glossary
- anoxia -
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Lack of oxygen supply to the brain (also called
- amnesia -
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Partial or total loss of the ability to remember things. May be retrograde (inability to remember before the injury) or anterograde (cannot remember after the injury).
- amputation -
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The intentional surgical removal of a limb or body part. It is performed to remove diseased tissue, irreperably damaged limbs and/or pain.
- aneurism -
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A balloon like deformity in the wall of a blood vessel. This may eventually burst, causing a haemorrhage.
- angiogram -
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This is an x-ray used to make pictures of blood vessels. It is a common test for neurological conditions.
- annuity -
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A policy purchased with a
- aphasia -
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May be 'expressive' (inability to express oneself clearly in speech) or 'receptive' (inability to understand what is said).
- apraxia -
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Inability to plan and perform purposeful movement – whilst still having the ability to move and be aware of movement.
- ataxia -
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Abnormal and unsteady movements due to the loss in co–ordination of the muscles.
- asset management -
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the investment of large sums of money, normally in stocks and shares or other interest bearing accounts for the purpose of either producing an income or growing the original capital sum or a mixture of both. Clarke Willmott’s
- blood clots -
-
see
- brachial plexus -
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A network of nerves arising from the base of the neck that supply the shoulder, arm and hand. Damage to these nerves can lead to complete loss of use of the limb.
- brain injury -
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The brain is the highly developed mass of nervous tissue that forms the upper end of the central nervous system and sits in the skull. Injury to the brain can be caused through an accident or as a consequence of disease. The complexity of brain function means that the effect of an injury or illness can be very difficult to predict. Accidental injury includes such things as concussion or bruising to the brain, whereas a more serious injury might cause a fracture of the skull leading to physical damage to the underlying tissue.
- carer's assessment -
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The assessment undertaken by social services to assess the needs of a person caring for a person.
- care packages -
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A term used to describe the mix of case manager, occupational therapists, nurses and domestic carers employed to assist an injured client. Care packages are normally tailored to the specific needs of an injured person. The package might change according to changes in need and will normally be set up following a very full assessment of those needs by the case manager and the production of a
- care regime -
-
see care package.
- care plan -
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The written description of the proposed care package necessary to meet the individuals needs. A
- case managers -
-
In claims involving very serious injury your solicitor will often appoint a case manager to help coordinate the
- CSF - Cererbrospinal Fluid
-
Clear, colourless fluid in the spaces inside and around the brain and spinal cord.
- civil claim -
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Civil claims arise from disputes between individuals or companies which are resolved by the Courts. For example, somebody injured in a road accident may bring a claim for compensation against the individual who caused the accident. Such claims are dealt with by the Civil Courts as opposed to criminal matters such as drink-driving, theft, assault etc which are dealt with by the criminal courts.
- closed head injury -
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This is damage to the brain in which there is no penetration through the scalp or skull to the brain tissue itself. It is often caused when the brain is thrown forwards or backwards or rotated sharply within the skull.
- cognition -
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General term used to cover all areas of intellectual functioning. Includes skills such as thinking, remembering, planning, understanding, concentrating and using language.
- coma -
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State of unconsciousness. Depth of coma is measured by Glasgow Coma Scale.
- common law duty -
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Civil and criminal law is divided into that which arises from specific legislation, such as the Road Traffic Act 1988, and law that has arisen from the decisions of the courts over time. This latter type is known as the common law. Under the common law certain people owe a duty to others. For example, those who drive on the road owe a duty to other road users not to drive in a way that might cause injury to others. See also
- community care assessment -
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An assessment under Section 47 of the National Health Service and Community Care Act. The assessment will normally be undertaken by the Social Services. The purpose of the assessment is to decide which services the local authority provide are needed by the person being assessed. This normally relates to the provision of care and accommodation.
- community nurses -
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Nurses who offer a range of nursing services within your own home. They may include districe nurses, health visitors, community paedriatic nurses, palliative care and other specialist nurses. They can be contacted through your GP.
- community rehabilitation services -
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Rehabilitation services that are based in the community rather than a hospital.
- conditional fee agreement -
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Agreements between a solicitor and client relating to the payment of the solicitors costs. The agreement will normally provide that the solicitor will work without payment from the client unless the solicitor is successful in recovering compensation for the client. At this point the solicitor would normally recover his fees from the losing party together with an additional ‘success fee’ for taking the risk of acting without payment in the first place. These agreements are often called
- congential -
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A description of a condition that is present from birth.
- contractures -
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Stiffness and resistance to stretching in joints and muscles which are not used regularly.
- contracoup -
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Bruising of brain tissue on the opposite side to where the blow was struck.
- contributory negligence -
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Claims for compensation normally rely on the common law of
- contusion -
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A bruise caused by a blow with a blunt object.
