Boyd Rice Solicitors were instructed to act on behalf of Mr G in relation to his injury claim. He sustained serious injuries to his shoulder after coming off his bike when a vehicle pulled out in front of him.
Thankfully he was wearing a helmet at the time of the accident, however the force of impact caused serious injuries damaging his bicycle and cycling clothing. The Police and Ambulance attended the scene. The driver of the vehicle accepted liability to PSNI.
Our client attended Ards Minor Injuries Unit. He had an x-ray and was referred to the Ulster Hospital for further investigations. He was subsequently diagnosed with an un-displaced fracture of his shoulder, abrasions to his knee, soft tissue injuries to his hand and a musculo-ligamentous sprain of the cervico-thoracic region.
Having been recommended to speak to Neil McGranaghan as he is an expert in cycling cases, our client provided instructions shortly after the accident for Boyd Rice Solicitors to pursue an injury claim on his behalf. We were also instructed to seek compensation for the damaged bicycle and clothing which included a carbon fibre Giant road bike with Campagnolo wheelset together with cycling clothing, helmet and cleats.
Vis a vis early discussions with the at fault insurance company, an interim payment was made in respect of the bicycle, safety equipment and clothing.
Given the severity of the injuries sustained, Court proceedings were issued on our client’s behalf and the case resolved without the need to attend Court. The case resolved constructively following discussions with the Defendant insurer’s legal team in the sum of £27,000 in respect of the injuries sustained together with our client’s legal costs.
Following the successful conclusion of their claim our client commented as follows;
“I initially contacted Neil because he was recommended by a fellow cyclist who had previously used his services, the speed and manner in which my case was dealt with was very impressive. The driver in my case admitted full responsibility at the scene and after 11 weeks off work I was well enough to return to both work and cycling.
I was kept informed at all times as the case developed, my bicycle, wheels and clothing were replaced after only 9 weeks. Other than several visits to hospital for treatments and assessment I had no more dealings in the case.”
I highly recommend Neil for anyone who is ever unfortunate enough to find themselves in similar circumstances, I am more than happy with the compensation.”
Neil McGranaghan is a specialist cycling accident Solicitor. It is important to receive expert guidance if you have been seriously injured in a cycling accident. We offer a free initial consultation. Please contact Neil by phone on 02891 817715 or by email neil@boydricesolicitors.com.
Claim for injured cyclist settles for £27,500
Boyd Rice Solicitors were instructed to act on behalf of Mr G in relation to his injury claim. He sustained serious injuries to his shoulder after coming off his bike when a vehicle pulled out in front of him.
Thankfully he was wearing a helmet at the time of the accident, however the force of impact caused serious injuries damaging his bicycle and cycling clothing. The Police and Ambulance attended the scene. The driver of the vehicle accepted liability to PSNI.
Our client attended Ards Minor Injuries Unit. He had an x-ray and was referred to the Ulster Hospital for further investigations. He was subsequently diagnosed with an un-displaced fracture of his shoulder, abrasions to his knee, soft tissue injuries to his hand and a musculo-ligamentous sprain of the cervico-thoracic region.
Having been recommended to speak to Neil McGranaghan as he is an expert in cycling cases, our client provided instructions shortly after the accident for Boyd Rice Solicitors to pursue an injury claim on his behalf. We were also instructed to seek compensation for the damaged bicycle and clothing which included a carbon fibre Giant road bike with Campagnolo wheelset together with cycling clothing, helmet and cleats.
Vis a vis early discussions with the at fault insurance company, an interim payment was made in respect of the bicycle, safety equipment and clothing.
Given the severity of the injuries sustained, Court proceedings were issued on our client’s behalf and the case resolved without the need to attend Court. The case resolved constructively following discussions with the Defendant insurer’s legal team in the sum of £27,000 in respect of the injuries sustained together with our client’s legal costs.
Following the successful conclusion of their claim our client commented as follows;
“I initially contacted Neil because he was recommended by a fellow cyclist who had previously used his services, the speed and manner in which my case was dealt with was very impressive. The driver in my case admitted full responsibility at the scene and after 11 weeks off work I was well enough to return to both work and cycling.
