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June 2022

Law

Ella’s Law Could Tackle UK Air Pollution

by Kai Alana on

Ella Kissi-Debrah was the first UK resident whose death was firmly confirmed to have been brought about by air pollution. Prior to her death, the young girl was in and out of the hospital for years. She succumbed to a bout of severe asthma.

In December 2020, after an inquest, the coroner released a report that verified Ella’s cause of death: exposure to high levels of toxic air. Coroner Philip Barlow appealed to the government to develop stricter laws on air pollution to prevent a similar incident from happening in the future. He stressed the need to bring down the legal limit of fine particulate matter and for better public awareness programs.

Ella’s mother, Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah, said had she been aware of the dangers of exposure to nitrogen oxides or NOx, she would have not allowed her daughter to walk in highly polluted areas. She suggested that the government develop programs that help educate people about air pollution.

Ella’s Law

After Ella’s death, Rosamund started spending her time raising awareness of air pollution and its risks. She became an important figure in grassroots campaigning. She has devoted herself to clean air advocacy with the hope of helping the government realise the value of improving laws and programs focused on achieving cleaner, emissions-free air.

Using Barlow’s discoveries, Rosamund also began working on proposals for Ella’s Law. It will focus on making access to clean air a human right.

Vital aspects that are included in Ella’s Law are:

  • Awareness about the harmful effects of air pollution
  • Medical professionals’ role in communicating with families the risks presented by exposure to air pollution
  • Tougher and stricter air pollution targets
  • Better asthma-mindfulness

Rosamund is committed to keeping Ella’s memory alive in the new law.

Ella’s Law bill

Ella’s Law was recently in the news again after Jenny Jones of the Green Party triumphed in the House of Lords ballot. The bill will finally be put into action.

The bill is intended to establish everyone’s right to clean air and form a group or commission that will monitor the government’s progress and actions. It is also expected to:

  • Join indoor-outdoor air pollution policies with actions focused on fighting climate emergencies
  • Schedule regular reviews of the latest in science

Jones considers environmental issues as a matter of social justice. Clean and healthy air is a human right. It is also timely, especially if you consider the fact that the annual deaths related to air pollution in the UK has ballooned to around 28,000 and 36,000. Approximately 9,500 of these are recorded in London. The global numbers are at an estimated seven million.

The politician and Baroness believes the best time to put the bill into law is before December this year, which is the anniversary of The Great Smog of London. The 1952 week-long smog claimed the lives of about 4,000 people as reported by the Ministry for Health. It also triggered the creation of the first Clean Air Act in the UK. The act paved the way for studies and research on the harmful effects of dirty air and the benefits that can be enjoyed from clean air.

Today, there is tons of evidence about the harm that air pollution has on the environment and human health. This should be more than enough to encourage lawmakers and the government to come up with viable, actionable solutions for reducing dirty air or exposure to it and in the process, save thousands of lives.

The Dieselgate scandal

While it may not be of the same magnitude as The Great Smog of London, the Dieselgate scandal of 2015 is a significant contributor to the UK’s air pollution problems.

The diesel emissions scandal initially involved Volkswagen only but eventually expanded and other car manufacturers were also implicated. Aside from VW, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi, Porsche, Peugeot, and several other carmakers were found to have installed illegal defeat devices in their vehicles. The first to discover the cheat software was the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the California Air Resources Board. It soon spread throughout Europe, including the United Kingdom, and several other parts of the world.

Defeat devices are a danger to the environment and human health because they mask real emission levels during testing. When driven in real-world road conditions, though, the vehicles revert to their default emissions settings, emitting high levels of nitrogen oxides; levels that are way above the EU and WHO limits.

Nitrogen oxides or NOx have NO or nitric oxide and NO2 or nitrogen dioxide, which are responsible for smog, acid rain, and ground-level formation. Exposure to NOx also causes health issues, such as lung problems, asthma and aggravated asthma, respiratory problems, cardiovascular disease, and premature death.

Do your part

Car owners affected by the diesel emissions scandal are encouraged to file an emissions claim against their manufacturer. It is the best way to show support for the clean air and zero emissions initiative and is how you can get back the money that you spent for a vehicle that was mis-sold to you.

A Volkswagen or Mercedes emissions claim can be lengthy and complicated, so you’ll need to work with a panel of emissions experts who are trained and experienced. Get in touch with the panel of solicitors  at ClaimExperts.co.uk if you want higher chances of winning your compensation claim.