- coroner -
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Coroners are appointed by the Lord Chancellor’s department. Their main function is to hold inquests into violent, unnatural, sudden or unexpected deaths. Coroners are appointed to deal with specific parts of the country.
- Court of Appeal -
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The
- Court of Protection -
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That part of the Court system is responsible for dealing with the affairs of those people who cannot make decisions for themselves. See also
- craniotomy -
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Operation to open the skull.
- criminal investigation -
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The investigation of criminal activity is conducted by the police. Criminal activity can relate to road use such as speeding or drink driving or to matters such as theft, assault, fraud etc. When the police have concluded their investigation a decision on whether to charge somebody with a criminal offence will often be made by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) having considered the evidence produced by the police.
- CAT Scan - Computerised Axial Tomography
-
A series of X-rays taken of different levels of the brain. Used to identify bruising and clots on the brain.
- damages -
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The term damages is normally used to refer to compensation that a person is entitled to receive. It is often divided between general damages for the injury suffered, and special damages, which are the other financial losses and expenses that relate to the accident and injury.
- deputy -
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Under the Mental Capacity Act 2005, which came into full effect in October 2005, the role of Receiver will disappear and be replaced by role of Deputy. A deputy will be appointed by the
- diagnosis -
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The identification of an illness taking into account your symptoms, medical history and the results of any tests.
- dietician -
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Health professional who provide advice on speacilaist diets, weight loss and gain, and the nutrition requirements of adults and children. They promote food health by helping you to make positive changes in food choices. Referral can be thorugh your GP,. speacialist or through your social services department.
- diffuse axonal injury -
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Widespread tearing of nerve fibres across the whole of the brain.
- direct payments -
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A Social Services department having completed a
- disability empluyment advisers -
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Civil servants who procvide specialist advice and support on all aspects of disability and employment.
- disinhibition -
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Difficulty in controlling urges and impulses to speak, act or show emotions.
- dysarthia -
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Difficulty in speaking, due to weakness and lack of co-ordination of the muscles used for speech.
- dysgraphia -
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Difficulty in writing.
- dysphagia -
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Difficulty in swallowing.
- dysphasia -
-
May be either expressive (difficulty in expressing oneself in speech), or receptive (difficulty in understanding what is being said).
- dyspraxia -
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Difficulty in planning and performing purposeful movements (whilst still having the ability to move and be aware of movements).
- dystonia -
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Abnormal muscle tone.
- epilepsy -
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Abnormal electrical discharge in the brain. Involves seizures or fits affecting parts of, or all of, the body.
- executive functions -
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Planning, organising, problem solving, sequencing, self-monitoring and controlling behaviour.
- fatal accidents -
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An accident causing the death of one or more of those involved.
- funding -
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This term is normally used to refer to the method by which a solicitor's costs are to be paid. For example, funding by a
- future loss -
-
Claims for
- geneticists -
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Doctors who can explain the genetic cause of your condition and advise you about the hereditary implications.
- haematoma -
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The collection of blood in pools or clots. This forms a swelling, which compresses the brain around it.
- HSE - Health and Safety Executive
-
This is the Government body responsible for ensuring compliance with health and safety at work law and regulations. HSE inspectors have powers similar to police officers to enter work premises and interview members of staff. They will often conduct an investigation following an accident at work and if they consider that there has been a breach of health and safety law they can bring criminal charges against either the company or an individual. For certain types of business, such as offices and shops, this power is delegated to the Environmental Health Department of the local council. Environmental Health Inspectors perform a similar function.
- hemiparesis -
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Weakness if one side of the body.
- hemiplegia -
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Paralysis of one side of the body.
- House of Lords -
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The most senior Court in the country whose decisions are binding on all other Courts.
- hydrocephalus -
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Build-up of fluid in the spaces inside and around the brain, which can cause injury to the brain.
- hypoxia -
-
See
- immediate needs assessment -
-
In a case of serious injury one of the first tasks your solicitor will perform is to obtain the agreement of the other parties insurance company to pay for an
- infarct -
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Area where brain cells have died as a result of loss of blood supply.
- inflation -
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The periodic rise in prices. This is measured in a number of different ways - commonly the retail price index which measures increases over a wide variety of goods and services; or the average earnings index, which is limited to increases in wages; or the annual survey of hours and earnings, which breaks down wage increases between various job types. These measures are important in calculating the likely cost of, for example, future nursing care.
- interim payments -
-
In claims for compensation it is often possible to secure a payment of part of the award prior to the final settlement of the claim. These payments are generally called
- intracranial -
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Inside the skull.
- inquest -
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A type of court hearing. The specific purpose of which is to decide who a deceased person was, and how, where and when they came by their death. An inquest is presided over by a Coroner. The Coroner is specifically prevented from expressing any opinion relating to any potential civil or criminal liability for the death.