I was kept informed at all times as the case developed, my bicycle, wheels and clothing were replaced after only 9 weeks. Other than several visits to hospital for treatments and assessment I had no more dealings in the case.”
I highly recommend Neil for anyone who is ever unfortunate enough to find themselves in similar circumstances, I am more than happy with the compensation.”
Neil McGranaghan is a specialist cycling accident Solicitor. It is important to receive expert guidance if you have been seriously injured in a cycling accident. We offer a free initial consultation. Please contact Neil by phone on 02891 817715 or by email neil@boydricesolicitors.com.
Case arising from a broken streetlight settles for £4,000 plus costs.
Boyd Rice Solicitors were instructed to act on behalf Mrs D in relation to her personal injury claim arising from a fall in a dark street.
Mrs D was leaving her daughter’s house in the early evening when she tripped and fell over a trailer bar. Mrs D was unable to see the obstruction as the area was pitch black. Mrs D travelled to the Ulster Hospital in her daughter’s car for treatment of injuries to her ribs, face and knee. The streetlight responsible for the area was not operational at the time of the incident.
Although x-rays of her knee and chest showed no fracture, Mrs D had suffered significant bruising with the pain in her knee subsiding only after an injection. She also had facial bruising.
In what proved to be a very interesting case, our client advised that her daughter in-law’s neighbour had made complaints about the faulty streetlight for 3-4 months preceding the accident as well as reporting it to their local MP.
Neil McGranaghan directed a letter of claim to the Department for Infrastructure. Correspondence alleged the incident arose from the Department’s negligence in failing to ensure the safety of the public emphasising the fact that the streetlight was not working at the time of the incident and had not been working for some time. Liability for the accident was disputed by the Department for Infrastructure and we issued Court proceedings on our client’s behalf.
Although a Court date was set, settlement was reached without the need to attend Court for the sum of £4,000 plus our client’s legal costs.
Following the successful conclusion of their claim our client commented as follows;
“Thanks Neil! Always kept me up to date with everything. My claim was handled very quickly and efficiently.”
The issue with broken street lights is widely reported in local media. If you sustained injuries from a fall due to lack of street lighting and would like to arrange a free consultation please contact us by phone on 02891 817715 or by email claims@boydricesolicitors.com
Update on Coronavirus
In keeping with public health recommendations, we would encourage our clients to contact us by phone rather than attend our offices. This is to ensure the safety of both our clients and our staff. If you require a face to face meeting we will of course endevour to facilitate you.
Thank you for your understanding.
Protection from Harassment
Harassment is something with which we, as a society, are becoming more and more acutely aware of. Especially in this digital and social media age where people can be bullied and abused online. If you are suffering from harassment you need to be aware that you are not alone and that we can help. First though, if your harassment is at the hands of someone you’re having or had a relationship with; a family member; or someone you’re living with or lived with, then see our page relating to Non-Molestation Orders.
For harassment at the hands of anyone else you may be able to find protection through The Protection from Harassment (Northern Ireland) Order 1997. This legislation states;
A person shall not pursue a course of conduct—
(a)which amounts to harassment of another; and
(b)which he knows or ought to know amounts to harassment of the other.
A “course of conduct” must involve conduct on at least two occasions and includes speech.
The legislation creates a criminal offence, which can lead to imprisonment and it also creates a civil remedy where you can obtain a court injunction restraining the harasser from continuing to engage in the conduct which constitutes the harassment. If the harasser breaks the terms of that injunction then that again constitutes a criminal offence and imprisonment may follow.
We are here to talk and listen to the problems you are going through. You will not be judged in any way. Just by opening up to someone you may begin to feel like there are people on your side and that you can gain the strength to do something about it. We can liaise with the PSNI on your behalf if you do not feel strong enough to do that.
Please do not let funding concerns deter you from getting in touch with us. We will provide you at the outset with estimates of all our fees and charges. There may be the possibility to agree a flat fee at the outset of your case. Alternatively you may be entitled to legal aid. We will be able to explore these options on your behalf.
