Expert Witness; Care and Rehabilitation Cost Consultant
Clare Garside DipCOT, SROT, Occupational Therapist

Through its Clinical Director, Clare Garside, Assessability specialises in the provision of detailed, transparent and fully costed functional assessment, care and rehabilitation reports.

Clare is an Occupational Therapist with more than 20 years' experience of medico-legal assessment and reporting. She applies a wealth of understanding to the identification of a wide range of heads of claim and litigant losses. She has also undertaken formal training as an Expert Witness, and is fully aware of the requirements and implications CRR Part 35. She is able to achieve a rapport with both claimant and defendant clients - a fact which is mirrored in the detail and clarity of her reports and the insight which they convey. Her recommendations are often innovative but always sound, reflecting many years of clinical practice.

Assessment determines from the medical evidence, interview and observation the effect of injury on a person’s ability to function. It assesses losses, in relation to pre-injury ability and lifestyle, in the areas of personal and domestic care, leisure, housing, mobility and transport.

An Assessability Occupational Therapy report gives an overall picture of the satisfaction patterns and expectations of the client’s life prior to their trauma. It outlines their current medical situation. Our rigorous yet compassionate methods of investigation ensure that all relevant past and potential future losses attributable to an accident or injury are accurately identified and costed. The report provides focused, practical, well evidenced and fully costed recommendations for care, adaptation, assistive equipment and appropriate rehabilitation.

Clare Garside has experience of instruction on behalf of claimant or defendant, or as a single joint expert. (Average case load is split 70% claimant, 20% defendant, 10% single joint expert). She is available to attend conferences with counsel, and to give expert testimony in court.

Family Court / Court of Protection Reports

Clare Garside also has experience in assessment of the impact of functional difficulties on a person’s ability to care for dependents. Her warmth and patience facilitates good communication with children. She is well placed by training and experience to advise on custody and the practical arrangements likely to be in their best interests.