CRPS Compensation Claim
Patrick
Patrick was injured in an accident at work. He was hit by a heavy vehicle. He appeared to have suffered minor leg and ankle injuries only, but as time went by the pain became worse and he developed other worrying symptoms including swelling, sweating and changes in skin colour.
He instructed solicitors after seeing an advertisement in a newspaper. The solicitors instructed a consultant orthopaedic surgeon to prepare a medical report. The consultant diagnosed only soft tissue injuries that he felt should have settled within 3 to 6 months.
Patrick was still in considerable pain and discomfort, was signed off on long term sick leave by his GP and, understandably, was not happy with the report. The solicitor told him that if he wanted a second opinion from another consultant, he would have to pay for the report, which he was told would cost about £700. Patrick did not have the money and instead asked the solicitors to speak to the orthopaedic consultant. They refused, but agreed to write to the consultant, outlining Patrick’s concerns.
The orthopaedic consultant replied that he could find no organic reason for Patrick’s ongoing problems. Patrick was by now very distressed and agreed to the solicitor’s suggestion that the report be disclosed to the other side with a view to him settling the claim.
The other side offered Patrick £2,000, but by then he had decided to change solicitors and seek an opinion from solicitors with a special interest in chronic pain. He instructed BLB Solicitors.
After taking a full history from Patrick, thoroughly reviewing his medical, occupational health and personnel records and having considered the medical evidence already obtained, a consultant in pain medicine was instructed.
The expert found that Patrick had developed complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) otherwise known as reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) and was of the opinion that this had been caused as a direct result of the accident at work.
BLB Solicitors were able to arrange for Patrick to undergo specialist treatment at a national centre of excellence for this condition. Whilst some symptoms remained, the treatment was successful in reducing the level of symptoms, which enabled Patrick to return to work.
Patrick’s claim settled for £120,000, a significant proportion of which had been paid by way of interim payments to him as the claim progressed. This had helped to relieve the significant financial pressure that Patrick was under by the time that he left his previous solicitors.