Michael O’Neill

Personal Injury

Mike accepts instructions relating to complex and high value personal injury claims, regularly valued in excess of £500,000. He is experienced in dealing with life changing orthopaedic injuries, pain disorders, subtle brain injuries, amputations and fatal accident claims. He is regularly instructed on behalf of both Claimants and Defendants and has experience of defending high value claims on behalf of the Motor Insurers’ Bureau.

He is often brought into cases at an early stage, to advise on evidence gathering and medical expert selection and regularly attends Joint Settlement Meetings.

Mike prides himself on his case analysis, judgment, approachability and skill as an advocate. He endeavours to bring added value to all his cases, regularly going above and beyond to try and secure the best outcome for his client.

Notable Cases

W x MS – Acted for D’s insurer in a deliberate running down road traffic case. D was convicted of attempted murder and C was left with a moderate to severe brain injury and various significant orthopaedic injuries. Mike was brought into the case at the medical evidence stage, and advised in conference with the experts in several disciplines. He represented D’s insurer at a contentious case management hearing and later at a JSM, where C was seeking damages in excess of £2.2 million. The case settled shortly thereafter, for £1.25 million.

A v C – Being led by Chris Kennedy KC in an alleged post-traumatic epilepsy case, pleaded in excess of £19 million. Medical causation is in issue and D’s counter schedule values the claim at just £15,000. Mike was entrusted with conducting a JSM on his own against both leading and junior counsel.

P v MIB – Acted for D. C sought damages of £2.2 million for severe abdominal injuries sustained in a road traffic accident. C was left with chronic incontinence which restricted her daily activities and work in law. Settled at a JSM for £700,000.

K x Y – Acted for C, a serving police officer crushed by a vehicle. He was forced to retire on ill health grounds. Settled shortly prior to trial for £425,000, following an unsuccessful JSM.

M v AM – Acted for C, who suffered a significant crush injury to his hand, leading to the complete amputation of three of his fingers. Contributory negligence was in issue. Settled at a JSM for £500,000.

B v MIB – Acted for D. C sought damages of circa £900,000 after suffering life threatening injuries in a road traffic accident. She suffered abdominal trauma, necessitating a stoma and subsequent reversal, and which left her with dietary intolerance and incontinence. The case settled at a JSM for £375,000.

C v V – Acted for D, defending a chronic pain case in which C sought damages of £435,000. Settled at a JSM for £90,000.

G v C – Acted for D in a fatal accident claim which settled at a JSM for £625,000.

Z v MIB – C suffered serious spinal and other orthopaedic injuries in a car accident in which her partner was killed. Mike acted for D from an early stage, assisted at a difficult case management conference and advised on tactics and medical evidence. C valued the claim at £1.3 million. Settled at a JSM for £260,000.

T v DBTH – Acted for C, who suffered a significant wrist injury following an accident at work. Liability is admitted. Repeated surgeries failed to improve functionality and C developed severe Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. Settled at a JSM for £750,000.

H v W – Acted for D in the defence of a claim brought by an injured motorcylist. C suffered a serious arm injury, depression and psoriasis and sought damages in excess of £600,000. Settled at a JSM for £115,000.

P v WWL – Acted for C, who suffered serious injuries to his dominant right arm in a workplace accident. Liability was admitted. He suffered a complete transection of the radial nerve and a mild brachial plexus injury. After unsuccessful surgeries, he was left with severe contractures of the shoulder, elbow and wrist, resulting in limited function. Settled at a JSM against leading counsel for the sum of £900,000.

R v JBFL – Acted for C, who suffered serious injuries after falling through a roof. Primary liability was admitted, but contributory negligence was in issue. D also alleged that C had been fundamentally dishonest as to the factual circumstances. Following a three-day trial, the Judge accepted C’s account, saw through the myriad of inconsistencies in D’s case, and found that all four of D’s witnesses had entirely fabricated their account of the accident. Contributory negligence was assessed at 25%. The claim later settled for £200,000

MC v SPL – Acted for the D in respect of a fatal accident claim. Liability was not disputed. C was a secondary victim, having witnessed the immediate aftermath of her son’s death. She suffered severe psychiatric injuries, but the principle disputes related to her loss of earnings and care claims. Her case was pleaded at circa £600,000. After an unsuccessful joint settlement meeting, C eventually accepted £120,000.

W v MT – Acted for D in relation to a workplace burning accident in which C suffered dermatological, optical and psychiatric injuries. He presented a schedule claiming in excess of £320,000. The case settled for £175,000 shortly after a JSM.

Associations

Personal Injury Bar Association

Education

LLB Law, Liverpool University

BVC, Manchester Metropolitan University

Awards

Lord Denning Scholarship (2006)

Buchanan Prize Winner (2007)

Prescribed Information

Mr Michael O’Neill is a practising barrister, who is regulated by the Bar Standards Board. Details of information held by the BSB about Mr Michael O’Neill can be found here.

Mr Michael O’Neill’s clerks will happily provide no obligation quotations for all legal services that he provides. Their contact details can be found here. It is most common for Mr Michael O’Neill to undertake court and advisory work for a brief fee plus any refresher days. For advisory work, paperwork and conferences it is most commonly charged at an hourly rate, although fixed fees can be agreed in advance upon sight of the papers. Conditional Fee Agreements will be considered in cases with favourable prospects of success. Mr Michael O’Neill will typically return paperwork within 14-21 days, however professional commitments, complexity and volume of documentation can affect these approximate timescales.