Following a record year, specialist legal firm, Road Traffic Accident Law Scotland (RTALS) LLP, is expanding, with a series of new appointments and promotions.
Over the past 12 months, RTALS, which operates specialist services Motorcycle Law Scotland, Cycle Law Scotland and Pedestrian Law Scotland, has seen its case load rise 12 percent (45 percent over the past 24 months) and the number of current live cases is at its highest since the niche practice was established in 2013.
Forecasted damages recovered for clients this year will also be a record at £4.5m, bringing the total in damages recovered in the firm’s short history to nearly £12m.
Set up and run by Senior Partner Brenda Mitchell, a personal injury lawyer of over 30 years standing, staff now number ten, where just four years ago it was only Brenda and an assistant.
Brenda Mitchell - Senior Partner
Jodi Gordon - Associate Solicitor
Jodi Gordon has been promoted to Associate Solicitor. A further lawyer, Carrie Burrows joins RTALS from Thompsons Solicitors and the firm has recruited two trainees, Thomas Mitchell and Zara Jones.
Carrie Burrows - Solicitor
Thomas Mitchell - Trainee Solicitor
Zara Jones - Trainee Solicitor
Commenting on the success of the firm, Brenda Mitchell said:
“We pride ourselves in our specialist knowledge, not only of personal injury law, which goes without saying, but of our desire to look after vulnerable road users: motorcyclists, cyclists and pedestrians. The team are all personally - and for some, professionally - experienced in the world of two wheels. This not only gives us a formidable advantage that challenges our rivals, but it enriches our relationships with our clients and makes us passionate about our discipline.
“Our very first case epitomises our approach and our expertise. Adam Wagner suffered a below knee amputation in a motorcycle accident and was initially offered £9,000 by his previously instructed solicitor to re-fit his bathroom to accommodate his disability. Adam was 17 at the time of his accident and had his whole life ahead of him. He wanted to be a motor mechanic. We took on his case and fought for him to receive state-of-the art prosthetics so he could pursue his dreams like every young person should. We secured damages of nearly £350,000.
“The insight and empathy that we can bring to a case are fundamental to our success. Jodi has been with us for three years and has successfully handled numerous accident compensation claims. Carrie did her traineeship with us and returns with an additional two years’ experience of road traffic related cases under her belt. Thomas and Zara have been working with us on a part-time basis for the last two years of their undergraduate and post graduate studies and I’m thrilled to have them continue as l trainee solicitors.
“By offering a highly specialised legal service, we are a forward-looking firm, pioneering fresh approaches to help benefit our clients and our internal working practices. The firm is growing and with the expanded team we will maintain the high quality of service to our clients, for which we have become well known.”