Commenting on today’s landmark Court of Appeal judgment in Swift vs. Carpenter – which finally enables victims of serious injury to be properly compensated for new accommodation – Thompsons Solicitors’ head of serious injury, Samantha Hemsley, said:

“The court of appeal‘s clarification of the law in relation to accommodation claims for seriously injured clients is welcome.

“The overriding principle that claimants are entitled to fair and reasonable compensation for their injuries has been reaffirmed at last.

“Since 1989 the case of Roberts and Johnstone has created uncertainty and prevented claimants from securing funds from those who injured them for much needed accommodation. Roberts is no longer good law and this case means that victims of serious injury can focus on their rehabilitation journey without financial uncertainty hanging over them.

“Thompsons will now ensure that the principles of the Swift judgment are consistently applied so that insurers can no longer wriggle out of funding appropriate and necessary accommodation for the most seriously injured which for too long they have been able to do.”