3PB

Personal injury and clinical negligence.

Overview

Sharan Sanghera acts for both claimants and defendants in personal injury and clinical negligence claims. She holds particular expertise in insurance fraud litigation, representing defendants in claims where allegations of dishonesty arise.

Sharan also manages a busy paperwork practice and is happy to undertake work on a CFA basis in personal injury and clinical negligence claims where appropriate.

Sharan’s approachability, efficiency and client care make her a favourite with clients.

Personal Injury

Fraud work

Sharan has vast trial experience of claims involving fraud including layering claims. She has acted for defendants regularly in cases where there are concerns involving additional key players in litigation. She understands that often there is a “bigger picture” which goes beyond one particular case and is happy to work alongside firms developing strategies to combat linked dishonest claims.

Sharan has frequently cross examined experts whose reports are challenged on the basis that they are unreliable. This has led to several dismissals and findings having been made in relation to the poor quality of the expert’s evidence. She has particular experience of defending such claims in which psychological injuries are pursued.

Sharan has acted in multiple trials at which findings of FD have been secured against claimants with consequent costs orders following i.e. QOCS protection being removed including the following:

• Dismissal of a claim with findings of FD were made in C’s absence. C’s expert was cross-examined with the Court finding that the expert’s evidence did not stand up “to the most superficial analysis”
• Psychological injury element of a claim dismissed where the expert, who attended trial for cross examination, was found to have been “an unsatisfactory witness”
• Claim dismissed with findings of FD and an order made for the CHO to be brought into proceedings in respect of costs
• Multiple findings of FD made against claimants involved in RTCs along with consequent enforceable costs orders

Non-fraud work

Sharan represents claimants in multi-track claims where injuries are permanent and life-changing. She enjoys being involved in a claim from the early stages of settling pleadings and advising on evidence through to trial.

Within the claimant work that she undertakes she has a particular interest in employer’s liability and occupier’s liability claims. Sharan has been successful in settling many claims involving complex loss of earnings claims on behalf of self-employed persons or claimants who were in partnership prior to injury.

More recently, Sharan has advised and assisted in the following claims:

• C injured while using angle grinder causing metal fragments to enter his eyes leaving him with corneal scarring and photophobia
• C suffered a Lisfranc fracture leaving her with ongoing permanent difficulties with walking and which affected her ability to manage her business. D denied liability and surveillance footage was obtained but the claim was ultimately settled favourably.
• C developed a PTSD when involved in a RTC in which a motorcyclist was fatally injured
• C, a cyclist was left with permanent symptoms when involved in an RTC with a car
• C was injured when, as a minor, he fell through the ceiling of a derelict building. The case was further complicated by reasons of capacity and pre-existing vulnerabilities.

In addition, Sharan has represented clients appealing CICA decisions with good success.

Clinical Negligence

Sharan undertakes a variety of clinical negligence work including dental, GP and hospital treatment. She acts for both claimants and defendants from inception of the claim to trial.

Sharan is often in instructed to undertake conferences with claimants and experts with a view to exploring prospects of success at the early stage of a claim. While understanding of client perspectives she is exceptionally well versed in cutting through the issues and imparting objective advice with care and diplomacy.

Recently Sharan has advised and assisted in the following claims:

For Claimants

• Acted for C in a claim in which D’s failure to diagnose bilateral fistula led to months of suffering, requirement for several invasive procedures and which left her with psychological symptoms
• Advised C in a difficult claim in which the bowel was allegedly perforated during a hysterectomy
• Several delayed diagnoses/wrong diagnoses claims causing protracted recovery

For Defendants

• Advised D in a claim pleaded at over £1million in which it was alleged that there was a failure to diagnose and treat appendicitis and leaving C with permanent bowel symptoms
• Advised the Health Board in a claim involving a prescribing error in which C was alleged to have developed consequent GI symptoms
• Advised the Health Board in a claim in which it was alleged that there was a delay in referring the deceased claimant for radiotherapy

Year of call 2009; Inner Temple.

Hindi; Punjabi; Urdu

Member of PIBA Member of ARDL

BA (Hons) Jurisprudence Exeter College, University of Oxford Bar Vocational Course, BPP College London

Sharan’s interests include film and good restaurants.