What is catastrophic injury?
Catastrophic injury is a term used by insurance companies and solicitors when referring to the most serious types of personal injury such as brain injuries, spinal injuries and amputations, all of which are likely to have lifelong traumatic impact and require victims to undergo long-term specialist treatment, rehabilitation, care, and support.
And it is precisely because catastrophic injuries can have such devastating impacts including permanent disability, reduced capacity, a need for 24/7 specialist medical care and reduced life expectancy that it is essential for victims to receive the full amount of compensation they deserve.
What can you expect from us as your lawyers for catastrophic personal injury?
Our dedicated personal injury team is widely recognised as one of the UK’s best, so you can expect excellence in all the legal services we offer. Our experienced lawyers are approachable, knowledgeable and sensitive and, at each stage of the claims process, we will communicate with you in plain English so you need never feel in the dark about what is happening in your case.
Because we are driven by a determination to achieve the best possible outcome for all our clients, we take time to get to know you and your family so that we can fully understand your situation and build an individual claim that meets your specific needs.
We know that achieving immediate care for accident victims can be of huge benefit to their overall recovery, so you can expect us to make this a core priority in your case. We have access to a panel of independent medical professionals who will assess and manage your healthcare and rehabilitation needs as a catastrophic injury victim – our team will use their reports to negotiate the financial compensation you deserve and secure payment of the funds you need on an appropriate timescale.
How else can we help?
We can help to arrange funding for a wide variety of needs including private treatment, physiotherapy and gym membership, and we can also provide support for loved ones and dependents who may be suffering as a result of your absence from the family home.
We have access to a benefits specialist who can advise on the full range of state benefits to which you may be entitled and, when the time comes to contemplate returning to work, we can help with work-related issues such as negotiating a payment to cover your retraining costs or funding your vocational rehabilitation.
And, as a valued client of our full-service law firm, you will have access to a comprehensive range of legal expertise to help you and your family face the future with confidence. Our investment and tax planning professionals are qualified to offer dependable financial advice to ensure your compensation funds are invested well and managed efficiently; our trusts team can advise you on setting up a personal injury trust; our wills and probate team can help you make sure your will is up-to-date and draft lasting powers of attorney to give you added peace of mind; if necessary, our Court of Protection and deputyship lawyers can provide specialist advice and support in matters involving a loss of mental capacity.
Getting started
On our website you will find more information about making a personal injury claim with George Ide for cycling accidents, car or lorry accidents, motorbike accidents, accidents at work and accidents involving children.
And, because we believe in forging strong personal relationships with all our clients, contacting us in person is probably the best way to find out if we are the right law firm for you. You can reach us by clicking here, by emailing one of the team directly, or by telephoning 01243 876668 in confidence.
We take pride in the excellence of our second-to-none service and, once instructed to act on your behalf, we will step in immediately to protect your best interests and provide you and your family with essential top-quality advice and support to set you on your personal road to recovery.
Contact us to find out more about our legal services for catastrophic injury, or to speak to one of our highly-respected personal injury solicitors. You can reach us by clicking on the link, by calling 01243 786668, by emailing our specialists directly, or by writing in confidence to: info@georgeide.co.uk.
George Ide LLP. We’re on your side
Contact our personal injury team
To find out more about our expert personal injury team and for further information about all aspects of our comprehensive personal injury service, contact one of our specialists directly using the contact details below.
Client Testimonials
I contacted George Ide LLP by recommendation when my husband was involved in a severe accident as a pedestrian almost 4 years ago. In the very early days Paul Fretwell visited us at home and was an immense support through what turned out to be a very difficult case. Paul immediately knew my husband’s injuries were life-changing and throughout he dealt with it in the most holistic way possible, including instructing the best counsel and experts, to ensure the most positive outcome for us.
Paul takes a practical and pragmatic, but supportive approach. For the duration of our claim he was unfailingly responsive, always communicating legal detail clearly and concisely, which was important given my husband’s cognitive restrictions and fatigue issues. We would absolutely recommend Paul and George Ide LLP to anyone dealing with the legal aftermath of a severe accident.
Martin & Lynne Gowers
Paul Fretwell
I have worked with Paul for several years now on various challenging cases. Paul has a very honest and open approach with the people he represents, his communication skills and ability to share complex information at a level of understanding for his clients is second to none. Paul has a deep understanding of the challenges faced by somebody who has acquired a brain injury and it is this understanding that ensures clients anxiety levels and concerns are kept at the lowest level possible at all times. Paul is realistic with his expectations and has had a high level of success with regard to achieving the right level of settlement to ensure his clients get the support they need for the rest of their lives.
Karl Thompson. Managing Director, Thompson Holistic Care Services (THCS)
Paul Fretwell
I just wanted to say thank you again for all your efforts on my behalf, your resilience has been outstanding! Thanks to you, and the funds you secured, the process with Dorset has started already, and my new limb should be in my possession on October 4th (within a fortnight!) with the Echelon VT foot. This foot has a greater ankle bend which should help with the hill walking. I am also in much greater comfort in travelling in more testing conditions (when weather is wet especially), with the recent replacement of the 4wd car. This car will be especially useful when we intend to holiday in France with our friends during the winter months. Obviously my thanks are also extended to Lizzy and Karen for their efforts also! With very best wishes and thanks for your ongoing support,
Rusty Brown
Paul Fretwell
George Ide looked after my claim from accident to the case conclusion, they took care of everything on route which concluded in a very substantial out of court settlement. The settlement enabled the family not to worry about future employment problems, and gives everyone piece of mind.
