Every year, people are injured in accidents involving trams and light rail systems across England and Wales, including Manchester, Sheffield, Nottingham, Blackpool, South London, and the West Midlands. Whether you’ve been hit by a tram as a pedestrian, injured whilst cycling near tram tracks, involved in a collision whilst driving, or hurt as a passenger […]
If your landlord has failed to carry out essential repairs and you’ve suffered an illness or injury as a result, you may be able to pursue both a Housing Disrepair Claim and a Personal Injury Claim. While these claims are closely connected, they compensate for different types of loss and can often be brought together.
Step Legal Solicitors are delighted to announce the promotion of Diane Powell to the position of Director of Operations. In her new role, Diane will lead the firm’s operational strategy, overseeing day-to-day business operations to ensure consistency, efficiency, and sustainable growth. She will continue to focus on enhancing operational performance, strengthening people management, and implementing
E-scooters have become an increasingly common sight on roads and pavements across the UK. While they offer a convenient way to travel, they have also led to a growing number of accidents involving pedestrians, cyclists, motorists and other road users. One of the biggest misconceptions surrounding e-scooter accidents is that you cannot make a personal
Riding a motorcycle offers a unique sense of freedom that few other forms of transport can match. Whether you’re commuting through busy city streets enjoying a weekend ride across the countryside or using a motorcycle as your primary mode of transport it can be an efficient economical and enjoyable way to travel. Motorcycles are often
Hitting a pothole can happen without warning. Whether you’re driving through a residential street, travelling on a busy A road, or navigating unfamiliar roads, a pothole can cause of course, cause damage to your vehicle, but can also cause injury to yourself and others. While some potholes only result in a damaged tyre, others can
The recent Bedford railway accident has left many passengers, families, railway workers, and local communities shocked and searching for answers. The collision, which occurred near Elstow, just south of Bedford on the Midland Main Line, involved two East Midlands Railway services travelling towards London St Pancras, with a range of passengers boarding from Nottingham, Leicester,
Slipping on a wet floor is one of the most common types of accidents that can lead to a personal injury claim. These incidents often occur unexpectedly in public places, workplaces, or private properties where surfaces become slippery due to spills, cleaning activities, leaks, or weather conditions. While some falls result in minor discomfort, others
A bus accident can change your life in a matter of seconds. Whether you were travelling on public transport during your daily commute, riding on a school bus, using an airport shuttle, or travelling on a coach for a long-distance journey, the aftermath of a collision can leave you dealing with confusion, pain, financial stress
A road traffic accident can turn an ordinary day into a stressful and confusing experience within seconds. When a person is injured in a crash, the situation becomes even more overwhelming because it is not only about vehicle damage anymore it becomes about medical recovery, rehabilitation, financial pressure and, of course, understanding legal rights. A
Work-related physical strain is one of the most common causes of injury across different industries. It happens when the body is repeatedly exposed to lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, or holding tasks that exceed its natural capacity. While these activities are a normal part of many jobs, they can place significant stress on muscles, joints, ligaments
Step Legal Solicitors has announced the promotion of Director Laura Wilkinson to Head of Compliance, a strategic appointment to bolster the firm’s governance framework and support its growth ambitions. In her new capacity, Laura will work closely with Managing Director, Abid Hussain, Head of Finance, Gary Cook, Practice Director, Diane Powell and the heads of
Making a Will is one of the most important legal steps a person can take. It ensures that their wishes are clearly recorded and that their estate is dealt with in the way they intend. Solicitors understand that clients are often supported by family members or friends when attending appointments. While that support is important,
In the journey of buying or selling a property, there is one stage that stands above all others in terms of legal importance and financial commitment: the exchange of contracts. Many people ask questions like what does exchange of contracts mean, what happens at exchange of contracts and when does exchange of contracts happen, because
A certificate of title is a foundational document in property law and conveyancing that confirms ownership of a property. In real estate transactions, conveyancing is the legal process of transferring property from one person to another, and the certificate of title serves as primary evidence that a seller has legal title to the property they
When someone receives personal injury compensation, the payment is designed to support them financially after an accident or medical negligence. However, many claimants are surprised to learn that placing compensation into a Personal Injury Trust can be an important step in protecting that money. For many individuals across the UK, setting up a trust is
When someone suffers a catastrophic injury, the impact can be devastating and life-changing. Serious incidents such as road traffic accidents, workplace injuries, public liability claims and medical negligence can leave individuals facing permanent disability, extensive rehabilitation and long-term care needs. For families across the country, the early weeks following a serious accident are often filled
In a landmark decision handed down on 18 February 2026, the Supreme Court fundamentally changed how damages are calculated in catastrophic injury cases involving children with shortened life expectancy. The judgment in CCC (by her mother and litigation friend MMM) v Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust [2026] UKSC 5 has ushered in a new
In January 2025, the Lord Chancellor confirmed a significant change to the personal injury landscape: the Ogden Discount Rate (also known as the Personal Injury Discount Rate or PIDR) was set at +0.5%. While that figure may appear small, its impact on catastrophic injury claims is anything but. For individuals receiving lump-sum compensation for life-altering
A wills and probate solicitor is a qualified legal professional who specializes in drafting wills, advising on succession planning, administering estates after death, and resolving disputes that arise in relation to inheritance. Their role sits at the intersection of property law, tax law, family law and dispute resolution. Estate planning is not simply about distributing
