support. It also covers legal matters relating to adoption, custody, visitation rights and surrogacy. 
The Family Law Act 1975 focuses on the rights of children and the responsibilities that each parent has towards their children, rather than on parental rights. This means that in cases where children are involved, the court and lawyers will act with the children’s best interests, regardless of what each parent might want. 
Family law also includes specific services which can help with conflict resolution, such as mediation and constructive communication. We will discuss the most common services and areas covered by family law in more detail, below. 

Family law services

As you can see, family law is a relatively wide branch of the legal system and it covers many different areas. Some people would prefer to handle matters themselves without involving legal parties, but unfortunately this isn’t always possible. If you think you might need a lawyer to help with a family issue, see below to find out more about some of the many services provided by family law solicitors. 

Divorce

 Divorce can be a stressful and confusing time, but the right legal support can help make the process clearer and more straightforward. A divorce lawyer can help at any stage of the process, including responding to divorce proceedings, reaching a financial settlement and making arrangements for any children involved.
A divorce solicitor will also work on your behalf to ensure you get the best outcome possible and they can communicate with your partner (or their lawyer) if you don’t want to communicate with them directly. They can also help explain your rights and what constitutes grounds for divorce, explain the legal processes and represent you if the case goes to court. Divorce proceedings can be lengthy (especially if one party is contesting the divorce) but a family law solicitor will be able to take care of all paperwork, saving you a lot of time and stress. 

Cohabitation agreements

Many couples live together for years without getting married, but they may not realise that there’s no automatic legal protection if the relationship ends. It’s important to know where you stand, as you may have no right to your shared home if it’s in your partner’s name, regardless of how long you’ve lived there. It also means that any shared property which is jointly owned will be split 50:50, even if you contributed much more. 
Family lawyers can help draw up a cohabitation agreement to give you peace of mind and protect your assets for the future. These are similar to prenuptial agreements and can cover everything from how bills will be split, to what share of the property each person owns. 

Child custody

Child custody is the legal term given to guardianship of a child, in both the legal and physical sense. Parents can split custody in several ways depending on their circumstances, such as 50/50 physical custody of a child (where the children spend equal time at each parent’s residence) or one parent might be awarded sole custody and the other will have visitation rights. 
Most parents share 50/50 legal custody regardless of living circumstances. This means that they have the equal right to make decisions regarding a child’s healthcare or education. Some couples prefer to sort out custody arrangements without involving court, but this can be tricky if you can’t come to an agreement. It’s also wise to use a solicitor to make your agreement legally binding. 
A family law solicitor may also be able to offer or arrange mediation for you and your ex partner. This helps you decide the practical arrangements, such as where your children will live, when they will spend time with each parent, child maintenance payments and how much/types of other contact e.g phone calls. 

Prenuptial agreements

Many people have property, savings or other assets which they accrued before marriage, so they may wish to sign a prenuptial agreement to ensure these are protected. A prenuptial agreement is a written contract signed by both parties before they get married, which sets out what will happen to each individual’s assets following death or divorce. 
A family solicitor can help you draw up a prenuptial agreement and ensure the right protections are put in place. They understand that these contracts can be a sensitive matter, so will do everything they can to ensure assets are legally protected, without negatively impacting your relationship. 

Child support

Child support (or child maintenance) are regular ongoing payments made by one parent to the other to help financially support their child. There are legal requirements for the minimum you should pay, depending on your income and how many children you have. Some parents may choose to pay more, but a family solicitor can help you come to a legally binding agreement. 
The laws can also be quite complicated, so they can explain to you how the breakdown of payments works and how much you owe. A solicitor can also represent you in court if one parent is refusing or failing to pay child support. 

Domestic abuse

Domestic abuse isn’t just physical, it can also be emotional, verbal, sexual or financial. No one deserves to be in a relationship where they feel intimidated or threatened, and a family solicitor can help you take the next steps. They can advise you of your options and work to put any necessary legal steps in place to protect you and your family. This includes things like a civil court order to tell an abuser to stop harassing you and your family and stay away from your home, or help with emergency or temporary accommodation. 
You may also be entitled to legal aid if you’re a victim of domestic abuse, you can find out more on the government website.

Family Mediation

Family solicitors can arrange mediation to help you with child custody arrangements, but they can also offer mediation for couples thinking about divorce. If you’ve been having difficulty in your relationship but are unsure whether divorce is the answer, a family lawyer can arrange and preside over mediation proceedings. These provide a formal setting and help you air any grievances and try to reach a compromise. 
Family law mediation isn’t the same as relationship counselling, but it can provide an invaluable space to discuss legal issues surrounding your relationship, such as who would have custody of the children and how you would split assets if you did get divorced. If you’re struggling to agree, a solicitor may be able to help you come to a compromise agreement that works for both parties. 
If you’re looking for an experienced family law solicitor to help with any of the issues above, get in touch with the experts at Crystal Law Solicitors. Our team can offer legal help and advice with a number of family law issues, including divorce, cohabitation agreements, child custody, settlement agreements, domestic abuse and more. 
We have experience in tackling cases up to the highest court, and have close links to third party experts to assist you in your case, including financial advisors, surveyors and counsellors. If you’re looking for an experienced professional who’s on your side, every step of the way, give us a call today 

As a landlord, even when you conduct the most thorough checks for finding your new tenants there’s no telling when a dispute could arise. Unfortunately, they do happen and when they aren’t resolved quickly this can lead to more serious problems.

