We secured a settlement of more than £1 million for a student who was left with a catastrophic brain injury after he was hit by a car in 2010. With the help of rehabilitation and support services, he’s made a formidable recovery, completing his degree and writing a book about his brain injury.
Our client, Jack, was only 21 at the time of the crash. He was in his final year at York University, on the brink of completing his English degree. But in the early hours of New Year’s Day in 2010, his life changed forever when a car veered off the road and hit him and two friends as they walked home from a party in London.
One friend was killed instantly; the other was knocked into a coma from which she never woke up. Jack suffered a catastrophic brain injury. His skull was shattered into 30 pieces and he was left in a coma that was rated three on a scale of fifteen – the lowest point with any chance of survival. Doctors repeatedly warned his parents that if he did survive, he would be unable to lead an independent life.
Jack underwent a five-hour operation to replace his shattered skull with nine titanium plates and 33 screws. When he finally woke up after four months, he was unable to walk, talk, or feed himself. As he began to recover it became clear that the injury to his head had left him with severe amnesia and ataxia, meaning he had limited control of speech and movement.
When we took on Jack’s case we were able to help not only with prosecuting the driver whose actions had such a devastating effect on his life, but also make sure he got access to the support he needed to make the best recovery. We secured an early interim payment to pay for a dedicated case manager to oversee his rehabilitation and progress after he left the neurological unit where he spent nine months.
His recovery has been phenomenal. Five years after the traumatic incident, he has completed a degree in English and Politics and published a book about his experience. Such success, especially after such a grave prognosis, is testament to Jack’s determination and drive, and shows what can be achieved when the right support is in place for those recovering from serious injuries.
Jack was represented by Alison Eddy, an expert Serious Injury lawyer. She said: “It’s fantastic that Jack has been able to rebuild his life following the life-changing injuries he suffered. Like so many of the cases we are involved in, Jack’s story, demonstrates the terrible consequences that car crashes can have – but it also proves that after very serious injuries, with the right support, it is still possible to live life to the full.”
Jack himself spoke movingly of the effect this experience has had on his life: “Life will never be as I had envisaged – I’m now unable to pursue my dream of becoming a teacher, and the psychological scars of losing close friends in the accident will never leave me.”
“But graduating with a 2:1 and having my first book published feels like a personal and professional triumph. It’s been a pleasure working with Irwin Mitchell on their new campaign as they provided invaluable support during my rehabilitation.”
Jack features in our new TV advert, and his recovery has been an inspiration to us all. We’d like to thank him for making the time to play a starring role in the campaign.
If you or a loved one has suffered a serious head or brain injury as the result of an accident, our specialist serious injury solicitors could help you claim compensation. See our Brain & Head Injury Compensation Claims page for more information.
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