Coulthursts are delighted to announce that James Cracknell OBE, the British rower and double Olympic gold medallist, will be joining the Coulthursts team in an ambassadorial role, to help promote the work that the specialist UK law firm does to support the best possible outcomes for those affected by brain injury.
James, who sustained a traumatic brain injury (TBI) in 2010 during a cycling accident in the United States, will work with Coulthursts to highlight the unique services offered by the UK’s only legal firm dedicated exclusively to dealing with brain injury claims.
As well as offering first class legal support for those affected by TBI, the company also provides clients with a unique rehabilitation and support service, which can cover the costs of bespoke packages of rehabilitation, support, and care, providing early treatment so clients can start rebuilding their lives whilst pursuing a compensation claim.
In the course of his work with Coulthursts, James will be shown meeting with representatives from the company’s network of brain injury rehabilitation and specialist scanning services, to share information about the vital services available through Coulthursts.
Welcoming his appointment, James explains: “Following extensive consultation with Coulthursts Chairman Dr Richard Newland and MD Philip Coulthurst, I am delighted to be working with Coulthursts to help better inform others affected by brain injury about the options available to them from both a recovery and legal perspective.
“This is a highly specialised area and, with their expertise and knowledge in brain injury, I have been impressed by Coulthursts’ laser-focused approach to not only obtain the best possible legal outcome for their clients, but also the best possible recovery.
“In addition – and in spite of the fact that they offer such a specialist and tailored service – I have been impressed to learn how Coulthursts offer their services on a no win, no fee basis. In many cases they are also able to cover the cost of ongoing rehabilitation and medical support before any claim is settled.
“Coupled with their ability to offer the highly specialist legal support that those affected by brain injury need, this can be life changing and something that I wish had been available to me following my own accident,” adds James, who was only able to cover the costs of his own private rehabilitation programme once his claim for compensation had been settled.
James was attempting to cycle, run, and row from Los Angeles to New York for a charity challenge and endurance documentary in 2010 when he suffered a severe brain injury as he was hit from behind by a fuel truck traveling at high speed whilst he was cycling in Arizona.
Even though he was wearing a helmet, the effects of the collision involved an extended period of rehabilitation, and the effects of the accident on his life have been profound.
Despite this, James has defied medical opinion to continue achieving remarkable things following his accident, including completing a Masters degree in human evolution at Cambridge University and becoming the oldest competitor – and winner – of the Boat Race when he competed against Oxford in the annual blue riband event in 2019.
Proving what is possible both intellectually and physically following such a life-changing event, he has also continued his work as a TV presenter and commentator, including at this summer’s Olympic Games in Paris, and in 2021 he ran the London Marathon in under three hours.
“My family and I had to overcome so many challenges following my own accident, including tackling a complex legal case on both sides of the Atlantic and navigating the rehabilitation services that were only available to me on the NHS whilst we were waiting for compensation.
“Sustaining a brain injury is a devastating time for any family, leading to an inevitable, and often immediate, loss of learnings, whilst having to continue with life as best you can. So, to have a specialist support, rehabilitation and diagnosis network available, like that offered by Coulthursts, can be an essential element of the recovery process.”
Inspired by what he has learned during his time so far with Coulthursts, James will now appear in a series of videos that will be made available on Coulthursts’ website and social media channels from this autumn, including one detailing his own personal TBI journey, another in conversation with Dr Richard Newland and Philip Coulthurst, and films of his meetings with representatives from specialist brain scanners Innovision IP, rehabilitation experts Hobbs Rehabilitation, and the inspirational Jan Rock from the charity Matrix Neurological.
In 2010 – the same year as James’ own accident – Jan’s then 16-year-old son, Callum, sustained serious multiple trauma injuries following a climbing accident, including a severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). Consultants told her that her son had suffered the worst injuries they had ever seen. Yet, 14 years later, Callum is a healthy, lively and engaging man, aged 30, whose recovery and achievements – including successfully completing college in spite of medical advice that he would struggle to ever lead a normal adult life – are testimony to what is possible.
“It has been a real privilege to meet with this amazing group of people, who play such an integral role in the incredible network that Coulthursts has created,” adds James.
“My own experience was that the medical experts told me that my recovery point three years after my accident would be the best I could hope to achieve. But I am delighted to report that this was not the case, whilst Jan and Callum’s story is nothing short of inspiring.
“I can’t wait to help bring their story – and the experiences and advice of all the other people I have met through Coulthursts – to life on screen.”
Former GP and health entrepreneur Dr Newland, who along with brain injury solicitor Philip Coulthurst, established Coulthursts in 2019 to provide those affected by TBI with a groundbreaking rehabilitation and support and legal service, adds: “We are delighted to be working with James to bring the Coulthursts story to life, and to offer hope to the many thousands of people who are believed to sustain brain injuries in the UK each year. We are sure James’ work with us will inspire those affected by brain injury to realise that help is at hand and that, despite the often-devastating effects, recovery is possible if they can access both the right support and achieve the legal outcome they deserve.”
Philip Coulthurst adds: “As many as 1.4 million patients attend hospital each year following a head injury. As well as severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), sustaining a concussion, or mild TBI, can also have a profound impact on a person’s life, often leading to the need for ongoing medical treatment and a significant disruption to that person’s quality of life and earnings.
“In many of these cases, we can provide the rehabilitation and legal support needed to help people affected by TBI at the same time, and we look forward to working with James to spread the word about how Coulthursts can help those at all levels of the TBI spectrum.”
For further information and support email advice@coulthursts.co.uk
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