Our international personal injury solicitors helped a woman from Grimsby claim compensation after suffering serious spinal injuries in a coach crash in Spain in 2016.
A nightmare accident for two holidaymakers
Susan and her husband Tim* were travelling back to the airport by coach after a late summer holiday at a resort on the Costa Brava. It was the early hours of the morning and it was raining when the accident happened. Susan and Tim had both fallen asleep but they were woken up by other passengers screaming as the coach swerved across the motorway.
The coach crashed, injuring 24 people. Susan suffered damage to her spine, a punctured lung, broken shoulder blades, broken ribs, and a head injury. Tim was also injured, but not as badly as Susan.
Susan spent 10 days in hospital in Spain – including four days in intensive care. She then had more treatment and rehabilitation at a hospital in England.
Doctors did their best to help Susan recover, but her injuries were so severe that she is now wheelchair-dependent.
The couple got in touch with our international personal injury lawyers to see if we could help.
Susan’s claim
We investigated the crash and found out who the holiday was booked with and who insured the coach company. We also consulted specialists to report on the long-term impact of Susan’s injuries and the therapies, equipment, and accommodation she will need in the future.
Since the accident happened in Spain, there was also the complication of whether to make the claim in the English or Spanish courts. We advised the clients to make the claim in the English Court under the relevant Package Travel Regulations.
The tour operator originally denied any liability for the accident. This meant that Susan couldn’t initially fund the specialist support she needed for her recovery as the claim continued.
However, we knew that Susan had a claim based on the evidence we had collected, including a Spanish police report. We pressed on with the claim and we were able to arrange interim payments to fund urgent treatment and negotiated a seven-figure compensation settlement for Susan.
The settlement will pay for an adapted house and the care and rehabilitation Susan needs to recover and lead the best possible quality of life, now and in the future.
International personal injury solicitor Nina Harrison worked on Susan’s case. “We’re thrilled to secure a successful claim for Susan after a terrible accident left her with life-changing injuries”, said Nina. “The settlement can’t change what’s happened, but it represents justice for Susan and Tim and will help them put their lives back on track after an awful experience.”
If you or a loved one has been injured while abroad, we may be able to help you claim compensation. See our Accidents & Illness Abroad section for more information.
*Not clients’ real names
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