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News

Everything You Need to Know about the Mercedes Diesel Emission Scandal

by Kai Alana on

The Dieselgate diesel emissions scandal may have started in 2015 with Volkswagen but it quickly blew up to include other equally popular vehicle manufacturers. One of these carmakers is Mercedes-Benz, a German automotive company like VW. 

The Mercedes emissions scandal began the same way VW’s story did – with the US Environmental Protection Agency calling their attention and revealing their use of illegal defeat devices in diesel vehicles they sold in the United States. Mercedes has had to pay fines and fees, and face group litigations as a result of this.

Several years later, the diesel emissions scandal reached European shores when the KBA (German Federal Motor Transport Authority) forced Mercedes-Benz to recall over 770,000 of their vehicles in Europe in 2018. Authorities acted on claims that the cars were equipped with defeat devices intended to cheat on emissions tests. 

In 2019, five defeat devices possibly used in Mercedes vehicles were identified by the ICCT or International Council on Clean Transportation. The devices were alleged to have used technology that suppressed emission levels every time a Mercedes-Benz vehicle was being tested. 

The Mercedes emissions scandal eventually spread throughout Europe and the United Kingdom. There are now thousands upon thousands of affected Mercedes car owners in the UK, and many have started the process of claiming emission compensation.

What do defeat devices do?

As mentioned above, defeat devices are intended to cheat on emissions testing. It can detect when a vehicle is being tested, and it automatically reduces emission levels so the vehicle’s emission levels would stay within the safe and legal limit set by the World Health Organization. 

However, when the vehicle was driven in real-world road conditions, the defeat device uncaps the vehicle’s emission levels, making them exceed the EU and WHO limits. So, essentially, a vehicle installed with a defeat device is a pollutant.

When Mercedes sold these defeat device-equipped diesel vehicles, they did so by marketing them as clean and safe. In reality, though, their customers paid a premium using their hard-earned money for highly polluting cars.

Mercedes’ defeat devices also significantly contributed to the increase of nitrogen oxide in the air. NOx is dangerous to the environment and human health.

What is nitrogen oxide?

NOx contains the gases nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), which are two of the components of acid rain and smog. It is also responsible for the formation of ground-level ozone, which is another type of hazardous gas.   

Aside from its negative effects on the environment, NOx also has several impacts on human health. The most common of these indirect and direct effects are:

  • Headaches
  • Eye irritation
  • Corroded teeth
  • Breathing problems
  • Lung issues
  • Loss of appetite
  • Chronically reduced lung function
  • Asthma or aggravated asthma
  • Respiratory diseases

In severe cases, where the exposure is extensive, there is an increase in the risk of cardiovascular diseases and certain cancers. NOx exposure has also been linked time and again to premature death. One such case is the death of Ella Kissi-Debrah, a UK resident who died in 2013. The nine-year-old had been in and out of the hospital for 28 months because of seizures. She also had 28 hospital visits related to breathing problems. She succumbed to a severe asthma attack and acute respiratory failure in February 2013. 

An inquest on her death was opened and in December 2020, the coroner concluded that Ella died of causes related to air pollution. She and her mum, Rosamund, lived near the South Circular Road in Lewisham, a heavily polluted area. As a result, Coroner Philip Barlow called on the government to immediately act on setting new targets for PM2.5 or particulate matter based on WHO guidelines. 

What the Mercedes emissions scandal did

Mercedes and its defeat devices affected the environment, their customers, and millions of people innocently going about their daily lives. 

The customers had no idea that the vehicles they purchased were not the clean and safe engines that they were marketed as – that the vehicles were actually pollutants. As such, Mercedes lied to their customers and mis-sold thousands of diesel vehicles. Each customer who bought Mercedes vehicles with defeat devices should be compensated by the carmaker.

Nitrogen oxide’s negative effects on human health are not known to everyone. So, the thousands upon thousands of people who go about their daily lives, traveling from one location to another are exposed to polluted air. Mercedes’ defeat devices contributed to this global environmental and health issue.

Lastly, high NOx emissions mean higher maintenance costs and fuel bills for affected customers. As such, they have every right to file a diesel Mercedes claim. 

Filing your Mercedes diesel claim

Filing a Mercedes diesel claim is the right of every affected driver. It can be challenging and time-consuming, especially if you do not know how to go about the process. So, the best thing to do is find someone who can help you, someone trained and experienced to do so like the panel of emissions solicitors at Emissions.co.uk. Their panel of solicitors know what you need and how to go about the emissions claims process. The panel behind the website  has won several claims cases, so your chances of winning are higher if you work with them. Get in touch with them now!

