Personal Injury

Chris accepts instructions across all areas of personal injury work, including (but not limited to) the areas mentioned below.

Chris regularly acts in cases involving road traffic accidents. Chris has taken part in hundreds of road traffic accident trials and is an experienced cross-examiner. As well as liability trials, Chris has a particular interest in cases where the causation of injury has been denied. Chris has frequently acted for Claimants who have been wrongly accused of exaggerating or fabricating their injuries. Chris has an excellent understanding of the case law concerning dishonesty and is always ready to mount a robust defence.

Chris regularly acts in cases involving accidents on the public highway. Chris has an excellent understanding of the law concerning highways maintainable at public expense and has written a well-received article on the subject. Chris maintains a mixed practice (acting for Claimants and Defendants) and is therefore alive to the issues which Claimants and highway authorities can both face.

Chris regularly acts in cases involving employer’s liability. Chris has represented many Claimants bringing claims against their employers and has had a number of important successes. Chris has successfully represented prison officers, teachers, warehouse workers, council staff, and more. Chris has most recently obtained a six-figure settlement for an electrician injured by an unsafe place of work.

Chris regularly acts in cases involving claims against landlords. Chris has an excellent understanding of the Defective Premises Act 1972 and the case law which has developed from it. Chris recently dealt with a complex trial which turned on the interpretation of authorities including Dodd v Raebarn Estates Ltd [2017] EWCA Civ 439, Sternbaum v Dhesi [2016] EWCA Civ 155, and others.

Chris regularly acts in cases involving industrial disease. Chris has an excellent understanding of the law concerning noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS), and other repetitive strain conditions. Chris was instructed in a multi-track claim involving the highly unusual Whole-Body Vibration Syndrome (which may be the first case of its kind). Chris has a thorough understanding of the scientific concepts which underpin industrial disease, including (for NIHL) the identification of notches and bulges, the calculation of average noise levels (Leq), the dose-response relationship between noise and hearing loss, and so on. Chris has a good understanding of the law concerning limitation (including applications under Section 33 of the Limitation Act 1980). Chris is happy to advise on paper and to represent clients at trial (with Chris having an early success in a repetitive strain trial in 2018).

Chris regularly acts in cases involving holiday illness. Chris treats these cases with real care and gains results. Chris has extensive experience of holiday illness claims on paper and in person (including a notable success in February 2020 in a trial in York County Court, with the Claimant beating a Part 36 offer). Chris has an excellent understanding of the case law, including Wood and Wood v TUI Travel Plc [2017] EWCA Civ 11 and others.

Chris regularly represents clients in criminal injuries compensation appeals. Chris has represented a number of clients and has obtained substantial compensation (including £54,950 for an unpleasant brain injury). Chris has a thorough understanding of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme and the Social Entitlement Chamber Rules.