Here are three of the most common reasons for tenancy disputes and how you can resolve them.

Unpaid rent

When you put up a property for rent you expect to receive your agreed rental payment on time. However, it’s not uncommon for tenants to miss payments or underpay on rent and when this happens on more than one occasion it’s likely to end in a dispute. As soon as you notice a missed payment contact your letting agency (if you’re using one) or the tenants directly and ask what’s happened. It could be a change in employment or long-term illness that has caused the problem, so getting to the root of the issue is important. 

Grey areas in the tenancy agreement

You must have a professional tenancy agreement written up or there could be confusion with the terms. Make sure the facts you have written are very clear to understand so there is no grey area or anything that could be misinterpreted or misunderstood.

Property damage

Wear and tear are going to happen in a property, especially for long-term tenants but when your property is severely damaged this is not acceptable. There is often an argument that the damage was already there and not caused by the tenant, but if you know this is not true you may need to take further action. Be sure to take pictures of your property at the start of each tenancy so you have evidence and encourage tenants to report damage as soon as it happens.

We’re on hand to provide legal support and guidance for your tenancy dispute. We understand how stressful it can be when problems arise with your tenants or property, so finding the best solution for your case is always our top priority. Hire a professional lawyer today and resolve your situation quickly. Get in touch today for more information.

The decision to get a divorce is rarely an easy one, but it can be even more complicated if there are children involved. It’s also natural for both partners to want to protect children from the pain and upheaval of a divorce, especially if they’re young.

The divorce process can be a lengthy one and there are many issues to sort out, from the division of your assets and finances to custody arrangements for the children. Parents are likely to be preoccupied at times, but it’s vital that children get the support and care they need during this difficult process. With this in mind, read on for our brief guide to helping children cope with divorce or separation. 

Shield children from conflict

Divorce can be very stressful and it’s natural for emotions to be running high. However, it’s vital to shield children from conflict as much as possible – don’t argue in front of them and don’t badmouth your partner in front of your children. They may have some questions about why you broke up, but try to be as diplomatic and age appropriate as possible. 

Offer lots of reassurance

Many children will be feeling anxious, sad and scared about the separation and what it means for their lives going forward. It’s also common for children to internalise these feelings and think that they did something wrong to cause the divorce. It’s very important to offer your children lots of love and reassurance, and remind them that the divorce does not affect the love and care you feel for them. 

Help them vocalise their feelings

Keep communications open and encourage children to talk about their feelings surrounding the divorce. They might need a little prompting, such as ‘I’m sensing you feel sad right now, would you like to talk about it?’. If they’re struggling to talk then you could encourage them to draw or write down their feelings. 

Keep as much routine as possible

Young children especially rely on routines for comfort and safety, so try to stick to your usual schedule as much as possible. This might be difficult if children are going between homes, but parents can work together to stick to bedtimes, mealtimes and weekly activities. 

Divorce is a difficult time and it’s important to have someone on your side. If you’re looking for legal advice to help you through the process, get in touch with the experts at Crystal Law Solicitors. We specialise in child law issues and can work with you to get the best outcome for you and your children. For more information or to arrange an appointment, give us a call today or get in touch

For most people divorce is no longer a taboo subject, but instead, a sensible decision that thousands of married couples make every year. Unfortunately, not all marriages work and it may be best for both parties to go their separate ways through a divorce. Every couple will have a different reason for taking this route, some more complicated than others but equally as justified.
In this blog, we discuss some of the most common factors that prompt divorce.

Adultery

When one or both partners has an affair this can ruin the trust between them. While some couples can move on from this, others will have a hard time continuing the marriage and this can lead to constant arguing, lack of trust and general turmoil within the marriage.

Compatibility

There’s a big difference between being in a relationship and being married, and this change means that not every couple makes a compatible married couple. Compatibility should be at the core of every marriage but if you don’t have things that aren’t as you expected, divorce might be an option for you.

Child welfare

Staying married for the sake of your children could be the wrong decision, remember, to be good parents you need to feel happy within yourself and ensure that your children are living in a safe and positive environment. This is one of the most common reasons for divorce and in most cases creates better relationships between parents and their children. 

Unreasonable behaviour

Unreasonable behaviour covers a range of situations many of which are the leading cause of a divorce being filed. Domestic abuse, financial recklessness and verbal abuse are just some of the reasons considered as unreasonable behaviour, all of which can result in a marriage breakdown and divorce.