The principal factors impacting on catastrophic injury claims

Overview:

A catastrophic injury, such as the negligent or intentional act of another, or by a dangerous or defective product, or a personal injury claim by the victim, is an integral factor in determining his or her future quality of life, including the value of the medical care and other support he or she will receive.

Without warning, a catastrophic injury or illness usually occurs suddenly and is considered calamitous due to the enormous impact on the lives of the individuals who experience them.

This lecture will look to shed some light on:

• Consolidation of claimant market
• Number of accidents/claims
• Court procedure/Funding
• Mental capacity
• Types of injury
• Rehabilitation
• Use of expert/medical records
• Periodical payments
• Interim payments
• Care/CM/equipment/therapies
• Accommodation
• Working life and life expectancy

Learning objectives

By attending this event, delegates will be able to identify:

• Claim strategies
• Practical tips to deal with CAT claims
• Forecast what might be on the horizon

Speaker biography: Elaine Chapman, Partner, Weightmans

Elaine joined Weightmans in 1989, qualified in 1994, and was made a partner in 2001. She specialises in large loss and technical claims. She has been involved in severe brain injury cases, paraplegia and tetraplegia cases, amputations and other severe limb injury cases. Elaine has vast experience of dealing with all the issues that may arise in these cases, including care, statutory funding, rehabilitation and accommodation. She is Weightmans' nominated rehabilitation champion.

She has spoken at a number of conferences on the subject of rehabilitation and had several articles published. She has vast experience of dealing with both the medical and vocational aspects of rehabilitation.

Elaine has also been recognised for her contribution to the law after judges at the Law Society 'Highly Commended' her efforts in the AWS Legal Business Woman of the Year category. She has previously been crowned Best Woman Solicitor Managing a Medium-Sized Practice by the Association of Women Solicitor's.