James Aldridge specialises in personal injury, clinical negligence, and professional negligence in relation to the handling of litigation in those areas.

His practice is fairly evenly split between claimant and defendant in personal injury work, and he acts mainly, but not exclusively, for claimants in clinical negligence cases.

He undertakes the full range of work within these areas including cases of catastrophic injury. For example, James recently concluded cases for Claimants include settlements in fatal, traumatic brain injury and cerebral palsy cases.

He also frequently represents insurers of Defendants in claims relating to public and employer’s liability.

Expertise

James Aldridge has been practising in this area for more than 25 years. His clinical negligence experience encompasses the full range of injuries. Recent cases include; wrongful birth, neonatal injury resulting in cerebral palsy, surgical injury, and delay in cancer diagnosis.

Notable Clinical Negligence cases


B v City Hospital Sunderland: [2021]

Complex case in which liability and quantum were in dispute; delay in diagnosis and treatment of stricture and an anastomotic leak after reversal of ileostomy; causing permanent stoma uretero-rectal fistula, renal failure, urinary stents, chronic urosepsis, and an umbilical hernia; acceleration of end-stage renal failure and reduced life expectation. Settled at roundtable meeting.

H v Nottingham [2021]

A wrongful birth claim concerning counselling in relation to false negatives on testing for cystic fibrosis gene; liability and quantum in dispute. Settled at mediation.

F v Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust [2021]

Liability and quantum in dispute, as well as limitation issues. Breaches of duty going back to 1996 with failure to detect visual field abnormality, consequential failure to diagnose a dermoid cyst compressing the optic nerves and consequent serious visual impairment; further breaches of duty after 2000 in monitoring for further deterioration from recurring tumour, leading to blindness in 2014. Settled shortly after mediation.

L v South Western Ambulance Service [2021]

Breach of duty and causation in issue: delay in getting to treatment for subdural haematoma, causing cognitive and visual impairments. Settled and approved.

F v Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals Trust [2021]

Birth injury involving brachial plexus injury after shoulder dystocia: liability in dispute and compromised; quantum approved April 2021. Settled and approved.

C v The Secretary of State for Health [2021]

Delay in treatment of infection with broad-spectrum antibiotics, which led to development of pneumococcal meningitis and endocarditis; diffuse cortical brain injury and polyneuropathy with bilateral upper and lower limb weakness and severely affected mobility. Settled and approved.

C v Durham

Acting for C’s widow a claim under the Fatal Accidents Act for causing the death of C from pulmonary embolism by failing to treat with an IVC filter and/or thrombolysis. The judge found for C on trial of liability in January 2015. Quantum settled in November 2015.

K v Basildon

Acting for K in a claim arising from surgical negligence relating to damage to the recurrent laryngeal nerve during the course of a left internal carotid artery endarterectomy. The judge found for K on trial of liability in May 2015.

L v City Hospitals Sunderland

Acting for L in a claim for delay in decompressing spinal haematoma leading to tetraplegia. Liability admitted and settled in October 2015.

W v Atkins

Acting for W in a claim for late diagnosis of breast cancer. W had pre-existing weakness in right arm due to childhood polio. Cancer treatment due to breach of duty caused lymphedema in left arm, which could not be overused for fear of aggravating the condition. Settled in November 2015 for a sum that reflected the bilateral restrictions of the upper limbs.

James Aldridge acts for both claimants and defendants in road traffic, occupiers’ liability and employer’s liability claims.

Notable Personal Injury cases


L v Ministry of Defence [2021]

Significant damages agreed arising from ankle injury affecting career in army. Settled at roundtable meeting.

Kirby v Ageas [2021] 6 WLUK 413 Newcastle District Registry

Trial of liability; acting for motorcycle pillion passenger in brain injury case. Quantum ongoing.

C v Daley [2021]

Acting for motorcyclist, then aged 16, in collision with a car; brain injury and psychological sequelae; dispute as to capacity; dispute as to degree of contributory negligence. Settled shortly after joint settlement meeting.

V v Horndean

Acting for Defendant in repetitive strain injury case relating to back and shoulder injuries from changing tyres on heavy vehicles. Settled.

P v Fagg

Acting for P in claim for traumatic brain injury after being run over on pedestrian crossing. P was a property developer and much evidence related to his loss of profits due to inability to carry on with this work. Settled in December 2015.

G v Cooper

Acting for G (with leading counsel) in a claim relating to an RTA causing spinal injury and paraplegia. Liability admitted. Settled in November 2015.

C v M&S

Acting for Defendant in employee’s claim for spinal injury resulting from collapse of food trays onto her during delivery operations. Significant issues on causation. Successful part 20 claim against delivery company. Settled in May 2015.

F v M&S

Acting for Defendant in employee’s claim for an ankle fracture at work leading to complex regional pain syndrome. Issues in relation to causation of care and loss of earnings claims because of collateral upper limb symptoms. Settled in 2015.

James Aldridge acts in professional negligence claims relating to the conduct of personal injury and clinical negligence litigation.

Notable Professional Negligence cases


P v S (ongoing)

Claim against solicitor for negligent conduct of claim relating to negligent diagnosis and treatment of meningococcal septicaemia.

