Hudgell Solicitors’ dedication to placing rehabilitation at the heart of its work when supporting people who have suffered life-changing injuries has been recognised nationally, as it has been shortlisted for a prestigious award.
The personal injury and clinical negligence specialists have been confirmed as finalists in the Rehabilitation First Awards, run by The Insurance Post to recognise the very best rehabilitation support provided to those most in need.
Hudgell Solicitors has been shortlisted in the Rehabilitation Initiative of the Year category for claimant solicitors, with the winners from across the country to be announced at The Royal Garden Hotel in London in September.
Judges were impressed by an ongoing package of financial, physical, psychological and personal support provided to a family left devastated by a road traffic accident in 2005, which tragically caused the death of a 29-year-old mother-of-three, and her six-year-old daughter.
The accident also caused the family’s 15-month-old baby boy to suffer a serious brain injury, leaving his father having to give up work to care for both his baby and his other four-year-old son, who was not involved in the accident.
Over the subsequent years, and through collaboration with insurers, the family have benefitted from a home-based rehabilitation package which has assisted the youngest son with his recovery, independence, educational development and helped to hugely improve his quality of life.
The package of care has included neuro-occupational therapy and clinical psychology, provided by brain injury rehabilitation specialists, one-to-one supervision through nursery and extra support which has enabled him to attend mainstream school.
Both the father and the eldest son have also received psychological support, not otherwise offered to them, coming to terms with their own bereavement, and living with a disabled family member.
Interim compensation payments, to supplement care from the State, have led to continuing timely interventions as needs have changed for the family, ensuring they have not suffered any financial hardship.
All this has been managed with excellent clinical oversight, sourced privately as the NHS was unable to provide any case management support, with a dedicated case manager developing a trusting and valued relationship with the family and working closely with education authorities to secure funding for brain injury teaching assistant support in school for the youngest son.
Samuel McFadyen, senior solicitor at Hudgell Solicitors who is currently handling the case for the firm, said: “We have been delighted to be able to provide vital rehabilitation, care and counselling support to this wonderful family since this tragic accident.
“With all parties working closely at all times to fully understand and appreciate the needs of the family as a whole, we have ensured they have had access to relevant rehabilitation, care and counselling, as well as securing various interim compensation payments to ensure they have not suffered financially.
“Speedy access to the relevant expert support at key stages in the family’s life have been crucial.
“This tragic accident killed a dedicated mother, a much-loved daughter and sister, and left the youngest family member, a 15-month-old baby at the time, with a serious brain injury. This was absolutely devastating to those left behind.
“They needed support and guidance to have any chance of starting to rebuild their shattered lives. We are proud of the support they have received through our work, and of how they have coped as a family through the toughest of times.”
The post Hudgell Solicitors shortlisted for Rehabilitation First Awards appeared first on The Lawyer | Legal News and Jobs | Advancing the business of law.