Catastrophic Injury

Introduction

Catastrophic injury normally covers very severe injuries, often resulting in paralysis. At the lower end of the scale are amputations or brachial plexus injuries, where the arm is partially or fully paralysed, and at the higher end paraplegia, tetraplegia, quadriplegia or even a permanent vegetative state. The cases may be further complicated by fractures to the spine or even multiple fractures. These types of cases invariably requiring planning for the long-term, usually the rest of the client's life. Whilst it may seem very mercenary, you need to be able to focus on your recovery and trying to get your life back.  Someone else needs to be out there fighting your corner.

We know, both professionally, and in some cases personally, just how devastating catastrophic injuries can be, whether they are amputations, spinal injuries, head injuries or serious orthopaedic/neurological injuries. We are absolutely committed to helping with all the needs to the best of our abilities of our clients and their families. We will not falsely raise hopes, nor will we set unrealistically low targets. As long as it is to the benefit of our clients, we work with the other side to ensure our clients get the best rehabilitation available and the best chance of returning to work and/or a meaningful life.

We provide specialist vocational rehabilitation and training, as well as nursing care needs. We also carry out personal injury trusts work, to assist our clients to manage their finances and compensation. We have very special knowledge of frontal lobe and head injury cases, with our own personal and close experiences of family affected by serious brain injury. All catastrophic injury cases are dealt with by dual qualified barristers and solicitors, so you get the best of both sides of the legal profession, the administrative and tactical skills of the solicitor combined with the advocacy and trial preparation skills of the barrister. It is an inevitable consequence of motorcycle litigation that we deal with a high proportion of paraplegia cases. 

We can and do provide benefits advice, rehabilitation advisors, immediate home visits, specialist assessments of living accommodation both by architects and disability living advisers and, in the case of amputation, specialist prosthetics advice on robotic limbs.

How much?

The more serious the case the harder it is to give absolute advice on the value.  High value cases are high value because of ongoing losses, such as loss of earnings or care.  The value of any injury is only ever a small part of this.  However, the following guidelines may be of use:

Conclusion

As a specialist practice we do not forget the other elements which go to make claims for very serious injuries high, not least legal consequences such as pain, incontinence, sexual dysfunction and infertility, nursing care and aids around the house, as well as necessary building works.

Whilst we do not necessarily wish to see cases going to trial, we do not fear Court. We regard it as our job to obtain you the maximum fair compensation that we can and not simply to negotiate the best deal that we can get for you without going to Court. As a practice we have a reputation of being ready, willing and able to go to Court.

As a highly specialist firm, we use highly specialist expert witnesses in the fields of spinal surgery, orthopaedic surgery, neurosurgery, neurology, neuropsychology and neuropsychiatry, nursing, rehabilitation care and care management, education and future employment, housing needs and adaptations (including house searching where bungalows are rare) and forensic accountancy.

If you are thinking about changing solicitors we will give you an honest appraisal of the advice that you are receiving. We do not want to take cases over from other firms of solicitors where the current solicitors are doing a good job. There are, however, solicitors and claims managers and lawyers who are simply out of their depth or do not have the expertise necessary to deal with these types of cases.

Don't be someone else's learning curve. Call our 24 hour help hotline on 0800 783 6191 for clear, expert legal help or e-mail us at contact@whitedalton.co.uk

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