Deborah Bradley

Deborah has over thirty years’ experience in dealing with a wide range of motor, employer's liability and public liability claims for major insurers. She specialises, in catastrophic brain and spinal injury claims, amputations and other injuries of the utmost severity and provides policy advice in both motor and liability claims.  

Throughout her career, Deborah has worked primarily for major insurance companies and their insured in defending claims. She works closely with head office claims teams, corporate insured and brokers, tailoring the service provided to their particular requirements and the needs of the case.

She is widely recognised as one of the UK's leading catastrophic injury lawyers and heads up an experienced team dealing with large loss claims and providing a nationwide service.

Deborah is a nominated lawyer for AXA, AXA XL and Aviva.

Relevant experience includes:

• Settlement of a tetraplegic claim arising out of a road traffic accident, pleaded at approximately £10 million, for approximately half of that sum without recourse to court proceedings. The claimant successfully engaged in rehabilitation under the rehabilitation code and a collaborative approach was agreed. The case involved advising on indemnity issues relating to an alleged theft and the insurer’s RTA status; liability issues, relating to a failure to wear a seatbelt, and consideration of the merits of a PPO or a lump sum settlement where contributory negligence was an issue.  
• Settlement of an employer’s liability claim where the claimant underwent an above knee amputation of one leg and sustained multiple fractures of his other leg, leaving him wheelchair dependent. Early rehabilitation was agreed on a joint basis and the need for the claimant to move to single storey accommodation was identified. Instead of dealing with interim funding, a JSM was agreed. Questions had also arisen in relation to capacity. An appropriate, COP registered doctor was identified, an assessment was arranged and capacity was confirmed, allowing settlement just over ten months post injury. There were significant benefits for both parties by adopting a proactive approach.
• Settlement of a motor claim where the claimant sustained a severe brain injury, leaving him both cognitively and physically impaired and confined to a wheelchair. He required 24 hour care which, at the time of settlement was being provided in a residential facility funded by the local authority. His claim was pleaded in excess of £10,000,000 which provided for a 24 hour care regime in the community and adapted accommodation. Liability was in dispute and this raised questions about whether he would ever be able to afford to live in the community. The case was compromised at a settlement meeting, account being taken of liability issues and availability of statutory funding.
• Acted for insurers in the successful appeal to the Court of Appeal in Shinedean Ltd v Alldown Demolition (London) Ltd and AXA Insurance [2006] EWCA Civ 939.

Deborah is recognised as a leading practitioner in The Chambers and Partners UK Guide which reports that she advises an impressive client base of major insurers in connection with catastrophic spinal cord and brain injury cases, as well as amputation claims. She is often instructed to defend against high-value claims, offering specialist expertise in injuries as a result of RTAs, accidents at work and public liability claims. "Well thought of and liked by clients." "Very sensible and easy to work with."