For many years Boyd Rice Solicitors have been representing people who are going through this difficult time in their lives. We devote care and attention to our clients and you can contact your assigned solicitor by phone or email.
Please call us now on 02891 817715, email family@boydricesolicitors.com or complete our Online Enquiry for a FREE, no-obligation discussion and let us explain how we can help you.
Claim arising from trip in shop settles for £30,000
Mrs B was in a recently-refurbished shop looking for some new flooring when she walked up a small ramp covered in some carpet remnant. This caused her to trip and fall, landing heavily on her left hand causing immediate pain in her wrist. After being helped to her feet our client noticed her wrist was swelling up. Her husband then took her to the Mater Hospital where she was sent for an x-ray.
The initial X-rays showed Mrs B had a fracture in her left wrist however further investigation was required to determine the extent of the injury. A cast was applied but in order to help resolve the issue manipulation was required with a small step in the joint still evident on inspection.
The following day Mrs B attended the fracture clinic at the Royal Victoria Hospital (RVH) and attended again one week later for open reduction and external fixation of her fracture which required an anaesthetic. Issues with her wrist continued and Mrs B had to attend further appointments at the RVH to review how the injury was improving as well as physiotherapy to aid recovery. Pain continued to bother her with day-to-day tasks such as peeling potatoes or filling a kettle causing her issues. In order to complete work around the house, Mrs B’s granddaughters had to assist with daily chores.
On being instructed Neil McGranaghan directed a letter of claim to the shop for onward transmission to their insurers. Correspondence alleged the incident arose from the shop’s negligence in failing to ensure the safety of visitors to the store. Neil’s priority was to ensure that Mrs B was fully compensated for her injuries and suffering. Compensation included special damages for monies paid to her granddaughters for helping with work around the house.
Settlement was reached without a need for Court Proceedings for the sum of £30,000 including special damages plus costs in Mrs B’s favour.
Following the successful conclusion of their claim our client commented as follows;
“I would recommend highly Neil as he kept me fully informed at all stages of my action and arranged all my medical examinations after a fall which caused a broken wrist. He obtained me a very good settlement in just 1 year. Thank you Neil very much.”
If you have been involved in a similar accident and would like to arrange a free consultation please contact us by phone on 02891 817715 or by email claims@boydricesolicitors.com
Road Traffic Accident settles for £5,500 plus costs
Boyd Rice Solicitors were instructed to act on behalf of Mr S in relation to his personal injury claim arising from a road traffic accident (RTA).
Mr S was driving home from work along a country road when a dog ran out in front of him. Swerving and braking to avoid hitting the dog, Mr S’s van was struck on the rear by another vehicle. Matters were discussed at the scene with the other driver admitting he had been distracted at the wheel. Mr S then drove his damaged van home. Although not feeling immediate pain at the scene, Mr S became increasingly aware of pain in his neck, back and knee. He attended the Ulster Hospital A & E.
Although there were no fractures, Mr S had suffered soft tissue injuries to his back and neck. Injuries to his neck were made worse due to his history of issues in that region which had been improving through physiotherapy. Self-employed in physical work, Mr S was off work for an initial two weeks before returning only in a reduced capacity. On attending his GP he was given advice and medication, also attending further physiotherapy for his injuries.
On instruction Neil McGranaghan directed a letter of claim to the other driver’s insurance company alleging that their insured’s negligence had led to our client’s personal injury, loss and damage. A medical examination was arranged to ensure we had a full understanding of all injuries.
Given that the accident had led to our client’s reduced capacity in work Neil’s aim was to ensure the matter was dealt with as soon as possible and that Mr S was fully compensated. After extensive communication with the other driver’s insured settlement was reached in the sum of £5,500 plus costs in Mr S’ favour with no requirement for Court proceedings.
Following the successful conclusion of their claim our client commented as follows;
“Neil did a great and quick job on my behalf to settle my claim as soon as possible.
Many thanks to him and the Team, I will definitely be using Boyd Rice Solicitors again!”
If you have been involved in a similar accident and would like to arrange a free consultation please contact us by phone on 02891 817715 or by email claims@boydricesolicitors.com
What to do on discovering a spillage from your neighbour’s oil or septic tank.
