Bruce Silvester

Ranked in Chambers UK as a prominent junior, and in Tier 1 by Legal 500 2020, Bruce undertakes all aspects of personal injury, health and safety and clinical negligence work and regularly appears for both claimant and defendant in the High Court. He is instructed as lone and led junior in matters concerning catastrophic injuries, brain and spine, and in multi-party cases.

Bruce lectures extensively in the field of Personal Injury litigation at professionally organised conferences: Euroform, Butterworths and Lloyds of London and Legal Network Television, as well as providing seminars as part of the in-house training programs of a number of firms of solicitors.

Notable Personal Injury cases

• SM v DHL Supply Chain Ltd (April 2021)
  

  Successful liability trial on behalf of Claimant who suffered traumatic brain injury after falling from the rear loading area of his employer’s lorry. Allegations of unsafe systems of work and inadequate training. [link to news item on website]

• TC v Global Travel– (March 2020)
  

  The Claimant suffered catastrophic spinal injuries when the coach she was travelling in left the carriageway in heavy rain and overturned. She is a T4/5 ASIA A paraplegic. Successfully applied for summary judgment against the First Defendant. Negotiated a settlement for £3.5m at Joint Settlement Meeting in March 2020. Acted throughout without leading counsel. Instructed by Philip Banks of Irwin Mitchell LLP, Birmingham.

• KW (Protected Party) v Ontime Logistics Limited– (January 2020)
  

  The Claimant sustained a severe traumatic brain injury with permanent brain damage. Bruce Silvester represented the Claimant throughout including the settlement meeting where a damages of £2,200,000 were negotiated. Instructed by Ian Cummings, New-Law, Cardiff.

• TG v Keltruck Limited– (December 2019)
  

  Claimant suffered a catastrophic injury to his right leg in an accident at work when a mechanical lift crushed it. He needed a fusion of the ankle and remains at lifetime risk of a below knee amputation. High value claim. The Claimant lost his career as a mechanical engineer and was limited to non-skilled labour. He requires lifetime help with heavier domestic duties and home maintenance. He requires single storey accommodation and an adapted vehicle. Bruce Silvester represented the Claimant throughout including the ‘Independent Evaluation’ where a substantial settlement was achieved. Instructed by Philip Edwards of Clarke Willmott.

• Asif Ahmed v Leon Maclean [2016] EWHC 2798 (QB)
  

  Successful in High Court liability trial on behalf of a solicitor who suffered catastrophic spinal injuries leading to paraplegia in a mountain biking accident when under instruction by the Defendant. Led by Frank Burton QC.

• RS v D - (June 2016)
  

  The Claimant was struck by the Defendant’s minibus and received a very severe brain injury – Glasgow Coma Score of 3/15 at the scene. He also suffered serious shoulder and leg injuries. Trial in June 2016 before Mr Justice Soole in which the court awarded a PPO of £160,000 pa for life plus a Lump Sum £2.5m. Led by Robert Glancy QC. Instructed by Philip Edwards of Clarke Willmott.

• Harris v Radford & Tesco Underwriting Ltd(July 2016)
  

  The Claimant suffered catastrophic spinal injuries in a collision with the Defendant’s car. Tetraplegia which is motor complete at C6 level. The claim proceeded to trial in August 2016, but settled at a Joint Settlement Meeting just before trial. The settlement negotiated by Bruce Silvester comprised a lump sum of £4,192,659.55 and an index linked PPO of £125,049 pa to age 60 and £175,000 for the remainder of the Claimant’s life. Instructed by Hilton Obrey at NewLaw solicitors.

• O’Mahoney v Stratton – (November 2015)
  

  The Claimant, a 25 year old Trooper in the Household Cavalry, was struck by the Defendant’s taxi as he stepped off the pavement near to Kensington Barracks. Almost fatal brain injuries – in a coma for 2 weeks. Liability was forcefully denied, but with the help of excellent expert accident reconstruction evidence secured liability of 1/3. The Defendant also disputed the value of the claim, but after a long negotiation at a joint settlement meeting with opposing counsel, managed to agree a valuation at 100% of £1.5m which the client was happy to accept. Instructed by Matthew Brown, Irwin Mitchell LLP and represented the Claimant at all stages without leading counsel.

• McIlhagga v. Majid – (December 2014)
  

  The Claimant suffered serious head and spinal injuries in a quad- bike accident. Following the Court of Appeal decision of Mitchell v. News Group Newspapers [2014] 1 WLR 795, the judge at first instance refused to give the Claimant relief from sanctions (for late service of her witness statements and expert’s report) and as the claim was hopeless without such evidence, he struck it out. Bruce Silvester was instructed by the insurers of the original solicitors to advise on the merits of an appeal, and to represent the Claimant on the appeal before Mr Justice Males in the High Court on 4th December 2014. The appeal was successful and this very significant claim was re-instated for assessment of damages.