Serious spinal injury claims often involve substantial uncertainty around prognosis, functional recovery and long-term care. Even where liability is established, differences in clinical interpretation can materially affect causation, future loss and the overall valuation of a claim.

The evidence may need to address the severity and likely progression of the injury, the outcome of decompression or stabilisation surgery, and the extent to which mobility, independence and working capacity are likely to improve. Claims can become particularly difficult where symptoms do not align neatly with imaging, recovery remains incomplete, or experts disagree about future deterioration, treatment and rehabilitation.

Using anonymised case examples, the webinar will explore the relationship between clinical findings, surgical intervention and eventual outcome. It will also consider the evidence required to assess future care, rehabilitation, loss of earnings and wider quantum, alongside common red flags and areas of disagreement between clinicians and experts.

This session will help you to:

• Understand how the severity and likely progression of a spinal injury are assessed
• Identify the clinical evidence most relevant to prognosis following spinal trauma, decompression or stabilisation
• Assess the effect of spinal injury on mobility, independence, employment and day-to-day function
• Strengthen arguments concerning future care, rehabilitation, loss of earnings and long-term quantum
• Identify red flags, inconsistencies and evidential gaps when reviewing medical records and expert reports
• Appreciate common areas of dispute between clinicians and experts in complex spinal injury claims