As the winter weather continues to take hold we all dread the prospect of problems with our heating system as complex issues leave us in the cold in more ways than one. It is recommended to have boiler care or to ensure this is covered under your home insurance to make sure you won’t be out of pocket. Septic tanks require similar care, and again we would recommend you have adequate insurance to avoid a bill where anything goes wrong.
But what happens if a malfunction in a neighbour’s oil or septic tank has led to a spillage onto your property? This could be from a breach in the tank due to rust or wear-and-tear, or even a mistake by their contractor leading to a release of hazardous liquids onto your land. A gradual or sudden release of hazardous liquid causes trouble to your land both on the surface and soaking down through the layers of earth below. As well as this it is a risk to your personal health, with septic tanks a source of many forms of harmful bacteria with E. coli especially an example.
The first thing to do on discovering the spill is to limit the spread and minimise the area affected. To do this and reduce the risk of harm to yourself you should contact a specialist contractor as soon as possible. They will establish the full extent of the spillage and will take necessary samples for examination to confirm the source of the spillage as from neighbouring land. The contractor will also ensure any dangerous materials are disposed of correctly to minimise further harm to the environment.
A spillage will badly affect agricultural land used both for grazing and for growing crops, while on the residential side this will affect the marketability of the property. In both instances any spillage incident needs to be dealt with as soon as possible to minimise the damage.
With severe financial and environmental implications, you will be glad the responsibility for the loss or damage you have suffered is with whoever caused the spill in their use, storage or transport of the substance . We will ensure you are fully compensated for all loss, from the diagnosis or advice of a specialist contractor to the full clean-up of the affected land and disposal of all contaminated remnants. Where necessary we liaise with the Department of Agriculture, Envronment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) to ensure all protocols are adhered to with no hassle to you.
If you have been affected, please contact one of the claims team on 02891 817715 , or by email at claims@boydricesolicitors.com and let us explain how we can help you.
We offer a free initial consultation where we will confidentially discuss the circumstances of the incident and will assess how we can assist you in the best way possible. We use leading experts to investigate spillages and our team of environmental consultants are extremely experienced.
Breach of Client’s Privacy settles for £750 plus costs.
Boyd Rice Solicitors were instructed to act on behalf of Mr X in respect of a breach of data protection.
A Government Agency had previously sent Mr X correspondence regarding a Summons of Execution to what they had in their records as his home address. This address was where he had previously resided with his father. His father was able to read aspects of the letter due to the poor quality stationery within which it was sent. On discovering the proceedings taken against Mr X, there was a breakdown in their relationship as Mr X’s family had previously been unaware of the personal matters to which it referred. Given the personal nature of the contents, it is understandable that Mr X wished for the issues to be kept private. Mr X immediately reported to the agency that he had previously advised of his change of address and that he had believed their records had been updated to reflect this. He received a letter apologising for the error and an assurance that his address had been updated in the system to avoid any future errors, with the matter being investigated as a matter of urgency.
With Mr X already not satisfied with the Government Agency’s response, they mistakenly sent further correspondence to his father’s address regarding similar personal matters. Again, not opening the letter, his father was able to partially see the contents of the letter leading to a further breach of Mr X’s privacy. Due to our client’s father suffering from health issues including a heart condition, his wider family soon became aware of the personal proceedings as it was feared that proceedings related to his father’s property. This led to further distress for both Mr X’s father and Mr X, continuing to affect Mr X’s relationship with his family.
On receiving instruction from our client, Ben Wall directed a letter of claim alleging a breach of the rules governing data protection. Using wide-ranging and recent Legislation, Ben referred to both the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR). Specifically citing the access to, processing and publication of confidential information concerning our client, Ben also highlighted the distress, anxiety and reputational damage Mr X had suffered. Given the stress this had caused Mr X and his father’s worsening health condition, Ben’s priority was to resolve the matter as soon as possible to ensure Mr X was not put through further undue stress and his family relationships were not further affected.
