When clients suffer catastrophic, life-changing injuries, it often takes many years to finally settle their claims. This is mostly because such claims cannot be accurately valued and finalised until the injured person has reached their final state of recovery and many medical and other expert reports will be need to do so. Medical treatment for some injuries such as complex fractures and brain injuries often lasts for 3-5 years in our experience.
In the meantime however, we are often assisting such badly-injured clients to obtain the treatment, therapy and funds they need to help them get their lives back to their pre-accident position as far and as quickly as possible so that they don’t need to wait until the end of the case to do so.
When the Defendant’s insurers have admitted full or partial liability for a claim at an early stage, they will usually collaborate with us to ensure that the client makes the fullest and quickest recovery by paying for private treatment under what is known as the Rehabilitation Code that many solicitors and insurers sign up to.
Commonly, we agree with them (or solicitors appointed by the insurers) to appoint an independent rehabilitation provider and or a case manager to oversee the provision of the treatment that the client needs which is paid for by the insurer. This can include physiotherapy, psychological treatment, occupational therapy, support workers, care home fees, private medical treatment including surgery, gym and personal training fees and anything else required.
Insurers will often fund equipment needed including mobility aids (such as scooters, wheelchairs, lifting equipment and walking frames), gym items (including treadmills, weights and exercise bikes) and adaptations to homes including stair rails, walk-in showers and grab rails. In recent cases, our clients have been provided with wheelchair adapted vehicles, private carers and gym subscriptions amongst other benefits to help them get to their best state of recovery as quickly as possible.
Insurers are also usually prepared to make regular interim payments to compensate clients for lost earnings so they don’t suffer financial difficulties
It is in the interests of everyone concerned in such a case to ensure that the injured person is assisted in this way and the treatment they receive is usually far more comprehensive and much quicker than if they had to rely on the NHS and local authorities to assist them. Usually, clients are very appreciative as they were not expecting to receive such benefits before their claim was concluded.
If you have suffered an injury and would like some advice, please call our expert team on 0114 218 4000 or email info@tayloremmet.co.uk.
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