New case study

[Paul Breen]

I thought I would post the following case study, which details a case I have recently concluded. It is intended as an overview as to the type of service that should be expected from any lawyer working on behalf of someone who has sustained a spinal injury. Hopefully this will be of use to a user of this site in the future.

Our client, Ciaran, was aged 19. He had recently moved into his first home with his girlfriend. They both enjoyed travelling to Devon at the weekends to meet up with their families and Ciaran had strong affiliations with his local football club.

A few weeks prior to Christmas, Ciaran was travelling as a passenger in the rear of his fathers transit van. They were struck at considerable speed by an oncoming vehicle. The speed and force of the impact made avoiding the situation impossible. Ciaran impacted against the inside of the vehicle with extreme force and suffered a complete spinal cord injury at T5.

We were contacted by close family members after they had utilised our website to find out about our specialist legal services and range of help that we could provide. The family requested that we travelled to meet them to discuss further how we could help. We undertook a detailed description of our services at the family’s request. This took several hours due to the level of questions that they required answers to. After several days consultation amongst the family we were instructed to work on their behalf.

Within several days we received an admittance of liability from the insurers of the driver of the oncoming vehicle. We appointed a one-to-one case manager to undertake an assessment of the exact scope of Ciaran’s needs. Whilst undergoing rehabilitation at the Spinal Injury Centre, our legal team secured appropriate housing on behalf of Ciaran and his girlfriend. Further land was identified and subsequently purchased to ensure the property could be extended in order to house all of the new equipment required. This equipment included occupational therapy and rehabilitation machines. A specialised cutting-edge wheelchair was purchased, and an assessment of the exact usage pattern, ensured that this would be suitable for Ciaran’s needs.

Today, Ciaran and his girlfriend have moved into their new home and Ciaran has continued to undertake outdoor sporting courses as a result of the relationship that we hold with the Back-Up Trust.

Paul

[Gary Anderson]

Good to hear success stories. There was nothing like this when I was injured 20 years ago. My "cutting edge" wheelchairs had to be provided by myself and my housing adapted by relatives who were builders, joiners, etc.

Back then nobody sued anybody so I had to take what British Rail offered. Had something like this been around then, coping, adapting and obtaining equipment may have been made a lot easier.

There were no organisations to deal with sporting activities either.

Mind you, even today, I know loads of folk who when I tell them there are spinal injury lawyers they look amazed. They don't know they exist.

[cate]

It is good to know  that things can be done.  In my daughters case, injury not discovered until a later accident. thoughts at the time was just  to best medically for her, and she is not in a wheelchair.   
I do have a question. however.   people who want to do sports etc  does this  effect any benifits they may get, and perhaps there blue badge.   I have seen the programs pushing the boundaries etc, where people have been disabled, a couple in wheelchairs, and these have really pushed them to there limits,  But I have wondered if perhaps they have been seen,  and somebody in the welfare side, have maybe thought well if they can do that, they do not need the  benifits etc.  also thinking of or para athletes.   I am very proud when I see what they can do, but do wonder if this may put them at some disadvantage to their normal everyday livinjg.  What do  any of you think
cate

[Gary Anderson]

Re para athletes. I know a military guy who is a para and is training for the 2012 olympics. However, he is lucky he is in the forces and can get time off for training. It makes me wonder what the rest do to train and how they do this and work if they do at the same time. No way would my boss give me time off to train even if I was  a paralympian.

Sometimes I think programmes like Beyond BOundaries do not really help. I am of the view that we push people too far. It's almost as if they are out to prove something. I have two in my care at the moment who are determined that come what may they are having babies - even if it ends their relationships. That to me is just plain stupid. Why sacrifice a relationship just to fulfil a dream?

Speaking as someone who is disabled I know that even were I to marry tomorrow I would not have a family because I just dont think it is fair given the other injuries that I suffer from. Yet folk seem to think that having a family is the be all and end all - if they cannot have that then life is nothing.

At 75 my Mum has raised 6 of us - yet she tells me that if she were a young woman now she would not want to be raising children now.

I say let the disabled find their own way in life same as the rest of us. I have just read in the paper today about a USA girl with no arms who has learned to fly so dhe could overcome her fear. Yet to see her in the paper with no arms and brushing her hair with her feet whilst I am pleased she has overcome her disability of using hands as feet - I just wonder who or what pushed her so far.

As for me - I am no paralympian nor will I ever become one - I much prefer to watch able bodied sports - I just want to find my own little corner of the world without someone trying to drive me forward.

Once all the sponsors and backing etc, have moved away, how DO those folks settle back into ordinary life? Maybe one of them could come on here and answer that questions but I doubt that will happen. It's a bit like us in hospital, once outside in the wide world I had to make my own way there were no lawyers fighting my corner and no social services to assist with finding adapted housing Not like now. Still, it did mean that I survived with a fighting spirit.