Personal injury – Why you should not feel bad about making a claim

Making a personal injury claim can be a daunting and confusing experience, especially if you have suffered a life-changing or otherwise serious injury.

If you are injured as a result of an accident that was somebody else’s fault, you will usually be entitled to make a claim for compensation.

Inheritance Tax: Additional tax free allowance for homeowners from April 2017

It was announced in the Summer Budget last month that an additional nil-rate band will be available from April 2017.

The extra allowance will be exclusively available to estates where the deceased dies on or after 6 April 2017 and their residence is passed to one or more direct descendants. In other words, if your children, stepchildren or grandchildren inherit your home on your death, your estate will benefit from the additional allowance.

The additional allowance will be £100,000 in 2017/2018 and this amount will increase by £25,000 each tax year until 2020/21 when the additional allowance will be £175,000.

The current position is that when you pass away, the net value of your estate is calculated and everything over the value of the nil-rate band (currently £325,000) is taxed at the rate of 40%. This is subject to various exemptions and reliefs, for example anything left to a spouse or civil partner will pass tax free.

Accident on holiday

More than half of the people in the UK are expected to travel abroad this year and figures show that package holidays are often a first choice for friends and family alike when considering value for money and the types of activities, excursions and facilities available.

Whether your holiday is a family holiday, for relaxation or sporting activities, suffering an illness or an injury while abroad will often result in the long awaited holiday being brought to a grinding halt. Accidents abroad can often be difficult as the law relating to personal injury differs from country to country but if the holiday is booked as a package holiday, that is to say to include a combination of either flights, accommodation, transport and transfers and other tourist services, then there is a level of protection implied which may entitle you to bring a claim for personal injury and/or death. This protection encompasses a number of different circumstances, albeit whether the accident occurs on the aeroplane, in the hotel, on an excursion, or even food poisoning, whereby you may be entitled to bring a claim.