Personal Injury

Nia has a rapidly developing practice representing both Claimants and Defendants across the fast track, intermediate and multi-track. She is often instructed in claims involving road traffic accidents, employer’s liability, public liability, occupier’s liability, product liability, Highways Act 1980 and Qualified One-Way Costs Shifting (QOCS). Nia has significant experience in successfully defending Claimant’s against allegations of fundamental dishonesty.

In order to prepare Claimants and Defendants for the reality of trial, Nia values the importance of conducting client conferences. Nia uses conferences to explain the merits of the case and whether further steps could be taken to settle the case.  She communicates with clients with ease and quickly develops a good rapport with them. Nia always keeps an open line of communication with her instructing solicitors to discuss case strategy. Repeat instructions contribute significantly to the growth of Nia’s dynamic practice.

Nia’s practice also encompasses industrial disease, including Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) Military Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (M-NIHL) claims. She often represents clients in Cost Case Management Conferences (CCMCs) and applications. Nia is a member of the Government Legal Department’s (GLD) Junior Junior scheme.

Her recent trials and hearings involved:

• Successfully striking out the Defendant’s case and obtaining cost against them
• Successfully representing a Claimant in a noise-induced hearing loss claim involving a complex application to submit further Part 35 questions after the deadline
• Successfully representing the Defendant in obtaining further audiometry with CERA as well as making submissions which reduced the Claimant’s cost budget by approximately £29,000
• Successfully defeating the Claimant’s application to add the Proposed Second Defendant (PD2) to the proceedings in a claim valued up to £200,000 in which the Claimant alleged that they contracted Legionnaires’ disease – A central issue in the application was whether a TUPE transfer had occurred. Nia successfully persuaded the Judge that the legal and evidential non-existence of a TUPE transfer was directly relevant to both the necessity of adding PD2 to the proceedings and the limitation arguments advanced by C. Nia’s oral submissions were supported by her detailed and persuasive skeleton argument which assisted the Court in navigating the legal, procedural and limitation complexities.
• Successfully representing PD2 in their application to disapply QOCS in non-party and pre-action disclosure
• Successfully representing Claimants who have sustained injuries in road traffic accidents (including tinnitus, hearing loss and soft tissue injuries)
• Successfully representing Claimants in which Part 36 offers were beaten and additional damages and interest were awarded.
• Successfully representing four Claimants accused of fraud and fundamental dishonesty in a personal injury claim
• Successfully representing Claimants who have sustained injuries at work
• Successfully representing a Claimant who brought an action pursuant to the Highways Act 1980

Nia is thorough and adept with dealing with complex cases. She has expanded her practice to include cases on the multi-track including application hearings. These applications include:

• The addition of a party to the proceedings
• Section 33 of the Limitation Act 1980
• The inspection of property
• Pre-action disclosure

Nia also has a very busy paper-based practice. Her practice includes reviewing prospects of success, drafting advice on liability and quantum and drafting statements of case across the tracks. Nia has a timely turnaround of papers. She is always keen to discuss timelines with those instructing her in an effort to accommodate an urgent deadline.