Plymouth, UK – 6th March, 2020: A high-flying Plymouth student was left paraplegic after surgeons operated on the wrong vertabrae.
Peter (not his real name) was a young academic coming to the end of his PhD when he travelled out of the region for planned neurosurgery and suffered serious spinal injuries after it went wrong.
In addition to the terrible physical impact of the incident there was also serious psychological damage requiring intensive treatment and rehabilitation.
In his hour of need he turned to Plymouth personal injury lawyers Chris Kallis Solicitors, established in 2000.
"It was one of the most serious cases I'd ever dealt with," admits Partner Abe Kallis.
"We had to focus on rehabilitation and Peter went on a residential course for physiotherapy. But this accident had a really profound effect on him and that impact was psychological as well as physical. So we helped to get him treatment to deal with both these issues to help him adjust. We also found him single-storey accommodation and equipment for getting on and off beds. He loved sailing so getting back on boats had huge meaning for him and therefore part of the process of recovery was facilitating that.”
"A case like this can take four or five years and the reason is that we need to wait and see what problems manifest themselves and that can take time. In Peter's case we settled for a seven-figure sum."
Abe says he takes a real personal interest in his clients and finds himself going on a journey with them.
"I studied philosophy at university and I chose this line of work because I like working with people. I've always wanted to help people and for me this work is about restoring people’s lives. “I deal with these cases every day and it really does make you appreciate what you’ve got."
Chris Kallis Solicitors has worked in the area of medical negligence, including claims regarding amputations, missed fractures, gynaecological injuries, birth defects, dental claims, misdiagnosis of cancer, orthopaedic injuries, hospital injuries and negligent prescription of medication.
"Medical negligence is a real issue and sadly a fact of modern life," says Abe.
"Of the cases we are dealing with, 40% today are medical negligence where four or five years ago this would have been 10%. We have more and more people coming to us. There’s more pressure on clinicians and when accidents happen in a medical setting, it can be catastrophic."
Source: https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/special-features/plymouth-student-left-paraplegic-after-3805609