We helped a Sheffield man who was left with multiple life-threatening injuries after a car mounted the pavement where he was jogging and knocked him to the ground. Our serious injury solicitors secured significant interim payments to support his rehabilitation.
Rushed to hospital
Thai boxer Westley Smith was out jogging in Chesterfield when a car mounted the kerb and crashed into him on the pavement. The driver was subsequently convicted of driving without due care and attention. He was disqualified from driving for eight months and fined.
Westley was rushed to the Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham where doctors diagnosed him with a serious head injury, damage to his spleen, internal bleeding, fractures to his right arm and leg, and multiple cuts and bruises. He had several operations to stabilise his injuries and remained in the hospital for a month before being transferred to Chesterfield Hospital for another eight weeks.
Irwin Mitchell contacted
The 37-year-old contacted our specialist serious injury lawyers to investigate the accident in February 2015 after his previous law firm struggled to make progress with the complex case. We’ve now secured him a five-figure interim payment which will help cover the costs of his ongoing rehabilitation programme and his lost earnings.
Over the past three years, Westley has suffered various post-operative complications including an infection in his kidney.
David Withers, a specialist serious injury lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing Westley, said: “He suffered significant injuries as a result of the accident, which has affected every aspect of his life –particularly his employment, social life and physical wellbeing.
Vital rehabilitation services
“We are pleased that since taking over Westley’s case we have secured a significant interim payment so that he can now have access to vital rehabilitation services to help him on the road to recovery.
“This case must act as a reminder to drivers about the importance of driving responsibly on the roads and to take extra care, especially in built up areas with pedestrians. Over the years we have worked with many people whose lives have been devastated by accidents on the roads and we want to make sure that safety on the roads for both pedestrians and drivers remain a priority.”
Westley, who now lives in Wincobank, Sheffield, said: “I remember very little of the accident; I have a vague recollection of lying on the pavement, but then the next thing I knew I was waking up in hospital. It was terrifying as I didn’t know what was happening to me; my family and the medical staff had to explain to me that an accident had happened and that I had multiple serious injuries to my body.
“The accident has had a devastating impact on my life – I am still recovering from my injuries and recently started rehabilitation to help me with this; I lost my job, and my wife and I divorced. My life will never be the same again and even though I am trying to make the best out of an awful situation, I do find it difficult to cope.
“Rebuilding my life”
“I really miss being able to run and also go to the Thai boxing gym – these were huge parts of my life and now because of the injuries I sustained and particularly the loss of my kidney, I am unable to go back to doing the hobbies I enjoy.
“I am grateful for the help from my legal team at Irwin Mitchell who have now secured vital interim payments to fund my rehabilitation and to provide me with financial security which will help me start the long process of rebuilding my life.”
If you or a loved has been seriously injured in a road traffic accident as a pedestrian, our serious injury solicitors could help you to claim compensation. Visit our Pedestrian Accident Claims page for more information.
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