Edward (not his real name), now aged 16, was involved in a serious road traffic collision two years ago when he was 14 years of age.
Edward was travelling as a front seat passenger in a motor vehicle being driven by an acquaintance when the driver lost control and crossed onto the wrong side of the road, colliding with an oncoming car in the opposite lane. The passenger side of the vehicle where Edward was seated bore the brunt of the impact.
Edward sustained an extremely severe brain injury, as well as multiple orthopaedic injuries. He was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of the Sheffield Children’s Hospital, where he remained in a coma for several weeks before slowly regaining consciousness.
Kate Petchey, specialist child brain injury solicitor, met with Edward’s parents at the hospital just one week after the collision. Within two weeks, a private brain injury case manager was appointed to assist Edward’s family to deal with all of the unfamiliar and daunting steps involved in the treatment and rehabilitation of a critically ill child. The case manager has been instrumental in supporting Edward and his parents in coming to terms with his life changing injuries, as well as arranging ongoing private physiotherapy and rehabilitation.
With the assistance of his case manager and team of private therapists, Edward has returned home and is now back at school, where he is studying a specially adapted curriculum.
Given Edward’s relatively young age, it will be a number of years before the long-term effects of his brain injury, and therefore his future needs, can be properly established.
In the meantime, Irwin Mitchell has secured, from the driver’s insurer, interim payments to cover the cost of Edward’s case management and ongoing rehabilitation. A further substantial payment has recently been agreed to cover the cost of a bungalow, which will be more suitable for Edward’s ongoing needs than the house he currently lives in.
If you or a loved one has suffered a serious injury as a passenger in a vehicle, our serious injury solicitors could help you claim compensation. Visit our Passenger Injury Compensation page for more information.
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