Related updates

James Aldridge is regulated by the Bar Standards Board (BSB) and holds a current practising certificate. If you are not satisfied with the service provided, please click here.

“James Aldridge is excellent in all areas and provides excellent and efficient service. I have no hesitation in recommending him in the fields of personal injury and clinical negligence.”

Client Testimonial, 2023

"He has a wealth of experience and thinks on his feet."; "James is a really solid, safe pair of hands who you can trust on tricky matters."

Personal Injury, Chambers & Partners 2024

"He is fantastic with clients, particularly those who are nervous, and is extremely approachable and easy to work with."; "He's very analytical and he's able to cut through competing medical theories and see what the main arguments are. He is able to marshal a lot of expert evidence quickly."; "James is insightful, meticulous in preparation, knowledgeable about clinical negligence cases."

Clinical Negligence, Chambers & Partners 2024

'James is really good, very able and can be trusted in a big negotiation.’

Clinical Negligence, Legal 500,2024

“James is highly intelligent, well organised, and his grasp of medical evidence is highly impressive.”

Personal Injury, Chambers and Partners 2023

“His grasp of medical matters is highly impressive.”

Clinical Negligence, Chambers and Partners 2023

“His speed of thought and ability to advise on complex matters is exceptional.”

Clinical Negligence, Chambers and Partners 2023

“James puts clients and experts at ease.”

Clinical Negligence, Chambers and Partners 2023

"James is able to absorb and analyse complex medical and legal issues."

Clinical Negligence, Legal 500 2023

"Meticulously well-prepared, he provides very sensible, measured advice."

Personal injury, Legal 500 2022

"A superb advocate and a formidable opponent. He has a very calm and commanding court style."

Clinical Negligence, Legal 500 2022

"A superb advocate and a formidable opponent. He has a very calm and commanding style in court."

Personal Injury, Chambers & Partners 2021

"He is remarkably thorough and very clever."

Personal Injury, Chambers & Partners 2021

"Superb with clients and very tactically astute."

Clinical Negligence, Chambers & Partners 2021

"He is always well prepared and is a very strong advocate & he's clearly very passionate."

Clinical Negligence, Chambers & Partners 2021

"An unflappable barrister and superb advocate who acts with great sensitivity with vulnerable clients."

Personal Injury, Legal 500 2021

"A superb advocate and a formidable opponent who has a very calm and commanding style in court."

Clinical Negligence, Legal 500 2021

"He's exceptionally good with clients and is always extremely well prepared."

Personal Injury, Chambers & Partners 2020

"A very persuasive advocate."

Personal Injury, Chambers & Partners 2020

"He's brilliant with clients, explains the issues clearly and thoroughly and is extremely friendly and approachable."

Clinical Negligence, Chambers & Partners 2020

"He is incredibly meticulous and thorough in his work."

Clinical Negligence, Chambers & Partners 2020

"He is an outstanding advocate with an intelligent and pragmatic approach."

Clinical Negligence, Legal 500 2020

"He is unflappable and acts with great sensitivity with vulnerable clients."

Personal Injury, Legal 500 2020

A superb advocate.

Personal Injury, Legal 500 2019

Outstanding attention to detail and very knowledgeable.

Clinical Negligence, Chambers & Partners 2018

"Sensible, approachable and responsive."

Personal Injury, Chambers & Partners 2018

Very logical and clear-thinking, and a very skilled communicator. He is able to marshal experts from different areas and pull it all together with a minimum of fuss.

Personal Injury, Chambers & Partners 2018

An outstanding advocate.

Personal Injury, Legal 500 2017

He has vast experience in clinical negligence and is good with clients.

Clinical Negligence, Legal 500 2017

"Performs well in complex matters; he quickly gets to grips with issues and is good to work with."

Personal Injury, Chambers & Partners 2017

"Hard-working and extremely thorough, he is excellent at managing experts and clients alike."

Clinical Negligence, Chambers & Partners 2017

"Pragmatic and approachable, he has particular expertise in fatal claims."

Clinical Negligence, Chambers & Partners 2017

"He is very pragmatic in his handling of cases, and has a high level of client care."

Personal Injury, Legal 500 2016

"Fiendishly clever, modest, and calm under pressure."

Clinical Negligence, Legal 500 2016

"He is excellent with clients and very helpful. He is not just interested in the law but in how we can help the client."

Clinical Negligence, Chambers & Partners 2016

"He brings added value to cases; he is very forensic in his work, he does strong preparation, he keeps to the deadlines and he is excellent for his clients."

Personal Injury, Chambers & Partners 2016

"Very nice, very good and very fair." "He's extremely analytical and great for complex cases."

Clinical Negligence, Chambers & Partners 2015

"He's very consistent and really well prepared. He takes an intelligent approach to cases and he's very thorough."

Personal Injury, Chambers & Partners 2019

"He is a solid pair of hands, offers good client care and is excellent at providing documentation on time."

Personal Injury, Chambers & Partners 2019

"Thorough and conscientious." "Very approachable." "Great to work with."

Clinical Negligence, Chambers & Partners 2019

To find out more, contact Paul Barton on +44 (0)20 7427 4907 or Chris Rowe on +44 (0)20 7427 4911 for a confidential discussion.

Our dedicated practice management team can help you identify the right barrister for your case.

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