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12.4 If there is an issue about whether the Claimant was bound to give up his job because of his injuries, medical opinion is often persuasive. Likewise the views of the doctor may determine whether there is a continuing loss of capacity on the labour market.

12.5 In the more serious cases, where the Claimant will need occupational therapy and nursing care, a wider range of medical experts is necessary, each dealing with a particular speciality. In a serious whiplash case where the Claimant has suffered fracture or dislocation of the neck and paraplegia, the following experts are likely to be needed:

- An orthopaedic surgeon to diagnose and provide a prognosis on the injuries generally;

- A neurosurgeon to diagnose and provide a prognosis on the spinal chord injury or brain injury;

- An occupational therapist to provide evidence about the therapy and equipment which the Claimant will need in the long term;

- A nursing expert to provide evidence of the nursing care the Claimant will need in the long term.

- An architect to provide evidence of the alterations and design costs involved in providing the Claimant with a bungalow or altered accommodation.

- A forensic accountant to assist with tax calculations and structured settlements and quantification.

12.6 In a case in which the Claimant is suspected of having suffered a psychiatric injury or there is some functional overlay involved a consultant psychiatrist should usually be instructed.

13 Categories of expert

In whiplash cases there is a wide range of disciplines who may offer to provide reports upon the conditions and injuries involved. These include the following:

- GPS,

- physiotherapists,