Why you need a specialist Solicitor
Whilst all solicitors have a general qualification to practice law, and are not required to restrict themselves to one area in particular, most do choose to specialise as it is generally accepted that only in that way can they offer the best possible service to their clients.
When you look for a solicitor to represent your child's interests, you will find that there are many firms who offer advice in personal injury matters. However any claim involving a head injury requires the experience and knowledge that can only be provided by a specialist solicitor.
Claims for children with head injuries require even more expertise. You need to be confident your solicitor has sufficient understanding of the medical and social impact of brain injury in childhood; this is essential to ensure a full assessment is made of your child’s potential, and his or her present and future needs.
Claims arising out of clinical negligence are even more specialised and an accredited clinical negligence specialist should be instructed in all such cases. Apart from the expertise required in these complex claims, legal aid is available for children who have clinical negligence claims but this can only be accessed by a solicitor accredited as a clinical negligence specialist
A specialist can offer you:
- A free first interview
- Clear and honest advice on the prospects of success
- Clear advice on the best means of funding the claim and how funding works
- Information on support and advice available from other professionals during course of the claim and after, for example on benefits, housing assistance, help available from charitable bodies such as CBIT,
- Knowledge about clinical and rehabilitation needs and the best experts to instruct
- Referrals to other solicitor/advisor if necessary for advice on best management of damages
A specialist solicitor will:
- Keep you fully informed on a regular basis and will include you in decision making.
- Have experience in resolving claims by negotiation but will not be afraid to go all the way to court if necessary to achieve the best possible result.
- Understand the full emotional, social and financial impact of head injury on the whole family
- Have many years of experience, a clear grasp of the important issues and an up to date knowledge of the law.
- Have experience of cases similar to yours but who will be fully aware of your own unique circumstances.
Once the claim is up and running your specialist solicitor will continue to guide you through the process which could take several years to complete. It is therefore essential that you have full faith in your solicitor's expertise at the time the claim commences.
How can I check whether or not a solicitor is a specialist?
The Law Society operates accreditation schemes and specialist solicitors can be identified by searching for members of one of those schemes, on either the Law Society or the Solicitors' Regulation Authority website. Specialist solicitors in clinical negligence can also be searched for on the AVMA website.
Author: Julie Carlisle, Henmans LLP, Oxford.