Personal Injury
Siobhan’s experience is concentrated in the following main areas:
Road traffic cases:
Typically where liability is in dispute and substantial damages are claimed. She has significant experience in the spectrum of RTA cases including pedestrian and cyclist claims. She is also fluent in the use of accident reconstruction experts as well as medical experts in multiple disciplines. Siobhan has extensive experience of fraudulent RTA claims- please see Motor Fraud section below.
Recent cases: collision between a lorry and sports car on a country lane; a cyclist knocked off bike at traffic lights by an HGV: road traffic claims raising contributory negligence issues such as partaking in a criminal enterprise (a teenage ‘joy-ride’), knowledge of a driver’s consumption of alcohol and failure to wear a seatbelt. Also claims raising insurance issues, including indemnity and scope of liability of an RTA insurer.
Employers’ Liability cases:
She has significant experience in claims involving manual handling issues, work at height and alleged defective workstations.
Recent cases: includes the successful defence of a cosmetics company sued by a make-up artist in relation to alleged back injury caused by the height of her workstation; the successful defence of a construction company against a claim by one its painters who alleged he was left to carry and position large ladders on his own; an air steward allegedly suffering psychiatric injury through a failure to properly execute emergency procedures mid-air.
Public liability:
Siobhan regularly acts in tripping and slipping disputes in a variety of settings including highways, supermarkets, shops, car parks, hospitals and injuries at sports facilities (gyms, horse-riding lessons). She is very experienced in Highways Act claims, Occupier’s Liability and defective premises claims (boilers, stairwells, common parts).
Recent cases: includes the successful defence of a shopping centre in respect of an alleged dangerous low wall in a car park. Siobhan has also acted for beauty salons in claims relating to alleged negligent spray-tanning and hair removal treatment and a case of laser skin care treatment, which allegedly resulted in a worsened dermatological condition. A recent case involved a claimant who fell off his bike on an uneven cycle path and onto a spiked wooden-post in adjoining grassy verge. This involved multiple defendants and complex liability boundary disputes between different borough councils and conservation areas.
Chronic pain:
Siobhan often advises in cases where an apparently minor accident has resulted in complaints of significant ongoing disability and potential issues of exaggeration or malingering arise.
Selected Cases
View full profile »Articles
- The Court of Appeal tightens and clarifies the ambit of the relief from sanctions regime
- Local authorities on thin ice this winter: contribution claims, the burden of proof and availability of causation defence in HA 1980, section 41(1A) claims
News
Qualifications
- Harmsworth Entrance Exhibitioner, Middle Temple
- Diplock Scholar, Middle Temple
- CPE, City University
- BA, Oxford University
