Road Traffic Accidents

Acts on behalf of Claimants and Defendants in claims arising out of road traffic accidents involving serious personal injury. She has particular experience in claims involving very serious and / or multiple injuries, often sustained by motorcyclists, and in fatal accident claims. She has represented parties in road traffic accident cases involving horses and other livestock. She also acts on behalf of Claimants and Defendants in less serious cases, where allegations of fraud are made against one or more parties.

Disease

Instructed in all types of industrial disease cases, by both insurance companies and Claimants. She has particular experience in industrial deafness and asbestos-related disease. Regularly instructed in cases involving limitation issues.

Public, Product and Occupiers’ Liability

Has a particular interest in public liability cases. She is instructed regularly by many local authorities and insurance companies, and by several of the large supermarkets, although she also acts on behalf of Claimants. She has dealt with claims brought by both adults and children arising out of a very wide variety of circumstances. These include: accidents sustained by children in schools and playgrounds; accidents sustained in sports centres and other leisure facilities; accidents occurring on “outward bound” activities; accidents in supermarkets and other shops; accidents befalling visitors and patients in hospital; accidents in or around rented accommodation involving the Defective Premises Act 1972; accidents sustained by trespassers; highway “tripping” accidents; injuries involving animals; and so on. She has represented both Claimants and Defendants in a wide variety of product liability cases, from foreign bodies in ready-sliced cake to shattering glass lamps. Her friends tire of her saying “I’ve done a case about that….”.

Employers’ Liability

Acts for Claimants and Defendants in claims involving accidents in all manner of workplaces, from abattoirs to zoos (really). She is instructed regularly by insurance companies, local authorities and NHS Resolution on behalf of Defendants, and by trades unions on behalf of Claimants. She deals frequently with claims arising out of workplace accidents occurring in hospitals, in shops, on construction sites, at height, and in a very wide variety of local authority employment. She has dealt with several cases brought by members of the armed services for injuries sustained in the course of active service. Many of the EL cases with which she deals involve very serious injuries or injuries that have (or are alleged to have) serious psychiatric or psychological consequences, which cases have a potentially high value and often involve disputed medical evidence.

Serious Injury and Catastrophic

Acts for Claimants and Defendants in claims involving catastrophic or very serious injuries (including brain injury, spinal injury and amputation) on a regular basis, such claims usually arising from road traffic accidents, workplace accidents, medical accidents and, less frequently, public liability accidents. She deals regularly with cases where the claim is said to have a value of more than £500,000. She is presently dealing with several cases where damages are likely to exceed £5million and many where damages will exceed £1million. She has a particular interest in issues of medical causation and mitigation of loss. She is happy to conduct conferences with Claimants at home or hospital.

Frequently instructed by insurance companies in personal injury claims where it is suspected that the claim is fraudulent or that the Claimant has been fundamentally dishonest in relation to part of the claim. Has secured findings of fundamental dishonesty (with adverse costs consequences and avoidance of QOCS) in several cases, including one clinical negligence claim.

Acts for Claimants and Defendants in wide variety of clinical negligence claims. Many of these are high value claims arising from catastrophic or very serious “birth injuries”.

She has experience of dealing with:

• Claims where it is allege there was a failure to obtain informed consent;
• Claims arising out of a variety of surgical accidents (often with fatal consequences);
• Obstetric injury (mother and child);
• Delayed treatment of spinal injuries;
• Delayed diagnosis of cancer and other life-threatening conditions;
• Erroneous or delayed treatment of orthopaedic injuries;
• Ophthalmological negligence;
• Optometric negligence, particularly with regard to contact lens prescription;
• Negligent cosmetic surgery, which claims often involve psychological issues:
• Failed sterilisation;
• Negligent ENT treatment;
• Wrongful birth claims;
• Secondary victim claims.

Motor Fraud

Acts for insurance companies and Claimants in road traffic accident claims where allegations of fraud are made against one or more parties. She provides advice at an early stage of such cases with regard to assessment of the credibility of witnesses (often following conference) and with regard to appropriate pleading. She is frequently required to advise in relation to covert surveillance evidence. Claims alleged to involve fundamental dishonesty appear with increasing frequency in her case load. Has secured findings of fundamental dishonesty (with adverse costs consequences to the Claimant) in 8 cases so far.

Has been arguing about costs in Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence cases on a regular basis for more than 25 years. She has particular expertise in the costs consequences of Part 36 offers, and in cases of fundamental dishonesty. She has considerable and ever-increasing experience of conducting costs and case management hearings, particularly in high-value and complex cases

Frequently instructed in cases where limitation is in issue. Deals with all industrial diseases, but has particular expertise in industrial deafness and asbestos-related disease.

Recommended regularly by the Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners since 2007.

Chambers and Partners (2024) - Personal Injury (Band 2) - "Elizabeth is very experienced and knowledgeable: an excellent all-round counsel."

