Brain Injuries INJURY & NEGLIGENCE SPECIALISTS

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1 Brain Injuries INJURY & NEGLIGENCE SPECIALISTS

2 Injury & Negligence At all times they put my interests first and gave excellent advice. Client interviewed for Chambers (Independent Legal Guide)

3 WELCOME TO PANNONE PART OF SLATER & GORDON When choosing a law firm, what do you look for? Quality service? Great reputation? Specialist solicitors at the top of their profession? Or simply friendly and approachable people? We offer all of these things. We focus on providing the highest standard of service with a personal touch that makes the difference. Our clients describe us as honest, professional and committed and in the words of the Legal 500 independent legal guide, we are excellent in every way, and never falter in support and availability. Our lawyers are easy to talk to and will keep you fully updated with no legal jargon. Whether you are entitled to legal aid, no win, no fee or legal expenses insurance, we ll find a way to fund your claim and fight for you. This booklet explains how to make a claim related to a brain injury. Call us on to set up a free consultation. Emma Holt National Manager of Specialist PI 03

4 Injury & Negligence CAUSES OF BRAIN INJURY Brain injury may result from a number of causes but some of the more common ones include: lack of oxygen to the brain (hypoxia) bruising, swelling or nerve damage caused by the brain rocking back and to or rotating in the skull as the result of an impact brain haemorrhages or bleeding in the brain development of haematomas (collections of blood in the brain). penetrating wounds to the skull damaging the brain tissue crushing of the skull due to the head being trapped between two hard surfaces medical conditions, such as brain tumours or infection TYPES OF BRAIN INJURY Brain injury can arise from trauma to the head, whether as a result of an accident or as a result of a medical condition or medical treatment or surgery. A person may suffer different types of brain injury: A closed head injury, where there is no open wound visible. Open or penetrating wounds to the head Crushing injuries to the head

5 AM I ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION? Brain injury can arise through accidents, a medical condition or medical treatment where no-one has been at fault. However, it may arise due to negligence, including medical negligence, or an event for which compensation is payable such as: Road traffic accidents, whether completely or partly the fault of another Accidents at work where there may have been inadequate health and safety procedures, inadequate supervision, training or equipment, poorly maintained equipment or unsafe systems of work. A criminal assault Failure to diagnose and promptly treat infection and conditions such as meningitis or encephalitis Delays in diagnosing and treating brain tumours and cancer surgical error improper or inadequate anaesthetic techniques during surgery or in the administration of epidurals in labour leading to hypoxic events failures to adequately and promptly respond to respiratory or cardiac collapse babies can suffer brain injury at birth (see separate Guide on Birth Injuries) 05

6 Injury & Negligence MAKING A CLAIM Richard Scorer, National Manager of Serious Injury, explains the process with making a brain injury claim. We know from years of experience how an injury can change your life and affect your family. We are here to support you. Our specialist solicitors will fight to prove your case and to get you the best possible result. Talk to us Call us for a free no obligation consultation with one of our team which includes a qualified nurse and a midwife. We can discuss what has happened to you or your loved one and how we can help. Funding a case We understand that the cost of legal advice can be a worry, but if you do have a claim there are a number of options available to fund your case including no win, no fee and in some cases legal aid. For more information on funding options, please ask for our funding booklet.

7 Richard Scorer is totally supportive, always providing sound guidance and judgement. Quote from Chambers (Independent Legal Guide) Richard Scorer, National Manager of Serious Injury Investigation For your case to succeed, we have to prove that your injury or condition was the fault of another person. In a case of medical negligence, we have to prove the care provided was so bad that no reasonable doctor would have treated you in that way. We will work with you to gather the evidence to support your claim. This will include taking witness statements, obtaining relevant documents including medical records and instructing independent experts to report. Support during your case We are specialist solicitors who are classed as leaders in our field of law and we are here to provide you with support and guidance throughout your case. In some cases, where we have proved the defendant was at fault, we can obtain financial assistance for you in the form of an interim payment of compensation. Interim payments can help with the cost of private medical treatment such as surgery or counselling and in some cases the money can pay for rehabilitation, adapted accommodation, equipment and professional care. 07 Continued over

8 Injury & Negligence Medical cases In addition to helping people who have suffered injury due to poor medical care, we also have expertise in advising families on other health issues, such as obtaining access to medical treatment to your illness or condition; the withdrawal of life support; care in the community and claims under the Human Rights Act. We have taken cases to the Court of Appeal, the House of Lords, the Supreme Court and the European Court of Justice. We strive to help our clients achieve justice and we are not afraid to push legal boundaries. Time limits You must make your claim within 3 years of the date of the negligence or your date of knowledge that you have suffered a significant injury due to the negligence. If you leave it longer than this, you may lose the right to make a claim. Different time limits may apply if the negligence happened abroad. The time limit for bringing a claim under the Human Rights Act is 1 year. The time limits for children do not run until they reach 18 years of age. In cases where a person may lack mental capacity, there is no time limit to bringing a claim REHABILITATION If you or a member of your family has suffered a brain injury it is extremely important to be able to access good quality rehabilitation. Research shows that the eventual outcomes are much better for those who have rehabilitation. As lawyers experienced in working on behalf of victims of brain injury we see it as a very important part of our role to make sure that our clients get top quality support to maximise the chances of recovery and future independence. We work closely with case managers, medical experts and approved rehabilitation providers to ensure that a tailored programme is put in place as soon as possible. We will ensure an immediate needs assessment is undertaken early on in the case so that rehabilitation starts early.

9 I am pleased to have closure and I have found the whole experience to be a positive one in which everyone has been very supportive. Quote about Pannone part of Slater & Gordon, from Mrs J.H 09

10 Our solicitors have given our son a quality of life we never thought possible. He now has the security for a brighter and happier future. Quote about Pannone part of Slater & Gordon, from Mr. Booth

11 CONTACT US Highest quality advice (ranked in top tier by leading independent legal guides Chambers and Legal 500) Free no obligation consultation Experienced specialist solicitors and principal lawyers who are Leaders in their field Range of funding options including no win, no fee and in certain cases Legal Aid National UK coverage and home visits For more information, or to discuss your claim, please contact Jane Whitaker on jane.whitaker@pannone.co.uk Pannone part of Slater & Gordon have offices nationwide. To find your local office visit For further information, please go to:

12 For more information, please contact Jane Whitaker on or Slater & Gordon (UK) LLP is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.