Month: August 2022

Dip dye hair colouring has been one of the most in-demand treatments at hair salons for over a decade now, with its popularity fuelled by social media exposure and numerous celebrities adopting the two-tone fading colour technique.

While dip dyeing is generally considered safe, the same level of skill and attention is required of hair stylists when mixing up dye products and applying them, including paying attention to how long they are left in the hair. Because dye is only applied to the tips of the hair and should not come into contact with the skin, no patch test is strictly necessary. However, the smallest error on the part of a stylist can mean that the dye comes into contact with the skin, with unpredictable consequences including the possibility of an allergic reaction.

Furthermore, dip dyes are often carried out before hair dye products containing para-phenylenediamine (PPD), a common trigger of allergic reactions, are applied to the main body of hair, and in such cases a patch test will always be necessary at least 48 hours prior to the treatment being carried out.

A hair dye patch test will therefore normally be advisable before a dip dye hair colouring treatment, and hair salons can be held legally responsible if they fail to carry out a patch test and a client subsequently experiences an adverse reaction to chemical ingredients contained in the dye solution.

Our female solicitors are experienced in claiming compensation for injuries caused by botched hair dyeing treatments, including allergic reactions to hair dye. Get in touch with our team for free legal advice that you can rely on:

https://www.bartlettslaw.co.uk/hair-beauty/compensation-for-allergic-reaction-to-hair-dye-at-hairdressers.html

The UK government is proposing a crackdown on dangerous cyclists, including updating what it regards as antiquated and insufficient current legislation covering prosecutions for injuries and deaths caused by dangerous cycling.

Cyclists can currently be prosecuted for bodily harm caused by ‘wanton and furious driving’ under the 1861 Offences Against the Person Act (a crime originally committed by horse-drawn carriage drivers), with a maximum penalty of two years’ imprisonment. This is inconsistent with the law applied to motorists who may be jailed for life, and both government and campaigners believe this is one area in which the current system is both outdated and unfair to victims of dangerous cyclists.

The government proposals aim to extend speed restrictions that apply to motorists to cyclists, and enforce them more effectively, particularly in 20mph zones, with fines and penalty points handed out to cyclists exceeding the speed limit and riding dangerously, for example, cycling through red lights. Some form of registration system could be necessary to identify and prosecute dangerous cyclists, although plans for registration plates are viewed by many as impractical. 

Cyclists could also be legally required to hold insurance to provide cover in the event of accidents, injuries and deaths caused by dangerous cycling. Personal injury claims against dangerous cyclists would be on the same level as claims against dangerous motorists, giving injured pedestrians and other road users better legal rights and access to compensation.

While insurance is not currently mandatory for cyclists, many are fully insured and have third party cover for public liability accidents, including collisions with pedestrians and damage to property. Our solicitors have many years of combined experience in successfully representing pedestrians injured by dangerous and reckless cyclists. Contact our team of specialist lawyers today for free and confidential advice:

https://www.bartlettslaw.co.uk/pedestrian-injury-claims/compensation-for-pedestrian-injured-by-a-cyclist.html

While hair dye products are not necessarily unsafe for the under 16s, children have much finer hair and greater sensitivity to chemicals than adults, which increases the likelihood of hair dye solutions damaging their hair. They are also more likely to develop allergies from exposure to these chemical ingredients which may affect their health in the future. All legal hair dye products used in the UK are labelled as “not intended for use on persons under the age of 16”, and any salon which offers hair dye treatments to clients under that age will not be covered by their insurance in the event of a procedure going wrong.

Despite this, many hair salons ignore the possible consequences and continue to offer hair dye treatments to children. In 2017, BBC Wales sent a 12-year-old girl undercover to try and get her hair dyed at a hairdressing salon, and found that only one out of the 17 salons she visited refused to offer her an appointment. This largely reflects the unregulated and competitive nature of the hairdressing industry in the UK. Salons are not legally obliged to follow industry guidelines or the advice of hair dye manufacturers, yet should still be well aware of the risks.