- legal expenses insurance -
-
A policy of
- loss of earnings -
-
When somebody is injured they are often unable to work while they recover from their injuries. If the injury is serious they may never return to their pre accident employment or perhaps never be fit for any sort of paid work again. As a consequence of any of these situations the injured person will suffer a
- lump sum -
-
Compensation is commonly paid by way of a single
- MRI Scanner - Magnetic Resonance Imaging Scanner
-
A scanning machine that enables highly detailed pictures of the brain to be taken. MRI uses a strong magnet rather than X-rays.
- medical experts -
-
Following serious injury the individual will be admitted to hospital under the care of a consultant relevant to the type of injury. On discharge from hospital medical care will often continue to be provided via the hospital outpatients department and/or GP. The written records produced during treatment are important evidence of the nature and extent of an injury, however, in order to prove the existence and extent of an injury your solicitor will need to instruct an independent medical expert. This would not be the same person who provided the treatment in hospital. In serious injury cases often more than one expert is instructed and they may well be asked to produce more than one report if recovery takes a long time. A medical expert will examine the injured person, consider the medical records and then produce a written report. The written report will stand as evidence in the claim. Getting the right
- monthly payments -
-
see
- multiple fractures -
-
People involved in high impact incidents often suffer a number of broken bones over widespread parts of the body. When taken individually these might be unpleasant, but not catastrophic or life threatening. When taken together they can be both of those. This type of injury is referred to as ‘
- negligence -
-
A breach of the
- neurologists -
-
Doctors who specialise in conditions of the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves and muscles.
- neurophysiotherapists -
-
Physiotherapists who speacialise in working with people with neurological conditions.
- neurosurgeons -
-
Doctors who specialise in the surgical treatment of the brain, spinal cord and peripheral nerves.
- no win no fee agreements -
- oedema -
-
Excess fluid in tissues, causing swelling.
- open head injury -
-
An injury where the skull is broken open by a blow to the head.
- Opthalmologists -
-
Doctors who specialise in eye conditions.
- Orthosis -
-
This is a device fitted to a part of the body in order to improve its function or reduce pain.
- PALS -
-
This stands for Patient Advice and Liaison Service. All trusts running hospitals, GP practi ces and community health services have a PALS. The service is available to all
- patients -
-
Somebody who has suffered an injury. Such people are often referred to as patients. Their affairs are dealt with by the
- pension claims -
-
If an injured person is unable to work, either permanently or over a limited period, then there is a possibility that they might not only lose wages but also suffer a loss of pension entitlement. It will be necessary to look at the pension arrangements and contact the pension company to ascertain and calculate any potential loss.
- periodic payments -
-
The Courts have the power when making an award of compensation to direct that some of the award be paid not as a single
- perseveration -
-
Involuntary prolonged repetition of words or actions.
- police investigation -
- PTA - Post Traumatic Amnesia
-
The period after being unconscious when there may be confused behaviour and inability to remember continuous events.
- prosthetists -
-
Health professionals who are responsible for the assesssing, measuring, design, fit supply and review of prostheses.
- proprioception -
-
Perception of the position and movement of body, limbs and head.
- public funding of care -
-
Following a
- prosthesis -
-
A specially manufactured replacement for a part of the body.
- PGO - Public Guardianship Office
-
The administrative branch of the
- receiver -
-
When somebody has suffered injury (typically a
- rehabilitation process -
-
Following a serious injury initial medical care will be provided by the hospital. Once discharged from hospital, however, the injured person will very often have an ongoing need for treatment or therapy to assist them in making the fullest recovery possible. This work is often done by occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, physiotherapists and neuro psychologists, etc. This part of a person’s treatment is often referred to as the
- structured settlements -
-
This is a type of award of compensation where the money is in part paid by way of a
- rehabilitation protocol -
-
Following the start of a claim for compensation following a serious injury your solicitor will often arrange for an
- shunt -
-
Device to remove excess fluid or divert blood.
- skull fractures -
-
May be either a compound fracture (a crack in the skull) or a depressed fracture (in which bone fragments are pushed inwards into the skull).
- spasticity -
-
An involuntary increase in muscle tone (tension).
- statutory duty -
-
In the same way that the common law can impose a duty, a similar type of duty can be imposed by an Act of Parliament, otherwise known as legislation. For example, to drive in excess of the prescribed speed limit would be a breach of this
- statutory care provision -
-
Following a
- tracheostomy -
-
An operation to open up blocked airways by cutting through the neck and inserting a plastic tube in to the windpipe.
- traumatic amputation -
-
This phrase is normally used to describe the
- trust -
-
On settlement of a claim for compensation the injured party will often receive a
- ventilator -
-
Also called a respirator. A machine that pumps oxygen-enriched air into the lungs when they are not working efficiently; this encourages quiet breathing and creates the best conditions for healing the brain.
- ventricle -
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A cavity in the brain that makes and contains cerebrospinal fluid.