Christopher Allen

Call 2012

allen@exchangechambers.co.uk

"Christopher is extremely knowledgeable, reliable, calm, and resourceful. He achieves excellent results and his advocacy is very strong."

The Legal 500 2024
Photo of Christopher Allen

Personal Injury

Chris practices exclusively in catastrophic / serious injury. His practice encompasses all means of drafting, advisory work and court appearances, and he has particularly adept at drafting large schedules of loss in cases involving spinal injuries, brain injuries, amputees, fatal accidents and otherwise catastrophic injuries including schedules exceeding £10 million. He drafts schedules in Word, Excel and via PI Calculator according to his instructing solicitor’s preference.

He is instructed as sole counsel in cases pleaded up to £2 million and often as led junior in cases worth in excess of £2 million. He has been involved in finalising multiple multi-million-pound settlements in the last year including a £19.5 million and £17.5 million settlement (see attached list of cases for examples). He appears frequently against Kings Counsel and has considerable experience in obtaining substantial interim payments after contested applications.

Significant areas of expertise are:

  • Catastrophic injuries – brain / spinal / amputees
  • Cases involving Fatal Accidents Act 1976 and Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1934
  • Military Claims including psychiatric injuries, NFCI and other very serious injuries
  • Interim payments
  • Costs inc. MOJ
  • Appeals

Chris is also regarded as a costs specialist who regularly achieves very favourable budgets at CCMC’s. He is regularly engaged in technical costs arguments including premature issue and/or unreasonable exit from the MOJ portal process as well as the application of the fixed cost regime particularly in cases which settle before allocation to the multi-track even if the settlement exceeds the fast-track limit. He has experience in making applications under CPR 45.29J. In addition, Chris is considered by many to be a specialist in dealing with technical arguments and preliminary issues such as abuse of process, limitation and insurance indemnity.

He has an extensive practice in military claims acting only for Claimants. He fully understands the nuances of the military structure, of establishing career projections and pension loss calculation. He has successfully settled many claims involving NCFI’s at joint settlement meetings and has experience of dealing with other very serious injuries involving military personnel.

Chris also regularly undertakes professional negligence actions for and against firms of solicitors who have been involved in alleged negligence arising out of personal-injury matters.

Chris is friendly and approachable. He encourages solicitors to contact him directly by telephone or email at all stages of litigation even before formal instructions have been sent. He maintains a comprehensive and updated database of experts and welcomes the opportunity to recommend suitable experts at an early stage.

Personal Injury Cases

JLM v KSR (2021) the Claimant was 7 years old when she was knocked down by the defendant in 2015. She suffered a very severe traumatic brain injury. Such is the severity of her injuries that she will require 24/7 live-in care with 2:1 daytime care and has no employment prospects. Case settled at a JSM for £19.5 million (£21.75 million gross of liability). Led by Bill Braithwaite KC;

CD v EF (2021) the Claimant was a minor at the time of the road traffic accident suffered serious brain injury and significant future needs. Case settled for a lump sum of £4.5 million plus PPO’s of £195,000 p/a which had a capitalized value of £17.5 million approved by Mr Justice Freedman. Led by Bill Braithwaite KC;

JGR v ERS (2023) – C was a young minor at the time of the accident sustained a very severe brain injury which requires adaptive accommodation. His legal team secured a place in a residential school where his educational and rehabilitation needs were met, and the Claimant thrived as a result. High Court approved settlement of £12.5 million on a lump sum basis. Led by William Waldron KC;

JH (1) JT (2) v SHH Limited (2016) – the claimants were pedestrians when the Defendant mounted the pavement and collided with a lamp post which landed on top of First Claimant resulting in a complete spinal cord injury at T4. The incident was witnessed by the Second Claimant who suffered a psychological injury. The First Claimant has a reduced life expectancy and required a specially adapted property and significant amounts of future care. Schedule pleaded at £9.5 million – settled at a JSM for a lump sum of £3m with a considerable PPO which had a capitalised value of circa £7.2 million. Led by Amanda Yip KC;

AB v XY (2019) cyclist v motorist collision leaving claimant with a very significant acquired brain injury. The claimant needs 24-hour care as well as considerable future therapies and the need for extensive adaptations to his property. Case settled at a JSM for a lump sum of £6.225 million approved by Mr Justice Jay. Led by Bill Braithwaite KC;

