Richard specialises in complex and high-value personal injury cases. He has a very busy practice, representing Claimants and Defendants. He has been instructed for many years on behalf of all of the major insurance companies, the Motor Insurers’ Bureau and many local authorities.
Richard spends most of his time handling catastrophic injury claims (brain injury, spinal cord injury and amputation claims), claims involving pain disorders and fatal accident claims. He also has considerable experience in advising insurers as to issues relating to motor insurance, and has advised many times on coverage and policy issues, liability under the Road Traffic Act 1988 and Motor Insurers’ Bureau liability. He has particular interests in claims giving rise to issues of dishonesty and illegality and the liability of insurers in respect of the use of autonomous vehicles.
Richard is very experienced in joint settlement meetings and mediations. He has considerable experience in the medical issues arising from high-value personal injury claims, and tests medical evidence in conference and at trial on a regular basis. He enjoys cases involving very complex expert evidence.
View full profile »News
- New Silks – Claire Toogood QC and Richard Whitehall QC
- Claire Toogood and Richard Whitehall to be appointed Queen’s Counsel
Qualifications
- Royal Grammar School, Newcastle upon Tyne
- University of Cardiff, LLB, Law and French
- Certificat d’Etudes Universitaires Generales, Rennes
- Inns of Court School of Law
- University of Cardiff, LLM Commercial Law
Memberships
- Northern Circuit
- Personal Injuries Bar Association
- Northern Circuit Representative for the Personal Injury Bar Association – 2009 to 2013
- Co-opted member of the executive committee of PIBA – 2013 to date
Recommendations
“An experienced junior who handles all areas of personal injury, primarily focusing on multi-track cases of significant value. He regularly acts in catastrophic injury, RTA and industrial disease claims, and is also very well versed in issues of employers’ and public liability. “One of the finest barristers I’ve had the pleasure to be against. His cross-examination was flawless and devastating, absolutely lethal.” “He handles difficult cases very well: he’s very good in court and always well prepared.”
Chambers UK, 2017