Chambers and Partners (2024) - Clinical Negligence (Band 1) - "Elizabeth is excellent. She understands the needs of the client, and you can rely on her on even the most complex of issues."

The Legal 500 (2024) - Clinical Negligence (Tier 1) - "Elizabeth is a fantastic advocate; strong on her feet and brilliant with the clinical witnesses and experts. A superb negotiator."

The Legal 500 (2024) - Personal Injury (Tier 2) - "Elizabeth’s advocacy style is perfect and is mesmerising to observe."

Chambers and Partners (2023) - Personal Injury (Band 2) - "Elizabeth Hodgson represents defendants in personal injury cases relating to employers' liability as well as public liability claims. She also acts for claimants in claims arising from allegations of childhood abuse. Her clients include insurers, local authorities and NHS Resolution. She is also well versed in issues of limitation in industrial disease cases."

The Legal 500 (2023) - Clinical Negligence (Tier 1) - "A skilful negotiator with a no-nonsense and thorough approach to cases. Her advice is robust and sensible."

The Legal 500 (2023) - Personal Injury (Tier 2) - "A fierce advocate when necessary, and she rapidly assimilates the issues in a case and sorts the wheat from the chaff with ease."

The Legal 500 (2022) - Personal Injury (Tier 2) - "Her advice is clear, unambiguous, and in language the clients understand. She is very empathetic with clients with severe injuries."

The Legal 500 (2022) - Clinical Negligence (Tier 2) - "Her advice is clear, unambiguous, and in language the clients understand. She is very empathetic with clients with severe injuries."

Legal 500 (2022) - "Elizabeth is a strong negotiator, and her advice is robust and practical. She has the ability to put everyone in the room at ease."

Chambers and Partners (2022) - Personal Injury (Band 2) - "She is very straightforward and gets right to the point."

Chambers and Partners (2022) - Clinical Negligence (Band 1) - "Extremely good in court and very knowledgeable." "She is firm but practical, cuts to the chase and has a sensible approach. She's good in pleadings and has a good negotiation style."

Chambers and Partners (2021) - Clinical Negligence (Band 1) - "Very well prepared, has good analytical skills and offers pragmatic advice." "She is thorough and very much to the point." "She is diligent, she has great attention to detail, and she fills you with confidence that the case is in good hands."

Chambers and Partners (2020) - Clinical Negligence (Band 2) - "She is always well prepared for conferences and has a good manner with clients and experts". "A really solid pair of hands and has good instincts."

Chambers and Partners (2020) - Personal Injury (Band 2) - "She's very straightforward and takes a no-nonsense approach." "She's approachable, accessible and very good both in court and on paper."

The Legal 500 (2021) - Clinical Negligence (Band 1) - ‘Approachable, straightforward, practical and reliable. Liz is thorough in her assessment of cases and works hard to achieve the best result possible.’

The Legal 500 (2021) - Personal Injury (Band 2) - "Superb with cool headed analysis. A tough negotiator. Always well prepared. Presents her views very clearly either on paper or in conference. Has great ability to put lay clients at ease. She excels in treating instructing solicitors and commercial clients as part of a team. Always superb value for money."

The Legal 500 (2020) - Clinical Negligence (Band 1) - "Very good with clients and excellent in court - an all-round top advocate."

The Legal 500 (2020) - Personal Injury (Band 2) - "A superb advocate who inspires confidence and is a pleasure to work with." "Excellent all-round personal injury practitioner who is very well regarded and excellent both with clients and in court." "Excellent when dealing with complex cases and difficult clients"

Chambers and Partners (2019) - Clinical Negligence (Band 2) - "She is thorough and has a good grasp of the issues. She is able to build a good rapport with the clients and she is very approachable."

Legal 500 (2018/2019) - "She is a superb advocate."

Chambers and Partners (2018) - "Very good with the clients and excellent in court." "A great court performer who goes the extra mile for clients. She exudes confidence, affability and charm. She is extremely knowledgeable and professional in her field."

The Legal 500 (2017) - "An incisive advocate, who is excellent with clients."

The Legal 500 (2016) -"Very bright and capable with excellent advocacy skills"

The Legal 500 (2015) - "Her calm, no-nonsense approach inspires solicitors’ and clients’ confidence"

The Legal 500 (2014) - "She has impressive cross-examination skills and is able to read the mood of a judge"

Personal Injury Bar Association (PIBA) Professional Negligence Bar Association North of England Medico-Legal Society (Council Member)

• Recorder
• Deputy District Judge
• Fee-paid Judge of the First Tier Tribunal assigned to the Health, Education and Social Care Chamber (Mental Health)
• Counsel to T & N Compensation Scheme for victims of asbestos exposure (2012)

LLB (Hons), University of Liverpool Inns of Court School of Law