Thompsons Solicitors has appointed former social worker Des O’Meara and solicitor Nicky White in an expansion of its specialist Serious Injuries Team in the North East and Cumbria.

The appointments bring added expertise to the unit, which has offices in Newcastle, South Shields and Middlesbrough, covering the entire North East and Cumbria.

Thompsons’ serious injury teams specialise in pursuing compensation for people with brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, serious burns, amputations and other catastrophic injuries.

30 years experience in assisting brain injury survivors

Des joins as a client support co-ordinator. He will work with families, carers and health professionals to ensure they have the correct support and care needed as their rehabilitation and legal case progresses.

A former social worker, he set up and managed the Northumberland Head Injuries Service, an innovative community brain injury service.

He has 30 years experience in assisting brain injury survivors, their families and carers to obtain information, advice and support in the community as well as assisting others with physical disabilities and serious injuries.

Des said: "I am delighted to be part of the serious injuries team at Thompsons Solicitors. In my role as client support co-ordinator I hope to assist with obtaining appropriate sources of support and working with appropriate health and social work teams and individuals to ensure that victims of serious injuries have their immediate needs met as soon as possible. I also hope to assist to identify areas of immediate need, and help with any problems and concerns that clients their loved ones or their carers may have “

Proud to be joining Thompsons' Serious Injuries Team

Nicky, 26, originally from County Durham, trained as a solicitor at Newcastle firm Dickinson Dees after completing her studies at Manchester and Northumbria Universities. She will be based in Thompsons’ Newcastle office.

She said: “I greatly respect the work that Thompsons does for people who have been in life-changing accidents to ensure they not only receive the compensation they need to access care, accommodation and treatment, but that they and their families are supported throughout the process. I am very proud to be joining the team.”

Des and Nicky have joined existing members of the Serious Injury Team Mick Laffey in Thompsons' South Shields office, and David Robinson and team head Andrew McDonald in the Middlesbrough office.

Thompsons have experience and understanding of Serious Injury Cases

The North East Serious Injuries Team has already dealt with a number of high profile cases including Mark Cook, 22, who received £2.5 million after being paralysed from the neck down after a road traffic accident.

Andrew McDonald, head of the Thompsons Serious Injuries Team in the North East and who represented Mark said:

“Our team has many years of specialist personal injury claims experience. They understand how complicated serious injury claims can be, but also understand how traumatic it can be for the client and will always deliver a service which is sympathetic, sensitive and respectful. With the expansion of our dedicated team we can provide our clients with added expertise within our centre of excellence.”