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WORK ABROAD
BRITS NOT FULLY PROTECTED FOR ACCIDENTS WARN NORTH WEST LAW FIRM
INSURANCE loopholes and
widely varying healthcare schemes are undermining the level of
protection for the 80,000 British citizens who leave the country
each year looking for work.
Southport-based Fletchers Solicitors, a firm specialising in serious
personal injury cases involving British citizens abroad, warns that
this shortfall in protection leads to many cases each year where
injured workers and their families face an uncertain future.
Ed Fletcher, CEO of Fletchers Solicitors, says:- "We're seeing
an increasing number of cases where people suffering serious injury
whilst working abroad are put at a disadvantage when it comes to
rebuilding their lives.
Many workers have no or insufficient medical insurance to cover
extensive bills for medical care or their ongoing needs, such as
adapting their homes.
Normal insurance policies will typically exclude manual work or jobs
involving heavy machinery. We've also seen cases where work
activities were not protected due to exclusions related to
activities classified as extreme sports. 37% will go abroad
knowing that they intend to work, but not knowing what kind of work
they will eventually take up. So even if they leave the UK believing
they are protected, they may not check this cover includes the
specific type of work they eventually carry out."
Ed also advises that schemes that exist abroad to protect workers
suffering serious accidents can vary enormously in their scope and
protection.
"Australia is the number one destination for British people
working abroad with over 800,000 UK nationals of working age
currently resident in the country. Many perceive Australia to
be a very similar society to the UK, with similar levels of state
support should things go wrong and in fact the allowances for worker
compensation are very good. However, schemes to protect workers
having accidents vary from state-to-state. They have very different
criteria and limitations and may only cover treatment and care
whilst living in Australia. This means that after repatriation to
the UK (which also may not be funded), people may be faced with a
very uncertain future should an injury require ongoing care or
permanent changes to how they live their lives."
For example, Holly Raper, who is
23 year old Holly from Lancashire was working on a farm in Tasmania
when a quad bike accident left her with severe head injuries that
mean she is still; 1 year on; in a minimally conscious state.
Her insurance policy didn't cover her repatriation, care and
treatment because it excluded what it classed as 'manual work' and
the use of a quad bike as an extreme sport, despite it being used in
the course of her employment.
A Tasmanian state scheme funded her repatriation to the UK instead
of her insurer.
Holly's family are now relying on fundraising efforts to raise the
money needed to allow them to care for Holly at home. They have
currently raised over £24,000 and Holly is being looked after in the
Royal Preston Hospital.
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From the UK's
biggest marathon to the best; entries still open
FOLLOWING one of the UK's
biggest sporting events last weekend - the Virgin London Marathon -
organisers of the MBNA Chester Marathon want to remind runners that
there are still places available in the Autumn race, which was named
the UK's Number One Marathon of 2012.
Chris Hulse, Joint Race Organiser from Active Leisure Events,
commented:- "Thousands of people took part in the Virgin
London Marathon last weekend, and hundreds of thousands more watched
as they took on the challenge for their own, personal reasons,
demonstrating the ongoing popularity of running as a sport in the
UK.
As one of the organisers of the UK's current Number 1 Marathon, I
want to encourage those who caught the running bug after taking to
the streets of London, who are seeking out their next challenge to
come and try the MBNA Chester Marathon, a great race in a beautiful
setting. Likewise, for those who watched on and felt inspired by
Britain's incredible running community, we see people of all ages
and abilities cross our start line each year."
Chris ran his 11th Virgin London
Marathon last weekend, to celebrate his 50th birthday, getting round
the course in an outstanding 3 hours, 29 minutes and 10 seconds.
"I got in to running just before I turned 40, in an endeavour to
lose weight. I have since shed seven stone and now try to run at
least three to four times a week – it truly is addictive. It's such
an accessible and sociable sport, and I am living proof that running
a marathon really is something that anyone can do if they set their
mind to it".
The MBNA Chester Marathon was established just three years ago, with
the fourth running of the event confirmed for Sunday, 6 October 2013.
Often referred to as 'the destination marathon', it offers a fast,
predominantly flat course through the historic City of Chester and
the striking Cheshire countryside. It also crosses into North Wales,
making it the UK's only international marathon.
Chris and co-organiser, Andy White, are now looking to grow the
marathon over the next three years, with the aim of opening it up to
10,000 runners by 2015.
To enter, and for further information, go to the Mathathon's
website:-
chestermarathon.co.uk.
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