Delivering the compensation you deserve.
compensation explained
Compensation is split into three parts, known as ‘heads of damages’. Each part considers what the injured person has already lost, what they might lose or need in the future, and how much they have suffered.
i) General damages
This covers compensation for pain, suffering and the detrimental effect on quality of life – and the courts often calculate the compensation figure using previous cases with a similar injury. The length of time that you are in pain and the effect this will have on your personal life is also assessed. Consideration is given to the unnecessary suffering you will experience – for days, weeks, months or even permanently.
ii) Special damages
This covers compensation for upfront expenses related to the injury and is calculated using a record of expenses incurred – from the moment of the injury until the case has settled. Consideration is given to:
- Travel expenses
- Prescriptions and medical treatment
- Any adaptations required to property
- Additional care and assistance while injured
iii) Special damages for future loss
This covers compensation for loss of earnings in the future, or for the loss of earning potential, and for future care. It is calculated depending on your ability to work or continue studying – and becomes more complicated if you are in education or self-employed, as there is no fixed income.
Consideration is given to:
- Nursing care or therapies
- Special equipment such as prosthetic limbs which need to be replaced every few years
- The fact that you may no longer be able to perform the same jobs you did before, if you can work at all
- Missed career or educational opportunities – such as promotions, new projects or other delayed/lost advancement
To make an appointment to see one of our Personal Injury experts, Navdip Gill, Sam Seaford, Anne Maguire, Ann Summerling or Kerry Gibbs please call 01908 689338 (out of office hours – 07825 940007) or contact us.
What our clients say:
“I am very pleased with the outcome of my claim, it took just 3 months to settle from start to finish where I know some claims can take years. Really happy.” Shauna Davies
For more information about how we can help, you can read testimonials from our personal injury clients
Accreditations
Chambers & Partners 2023 – Personal Injury Department Ranked in Band 2: notes the team is a highly regarded personal injury practice offering expertise in a broad range of disputed liability cases. The team is equally adept at handling cases from RTAs, acting for passengers, pedestrians and cyclists. Their expertise includes severe spinal cord and brain injuries, as well as PTSD. “Geoffrey Leaver’s team is professional and approachable.”
Chambers & Partners 2022 – Personal Injury Department Ranked in Band 1: notes the team is highly regarded as a personal injury practice offering expertise in a broad range of disputed liability cases. Equally adept at handling cases resulting from RTAs, brain injuries, as well as PTSD. One client commented “The service I received was five-star; the team were professional and empathetic.”
Chambers & Partners 2021 – Personal Injury Department Ranked in Band 1: one client reports “The process has been nothing but well planned and stress-free.”
Chambers & Partners 2020: Personal Injury Department is recognised by Chambers & Partners 2020 who noted the department as“efficient and effective, and easy to communicate with.”
The Personal Injury Team
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Navdip Gill Partner
Personal Injury 01908 689338 (07825 940007)Navdip is a highly experienced and shrewd Personal Injury Litigator with an exceptional track record in delivering great results for his clients. Recognised as a top ranked lawyer by Chambers & Partners, his particular area of expertise involves complex and challenging high value brain and head injury cases in both adults and children. -
Sam Seaford Partner
Personal Injury 01908 689349Sam is a personal injury solicitor and Partner at Geoffrey Leaver Solicitors, who has over a decade of experience handling serious and catastrophic personal injury claims including but not limited to employer’s liability, road traffic accidents and occupier’s liability claims. Sam has extensive experience in claims against insurance companies, large scale employer’s and their representatives, Councils and the Police. He specialises in high value and complex, pedestrian, motorcycle and cyclist claims. -
Anne Maguire Consultant
Personal Injury 01908 689365Anne is a Consultant to the Personal Injury Department. Anne is ranked as a leader in her field by Chamber and Partners Legal Directory. She has more than 30 years’ experience representing clients who have suffered serious brain or life-changing injuries, clinical negligence and fatal accidents. -
Ann Summerling Senior Associate
Personal Injury 01908 689368Ann is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives who joined Geoffrey Leaver Solicitors in May 2006. She has extensive experience in handling all types of personal injury claims. -
Kerry Gibbs Associate
Personal Injury 01908 692769Kerry has worked in the legal industry for over 20 years, in various roles acting on behalf of claimants and defendants. The majority of her experience has been gained in Personal Injury, where she worked her way up to client account manager for a large corporation before specialising in claimant based work. -
Herma Hirst Litigation Executive
Personal Injury 01908 689375Herma is a very experienced litigator who has been running complex personal and clinical negligence cases for over 20 years. She is a member of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers. -
Samantha Pegg Paralegal
Personal Injury 01908 689372Samantha is the newest member of the Personal Injury team, who joins us as a Paralegal after graduating with a First Class Honours in Law (LLB) from the University of Buckingham, and completing her Legal Practice Course and LLM in Legal Practice from De Montfort University. Samantha works alongside Kerry Gibbs and Sam Seaford on a variety of personal injury matters including Road Traffic Accident claims. -
Ariana Kirton-Mogort Paralegal
Personal Injury 01908 689328Ariana is the newest member of our Personal Injury team and joins us as a Paralegal. After graduating from Buckingham University with an LLB, Ariana completed her Legal Practice Course and LLM with De Montfort University. Having always had a passion for studying law, she chose to specifically study personal injury during her master’s degree.