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Lawyer

Things You Must Consider In Your Employment Contracts

by Kai Alana on

For most people, finalizing a deal with just a handshake or a nod is something that they find convenient. However, a handshake or a nod is not enough to seal the deal in business. There must be an employment contract clause that makes everything crystal clear. To avoid unnecessary things and events, any vital agreement needs to be captured in a document. If you have been wondering what you should consider before signing an employment contract, worry no more. This article will help you with just that.

Information and Responsibilities

The thing is that any good employment contract must contain some basic information. This information is supposed to guide and help you understand more about your position in the company you will be hired. Note that it is not all about the names and addresses here. You need information about so much more than that. For example, you need to know about the job responsibilities, the tasks you are supposed to accomplish each day, and the entire business team structure. This way, you will know exactly what to do and how to do it when you start working.

Bonuses and Promotions

Another thing that should be included in the employment contract is benefits and compensation. Regardless of the place you hold in your place of work, the coffee available during short breaks and the beers on Friday nights are things you should consider looking at. You need to ensure that all the promotions, bonuses, and compensations are made clear in the contract. What is the salary? What is the bonus structure? These are the types of questions you need answers to. Note that bonuses do not necessarily have to be monetary.

Career Ladder

Of course, every employee’s dream is to grow their skills and talents even in their places of work. Nobody wants to settle. We all want to do better. Career progression is essential for most hires. This is why you should ensure that the company you work for supports career progression in the contract. Does the company support growing of skills? Does the company have a budget to improve skills? How is work performance evaluated, and by who? If you have enough information on this, you are good to go. It would be best if you considered describing all this in the contract.

Off Days

Humans cannot be compared to machines. We all need days where we get to relax and recharge. In your contract, you need to ensure that you include time off, sick days, and even vacations. You should also ensure that your company and business team has a flexible system that allows taking time off. Here, you need to know how time off is accrued and how much vacations days are there in a year. Remember that taking time off makes room for quality production.

Conclusion

Before signing any business contract, you must ensure that the contracts suit all your needs and specifications. You also need to ensure that the contract will provide you with a conducive business environment that allows you to maximize production.

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Lawyer

How To Avoid Motorcycle Accidents

by Kai Alana on

If you’re riding a motorcycle, you have a responsibility to ensure that you keep yourself safe as well as other drivers. This means driving responsibly and obeying traffic rules and regulations. Here are some tips to help you avoid motor vehicle accidents on the road.

Be Keen on Busy Intersections

You can also avoid accidents by watching for drivers who are distracted. The most common reason for accidents at busy intersections is that one driver failed to notice another car, motorcycle, or bus until it was too late.

Be aware of drivers who are running late for work and are desperate to get through the intersection before the light turns red. Also, watch out for those making last-minute turns after they’ve passed you, and look out for other vehicles that might be trying to get through before your signal changes (like buses).

Avoid Reckless Driving

Reckless driving is one of the leading causes of motorcycle accidents. Reckless driving can be caused by speeding, riding while drunk, or riding while fatigued. Other common causes include riding in inclement weather and distracted driving.

The solution to avoiding reckless driving is simple: obey all traffic laws and drive safely. If you are going to speed, do so only when it is safe to do so—such as on a highway with straight lanes where cars are not present or when there are no other vehicles around you (like when overtaking). Keep your eyes on the road at all times and always wear protective gear like helmets and gloves to avoid getting hurt if an accident occurs!

Be Alert for Other Drivers and Watch Out for Accidents that May Have Spilled into the Road

While on the road, you’re supposed to be considerate of other drivers. You can only do this by looking out for them and watching out for conditions that may cause an accident. If all drivers did this, there would be fewer accidents on the road.

Here are some things you can do as a responsible motorcyclist. 

  • Be alert for other drivers and watch for accidents that may have spilled into the road.
  • If you are in a vehicle, do not attempt to drive through an accident scene until all emergency vehicles have left or you see an all-clear signal from police officers or public safety officials on the scene.
  • Before starting your motorcycle, make sure all lights are working properly; check tires and brakes; put on all of your protective gear(helmet, eye protection, gloves); inspect your bike’s fluids (oil level, coolant level); ensure that it has plenty of fuel; tighten any loose bolts or clamps; have it tuned up by a professional if needed, and check tire pressure before every ride (changing weather conditions can affect this).

Conclusion

Despite taking all the necessary precautions to avoid accidents on the road, you might find yourself caught in a nasty motorcycle accident. In such a case, you’ll need a qualified motorcycle accident lawyer to guide you through the legal process. Always hire lawyers from reputable law firms to help you in such situations.

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