Serious Injury Lawyers Recently Secured A Settlement To Help With Injured Biker’s Rehabilitation And Recovery

A North-East biker left with life-threatening injuries when a careless driver hit him and his passenger wife on the A696 has called for motorists to be more aware of motorbikes on the road after lawyers secured a six-figure settlement that will support his long recovery and rehabilitation.

David Lodge, 53, instructed specialist serious injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell’s Newcastle office to secure funds to help with his recovery and rehabilitation after a driver hit him and his wife Tracey on the A696 near Knowesgate, Northumberland.

Avid biker David, from Darlington, Co. Durham, was riding his Honda CBR110 Blackbird on the morning of 18 August, 2013, with wife Tracey travelling as pillion passenger when a Brazilian driver on holiday in the UK at the time veered into their path.

The crash was life-threatening for David and he was airlifted by the Great North Air Ambulance to Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle. Tracey, 53, also suffered from a fractured wrist, leg and foot and was lucky not to be more seriously affected.

His injuries included a serious head injury, chest injuries, multiple fractures including to his spine, face, ribs, right hip and ankle and meant he had to be kept in an induced coma in the Intensive Care Unit for 17 days before being transferred to James Cook Hospital in Middlesbrough. David has undergone numerous operations since the accident and continues to suffer from a number of ongoing problems.

David, who before the accident was a taxi driver, said: “The whole experience has been a nightmare. Both Tracey and I have been biking for years and it’s a major part of our lives but it’s like someone has pressed the stop button and we are waiting for it to go again as we still try and come to terms with what happened.”

According to road safety campaigner group THINK!, motorcyclists account for just 1% of total road traffic, yet 19% of all road user deaths. David is keen to make sure his case raises awareness of the need to concentrate and focus when driving, or riding.

He added: “I hope my accident and experience will highlight the need for concentration on the road. Too many road users just don’t check their mirrors and all drivers need to take more care to watch out for motorbikes, and cyclists as well.

“As a former taxi driver and biker in my spare time I consider myself to be an experienced driver and I know all too well how vulnerable bikers are on the roads. If more attention had been paid by the Brazilian driver, my accident and the problems that I have suffered from since could have been completely avoided.

“I am grateful to the Great North Air Ambulance, Northumbria Police and the medical professionals involved in my care and rehabilitation following the accident. I’m also grateful to my legal team at Irwin Mitchell for their support since the accident and for securing me this settlement that will enable me to focus on my recovery. I know I still have a long way to go, but I hope this settlement can help me finally put the accident behind me.

Prior to securing the final settlement, Irwin Mitchell secured David interim payments that help fund a comprehensive rehabilitation package.

The rehabilitation package consisted of a case manager, support worker, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, and a neuropsychologist. As the accident has left David unlikely to be able to work full-time again, it was essential the necessary support was obtained for him to help secure his future.

Jane Pyrah, the specialist serious injury lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing the couple, said: 

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“David and Tracey both love motorbikes and used to spend a lot of time on the road travelling around the UK and abroad. Sadly this incident has robbed them of that and David in particular has endured a tough battle to recover from his injuries, and he still has a long way to go until he is fully recovered.

“We are delighted to have secured this settlement for David, to enable access to specialist support, from the insurance company responsible. Research shows that specialist rehabilitation treatment is most effective for victims of serious injuries when it is carried out as early as possible and it is crucial that David continues to receive the support he needs in the future." Jane Pyrah - Partner