Specialist Areas

The areas we specialise in are

Multiple and Severe Injuries/Catastrophic		Industrial disease (particularly Asbestos-related conditions)		Accidents at Work
Road Traffic Accidents		Pavement and Shop Tripping/Slipping		Miscellaneous
Case transfers from other solicitors		Injury types		Types of Damages

Click here for information about cases that we do not usually deal with.

Multiple and Severe Injuries/Catastrophic Claims
We have considerable expertise and experience of the higher value claims in excess of 1million for catastrophic and multiple injury accidents including paraplegia, head injuries and asbestos-related industrial disease (including historical claims from Devonport Dockyard).

• Multiple Injuries
• Motorbike Accidents
• Severe Injuries
• Catastrophic Claims
• Fatal Accidents
• Spinal (Paraplegia and Tetraplegia)
• Brachial Tear injuries
• Amputations
• Asbestos related claims
• Burn/Plastic Surgery Injuries
• Loss and Partial Loss of Sight/Eyes

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Accidents at Work
We have particular expertise in work accidents, specialist workplace regulations and the construction industry regulations. Richard Harris has considerable experience of claims relating to Devonport Dockyard and has extensive experience of Dockyard-related industrial diseases, particularly asbestos-related conditions.

• Dockyard and Boatyard Accidents
• Manual Handling /Lifting at Work injuries
• Back Injuries
• Falls
• Industrial disease cases
• Asbestos-related conditions
• Tripping and Slipping
• Construction Site Accidents
• Scaffolding Accidents
• Accidents on ladders
• Quarries and Mines
• Nursing and Care Homes
• Hospital injuries: manual handling of patients and equipment and tripping/slipping
• Industrial/Factory Machinery accidents
• Electrical Accidents
• Confined Spaces accidents
• Industrial Disease
• Deafness
• VWF (Vibration White Finger)

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Road Traffic Accidents
We have particular expertise and experience of the more serious road traffic accidents. We have acted for a number of motorcyclist’s with multiple and serious injuries but also for a number of self-employed, private hire drivers. We have also had a number of successes in bettering 50/50 ‘knock for knock’ accidents which require a degree of determination and tenacity not often achieved by other solicitors.

• Car Accidents
• Motorbike accidents
• Cyclists
• Pedestrians
• Children
• Car Passengers
• Bus Passengers
• Rear end shunts
• 50/50 “Knock for Knock” accidents (head-ons on country lanes)
• Children knocked down
• Drunken Pedestrians
• Taxi drivers (including replacement hire cabs and self employed loss of earnings)
• Private Hire drivers
• HGV drivers
• Vehicles emerging from car parks
• Contributory negligence claims (e.g.you are to blame but a part of the blame is someone else’s)
• Husbands/Wives/Partners as passengers driving in the same car
• Reversing accidents involving husbands/wives and partners
• Uninsured Claims (MIB)
• Untraced Driver Claims (MIB)

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Pavement and Shop Tripping/Slipping Accidents
We have particular expertise and experience in pavement tripping and shop fall accidents. Such claims are usually vigorously defended and a number of successes have been achieved by our determination and tenacity.

• Pavement Tripping
• Highway Tripping
• Missing Grids/Drains
• Supermarket Slipping injuries
• Shop Slipping/Tripping
• Tripping/Slipping/Falls at Work
• Playground and Leisure Accidents

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Miscellaneous & Other

• Criminal Injury Compensation CICA claims
• Holiday & Package Tour Accidents
• Air Travel Accidents
• Train Crash Injuries
• Cruise Ship Accidents
• Armed Forces Accidents since 5 May 1987
• Professional Negligence claims against personal injury solicitors and claims management companies (Usually failure to commence within three years of the accident or under-settling)
• Personal Injury Claims close to the three-year limitation period

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Case Transfers from other solicitors
We have achieved a number of successes when we have taken over personal injury cases from other solicitors by our technical knowledge and experience and determination to achieve the maximum compensation for you. Sometimes it is just that our clients are able to get through to us on the telephone and replying to correspondence. Our clients notice the difference when we take over cases from other lack-lustre solicitors. See Useful Tips and Advice

• Case transfers from Legal Expense Solicitors
• Case Transfers from other solicitors
• Transfers from Union solicitors
• Acting for you using your own Legal Expense Insurance Policy (You have the statutory right to your own choice of solicitor)

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Injuries

• Neck
• Whiplash
• Mid Back: Thoracic
• Lower Back Lumbar Spine & Coccyx
• Pelvic Fractures and Injuries
• Fractured Sternum
• Shoulder Injuries
• Fractures to Upper Arm (Humerus)
• Fractures to Elbows
• Fractures to Radius/Ulna
• Wrist Injuries
• Hand Injuries
• Fingers/Thumbs
• Vibration White Finger (VWF)
• Leg and Knee Injuries
• Ankle Injuries and Fractures
• Foot Injuries
• Head Injuries
• Psychological Injuries (PTSD)
• Headaches
• Loss of Sight/Eyes
• Facial Fractures
• Dermatitis
• Burns and Scalds
• Scarring
• Deafness
• Loss of Ears/loss of part

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Types of damages:

• Damages for Pain and Suffering
• Loss of Amenity
• Disadvantage on the Open Labour Market
• Loss of Congenial Employment
• Loss of Enjoyment
• Loss of Earning Capacity
• Loss of Earnings
• Repayment of salary advances to employers
• Interim Payments
• Interest on Damages for Pain and Suffering
• Interest on Damages for Financial Losses
• Medical Treatment Costs
• Physio Treatment
• Chiropractic Treatment
• Osteopath Treatment
• Dental Treatment
• Travel for Medical Treatment
• Hospital Parking Expenses
• Replacement vehicle expenses
• Taxi fares
• Damaged Clothing
• Damaged Helmets and Motorcycle clothing e.g. Leathers
• Self Employed Earnings
• Taxi and Private Hire Earnings
• Unpaid Care and Assistance from family members
• Prosthetics and Artificial Limbs
• Aids and equipment for Disability
• Long term care needs

In appropriate cases we can arrange the following on the basis of deferred payment from damages recovered:

• Credit Car Hire (ie Replacement vehicles)
• Taxi/Private Credit Hire
• Commercial/HGV Credit Hire
• Physio Treatment
• Chiropractors Treatment
• Osteopath Treatment
• Psychological assessment and Treatment
• Rehabilitation Treatment
• Independent Vehicle Inspection and Valuation

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What we don’t usually deal with:
We are specialists and it is important that we tell you what we don’t usually deal with:

• Community Funded Clinical Negligence i.e. the old Legal Aid but we do undertake privately funded Clinical Negligence claims
• Most Stress at Work claims (except physical harassment/bullying)
• Most Repetitive Strain Injuries RSI (except back/manual handling injuries due to weight)

(The above categories are not usually dealt with due to unfavourable case law and the difficulty in obtaining legal expense insurance for you)

• Divorce and Matrimonial
• Property and Conveyancing
• Wills & Probate

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