Sarah Rowland

I’ve worked on many cases involving maximum severity injuries where significant awards of damages, some exceeding £20 million, have been made. Although most cases settle out of court, I’ve also taken cases to trial and been successful.

I recently settled a claim for a young person who has a catastrophic spinal injury because of substandard treatment when he went to hospital with pain in his back. Initially, he was discharged without treatment and, when he went back to hospital, an MRI scan was taken of the wrong part of the spine.

The delay in making the correct diagnosis caused the spinal injury, which means that my client is permanently paralysed. Although nothing can bring back his mobility, I was able to secure a financial settlement of more than £12 million, which means he can buy and adapt a suitable home and have lifelong input from support workers and therapists.

In another case, I acted for a child who was born without disabilities but then developed severe neonatal jaundice. There was a failure to manage this properly, and as a result, my client suffered a significant brain injury.

This affects his mobility and his cognitive function, as well as his behaviour. He’ll always need a high level of input from specialist support workers. Having obtained evidence from 10 experts to consider all aspects of my client’s future needs, I was able to secure a settlement equating to more than £24 million. This means that his family doesn’t need to worry about what will happen to him in the future because he’ll always be looked after.

I make sure that my clients understand the claim process and what to expect from it. The legal investigation can take a long time, so it’s important that my clients know the next steps.

I’m always proactive when working on a case, and do everything I can to ensure it’s progressed as quickly as possible. Whether I’m working on liability (establishing if the defendant was at fault) or on quantum (the value of the claim), I always take care to work with the best experts for the case, to put my clients in the best possible position.

When appropriate, I also put my clients in touch with our in-house support teams, who can help them to secure ongoing rehabilitation and advise them if they’re entitled to any means-tested benefits as a result of their injuries.

No matter how long a claim may take, I stand by my clients and make sure they feel informed, comfortable, and supported at every stage.

I understand that getting in touch with a solicitor is often not something you ever expected to have to do. My aim is to make the process as straightforward and reassuring as possible from the outset.

I can usually meet you in the setting that’s most comfortable for you, whether that’s at your home, in one of our offices, or by video call if that is more convenient. During our first meeting, I’ll take the time to listen carefully to your experience, answer any questions you may have, and explain the legal process in clear, straightforward terms.

I’ll ask you some questions about what happened so that I can understand your circumstances and advise you on the options available and the next steps.

Just as importantly, I want to understand what you hope to achieve. Every client is different, and success means different things to different people. Whether you’re seeking compensation, answers, accountability or simply support through a difficult situation, I’ll work with you to pursue the outcome that matters most to you.