Slater and Gordon increases bespoke support for clients after serious injury

Caroline Wareing has lived with paralysis and used a wheelchair for the past 16 years, since being injured while horse riding, and has joined Slater and Gordon to help clients and their families negotiate their lives after serious injury.

Since her injury, Caroline has dedicated herself to living her life to its fullest potential. As well as competing for the GB Paracycling team, Caroline also set the Guiness World Record in 2017 for being the fastest female to cycle from Land’s End to John o’Groats using only her arms.

She has also volunteered extensively for charities which support people after life-changing injury, including the Spinal Injuries Association and BackUp Trust, working directly with families to help answer their questions and concerns based on her lived experience of SCI and disability.

Now, in her role as a Relationship Manager at Slater and Gordon, Caroline is able to continue to build the law firm’s support of its clients further through being by their sides from the earliest days post-injury, signposting to charities and answering key questions and concerns based on her own experience.

“When I was first injured, I was lucky to meet a lady who had sustained a similar injury two years before. Her advice was invaluable to me and knowing I could pick up the phone and chat or ask a question made a huge difference. I have never forgotten how important that was,” says Caroline, who is also a non-practicing personal injury lawyer.

“Peer support, and support for families too, can be hugely important when something happens that turns your world upside down – while it may feel like the end of the world, that doesn’t have to be the case. Over the years, I have learned that you can do all the things you want to, just sometimes in a different way, and this is something I really want others to realise.

“I have really enjoyed supporting families as they learn to adjust and I am delighted my new role at Slater and Gordon will enable me to continue this. Whether people want advice on choosing a wheelchair or travel or returning to family life after an injury, these are very real questions that it’s sometimes tricky to know who to ask – but that is where I can hopefully make a difference.

“Slater and Gordon is a hugely respected name in both clinical negligence and serious injury work, and is known for the excellent support it gives to those dealing with serious injury in rebuilding their lives. I am very much looking forward to working with the team to add even more support to clients and their families.”

Emma Doughty, Head of Clinical Negligence at Slater and Gordon, adds: “Caroline has the lived experience of experiencing life-changing injury that is impossible to understand unless you have been in this position – and from the impossibly difficult reality she faced, has rebuilt her life in a truly amazing way.

“With her zest for life, and positive and empathetic nature, Caroline will be able to support our clients and their families from the very earliest days post-injury, answering their questions and giving them invaluable insight. We are delighted to welcome her to our team.”

To get in touch with Caroline, contact her on caroline.wareing@slatergordon.uk

For information about Slater and Gordon, visit www.slatergordon.uk