JD (1) ST (Deceased) (2) v MW (2022) – the claimants were involved in a much publicised incident whereby the defendant and the driver of another vehicle deliberately rammed the claimant’s vehicle off the road and into an adjacent building resulting in the death of the driver and catastrophic injuries to the front seat passenger. The defendant (and the driver of another vehicle) were convicted of causing death by dangerous driving and sentenced to 7 ½ and 6 ½ years respectively. The surviving claimant has been left with life changing injuries including a brain injury, serious internal injuries and has opted for an elective above the knee amputation of his injured leg. After commencement of proceedings an investigation concluded that failures with the treatment he received via the NHS resulted in the amputation being necessary and therefore the NHS have been brought into proceedings as a Defendant. Damages settled at £5 million. Led by Bill Braithwaite KC and Gerard Martin KC;

MF v JS (2020) the claimant suffered significant polytrauma injuries which has prevented any remunerative earning capacity and resulted in a lifelong need for care. Settlement at a JSM for £3.15 million. Led by William Waldron KC;

DB v SH (2022) the claimant was a motorcyclist who has overtaken a series of vehicles that were travelling in his direction when the defendant pulled out of a side road. Liability was disputed. Claimant had significant lower limbs injuries and required an elective above knee amputation. Settled for £2.6 million (circa £4 million gross). Led by William Waldron KC.

FR v AS (2020) the claimant was a motorcyclist involved in an RTA in October 2016 as a result the claimant suffered multiple severe orthopaedic injuries and he underwent a below knee amputation. Settled for £2.25 million. Led by William Waldron KC;

IH v AB (ongoing) the Claimant was a motorcyclist involved in an RTA in September 2017 resulting in below knee amputation. Case in its infancy but likely to be worth in excess of £2.5 million. Led by William Waldron KC;

JB v AB (2022) the Claimant sustained a spinal cord injury following an RTA. Although the Claimant had made a very impressive recovery the evidence suggested there would be a significant decline in her functionality and she would be wheelchair dependent in later life.  Case settled for £1.75 million at a JSM. Chris was sole counsel;

SC v AR (2018) the claimant was a 5-year-old pedestrian who was knocked down by the defendant in 2002. She was aged 20 at the date of the settlement. Liability had been compromised and approved at 35% in favour of the Claimant. She suffered significant a brain injury and required significant care. Litigation lasted 15 years during which time the claimant underwent a trial on independent living. Case settled at a JSM on a lump sum basis which was approved by the Court in the sum of £1.7 million net or £4.8 million gross of the split on liability. Led by Bill Braithwaite KC;

GK v NH (ongoing) the claimant suffered significant orthopaedic injuries as well as a severe brain injury following as RTA in May 2015. Claim pleaded at over £3.5 million. Led by Gerard Martin KC;

LA v AT (2022) – RTA claimant was riding a motorcycle at over 80 mph on a residential road subject to 30 mph speed limit when he collided with a motorist who was performing a turn in the road. The Claimant sustained catastrophic injuries including a very severe brain injury. Liability disputed in full and a defence of turpitude was raised. Listed for a liability trial in August 2022 but settled at a JSM for £1.45 million net. Led by Louis Browne KC.

SA v NP (2018) -RTA claimant was a 16-year-old schoolboy waiting at a bus stop when the defendant motorist lost control of his vehicle and collided with the claimant causing the most serious of orthopaedic injuries to both legs. Extensive surgery saved both limbs but there is a risk that the claimant will elect to have a limb amputated due to pain. His ability to work has been impaired. Settled at a JSM for £1.5 million with provisional damages in the event the risk of amputation materializes. Led by David Knifton KC;

WH v JM (2018) – pedestrian v motorist collision which left the claimant with a very severe traumatic brain injury. Contributory negligence a live issue due to allegations of intoxication also the claimant had a very chequered past with a history of working on the black economy. Case settled at a JSM for £1.35 million or £925,000 net of contributory negligence which was approved by the High Court. Led by William Waldron KC;

JC v PL (2021) – serious motorcycle accident resulting in limb threatening orthopedic injuries. Settled at JSM for £830,000;

JS v DR (2018) – serious motorcycle accident leaving the Claimant with permanent brain injuries. Claimant had pre-existing medical issues and the issue of capacity was very much borderline. HHJ Gosnell sitting as a High Court Judge approved settlement at £850,000;

TR v DL (2020) – Claimant in her mid 20’s suffered significant lower limb orthopaedic injuries with considerable scarring. Settled at a JSM in the sum of £750,000 net of CRU the settlement included a significant provision for cosmetic restoration sleeves to mitigate the effects of the scarring.

BM v NIG (2019) – Claimant was aged 13 when she was involved in serious accident on a school coach which resulted in a number of fatalities. The Claimant was left with significant injuries. Case settled at a JSM for £500,000;