Serious Injury Experts Working To Secure Lifetime Care Package

By Helen MacGregor

A woman who suffered extensive brain injuries when she was struck by a bus has amazed medics who said it was unlikely she would survive by making a ‘remarkable’ recovery and becoming a volunteer to help others overcome similar ordeals.

Jaxx Cave shattered her skull and had to have part of it removed following the accident in May 2010 which happened after she left her work for the day as a drug and alcohol commissioner for young people in Croydon.

Initially doctors said it was unlikely that she would survive or that she would have very little quality of life if she did, but the 41-year-old surpassed all expectations – learning to walk, talk and feed herself again with help from client liaison managers implemented by her lawyers at Irwin Mitchell.

Serious injury experts at the firm are working to secure Jaxx the ongoing care and rehabilitation she requires to improve and aid her recovery, help her live as independently as possible and cover her loss of earnings as she will never be able to work in paid employment again.

Jaxx spent ten months in care, first in the Royal London Hospital, where she was airlifted for brain surgery and then the University Hospital Lewisham, before being transferred to the Royal Hospital for Neurodisability in September 2010.

With daily rehabilitation, she was finally well enough to move into a specialist ‘transitional’ house in Putney in December 2010 with help from her mum and a team of carers, where she stayed until February 2011. She now lives at her home in Brockley, South London, and has support from her mum and carers.

Recently, Jaxx stood in front of 400 brain injury victims, support staff and medics at the Headfirst Brain Injury Conference for the charity 'Headway' and delivered a speech about the importance of rehabilitation services and how there is always hope.

She is now looking to become a brain injury ambassador with head injury charities, to help others in a similar position to her.

Leading her case is Sarah Griggs, a serious injury expert from Irwin Mitchell’s London office:

Expert Opinion

Jaxx suffered horrendous head injuries in the collision and her prognosis was not good, leaving her family devastated about what the future might hold.

“But she has exceeded all her family’s and doctor’s expectations and is a fantastic example of the importance of good long-term rehabilitation services, something she admits has helped her recover to get where she is today.

“Jaxx’s life won’t ever go back to how it was before the accident, but she has found a new passion for helping people and realised that she can use what happened to her, and her experiences since, to encourage others – she truly is an inspiration.

“She will continue to need the support of a rehabilitation team to help with physiotherapy, speech therapy and occupational therapy and we are working to secure her a lifetime care package that will ensure she has access to these facilities for as long as she needs them.” Sarah Griggs - Partner

Jaxx said: “My first memory after the accident was being taken by ambulance to the Royal Hospital for Neurodisability. I wasn’t interested in rehabilitation initially as I thought there was no hope but when the nurses came to measure me for a wheelchair, something twigged and I was determined to get better.

“It wasn’t easy and there were so many days when I wanted to hide away and stay in bed, but the staff were fantastic and encouraged me every step of the way.

“I know I’ve lost a lot and am not the same person I was before the accident – I will never have the career I had before, probably won’t become a mother, I forget things and may never become fully independent.

“But my rehabilitation team have helped me feel that I can contribute to society and that I can perhaps now help others who find themselves on the same long road to recovery.

“I am as well as I am today because of the fantastic rehabilitation services. I might have always survived, but they have helped me to thrive and for that I truly cannot thank them enough.”

The insurers of the bus company have part-admitted liability and are now working with lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to settle the case, to provide the ongoing care and rehabilitation package Jaxx needs.

Our serious injury solicitors could help you claim compensation if you have suffered a serious head or brain injury as the result of an accident. See our Brain & Head Injury Compensation Claims page for more information.