Specialist Serious Injury Lawyers Helping Retford Man Access Rehabilitation And Physiotherapy

A Retford man who was a passenger in a vehicle when he was catapulted from it during a high-speed crash on a country road has spoken out about road safety as expert lawyers at law firm Irwin Mitchell continue to help him with his recovery.

Jake Henderson, 25, was being driven along the A620 on 7 December 2014 when his friend lost control of the vehicle and it left the road, rolling several times and ending up in a nearby field.

Jake was a rear passenger in the vehicle and was thrown out of the window at the back of the vehicle, despite wearing his seatbelt at the time of the accident.

He suffered a fractured ankle, as well as injuries to his back, shoulder and neck and was taken by ambulance to Doncaster Royal Infirmary where he remained for three days.

During his time at the hospital he underwent surgery to insert screws into his left ankle to repair the damage caused during the collision.

Jake was forced to take four months off work as a result of the injuries he suffered and has been forced to find alternative employment as he can no longer walk any great distance without pain.

His ankle continues to deteriorate and he may require fusion surgery to help alleviate the pain he suffers. As a result of the pain his suffers in his ankle he has been forced to change jobs on a number of occasions to find a position that does not require him to walk around or lengthy periods of time stood up.

He continues to suffer with back and neck pain which can also make working difficult and painful.

The 25-year-old instructed expert serious injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate the crash and to ensure he is able to access the help and support he requires to overcome his physical injuries, as well as the long-term psychological impact of the incident.

Jake has been able to access physiotherapy and rehabilitation he required but the driver’s insurance company has failed to admit liability for the injuries, meaning Jake is unable to put the ordeal he has endured behind him.

Liz Whitehead, an expert serious injury lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, who is representing Jake, said:

Expert Opinion

“The ongoing problems Jake is suffering indicates just how serious road accidents can be for those involved. Sadly for Jake, the injuries he suffered continue to have a significant impact on his life and he is facing the possibility of major surgery to help alleviate the pain he suffers every day.

“He was unable to work for a long period of time and has struggled to find a position that does not leave him in severe pain. As well as the physical injuries, he has also has psychological barriers to overcome and we are working to ensure he has the help and support in place to enable him to make a full recovery from this terrible experience.

“Jake has been through an extremely frustrating 18 months since the accident and we believe the rehabilitation put in place for him by the driver’s insurance company is less than adequate for his needs.” Liz Whitehead - Team Leader & Senior Associate

Jake, a telesales executive, said: “This accident has had a huge impact on my life. I couldn’t believe it when I ended up being thrown out of the car. I was wearing my seatbelt at the time and I was only thrown out when the seat I was sat in broke during the crash.

“The injuries to my ankle, neck and back left me struggling to get out of bed and I had to take four months off work. I could no longer do the job I used to and I’ve had a succession of jobs in a short space of time that have been impossible due to the pain I’m in on a regular basis.

“Despite being able to get back to work I’m still struggling with the injuries I suffered and still have to put up with pain in my ankle, neck and back. I have started physiotherapy and rehabilitation but I know that I’ll probably need fusion surgery in the future to reduce the pain I’m in.

“I know that the injuries I suffered could have been a lot worse, but they have still had a huge impact on my life and I want to make sure what happened to me doesn’t happen to anyone else.

“Hopefully, people will see what has happened to me and think carefully about staying safe on the road and protecting themselves, as well as the people they have in their car.”

If you or a loved one has suffered in a road accident, then our serious injury lawyers may be able to help you make a claim. See our Road Traffic Accident Claims page for more information.