Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) and Clinical Negligence - Introduction

“Spinal cord injury patients who believe they have been badly looked after are best served by approaching a firm of solicitors with a legal team who understand the key principles of good spinal cord injury care and who have the knowledge and experience to advise them.

Pattinson and Brewer are, in my experience, an example of such a firm. I particularly applaud Pattinson and Brewer’s willingness to offer, free of any charge, an initial opinion to potential SCI claimants of the potential merits of any claims”.

Brian Gardner, Consultant in Spinal Injuries - Stoke Mandeville Hospital

Spinal Cord Injury lawyers

We have been acting for clients with spinal cord injury (SCI) since the firm was formed over 100 years ago. We deal with accidents however and wherever they occur and have particular experience in advising spinal cord injury patients who believe they have been badly looked after by the medical profession.

There are often very complicated issues to explore and we have much experience in this area. We feel we can do no better than to quote Brian Gardner, who as a consultant in spinal cord injury, has been involved in advising in many such claims. He explains:

• “Clinical negligence in spinal cord injury cases is a difficult area. Even when care has fallen short of acceptable standards, it is important to understand that this does not necessarily mean that the outcome will be any worse.
• It is essential that a patient who feels that he or she has been poorly
  managed has competent advice and guidance at an early stage. First the patient must know whether or not the care has fallen below acceptable standards. Second the patient must have a clear indication as to whether or not any substandard care has resulted in a measurably worse outcome.
• Spinal cord injury patients who believe they have been badly looked after are best served by approaching a firm of solicitors with a legal team who understand the key principles of good spinal cord injury care and who have the knowledge and experience to advise them. 
• Pattinson and Brewer are, in my experience, an example of such a firm. I particularly applaud Pattinson and Brewer’s willingness to offer, free of any charge, an initial opinion to potential SCI claimants of the potential merits of any claims.
• Accepting that there is no claim can be as important as pursuing a claim that is likely to succeed. This is because uncertainty can be very damaging to the spinal cord injury person both to his or her overall rehabilitation and to his or her coming to terms with an injury that is usually devastating in its effects."

We can help:
We understand that the needs of those with spinal cord injury are complex and so our solicitors have smaller numbers of cases than other clinical negligence lawyers so that we can provide a personal and proactive legal service for you and your family.

In cases where liability is not likely to be strongly contested, we can obtain interim payments to buy suitable accommodation, equipment and for setting up of care regimes. We use experts who can advise you about housing, care, equipment, vehicles and holidays.

When the case is concluded, we can also provide advice on the setting up of Personal Injury Trusts to protect means tested DSS benefits and on investing your damages

It is essential in our view that every person who has suffered a spinal cord injury should seek legal advice as to whether a claim for compensation can be made. Very often, people fail to seek proper advice on the assumption that no claim for personal injury or clinical negligence exists.

We are happy to look at the details of any case and provide expert advice as to whether a claim for compensation can be brought. We will visit you in hospital or at home and the initial consultation and advice is free.

A variety of sources of information can be found here.