Asbestos-related disease remains one of the most significant areas of industrial injury litigation in the UK, even in 2026. Despite asbestos being banned decades ago now, conditions like mesothelioma, asbestosis, and asbestos-related lung cancer continue to emerge long after exposure, and navigating compensation claims requires a blend of specialist legal knowledge, historical case law, and
Very few court decisions can honestly be said to have reshaped an entire area of law. Fairchild v Glenhaven Funeral Services Ltd [2002] is one of those rare cases. For victims of asbestos exposure particularly those diagnosed with mesothelioma the Fairchild judgment transformed what had once been an insurmountable legal obstacle into a realistic path
Before Montgomery, doctors in the UK largely relied on the Bolam test to defend negligence claims meaning that a clinician’s conduct in advising patients was judged against what a responsible body of medical opinion would do to determine negligence. But Montgomery changed everything: the Supreme Court made it clear that decisions about what risks to
When you’ve suffered injury because of someone else’s negligence, whether in a road traffic collision, a workplace accident, or clinical negligence, the law is clear: you are entitled to pursue reasonable steps to recover from your injuries. That often includes obtaining medical treatment and rehabilitation that helps you get better. But what happens if you
Leasehold reform has been a topic of debate in the UK for decades. In January 2026, the government finally published a Draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill, signalling the most significant shake-up of property tenure in England and Wales in over a generation. For conveyancers like us here at Step Legal professionals who guide clients
Paralegals play a vital role in the modern legal profession and here at Step Legal, our paralegals Agnieska, Lucy and Mackenzie certainly play critical roles in our Personal Injury, Medical Negligence and Wills & Probate departments. While the title is increasingly familiar, many people are unsure exactly what a paralegal does, how the role differs
In personal injury and clinical negligence claims, defendants will often argue that the harm suffered was disproportionate, unexpected, or worsened by the claimant’s own vulnerabilities. English law has a clear response to that argument. Known as the thin skull rule (or eggshell skull rule), the principle requires a defendant to take the claimant as they
Inheritance Tax (“IHT”) is one of the most complex areas of private client law, not because the headline rate is difficult to understand, but because liability depends on a web of exemptions, reliefs, historic gifts and estate structure. Following a death, executors are often required to navigate this framework under significant time pressure, while dealing
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In personal injury law, one of the most important questions is where responsibility lies when someone is injured in a public place. Does the occupier of land owe an absolute duty to prevent harm, or must individuals accept a degree of personal responsibility for obvious risks? The House of Lords (now the Supreme Court) addressed
The death of a loved one is always devastating, but when that death could have been prevented with proper medical care, the impact on families can be profound. Medical negligence resulting in death raises complex legal and emotional issues, and many families are uncertain whether they have the right to pursue a claim or how
Understanding the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1984 A common misconception in personal injury law is that a person cannot bring a claim if they were trespassing at the time of an accident. In reality, the law does allow trespassers to claim compensation in certain circumstances. The Occupiers’ Liability Act 1984 sets out when landowners and occupiers
Many people understand that inheritance tax (IHT) may be due when someone dies, but far fewer appreciate that Capital Gains Tax (CGT) can also become relevant sometimes in surprising ways. While IHT is calculated based on the value of the estate, CGT relates to the increase in value of certain assets over time. Understanding how
How the Courts Apportion Fault and Reduce Compensation In many injury claims, liability is not always clear-cut. While a defendant may have been negligent, the injured person’s own actions can sometimes play a part in the harm suffered. English law addresses this through the principle of contributory negligence, which allows the court to reduce compensation
At Step Legal Limited, we are dedicated to guiding clients through even the most complex legal challenges. In this detailed account, we share how our Associate Solicitor and Head of Medical Negligence, Dominic Jones, successfully navigated a demanding clinical negligence claim, overcoming significant obstacles to secure a fair settlement of a little under £10,000 for
Dental care is something most of us take for granted. We trust our dental professionals to act with skill, care and diligence. But when treatment falls below accepted standards, and you suffer harm as a result, it can be distressing, painful and costly. In such circumstances, you may have grounds to bring a dental negligence
When buying or selling a property, one of the first matters your conveyancer will establish is whether the property is registered or unregistered at HM Land Registry. While most property in England and Wales is now registered, unregistered land still exists and can significantly affect how a transaction proceeds. Understanding the difference between registered and
When pursuing a personal injury claim, compensation is not awarded as a single, undifferentiated sum. Instead, damages are divided into two distinct legal categories: General Damages and Special Damages. Understanding the difference between the two is essential, as each serves a different purpose, is calculated differently and requires different types of evidence. As solicitors specialising
In medical negligence claims, one of the most important legal questions is whether a healthcare professional acted in accordance with an acceptable standard of care. This is something our experienced medical negligence team here at Step Legal must consider with each and every claim we take on. Fortunately, English law has developed a number of
General Practitioners (GPs) are entrusted with providing frontline medical care and are often the first healthcare professional a patient consults when symptoms arise. Patients are entitled to expect a reasonable standard of care, skill and diligence from their GP. However, while most GPs provide appropriate and competent treatment, there are circumstances in which substandard care
Buying a property at auction is a unique opportunity for those looking to find homes or investment properties outside the traditional market. While it promises potential savings and faster transactions, it is not without its risks. Unlike conventional property sales, auction purchases require careful preparation, a clear understanding of the process and decisive action on
