You can plan for many things in life, but being seriously injured isn’t one of them. When our client Rob was involved in a road traffic collision, his life was changed forever.
He suffered a spinal cord injury, which meant he would need a wheelchair for the rest of his life. We asked Rob to reflect on the legal support he received, and what he did when he wasn’t satisfied with the first law firm who took on his case.
“In 2015 I was out riding my motorbike when a delivery driver collided with me. I was left with a spinal cord injury. In the post-collision interviews with a police officer, four or five weeks after my accident, it was clear there was no liability on my part. The other driver was totally at fault, which was hard to come to terms with. My injury could have been prevented.
While I was recovering from my injuries and having intensive early rehabilitation, my father was told to seek legal advice on my behalf.
However, I soon had some concerns about the way the first law firm we instructed was handling my case. I knew that every spinal cord injury - and therefore each claim - was unique, but it seemed like my case was being looked at in a preconceived manner. I just didn’t feel like I was being represented by them very well, and my future loss of earnings was not being taken into account.
I knew that how my claim progressed was going to shape the rest of my life, and either enable me or hold me back from doing what I wanted in the future. That’s why I decided to ask for a second opinion and seek alternative legal support.
A friend first recommended Irwin Mitchell to me, and the rehabilitation specialists in hospital also repeatedly said it’s so important to use a solicitor who’s familiar with spinal cord injuries. That’s when I was put in touch with Cathy Leech, and I immediately felt like I had someone on my side.
From the outset, I felt like my case was being viewed as individually as my injury. I’ve been put first at all times, which is really comforting during such a difficult period of my life. It’s allowed me to focus on what matters, including getting my independence back.
Cathy has supported me and my family immeasurably throughout my case. Her knowledge and reassurance has really helped me through and she has a great understanding of spinal cord injuries. I would say to anyone who has experienced a serious injury and is looking for legal representation, to find someone with many years’ experience who has your very best interests at heart. I can’t stress that enough, having been on the wrong side of that.
It’s been six years since my injury now, and it’s felt like a long road to getting back to anything like normal. But with the help of my friends, family, Cathy and the rest of my legal team I’ve been able to start enjoying life again.
I’ve recently been able to start living independently and I’m currently building my own home, which is something I’ve always wanted to do. With the help of my friends and family, I hope to be able to move into it in June. I’m looking forward to this year being more productive than the last.”
Rob’s looking forward to an exciting year
Rob’s positive outlook on life is amazing to see and we’re so grateful to him for sharing his journey with us. Soon after his injury, Rob found that sport was an ideal outlet for both his mental and physical recovery and now enjoys wheelchair basketball and tennis.
Rob was supported by Cathy Leech in our Serious Injury team, who summed up how we’ve supported him and helped him move on with his life.
She said: “Soon after instructing his previous law firm, Rob felt that something wasn’t quite right with how his claim was progressing. When we took over his case we concentrated on what was important to Rob and how this was going to impact his future. There were many areas which had been undervalued by his previous solicitor.
By settling Rob’s case for three times the amount that was originally estimated, it has allowed him to start building his own adapted house suitable for his needs. This a huge project and it’s going to amazing when it’s finished this summer. It will have such a positive impact on his quality of life.”
Over the next few weeks, we’re sharing our seriously injured clients’ stories as they reflect on a part of their journey that’s made a big difference to them.
Learn more about how our serious injury compensation claims team can help you