George Ide are a very professional company, and I would always recommend them to other people in the same situation.
M
Paul Fretwell
We are so grateful for all your hard work, and the passion with which you fought for him…it has given him a sense of self-worth that someone in your professional position can see what kind of man he is and what he should be awarded. Thank you so much, you have restored our faith in humanity, and we would have no reservations about recommending you to anyone in the future!
Paul Fretwell
I have worked with George Ide LLP for many years, initially as a support worker but now as a Registered Manager. I have found their brain injury
team, more specifically Paul Fretwell, to be highly efficient, supportive and effective when working alongside me with a very challenging group of clients. Paul and the team at George Ide LLP have secured settlements ranging from £1-6 million and beyond, ensuring financial security and peace of mind for life for the clients and their families.
I have worked closely over many years with Ursula Watt and Stephen Shine in George Ide LLP’s Court of Protection team. I am always impressed by how adaptable and attentive they are in looking after their brain-injured clients who often display challenging behaviour. They are able to communicate in a way our clients understand and work in a very person centered way. They are firm but fair and always have the clients’ best interests at heart. Karl Thompson. Managing Director, THCS Ltd
Paul Fretwell/ Ursula Watt/Steve Shine
We thought that we needed to write to you to express our deepest thanks for the way that you personally and all of the staff involved with you carried out the whole case from beginning to end.
We hope that you can convey our thanks to them on our behalf. The background people are often overlooked, but we feel that we had the best team available playing for us on all levels.
Paul Fretwell
How can I just say thank you, if I say it a hundred times it wouldn’t be enough. What you have achieved is unbelievable, I never imagined the compensation would amount to anything like that, if you recall, I once asked you if I might get another £27.000 making a grand total of £100.000, than I truly thought I could possibly get between £150.000 and £200.000 and I’d have been happy, so you can imagine how shocked and thrilled I was when the figure was doubled.
When I left your offices I was almost in tears, it didn’t feel right saying goodbye, I felt like I was saying goodbye to a friend, which I feel you’ve been. I don’t know how I’d have got through the last couple of years without your input, I didn’t even know I was entitled to compensation until you told me, which also means no rehab either. I can’t begin to imagine the mess I’d be in now.
I will be eternally grateful Paul for all you have done.
Best wishes
Sue
Paul Fretwell
Jasmine has told me that she has now settled and that she can move on with her life.
I would just like to write a brief note of genuine heartfelt thanks from all of us involved. Your company was recommended by a good family friend who works in the BH1 postcode area, at a time when most of us were either in shock or at a loss about how to proceed.
From our very first communication, and the day of your visit to Jasmine’s Mum’s house, you have been thoroughly professional whilst being incredibly caring. You personally, no doubt with the assistance of your team, have allowed Jasmine the opportunity to recover at her own speed, with the assistance of the full spectrum of the medical world, to a point where I honestly believe that she is in a better state mentally and confidence-wise than she was even before the accident.
I would have no hesitation in recommending your Company to anyone unfortunate enough to find themselves in a similar situation.
It is common for people who are expert in their field to state that “I was only doing my job” – well, in this case, I am very glad that it was you who handled Jasmine’s case.
With many Kind Regards
John & Paula Gerken
Paul Fretwell
I just wanted to say a massive thank you for guiding and supporting my friends through to this conclusion over the last 3 years. The early days were incredibly tough for them as you know and your calm reassuring presence has been one of the main reasons they were able to cope, especially back then. You’ll have learnt that R is a very tough and determined character, but I know they’d have struggled without your help.
Living abroad and unable to help them as much as I would have liked, it’s been so reassuring to continually hear how confident they’ve been in your ability to resolve this for them, right from the word go. I know I was very happy in my own mind that they’d got the right person on their side, after I spoke to you on the phone.
So, thank you again for all the time and effort you’ve put into getting them this result… for always being available to speak to them, even when you were supposed to be on holiday, for steering them through the hardest times and the quagmire of the courts. You’ve made such a difference for them and seeing R getting on with life with such a positive attitude that I’m not sure I would have been able to replicate, had it happened to me; is extremely satisfying as well as inspirational.
Rich J
Paul Fretwell
“There are no words to adequately express my gratitude to you, and all the other members of the team who supported you, for what you have achieved for [my daughter]. You should all be so proud of what you have done and Thank You from the bottom of my heart.”
Mrs L
Paul Fretwell
We thought that we needed to write to you to express our deepest thanks for the way that you personally and all of the staff involved with you carried out the whole case from beginning to end.
The background people are often overlooked but we feel that we had the best team playing for us on all levels.
Paul Fretwell
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Author: Paul Lewis
Last updated: 16th December, 2024
