Rebecca Richardson

Call:2003

Introduction and Contact details

Since moving to Hardwicke Building in February 2008, Rebecca has built on her existing personal injury practice and has developed a busy practice in both Claimant and Defendant work in all types of claims.

The high quality of her advocacy skills is regularly commented upon by those instructing her.  This reflects her extensive experience of trials and interim hearings in injury cases as well as the invaluable early experience of honing her advocacy in the Magistrates and Crown Courts prior to joining Hardwicke Building.  She has recently built upon this by successfully completing the renowned South Eastern Circuit/FBA Advanced Civil Advocacy Course.

Prior to starting pupilage Rebecca spent 15 months working in the Research & Development Directorate at University College Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.  This gave her the opportunity to explore her interest in healthcare issues by becoming involved in research surrounding the Human Tissue Act 2004 and its implications for health professionals and clinical researchers as well as research governance issues in general.  This included delivering seminars to consultants and clinicians explaining the implications of the Act for their work.  Rebecca then spent six months working in the litigation department of a leading law firm in Toronto, WeirFoulds LLP, where she was involved in a range of cases including complex high-value commercial litigation.

Tel: 020 7242 2523
E-mail: rebecca.richardson@hardwicke.co.uk

INSURANCE

Rebecca specialises in personal injury claims and is regularly instructed by major Claimant and Defendant firms in road traffic claims, highway claims, occupiers’ liability, employers’ liability, public liability, product liability and general areas of negligence.  She represents both claimants and defendants at all stages in proceedings and provides representation at trial, case management hearings, applications, inquests and infant settlement hearings.  Her prior experience in the criminal courts makes her well placed to assist with regulatory work including defending Health and Safety Prosecutions.

Rebecca has a particular interest in negligence within the fields of alternative therapies and beauty treatments, as well as a general interest in medical malpractice and clinical negligence.  She has been instructed in a number of interesting cases concerning negligent performance of beauty treatments.

Rebecca is frequently instructed to give advice at an early stage in proceedings, and is able to provide procedural and tactical advice and early assessment of the merits of a potential claim.  She is happy to give advice on all aspects and at all stages of proceedings and will advise in writing, by telephone or in conference as required.  Rebecca has been particularly thanked by instructing solicitors on her ability to communicate with lay clients and insureds in a clear and sensitive manner.

Rebecca accepts instructions from a wide range of solicitors and insurers and, where appropriate, will accept conditional fee work.  Rebecca also delivers seminars as part of Hardwicke’s seminar programme, both in chambers and at solicitors’ offices.

Clinical Negligence

Rebecca’s personal injury practice also covers cases arising out of clinical negligence, as well as claims arising out of negligent performance of alternative and beauty treatments

Recent work

- Davidson v Serenity Hair and Beauty Salon (10 April 2008, Lawtel AM0201300).  In the face of firm denials of liability throughout proceedings, and an attempt to have the claim struck out on the morning of trial, Rebecca successfully represented the Claimant who had sustained burns during a hot stone massage provided by the Defendant beauty salon in 2004 and been left with scarring to her back.

- Rebecca is currently representing a woman who sustained prominent facial scarring from laser burns following laser hair removal to her upper lip and eyebrow area. 

- Rebecca represented an infant Claimant in a case where a hospital had failed, during surgery, to find and remove a tooth which had become embedded in the Claimant’s gum following an accident.  The hospital had gone on to advise the Claimant’s mother that the tooth must not be in the gum, despite an x-ray having showed that it was.  The Claimant was discharged with the tooth still embedded; the gum became infected and the Claimant subsequently had to undergo a further unnecessary x-ray and a further operation to remove the tooth.

Employers' Liability

Rebecca has experience of a wide range of claims arising out of accidents in the workplace.  She is well versed in the relevant statutory provisions and has dealt with claims arising out of manual handling, work at height, defective work equipment and dangerous work premises.  Rebecca also has experience of claims involving vicarious liability of other employees.

Recent work

- Rebecca is currently representing a council employee who was injured when a colleague drove his ride-on lawnmower into the rear of the ride-on lawnmower the Claimant was using.

- Rebecca recently represented a delivery driver who was injured at work, causing an acceleration of a pre-existing back condition.  Whilst liability was eventually conceded, there was a significant dispute over quantum, resulting in a multi-track quantum trial.  The Defendant relied on video surveillance evidence which Rebecca successfully undermined at trial, significantly beating the Defendant’s Part 36 offer and achieving a global award of damages in the sum of £54,718.97. 

