Serious Injury Experts Say Case Highlights Importance of Thorough Maintenance Checks

By Helen MacGregor

A woman who suffered life changing brain damage after a rotten advertising board dropped on her head in central London has today (29 April) been granted a seven-figure settlement to fund a lifetime of rehabilitation and care.

The woman, named as OJS for legal reasons, has been left with no sense of smell, suffers epilepsy and struggles with logical thinking as a result of the brain injury she suffered when a huge 36 square metre sign crashed 8ft to the floor because the wood had rotted from prolonged exposure to water.

Her husband who was walking with her along the St George’s Wharf housing development by the Thames in March 2008 when the board fell, instructed serious injury experts at Irwin Mitchell to help OJS gain access to the support and rehabilitation she now needs. She was represented by the Official Solicitor.

Irwin Mitchell successfully arranged substantial interim payments in 2010 from the defendant, known as A ET to provide her with support and rehabilitation and to cover the fact she has had to give up work after the company admitted responsibility for not maintaining the sign to a safe standard.

Today, a judge at the Royal Courts of Justice in London approved a lifetime care package which will be managed by Irwin Mitchell’s in-house Court of Protection team.

Laura Middleton-Guerard, a serious injury specialist at Irwin Mitchell’s London office representing the couple, said: “This is a horrific case that has left a young woman unable to pursue the career she loved and facing a lifetime of support and rehabilitation to help her get through everyday life.

“We were instructed shortly after the incident but it took two years to begin to get her access to the rehabilitation she desperately needs because the insurers acting for the sign company and property developers refused to admit who was at fault.

“Fortunately AET admitted responsibility just days before a liability trial was set in 2010 meaning we could arrange much-needed interim payments and paved the way for the lifetime settlement that was agreed today.

“This case highlights the importance of the work the HSE does to ensure companies remain vigilant with health and safety at all times to prevent serious incidents that cause life changing injuries from happening.”

Read more about Irwin Mitchell's expertise relating to head injury claims