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James Davies - Accident compensation solicitor
Senior serious injury solicitor - Bristol
James is a Solicitor who has represented victims of all types of personal injury for over 10 years, and specialises in catastrophic cases such as head and brain injury, spinal cord injury, amputations and fatal accident claims. He has acted for children and adults who have suffered serious injury.
James heads the firm’s Serious Injuries Unit (SIU) in the South West and is based at our Bristol office. He travels throughout the region to see victims of serious injury.
At the forefront of his mind is that these injuries have life-changing consequences for the victim, who will each have their own particular needs and priorities in coming to terms with those consequences.
Serious injury cases usually last for several years, and James will always keep his client fully informed and involved in the process. He fights the corner of the injured person tenaciously. He has won a reputation for careful preparation, determination and tough negotiation with the opponent in order to secure the maximum possible compensation for the victim.
James is a member of the following organisations, supportive of victims of serious injuries:
- Solicitors panel and member of Headway, the national brain injury charity
- Solicitors panel and member of The Spinal Injuries Association
- Solicitors panel of the Child Brain Injury Trust
- Member of UKABIF (UK Acquired Brain Injury Forum)
- Member of Cerebra, a charity for children with brain conditions
- Accredited Senior Litigator of The Association of Personal Injury Lawyers
Serious injury accident compensation claims
Here are just a few of examples of the range of serious personal injury and accident compensation claims that James has fought and won.
Road accident compensation claim - Serious head and brain injury
James represented a 16 year old boy, who was the victim of a road accident, when he suffered life-changing injuries. A passenger, he was thrown from the car when the young driver lost control and he suffered serious head and brain injuries. It was feared that he would not survive but after extensive treatment in an intensive care unit, made a near full physical recovery. However, even after he turned 18 he was unable to look after his own affairs, and was represented by his father.
In addition to his serious head and brain injury, the boy also suffered a collapsed lung and some loss of vision as a result of receiving a fractured eye socket during the road accident.
However, the more serious injuries to his head, including multiple skull fractures, led to his development of epilepsy, anger management problems and memory problems, which will render him permanently disadvantaged in the workplace due to the significant impact on his short-term memory and concentration span. He is unable to remember instructions, or act on his own initiative, and he is unable to continue with any type of work.
James and the boy’s father felt that he should be given as much time as necessary for the long-term prognosis to be determined, and as a result, this claim took several years to conclude. However, James was able to secure an admission of liability early on in the claim, and obtained a substantial interim payment, which allowed the family to begin to implement the necessary care package that James’s client would require for life.
Following a final prognosis, James secured almost £1 million in road accident compensation, in an out of court settlement, and taking into account the interim payment.
Work accident compensation claim – Amputation
A construction worker had to undergo several major operations in an attempt to save his leg and foot, which had been injured in an accident at work. Locking up the construction site at the end of the day, he slipped on a muddy ladder into a confined space. He lay in water for some time until he was able to attract the attention of a passer-by.
He had suffered serious fractures to his leg and ankle. Several subsequent operations unfortunately proved ineffective and his leg was finally amputated below the knee when his leg became seriously infected. He also suffered severe psychiatric injuries.
Since his client’s accident, the defendant had made significant changes to the procedures for locking up and ensuring the safety of lone workers. James argued that the fact that these changes had not been implemented before his client’s accident made the defendant negligent and in breach of his statutory duty.
James was forced to issue court proceedings when the defendant refused to accept liability for his client’s serious injuries. Before trial however, James was able to negotiate £335,000 in accident at work compensation. Part of this sum was in compensation for his future loss of income, as his disability would render him permanently at a disadvantage in the labour market. The compensation also paid for a top-of-the-range artificial limb for his client.
Work accident compensation claim - serious foot injury involving a forklift truck
James’s client had been injured as he walked around a warehouse by a designated route, which was in place to separate pedestrians from vehicles. A forklift truck suddenly reversed from the side and hit him, running over his foot and lower leg. The driver had not seen him.
The defendant was in breach of health and safety guidelines by failing to provide a safe working environment for his employees. He had allowed the use of a forklift truck inside a warehouse, of a type of truck that was designated for outside use only. There had also been a number of previous near misses in the same area, which was ruled to be too small.
James’s client suffered serious fractures and crushing injuries to his ankle and foot. He was unable to bear any weight for 3 months and despite several operations, his injuries have not fully been corrected, leaving him permanently disabled. He was forced to accept early retirement and was unable to find alternative employment due to his disabilities.
The defendant admitted liability for his client’s accident at work, but refused to submit an acceptable offer. James issued court proceedings, but prior to the trial, he negotiated over a quarter of a million pounds in accident at work compensation. Part of this sum had been paid in several interim payments during the course of the claim, which eased the financial burden that his client had suffered due to his inability to find suitable alternative employment.
Fatal road accident – Cycle accident compensation claim
James’s client was the widow of a man killed in a cycling accident. He was cycling home from work when he was hit by a car. The driver was subsequently convicted of driving while over the limit and causing death by dangerous driving, and received a prison sentence. He was twice over the legal limit at the time of the road accident.
The deceased left four children including one under the age of 10 and his loss was obviously devastating for his family.
James was able to secure several interim payments during the course of this road accident compensation claim, one of which was in payment of the funeral expenses, and the majority of which was for the financial dependency of his family. Prior to the trial, he was able to negotiate over a quarter of a million pounds in road accident compensation for the tragic loss of a husband and father. James comments that whilst no amount of money could ever compensate for the loss of a loved one, these funds will assist his widow to provide financially for their children as they grow up.
Comments from accident compensation clients
Just a sample of the many examples of the satisfaction expressed by clients for whom James has successfully fought for compensation.
"I would firstly like to say a massive thankyou to … a team that represented me in a way that went way beyond expectatons. In what was a very traumatic time for me and my family,i turned … for help and was appointed James Davis from the serious injuries team. From the first introduction James showed genuine compassion to my situation. I was kept fully informed of all developments and the final settlement has given me the piece of mind my family and children will be secure for many years. Thank you James from myself and my family, the help and surport you have given us over the last couple of years has ment alot to us all. You did a fantastic job and it was a genuine pleasure to have to have met you."
This client suffered injury in an accident at work and James was able to secure substantial accident compensation
"Dear James, I write to record my thanks for the advice, support and representation made by both yourself and Julian Matthews throughout [our] claim. I have no doubt whatsoever that but for the 1st class, high quality advice and representation consistently offered; we would not have ever reached such a successful conclusion. [We] are extremely grateful to you both for this.
I would also add that this daunting process was made so much easier by the approachability, friendliness and efficient handling of the claim by both yourself and Julian, which really was exceptional and again, is very much appreciated by us all.
Could I ask please that you forward a copy of this to Julian and if possible that you also extend our thanks to the experts in this case …whose balanced and extremely well considered assessments secured … a sound financial future for which again I am very grateful.
Once again many thanks for all your help and assistance, it has been a genuine pleasure working with you and I wish you both well for the future.
Kind regards."
James secured substantial accident compensation in this personal injury claim
“thank you for all your support and help and helping us through what has probably been the worst few months ever … Once again sincere thanks.”
Victim of a serious accident at work, received accident compensation
Making an accident compensation claim for serious injury
You will receive 100% of the compensation awarded if you do have a valid serious injury compensation claim and you decide to instruct Clear Answers to deal with the matter for you.
We will recover our legal fees from the person responsible for your injury, ensuring that the entire procedure is cost-free for yourself. Telephone us now on 0800 783 9019 or complete one of our online compensation claim forms, and a representative will contact you as soon as possible.
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