Non-Accidental Injury
Expert Witness Reports
Our chambers prepares non accidental injury reports for civil, family, and criminal proceedings, addressing causation, mechanism, and prognosis in suspected child abuse cases. Each report complies with CPR Part 35, FPR 25, and the Civil Justice Council’s 2014 Guidance, ensuring independence and court duty.
The medico-legal foundation for
suspected child abuse cases.
Our chambers prepares non accidental injury reports for solicitors, local authorities, and insurers in cases where physical harm to a child raises concerns of abuse. These reports address the clinical findings, mechanism of injury, and consistency with the alleged history.
The non accidental injury report is pivotal in care proceedings under the Children Act 1989, personal injury claims, and criminal prosecutions. Our experts, drawn from paediatric, forensic, and radiology specialties, provide independent opinions that withstand scrutiny under CPR 35.3 and FPR 25.
Three procedural stages where
this report is critical.
Emergency protection orders
Our chambers accepts instructions at the point of initial child protection concerns, providing urgent nai expert reports to support EPO applications under s.44 Children Act 1989. Reports are delivered within 72 hours where required.
Care proceedings
The non accidental injury report is filed with the court under FPR 25 and Practice Direction 25B, addressing threshold criteria and informing interim care orders. Our experts attend case management hearings to clarify findings.
Criminal prosecutions
Instructions accepted by our chambers include Crown Prosecution Service requests for forensic paediatric injury assessment. Reports comply with CrimPR 19 and are disclosed to the defence under the Criminal Procedure Rules.
What’s included in a
non-accidental injury report
Expert credentials
GMC Specialist Register entry, paediatric or forensic qualifications, and the expert’s medico-legal experience profile. Compliance with CPR 35.3 and the Civil Justice Council’s 2014 Guidance is declared.
Clinical records review
Full review of A&E, paediatric, radiology, and GP records. Material entries are identified, including previous injuries, developmental milestones, and any discrepancies in the history provided.
Physical examination
The findings from the clinical assessment, including photographs where permitted, bruise patterns, fracture sites, and any soft tissue injuries. The examination is conducted in a child-friendly setting.
Radiological findings
Interpretation of X-rays, CT, or MRI scans, with reference to paediatric radiology standards. The report addresses the age of fractures, mechanism of injury, and consistency with the alleged history.
Opinion on mechanism
The expert’s reasoned opinion on whether the injuries are consistent with accidental trauma or indicative of non-accidental injury. Differential diagnoses are addressed, including medical conditions that may mimic abuse.
Prognosis & safeguarding
The expected outcome for the child, including any long-term physical or psychological consequences. Recommendations for safeguarding and future medical follow-up are included where relevant.
Statement of truth
The CPR Part 35 declaration of independence, signed statement of truth, and confirmation of the expert’s overriding duty to the court under CPR 35.3.
How the non-accidental injury assessment
is conducted.
Our chambers ensures that every non accidental injury report is based on a transparent, reproducible methodology. This protects the report’s admissibility under CPR 35.7 and its resilience in joint expert discussions.
-
01
Multi-disciplinary records review
GP, A&E, paediatric, radiology, and social care records are reviewed. The expert identifies material entries, including previous injuries, developmental history, and any inconsistencies in the account provided.
-
02
Clinical assessment
The child is examined in a paediatric-friendly setting, with findings documented using standardised injury mapping tools. Photographs are taken where consent is obtained and clinically appropriate.
-
03
Radiological correlation
X-rays, CT, or MRI scans are interpreted by a consultant paediatric radiologist where required. The expert addresses fracture dating, mechanism, and consistency with the alleged history.
-
04
Differential diagnosis
Medical conditions that may mimic non-accidental injury, such as osteogenesis imperfecta or vitamin D deficiency, are addressed. The expert’s reasoning is documented transparently.
-
05
Formulation & opinion
The clinical findings are synthesised into a reasoned opinion on causation and mechanism. The report clearly states any limitations on the analysis and the basis for the conclusions drawn.
Every legal route where a
non-accidental injury expert witness is required.
Our chambers accepts instructions across civil, family, and criminal jurisdictions. Each non accidental injury report is tailored to the procedural rules of the instructing forum.
Questions from
solicitors instructing our chambers.
Can your experts assess non-recent injuries in historic cases?
Yes. Our members include forensic paediatricians with experience in dating old fractures and soft tissue injuries. The non accidental injury report will address the available evidence and any limitations arising from the passage of time.
Do you accept instructions from both claimant and defendant solicitors?
Yes. Our chambers maintains strict independence under CPR 35.3. Each expert is instructed on their duty to the court, regardless of the instructing party.
How quickly can you provide an urgent nai expert report?
Within 72 hours. For emergency protection orders or criminal proceedings, our chambers coordinates expedited assessments and report delivery. Contact intake with the court deadline specified.
Are your experts available for joint expert meetings under CPR 35.12?
Yes. Our members attend joint discussions and prepare joint statements as required. The non accidental injury report forms the basis for these discussions.
Do you provide reports for both physical and psychological injuries?
Both. Our chambers includes consultant paediatricians for physical injuries and consultant child psychiatrists for psychological sequelae. Where both are required, we coordinate a combined instruction.
Can you assess very young infants or neonates?
Yes. Our experts include neonatologists and paediatricians with specialist training in non-accidental injury in infants. Assessments are conducted in a child-friendly setting with parental presence where appropriate.
Need a non accidental injury
expert for your case?
Send a brief case summary — child’s age, injury type, procedural stage, and any court deadline — and our chambers will confirm expert availability and timescales within one working day.