Disability Accommodation Needs Reports
What does an Accommodation Expert do?
As Expert Witnesses we prepare reports that address the accommodation needs of people who may have suffered injury or trauma and who are seeking compensation through the Courts.
In doing so we are governed by the requirements of the Civil Procedure Rules which set out the duties of an Expert Witness, these are:
- to assist the Court
- to give an impartial opinion
- not to make a judgement which is for the Court
- to attend Court as a witness if required.
Although our cases are mainly in the United Kingdom, we have reported on cases as far afield as France, Spain, Italy as well as Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States of America. Areas of expertise include, inter alia:
- Hypoxic Brain Injuries including Cerebral Palsy
- Acquired Brain Injuries
- Persistent Vegetative State
- Wrongful Birth
- Spinal Injuries
- Severe Visual impairment
- Limb Amputations
- Catastrophic Injuries arising from Road Traffic Accidents.
As Accommodation Experts, we always endeavour to visit and meet the Claimant and if necessary a close relative, carer or guardian, to assess first-hand the scale and nature of their needs.
Our visit
During the visit we will interview the Claimant or, where appropriate, a close family relative, carer or guardian to help understand their needs in relation to their particular disability, personal circumstances, and details of their current and future accommodation needs, including the needs of other family members.
We will carry out a measured survey of the property when appropriate. To do this it will be necessary to access all areas, both within the property and outside. From the survey, a plan is produced for inclusion in the Accommodation report. This plan will help to demonstrate the challenges the Claimant may face in their home. We will also photograph the property. This is done to assist in the production of the plan and a number of photographs, normally a dozen or so, will be included in the report to help illustrate areas of the home. All information gathered during the visit is treated in the strictest confidence and disclosed only to the instructing solicitor.
Our report
Following the visit our expert will prepare an Accommodation Report.
This report will contain a description of the Claimant’s needs, using evidence taken from the reports of others, primarily any medical, care and occupational therapy reports which have been made available, as well as evidence gathered during the interview and home visit.
The report will also contain:
- A description of the current accommodation
- An audit of the current accommodation to determine if it has the potential to meet the Claimant’s requirements or a table of accommodation needs
- An opinion on potential solutions to address the Claimant’s accommodation requirements
- Details of the type of property, based on a search of currently available properties in the area
- An estimate of the cost of adapting and, if necessary, extending the property to include:
– Relocation Costs
– Any additional furnishings costs
– Any additional running and maintenance costs
– Any additional insurance and council tax costs
– A plan of the property where appropriate
– Photographs of the property
We will also identify any betterment costs arising out of the adaptation and extension of the future property, together with an estimate of the cost of removing any adaptations which would be likely to affect the market value of the property at the time of any future sale.
Following issue of the report, our Experts are well versed in contributing to Case Conferences, coordinating Joint Statements and, if necessary, are comfortable attending Court to give evidence.
After the case has settled or concluded we always destroy all paperwork arising from the case using a certified confidential shredding company.