The potent chemicals contained in most hair dye products include hydrogen peroxide and ammonia, which can dry the hair out excessively and harm its structure, as well as P-phenylenediamine (PPD), a common trigger of allergic reactions. Hair dye products may cause burns and hair loss if they are applied directly to the skin on the scalp, while children may also be affected by fumes from the ammonia contained in hair dye solutions, particularly if they are asthmatic.

Hair salons must follow the recommendations of manufacturers and industry bodies to avoid the possibility of children getting injured by hair dye treatments. You can find more about allergic reactions to hair dye and the legal service provided by our female solicitors who specialise in hairdresser treatment injuries:

https://www.bartlettslaw.co.uk/hair-beauty/compensation-for-allergic-reaction-to-hair-dye-at-hairdressers.html

As part of a new Transport Bill that could come into effect in 2023, the UK government intends to create a new category of ‘low-speed, zero-emission’ vehicles that will include e-scooters and most likely legalise their private use on public roads. While the government hopes that riders, pedestrians, cyclists and other road users have become increasingly familiar with the vehicles since rental trials began in 2020, the use of private e-scooters on public roads is controversial due to safety concerns over technical regulations and confusion over which areas they are allowed to access.

The benefits of e-scooters in official eyes include their positive environmental impact, especially reducing the number of cars and pollution in congested urban areas. The vehicles are also seen as an affordable and efficient method of transport, including for commuters and businesses delivering orders in towns and cities. E-scooter trials in operation across the UK are set to be extended until 2024, and the government hopes that sufficient information on the vehicles’ use will be gathered to ensure that technical regulations and safety standards are effective in the future.  

The problems caused by e-scooters on pavements and in cycle lanes and pedestrianised areas like shopping centres will almost certainly get significantly worse once private scooters are legalised on UK roads. Many private e-scooters can comfortably exceed the current 15.5mph speed limit, and a combination of confusion as to where the vehicles can be used, and irresponsible and inexperienced e-scooter riders will continue to pose a risk to pedestrians, cyclists and other road users for the foreseeable future. Legalisation will at least have the benefit of regulating the use of e-scooters and making insurance mandatory to guarantee compensation for those injured in collisions with the vehicles.

If you have been injured in an accident involving an e-scooter, contact our firm for expert legal advice from solicitors who are themselves cyclists with experience of e-scooter accidents claims:

https://www.bartlettslaw.co.uk/road-accident-claims/who-is-reponsible-for-an-escooter-accident.html

House prices across the United Kingdom have continued to rise rapidly, with Liverpool and Merseyside reaching record new highs in April 2022. Average prices in Liverpool rose by 10.5% year on year to reach £174,890, and by 10.2% to reach £184,880 in Merseyside as a whole. St Helens recorded the biggest annual increase of anywhere in Merseyside with 15.5%, followed by Knowsley with 13.5%, while Sefton had the highest average price at £201,519, representing 9.8% annual growth.

Record house prices nationwide are being driven by an imbalance caused by pent-up demand for properties and a concurrent lack of supply. In Liverpool, residential property sales grew by 30% in April to June compared with the same quarter in 2021, with the suburbs proving particularly popular as buyers look for better value and more spacious properties away from the city centre. Meanwhile, Liverpool waterfront has become one of the sought-after residential areas in the north west, following millions of pounds of investment in the regeneration and development of the area.

Many property market analysts believe that Liverpool and Merseyside are key areas for investment, with current and future regeneration projects providing long-term security for buyers. Analysts also highlight Liverpool as a good place for first-time buyers and property owners wishing to move homes. The city and region remain relatively cheap, with homes in Liverpool selling for around £237 per square foot, compared with London (£678) and Manchester (£353). Liverpool is also attractive to property investors due to its consistently high rental yields, while the city remains popular with both tenants and buyers due its vibrant, cosmopolitan lifestyle and unique cultural attractions.

Find out more about our Liverpool and Merseyside fixed fee conveyancing services:

https://www.bartlettslaw.co.uk/residential-conveyancing-solicitors-liverpool-city-centre.html

https://www.bartlettslaw.co.uk/liverpool-solicitors-for-first-time-buyers.html