Specialist Serious Injury Lawyers Working To Secure Rehabilitation For Teenager After Careless Driving Charges Dropped Against Other Driver

The family of a teenager seriously injured in a car accident last year has hit out at delays in the criminal case, which means she has been unable to commence a specialist rehabilitation programme to help with her recovery.

Louise Rember from Lincoln was severely injured on 28 March 2012 when she was involved in a collision on Washingborough Road in Lincolnshire.

The 19-year-old was seriously injured with multiple injuries, including a fractured skull and severe internal injuries requiring extensive surgery to save her life. She has been left with significant ongoing health issues as a result.

The driver of the vehicle that hit the car Louise was driving was originally charged with driving without due care and attention and pleaded not guilty. He was due to stand trial on 18 April 2013 but this was adjourned as the number of witnesses meant more court time was needed. It was then listed to be heard on 31 October, with an additional day of Court time allowed, but the Crown Prosecution Service has now decided to drop all charges.

Louise is working with serious injury experts at law firm Irwin Mitchell in her battle for justice and to secure the funds needed to help with her rehabilitation. However, as the criminal case was ongoing, the defendant’s insurers would not release funds to help.

Stacy Clements, a specialist serious injury lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing Louise, said: “The family is angry that the criminal case was delayed for so long, only for it to now be dropped completely nineteen months after the crash.

“Louise needs extensive rehabilitation to help in her recovery, but because of the fact that the criminal case was ongoing, the defendant's insurers have so far denied all liability and won’t engage in discussions about early support for her.

“As a 19-year-old, she should be enjoying her early adult years but is held back by the trauma of the crash which continues to affect her both physically and psychologically. She has several large scars from surgery to her knee and abdomen which have an effect on her confidence as she is conscious of how they look. She has also struggled to cope emotionally since the crash as it has had a massive impact on her life.

“The family had been nervously waiting for the trial for months as they seek justice and support for what happened. Now they feel like they have been let down by the Crown Prosecution Service, not just in dropping the case, but in the delays leading up to that decision too.

“We will now continue to work with the family to secure as much support as possible to help Louise in her battle to get back on track.”

Louise’s mum, Colleen Rember, said: “When we heard about the crash and Louise’s injuries we were just devastated. We were terrified at first as she needed life-saving surgery.

“We wanted to know exactly what had happened and when the Police handed their case to the CPS, we were told that the other driver would be charged with careless driving and a trial was arranged for April 2013. This was then put back until October and we have spent months preparing ourselves for the day.

“To find out just two weeks before that all charges have been dropped seems like taking the easy way out. We want the circumstances of the crash to be explored in a proper trial. We’re angry that Louise has not been able to potentially access specialist support because of the delays in the case.

“It’s nineteen months since the crash and we have now basically been put back at square one. At least if they had made this decision earlier we could have moved on in other ways, in particular to progress Louise’s civil law claim which has been on hold to date because of the fact the criminal process was ongoing.

“We’re now discussing our options with our lawyers at Irwin Mitchell and hope that we can secure the support and rehabilitation Louise needs to help her in her recovery.”