One of the most experienced clinical negligence lawyers practicing in North Wales and Chester, is celebrating a promotion.
Rachael Vasmer, of Walker Smith Way, has built up a formidable reputation as a fighter for the rights of those who have suffered as a result of a medical mistake in a hospital, clinic or doctor’s surgery.
In 2000 she secured nearly £5m for a client who had been brain damaged at birth. At the time it was the second highest figure ever awarded. Her cases have resulted in changes to the law and one is due to be decided by the European Court.
Rachael, who is being promoted from associate to partner with Walker Smith Way, is also just as interested in smaller cases when people often want no more than a full apology and an explanation.
She has been a member of the Law Society’s Clinical Negligence Panel for ten years.
Gareth Humphreys, managing partner with Walker Smith Way, which employs 170 people at its offices in Chester and Wrexham, said: “We were very pleased when Rachael joined our clinical negligence department in 2004 because she was so highly regarded throughout the region by clients and fellow lawyers. Now we are delighted that she has accepted our offer of a partnership.
“Her work is of immense value and can make a real difference by making sure that people affected by a medical mistake have enough money to compensate them, sometimes for the rest of their lives.”
Rachael has good reason to be interested in clinical negligence. While still at school a knee injury caused by a hockey accident was not diagnosed properly and, as a direct result, her left knee was fused. She has suffered substantial difficulty walking since the accident when she was aged 15.
She said: “This area of the law is very important to me because I can sympathise with the situation. I think the people who come to see me for advice appreciate talking to someone who’s had a similar experience.
“Although money often cannot change the injury, it can make a difference. That’s what I really enjoy, helping people to get the house or the care package they need.”
She does not believe that clinical negligence claims are escalating to American proportions arguing that people should take action against wrongful treatment.
Rachael and her young family moved to North Wales from London in 1995 and she joined Walker Smith Way in 2004. Although they spoke no Welsh before they moved to the area, Rachael is now a fluent Welsh speaker and is studying for a degree in the language.
She can conduct interviews in Welsh if people feel more confident using their first language but her ambition is to conduct a case entirely through the language. She takes an active part in her local Welsh-speaking Chapel jointly editing its newsletter, Y Graig. Rachael also helps with the local Urdd youth organisation and can be seen collecting entrance fees when the local Urdd Eisteddfods are held in Ruthin.
Her husband, David is also learning to speak Welsh. He works part time as Welsh Officer for the charity Changing Faces which represents and gives support to people who have a disfigurement.
They have two sons, Michael, 14, and Theo, 12, who are in the Welsh stream at Ysgol Brynhyfryd, Ruthin. The family moved from Holywell to Pwllglas, near Ruthin, in 1997 and are now happily settled in the community.
