Spinal injury case study 2

Marrianne

Our client, aged 28, was an unseat-belted rear passenger in a car being driven by her sister. They had been enjoying a day at a friend’s wedding. On the way home, the car came off the road. The client sustained a burst fracture of C4 causing tetraplegia.

The client’s sister was a carer for another tetraplegic client of our firm, and evidently was impressed by the work done to restore the client’s quality of life. Notwithstanding the fact that she was the likely defendant in the case, she contacted us within a matter of days to secure our services on behalf of her seriously injured sister. A meeting was immediately arranged and instructions secured.

We immediately met with the client and her family at the specialist spinal unit in Sheffield. In common with many clients, considerable apprehension was expressed at the prospect of having to manage in the future with the minimal assistance provided by Local Authorities. We were able to reassure them by explaining in detail how we would help the client, and her family to regain her quality of life. A case manager was immediately appointed. Nationwide-leading experts in areas such as accommodation, spinal surgery, nursing care, occupational therapy, mobility/transport and rehabilitation were instructed before the client had even been discharged from hospital. Thanks to early contact and meetings with the insurers, significant interim payments, in excess of £100,000, were obtained.

By the time that the client was discharged from hospital, adaptations had been made to the family home to enable her to return, and plans had been put underway for the construction of a brand new, fully adapted detached house, where the client will be able to live entirely independently with her partner and raise a family. With the help of the case manager, a 24-hour care team was put in place, thus meaning that the client did not have to rely on the minimal care provided by the Local Authority. A fully-adapted BMW X5 vehicle and a long-term wheelchair was provided which gives the client as much mobility and independence as possible.

With our help, the client has been able to envisage once again a future for her and her partner. They have set up a charitable trust to aid victims of serious spinal injuries, and run their own business. They plan to start a family.

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