Inquests

Rebecca has represented both the family of the deceased and interested parties at Inquests, and is able to manage difficult situations with sensitivity, whilst remaining aware of the potential for civil (and sometimes criminal) proceedings to follow.

Recent work

- Rebecca recently represented the fiancée of a 45-year-old scaffolder who died after falling down a 50ft void on a building site on which he was working.  Following an inquest lasting a full day the jury returned a verdict of misadventure; Rebecca went on to advise on the merits of pursuing civil proceedings.

- Rebecca represented the driver of a breakdown vehicle who knocked down and killed a young man who had stumbled through a hedge into a country lane at night, straight into the path of the vehicle.  A particularly sensitive case where the deceased’s family blamed the driver, with the possibility of a civil claim following and criminal proceedings not having been officially ruled out.  After a morning’s inquest the coroner returned a verdict of accidental death.

Occupiers' Liability

Rebecca regularly represents Claimants and Defendants in claims arising out of occupiers’ liability.

Recent work

- Rebecca represented a disabled man who was injured in a restaurant when the seat of a disabled toilet gave way as he tried to use it. 

- Rebecca advised on the appropriate defendant, and liability, in the case of a woman who was injured when grating covering a cellar to a public house gave way as she walked across it, causing her to fall into a hole with the grating falling into her. 

Personal Injury

Rebecca’s broad personal injury practice includes road traffic claims, highway claims, occupier’s liability, employer’s liability, nuisance, defective premises, travel claims and negligence claims.  Rebecca acts for both Claimants and Defendants and in the appropriate circumstances is happy to take cases on a conditional fee agreement basis.

Recent work

- Rebecca acted for a woman who suffered serious injuries, including three breaks to her neck and psychiatric problems, in a car accident.  The Motor Insurers’ Bureau were brought into proceedings due to the driver having been uninsured (and intoxicated) at the time of the accident.  The Claim was further complicated due to the claimant’s previous medical history.

- At a quantum trial for a Claimant who sustained a number of separate injuries in a car accident, Rebecca successfully argued that where figures had been agreed pre-trial in relation to four of the five injuries, the court should consider the fifth area of injury (an injury to the Claimant’s eye from a shattered window) independently and not make any deduction for overlap, given that the other items of damage had been agreed not subject to any deduction for overlap.  Despite vigorous opposition the Judge accepted Rebecca’s arguments and did not make any deductions.

- Rebecca recently acted for a claimant who had sustained whiplash injuries in two successive accidents a year apart.  In a quantum trial relating to the second accident Rebecca successfully persuaded the Judge that, where the Claimant had not recovered in line with medical evidence, the claimant’s evidence should be accepted to show that, 15 months after the Claimant was expected to recover, ongoing symptoms were attributable to the second accident and an award should not be restricted to the period of recovery estimated by the medical expert.  The Judge duly made an award based on ongoing symptoms, subject to an agreed reduction to apportion the effects between the two accidents.

Product Liability

Rebecca has experience of claims involving the Consumer Protection Act 1987 and is involved in ongoing claims for Claimants who have been injured by defective products.

Recent work

- Rebecca is involved in an ongoing claim involving a Claimant who suffered burns to his arm when the base fell out of a glass cafetiere he was using, pouring hot water over his forearm.

Public Liability

Rebecca’s personal injury experience also covers numerous areas involving public liability, examples of which include accidents on the highway, claims arising out of the Animals Act 1971 and accidents on holiday.

Recent work

- Rebecca is currently representing an elderly lady who had to have part of her toe amputated after a marble sink fell on her foot whilst she was on holiday in Lanzarote.

- Rebecca represented a two-year-old girl and her father who were attacked by an Alsatian; the girl was bitten on her back and left buttock and when her father came to her aid he was bitten on the back of his thigh.   

Road Traffic

Rebecca has extensive experience of road traffic claims at all levels and for both Claimants and Defendants.  Rebecca regularly deals with credit hire cases.  Rebecca is also familiar with dealing with claims involving the Motor Insurers’ Bureau. 

Other Interests

Rebecca is an active member of Middle Temple and serves as Secretary to the Hall Committee.  She has been the Director of the Middle Temple Revels for a number of years, for which she also enjoys performing and writing. 

When time permits Rebecca enjoys travel - she has a particular love of Canada since spending six months working in the litigation department of a major law firm in downtown Toronto in 2005.