Caroline Wood

Year of call:

1998 (Solicitor 2000)

Education:

University of Wolverhampton Law (LLb) Hons 2:1

Memberships:

1998 - Gray's Inn

Member of PIBA (Personal Injury Bar Association)

Caroline has specialised in disease claims for several years. She represents both Claimants and Defendants.

Solicitors have commented on her conscientious approach,

“For an instruction at short notice with disclosure, multiple witness accounts and the volume of information from the engineer and P35 Replies you were comfortably better than anyone else I’ve instructed in the last 12 months” (Deputy head of noise team)

She is regularly instructed in noise induced hearing loss claims and is fully familiar with both the CLB Guidelines 2000 and the LCB Guidelines 2015 and also calculation of the NIL.

She has experience of mesothelioma and HAVS claims up to and including trial. In addition to trials,  Caroline has appeared at numerous limitation hearings, including appeals. She attends CCMC’s on those claims allocated to the Multi – track. Caroline is familiar with the caselaw in support of Defendant’s obtaining their own medical evidence in claims allocated to the fast track. She drafts Part 35 questions to engineering and medical experts.

Disease claims often involve historic employment. Caroline has advised and appeared at numerous interim hearings concerning the identity of the correct defendant, issues arising from insolvency of the defendant and TUPE transfers.

Recent cases of interest:

HAVS trial: Due to a change of evidence from the Claimant both medical experts prepared an amended joint statement mid-trial. Experts agreed Claimant had constitutional Raynaud’s in relation to vascular symptoms. Claimant’s claim compromised following amended joint statement from experts on the basis of sensorineural symptoms being caused by vibration. Acting for Claimant.

Fatal Mesothelioma Claim: Issues of magnitude of asbestos exposure and whether any exposure would likely have caused a material increase in the risk of mesothelioma. Acting for Claimant. Claim settled shortly before trial.

Fast track NIHL claim, unusually involving a JSM between 2 defendants as to the identity of the correct defendant. Historic employment and TUPE transfer issues. Acting for Defendant.

Noise claim where NIL had been incorrectly calculated by the engineer, as a consequence  of which it appeared that R2a was not satisfied. Drafted Part 35 questions. Answers confirmed R2a was satisfied on the Claimant’s evidence and the claim was settled the day before trial. Acting for Claimant.

Occupational Asthma claim, exposure to rubber fumes,  settled for £40,000. Acting for Claimant.

Lectures

  • Caroline provides seminars to solicitors both in chambers and on request at solicitors offices.
  • Recent seminars include:
  • Future loss of earnings claims;
  • An introduction to noise induced hearing loss;
  • Secondary Victim claims.

Professional memberships.

Caroline is a member of PIBA and regularly attends the PIBA Annual Conference and the Northern Circuit seminars.

Public Access

Caroline Wood may accept Public Access work, where she can be instructed directly by a member of the public rather than a solicitor.

Contact Caroline’s clerks

Senior Clerk – Andy Reeves on 0113 213 5252

Talia Webster on 0113 202 8609

Joshua Duree on 0113 213 5246

Mike Alexander on 0113 2135268

Ben Ellison-Tope on 0113 2135207