“GUIDE, MENTOR AND FRIEND”: REVIEW OF THE APIL GUIDE TO CATASTROPHIC INJURY CLAIMS 4th EDITION: STUART McKECHNIE KC (AND A FORMIDABLE TEAM): THE “LITTLE GEM” THAT KEEPS ON GIVING

The fundamental question for a reviewer of a legal text is – is this book worthwhile?  Here there is only one answer.   A book of considerable importance, assistance and utility is a “must buy”.

HOW DO I SUMMARISE THIS?

Sir Andrew Ritchie did a better job than I can in the Foreword.  “This guide is a little gem for those high up in solicitors firms and experienced at the bar, who deal with catastrophic injury claims… I heartily recommend a copy is kept on your shelves in the office and at your workroom at home, or on your hard drive.”

IS THIS BOOK USEFUL?

Oh yes!  For anyone faced with a seriously injured client.  It starts from the beginning, “first stages”, contact with the claimant and their family, costs management and funding. It then takes us all the way from issues relating to capacity, limitation and rehabilitation.  Those who share some of the central issues of this site may find the sections on documentary and witness evidence of particular interesting alongside the chapter on expert evidence.

However its utility does not end there. There are four chapters that explain brain injury and specialist contributors on the whole range of catastrophic injuries. Chapters deal with life expectancy, assistive technology and future losses. My  personal favourites are  the two chapters on witness statements and the Schedule of Loss  subjects that are often under-appreciated but dealt with in detail in this text (but I am wary of focussing on any individual contributor or chapter for attention as this book is the work of a major team).

SHOULD I BUY IT?

Again the answer is an unequivocal yes.  It is silly not too.  At £165.00 is is far less than one hour of Grade A time – indeed less than any Grade C (I always find this an interesting way to look at the cost of books).

THE TEAM INVOLVED

As I have said this is a team effort. Something that may get overlooked.   I was determined that each individual contributor gets a mention (they do in the book, but this can get overlooked).

• Stuart McKechnie KC — General editor; Barrister, Deka Chambers
• Jeremy Ford — Author/contributor; Barrister, Deka Chambers
• Simon Brindle — Author/contributor; Barrister, Deka Chambers
• Caroline Klage — Author/contributor
• Rhiannon Daniel — Author/contributor

• Charlotte Dyson — Specialist contributor
• Hywel Jenkins — Specialist contributor
• Tom Mundy — Specialist contributor
• Maggie Sargent — Specialist contributor
• Nicholas Leng — Specialist contributor
• Daniel Friedland — Specialist contributor
• Dr Emer MacSweeney — Specialist contributor (Re:Cognition Health)
• Dr Steven Allder — Specialist contributor (Re:Cognition Health)
• Richard Hardie — Specialist contributor
• Jeremy Brockelsby — Specialist contributor
• Jan Gawronski — Specialist contributor
• Tom Quick — Specialist contributor
• Hazel Brown — Specialist contributor
• Alan McDougall — Specialist contributor
• Dr Rajesh Munglani — Specialist contributor
• Niruj Agrawal — Specialist contributor
• Emma Way — Specialist contributor
• Sylvia Taylor-Goh — Specialist contributor
• Ken H Darzy — Specialist contributor
• Mike Gomm — Specialist contributor
• Richard Cropper — Specialist contributor
• Sue Peters — Specialist contributor
• Andrew Lewis KC — Specialist contributor; Barrister (Byrom Street Chambers)

WHERE CAN YOU BUY IT?

Here