[sugarpenny-10]

hi there - I posted recently about my step son who has had a SCI on 4th Dec 2009.

Has anyone any advice on solicitors, legal redress and all that please?

Has anyone got a solicitor that they have used recently who was reliable etc?

We have been given a list by the hospital but referalls are always useful.

thx....

[greybeard]

Impossible to answer unless you tell us where you live. That's what the profile is for.

[sugarpenny-10]

greybeard, on Jan 16 2010, 01:02 PM, said:

Impossible to answer unless you tell us where you live. That's what the profile is for.

In my previous post I mentioned that he was in Salisbury Hospital.....so I'm guessing near Salisbury would be good.

[russ1]

Forget local - get the best. Give us an idea of the circumstances of his accidents and we can probably advise better. I used one of the top personal injury solicitors in the country. Doubt we'd have got over the first fence with a local guy. Warren Collins at Davies Arnold Cooper - Google him, Based in Central London but he'll come to you if he's interested in your case. I doubt you'll find better.

[SandieT]

Try Paul Breen of Serious Law, Sherrington House, Chorley Street, Bolton. BL1 4AL. Or log onto their web site at www.seriouslaw.co.uk to find out a bit more about them.
He is really good, and my son's solicitor, he will come out to see you it that's what you want. (You can happily mention my name if you want.)

Simon has also mentioned him under the Spinal Cord Compensation + Legal Advice section of this forum (10/6/2008) if you want to have a look to find out somemore, as he has given free advice to various members in the past.

Contact me again if you want anymore info.
Hope your step son is doing ok. Thinking of you.
Sandie

[sugarpenny-10]

russ1, on Jan 16 2010, 08:34 PM, said:

Forget local - get the best. Give us an idea of the circumstances of his accidents and we can probably advise better. I used one of the top personal injury solicitors in the country. Doubt we'd have got over the first fence with a local guy. Warren Collins at Davies Arnold Cooper - Google him, Based in Central London but he'll come to you if he's interested in your case. I doubt you'll find better.

Yeah I thought these guys worked nationally rather than locally. They are specialists in the field so they will not be in a restricted geographical area. Thanks very much indeed.

[sugarpenny-10]

SandieT, on Jan 16 2010, 08:54 PM, said:

Try Paul Breen of Serious Law, Sherrington House, Chorley Street, Bolton. BL1 4AL. Or log onto their web site at www.seriouslaw.co.uk to find out a bit more about them.
He is really good, and my son's solicitor, he will come out to see you it that's what you want. (You can happily mention my name if you want.)

Simon has also mentioned him under the Spinal Cord Compensation + Legal Advice section of this forum (10/6/2008) if you want to have a look to find out somemore, as he has given free advice to various members in the past.

Contact me again if you want anymore info.
Hope your step son is doing ok. Thinking of you.
Sandie

I will look them up thx.

He's ok as well as can be expected anyway.

You must know that to wake up in a hospital bed wondering why your wrapped in bandages, with pipes all over the place most of them going into you somewhere, and unable to feel your legs at all was a bit scary. He was in a coma for a couple of weeks, then woke up very distressed and confused. For the first few days they had to maintain his sedation as he was trying to rip out all the pipes, and trying to actually get out of bed. I swear that I half imagined seeing him crawling down the corridor out of intensive care, trailing pipes and bandages, shouting "Get me out of here!"

Some days he wants to hear "How I survived suchandsuch" stories from others with similar injuries and he wants to hear about special wheelhairs, holidays and the like. Other days such talk has him crying his eyes out and lamenting his still very new situation. He started going on about 'going to that place in Sweden' one time. I'm pretty certain he meant Dignitas in Switzerland where that rugby player chap went. But then he gets over it and pulls himself together and has a bit of a laugh and a joke. Being in a lot of pain is a bit depressing as is being stuck in bed (6 weeks now), and all the other indignities and frustrations of his position.

He was a bit 'alpha male' before this. Tall, nice looking, athletic. Good at everything physical and took to everything sporty like a duck to water. Prided himself on his physique. A good boxer he could look after himself. Feared no one. Got in a few scuffles it's true and always came out on top. He learned skiing without a single lesson and within a day was flying down the slopes like he'd been born to it. He was top dog amongst his pals, got all the best looking girls and all that. As a tree surgeon he could earn good money and afford a nice life.

So he faces a quite bit of a change as you know about. He is already, in his positive moods (which is mostly, to be honest), talking about skiing again using those specialised contraptions we've read about. He will no doubt take up other sports in time too.

Reckon he'll be at 2012 Paralympics at this rate!

[SandieT]

I was there 2 yrs ago with my son, and so many of the things you have written and your step son has said, is like history reapeating itself. They sound quite alike! Proper action men!! I really do know how you are feeling and what you are going thro. My son was in ICU for 6 weeks, like your s son heavily sedated and trying to pull all the tubes out. At the time he only had the use of one arm and they had to tie that to the side of the bed to stop him doing any further damage. I hated seeing him like that. Chances are he won't actually remember much of that time. All I can say is it will get better even if it doesn't feel like it now. Likewise my son didn't want to carry on and couldn't see the point of living, that was never him before his accident and it frightened and shocked me to hear him talk like that.
Its you his family and his good friends that will get him thro this. Its still very early days yet, and he will have a lot of ups and downs, good days and bad days, but he and you will get there, it just takes time.
Just keep coming back here as often as you need to, I haven't found this site very long but it really does help when others have been thro the same.
Just to let you know I am thinking of you, stay strong.
Sandie x

[sugarpenny-10]

SandieT, on Jan 16 2010, 11:59 PM, said:

I was there 2 yrs ago with my son, and so many of the things you have written and your step son has said, is like history reapeating itself. They sound quite alike! Proper action men!! I really do know how you are feeling and what you are going thro. My son was in ICU for 6 weeks, like your s son heavily sedated and trying to pull all the tubes out. At the time he only had the use of one arm and they had to tie that to the side of the bed to stop him doing any further damage. I hated seeing him like that. Chances are he won't actually remember much of that time. All I can say is it will get better even if it doesn't feel like it now. Likewise my son didn't want to carry on and couldn't see the point of living, that was never him before his accident and it frightened and shocked me to hear him talk like that.
Its you his family and his good friends that will get him thro this. Its still very early days yet, and he will have a lot of ups and downs, good days and bad days, but he and you will get there, it just takes time.
Just keep coming back here as often as you need to, I haven't found this site very long but it really does help when others have been thro the same.
Just to let you know I am thinking of you, stay strong.
Sandie x

Hi again, making a bit of progress. The settlements these guys are talking about huge figures, £3m, £5m, up to £7m with interim payments of hundreds of thousands. Is that reaistic? Are the solicitors just talking big figures to win business? I don't want to tell him these kind of figures if they are unrealistic. Also if he tries and fails to win his case he will be gutted if he gets nothing.

[SandieT]

Hi Sugar Penny
Have sent you an e-mail, thought it easier!
Glad your making progress.