Rebuilding shattered lives

Major Trauma Awareness Week earlier this month highlighted the legal community’s vital role in supporting trauma survivors—an important focus year-round. From injury to recovery, legal professionals can profoundly shape a survivor’s journey. How can the profession both support and be supported?

Major trauma and the legal profession's role in rebuilding shattered lives

Major trauma refers to severe injuries that pose a significant risk of death or long-term disability. In the UK, thousands are affected by such injuries every year, particularly in road traffic accidents (RTAs). Among the most at-risk are motorcyclists, who are 16 times more likely to sustain serious injuries compared to car drivers. These injuries often include traumatic brain injury, spinal cord damage, and multiple fractures; injuries that leave an indelible mark not just on the individual but on their families and communities.

For many victims, the aftermath of a major trauma can feel as overwhelming as the injury itself. The path to recovery is long and fraught with uncertainty. Victims are often confronted with a barrage of medical, legal, and financial challenges. As lawyers, we understand that securing compensation is not simply about financial redress, it is about ensuring access to essential rehabilitation services that can help rebuild lives.

The current strain on NHS services, as recently acknowledged by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, underlines this point. While the NHS is a cornerstone of the UK’s healthcare system, its capacity to provide comprehensive rehabilitation for physical and psychological trauma is limited. Long waiting lists and overstretched services mean that many victims do not receive the care they urgently need.

This is where the legal profession plays a crucial role. Personal injury lawyers often work in conjunction with insurers, not only to secure compensation, but to ensure immediate access to rehabilitation services, filling the gap left by the NHS. The Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) has recently launched a campaign, ‘Rebuilding Shattered Lives,’ aimed at altering public perception of personal injury lawyers and their clients. Too often, personal injury lawyers are unjustly criticised, with compensation seen as a windfall rather than a vital component in the victim's recovery process.

In my experience, collaboration between legal professionals and insurers can offer a lifeline to victims of negligence. It is this lifeline that helps rebuild lives, providing the injured with a pathway to return to work or adjust to life post-accident.

At RTA LAW, we specialise in representing vulnerable road users, particularly motorcyclists who suffer catastrophic injuries. Our role as legal representatives goes beyond litigation. We advocate for our clients throughout their recovery journey. We coordinate medical care, facilitate access to rehabilitation, and ensure that financial security is in place. Our work is not confined to the courtroom; it extends to the very heart of our clients' lives as they navigate their way through one of the most challenging periods they will ever face.

The ripple effects of a catastrophic injury extend far beyond the individual. These injuries place immense strain on families, relationships, and finances. As legal practitioners, we must always remain mindful of the holistic impact trauma has on our clients’ lives.

This is why organisations like Day One Trauma Support are so vital. Their work provides much-needed practical and emotional support to individuals and families grappling with life-changing injuries. Their mission aligns with our own as legal professionals: to help individuals rebuild their lives and come to terms with their new reality.

With the recent focus of Major Trauma Awareness Week in September, it is an opportune moment for us, as a legal community, to reflect on the importance of our role in supporting trauma survivors. From the moment an injury occurs through the long road to recovery, our efforts can significantly impact the trajectory of a person's life.

Those who suffer catastrophic injuries deserve the chance to rebuild their lives with dignity and hope, and as their advocates, we play an essential part in helping them achieve this. Let us also ensure that the role of personal injury lawyers in this process is both recognised and respected.

Written by Brenda Mitchell, Senior Partner, RTA LAW LLP