We successfully secured compensation for a man who was left with serious injuries and psychological trauma after a motorist drove into him and his friend as they stood chatting together on the pavement.
Our client, an engineer at a small firm, was running errands in his neighbourhood in South East London, in August 2014. After posting a letter in the late afternoon he went to chat with his friend, who had run the local shop for many years. The two were chatting outside on the pavement when a car suddenly veered off the road and crashed into them.
The shopkeeper died from his injuries. Our client suffered severe damage, both physically and psychologically. He sustained a head injury and briefly lost consciousness; his leg was severely fractured and he suffered a number of lacerations over his body. He continues to suffer even now with back and shoulder pain.
The psychological impact was profound. The shopkeeper was an old friend and our client was very affected by the loss, as well as trying to adjust to the impact his own injuries had on his life.
He underwent two operations on his fractured leg, including external fixation. He needed stiches in his head, and although no lasting brain injuries were identified, he suffers short term memory loss following the accident. After his discharge from hospital he was almost completely reliant on his wife and daughters for care and assistance in his day to day life.
When we took on his case we were able to secure interim payments which enabled our client to access therapy and support to aid his recovery and relieve some of the burden on his family. A specialist case manager was appointed to organise a programme of therapies, including physiotherapy, a support worker, occupational therapy and neuropsychology.
We successfully secured a settlement before the case went to court. As part of her sentence, the driver was given a four year driving ban – but the effect of the accident on our client has also left him unable to drive until he is cleared by the DVLA. The bulk of our client’s work as an engineer required heavy lifting and standing on his feet for extended periods of time. He has not been able to return to work since the accident; it’s unlikely he will do so.
The settlement we secured will ensure he and his family are provided for in the future, and will pay for the rehabilitative support he needs to make the best recovery he can.
Laura Murphy, a specialist solicitor in the Serious Injury team said, "I’m very pleased to have been able to secure early rehabilitation for our client, which has undoubtedly improved his quality of life. With this settlement, he has sufficient funds to pay for ongoing therapies".
Our client said, "I am very pleased to put the case behind me and know that I can pay for rehabilitation. My solicitors have been very helpful and were always available at the end of the phone if I was unsure about anything”.
If you or a loved one has suffered an injury, or if a loved one has died as a result of a pedestrian accident, our specialist road traffic accident lawyers could help you to claim compensation. Visit our Pedestrian Accident Claims page for more information.
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