With Ben determined to ensure Mr X was suitably compensated, there was extensive communication both with our Client and the Government Agency involved. Court Proceedings were issued against the Government Agency but the case was settled with a day to spare in the sum of £750 plus costs.
Following the successful conclusion of their claim our client commented as follows;
“Ben called me shortly after my web enquiry and discussed the process in great detail to me. Everything was taken care off for me which helped greatly in very stressful circumstances.
Always make sure your data is handled correctly and if not contact Ben!”
If you have had a similiar issue and would like to arrange a free consultation please contact us by phone on 02891 817715 or by email claims@boydricesolicitors.com
Time running out to open your Help to Buy ISA.
A Government initiative launched in 2015, the Help to Buy ISA is the perfect way to help people get onto the first rung of the property ladder.
Available from a range of Banks and Building Societies, the account is available for all first-time buyers. Under the scheme, the government will boost your savings by a 25% bonus when you put them towards your first house. The minimum you can deposit into your Help to Buy ISA to claim the bonus is £1,600. The maximum bonus available is £3,000 on savings of £12,000. These are the maximum and minimum per person, meaning that where you are buying with your partner you could both save separately to claim a full £6,000.
It is vital you open your Help to Buy ISA account before the 30th November 2019 as after this date they will not be available. Once you have opened your account you may continue to save a maximum of £200 a month until 30th November 2029. You then have until December 2030 to claim your bonus. Although you have the option to deposit up to £1,200 in the first month, you may also open the account before the deadline but wait a few months (even beyond the 30th November 2019) to deposit any cash and maximise savings. We would recommend checking these options with your specific Bank or Building Society.
When it comes to buying your first home all you need to do is close the ISA and ensure you receive the relevant closing letter. On receiving this closing letter we will apply for the Government bonus on your behalf and will put all funds including the bonus towards the purchase of your property. Our experienced team will guide you throughout your move into your dream home and will be happy to claim your Government bonus with no hassle for you.
If you are ready to buy your first home call us now 02891 817715, email property@boydricesolicitors.com or complete our Online Enquiry for a FREE, no-obligation discussion and let us explain how we can help you.
Case Settled for Injured Cyclist
Settlement is reached for injured cyclist less than 4 months from date of accident
Boyd Rice Solicitors were instructed to act on behalf of Mr L in relation to a personal injury claim.
Our client instructs that he was cycling to participate in the weekend Club Run. He was cycling a road bike and was wearing appropriate safety gear. When en route to meet other Club members the passenger side of a car collided with him. The collision threw him from his bicycle onto the road. Thankfully he was wearing a helmet at the time of the accident, however the force of impact caused injuries and damaged his bicycle and cycling clothing.
Our client was taken by ambulance to Bangor Hospital where he was assessed and subsequently released. He had injuries to his neck, shoulder, elbow and hip. He contacted our office and an appointment was arranged within one week of the accident. Following the appointment an examination was arranged with a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon to determine the extent of the injuries sustained. A letter of claim was directed to the at fault driver’s insurer.
Our client’s bicycle was badly damaged and we were instructed to recover the cost of the bike together with the cost of replacement bespoke wheels, helmet, clothing and cleats.
Once medical evidence had been obtained we engaged in constructive discussions with the at fault driver’s insurer and managed to agree settlement on a pre proceedings basis in the sum of £7,326.40. This meant that our client did not need to go to Court. Settlement was achieved on a global basis and encompassed damages for his injuries together with the cost of the bike, add-ons and safety clothing/equipment.
Thankfully given that our client’s injuries were relatively modest in nature when compared to other cycling injury claims that we have dealt with, we managed to resolve matters quickly. Our client received his damages cheque less than 3 and a half months from the date that he first attended our office meaning that he could replace his bike and get back on the road.
Following the successful conclusion of his claim our client commented as follows;
“Neil was very professional throughout my case, answered queries promptly, thanks to him I am back on the road again”
Neil McGranaghan is a specialist cycling accident Solicitor. It is important to receive expert guidance if you have been injured in a cycling accident. We offer a free initial consultation. Please contact Neil by phone on 02891 817715 or by email neil@boydricesolicitors.com.