

Although most head injuries are mild and recovery is complete, a proportion of victims will go on to develop epilepsy or other long term conditions such as loss of concentration, tiredness and mood changes. Head injury can also disrupt the senses, causing blurred or double vision, ringing in the ears (tinnitus) or conditions such as neuralgia.
While injuries to other parts of the head may not have such widespread effects as brain damage, they can still cause major trauma and have far-reaching consequences. Facial injuries may require numerous sessions of corrective surgery, resulting in disfigurement and difficulties in speaking or eating.
In the first instance, check that your solicitor’s firm includes lawyers who are accredited members of the two principle legal bodies in this field; the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIC) and the Law Society’s personal injury panel. You should also ask if they have solicitors who belong to associations for the specific injury your claim is about – for example the Spinal Injuries Association or the Headway Panel.
You should also ask your solicitor about their record in personal injury claims. Can they give you any case histories of successful claims similar to yours?
With the exception of medical negligence, legal aid is generally no longer available for personal injury claims. This means you will have to agree payment with the solicitor yourself. Fortunately, solicitors are able to act on a Conditional Fee (“No Win, No Fee”) basis. This means your solicitor bears the cost of the claim until you have been awarded compensation. Depending on the type of agreement you have, your solicitor will then either claim his fees from your opponent, or take a percentage of your compensation as a “success fee”.
Before agreeing to work on a conditional fee basis, a competent personal injury solicitor will assess the merits of the claim. If you and your solicitor decide to proceed you may have to take out an insurance policy to cover both your and your opponent’s solicitors’ fees in the event that you lose your claim.