Chris Whiteley
Personal Injury Team
Partner & Head of Litigation Services Group
01722 426921
Chris handles personal injury work for both claimants and defendants.
The work he handles on behalf of individuals includes those who have suffered injuries as a result of an accident and clinical negligence claims for those who have suffered permanent injury or disability arising from failings in medical care.
He offers specific expertise in handling catastrophic cases including head, spinal and paralysis injuries. In cases of the utmost severity, Chris acts as Deputy to manage the financial affairs on behalf of those clients who are no longer capable of doing so themselves and works with other professionals to ensure relevant aftercare is in place.
His clinical negligence expertise covers birth-related injuries of maximum severity (including cerebral palsy and Erbs Palsy), delayed diagnosis of diseases including cancer, gynaecological, vascular, cardiac, orthopaedic and complications arising from surgical procedures (including stomach and colon operations), which in some cases have led to fatality. He also offers expertise in representation at Inquests.
Chris offers complementary expertise in handling a range of commercial litigation matters, including property and contractual disputes and also undertakes Defendant work for an insurance company with clients throughout the UK.
Chris also sits on the Firm's Management Board.
Examples of how Chris has helped clients include:
- Chris acted for a Claimant who had his leg amputated due to a delay in diagnosing a tumour and referring him for treatment at an earlier date. The Defendants disputed liability and the case was set down for Trial. The Defendants were subsequently willing to negotiate the settlement of the claim 7 days before Trial. The client has now received compensation for his injury and losses which will include funds to allow him to purchase prosthetic limbs on a private basis for the rest of his life.
- Chris has acted for a Claimant who sustained a serious spinal injury whilst working as a farm labourer. The client was unable to return to any form of employment. He had to purchase a bungalow and have it specifically adapted to meet his needs as he was confined to a wheelchair. Chris was successful in recovering substantial damages (approximately £3m) to compensate the client for his loss of earnings, the additional cost of his property and the adaptations, adapted transport, equipment, care etc.
- Chris acted for a client who sustained injuries during her birth. The injuries involved a right shoulder dystocia and significant damage to the nerves in her shoulder/arm. It was necessary to allow the client to recover from the subsequent surgery and develop before the claim could be quantified. The experts that were instructed were able to give a reasonably clear prognosis by the time the client was 8/9 years old. The claim was settled in the total sum of £230,000.
Away from the office ...
Away from the office Chris enjoys mountain walking and going out in his canoe and boat.
Specialist areas
Head and Spinal Injuries
Injuries at Birth
Medical Negligence
General and Commercial Litigation
Link to the Commercial Disputes & Litigation section of the website.
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