Rebuilding life after traumatic brain injury to graduate and start a career – Billy’s story

Billy was cycling to work when a car pulled out of a junction and collided with his bicycle, changing his life forever. It was the summer of 2020, and he was about to start his penultimate year studying mechanical engineering at Imperial College London.

Immediately after the crash, Billy picked up his bike and text his boss to say he was going to be late. Someone got him a chair and some water, then he realised his head was bleeding. Billy called 999 but couldn’t remember his name. He managed to keep himself awake until the ambulance arrived, and the last thing he remembers is not being able to move when they asked him to stand up to get on the stretcher.

Billy was diagnosed with an extradural haematoma and underwent emergency brain surgery. He spent the next few days in St Mary’s Hospital trying to understand what had happened, the extent of his injuries, and how he could move forward.

Covid restrictions made it difficult for Billy’s parents to visit him in hospital, and he didn’t want to worry them. When he was first able to go outside in a wheelchair, Billy was overcome with the impact of what had happened and what it meant for those around him.

Billy spent another week in Charing Cross Hospital, while his parents stayed in his student house close by. He attended several medical appointments and started to see occupational therapists and physiotherapists. 

Billy wanted things to get back to normal as soon as possible. He was given information to help him understand his brain injury, but he felt like it was aimed more at older people than a student hoping to build a career. He says, “In hospital the goal was to balance on one foot, but I wanted to go back to university. It sounded over optimistic, but I was stubborn about it. We had to look at what I’d need to do to get there. I knew I had to convince my family as well as the university.”

We were able to start the legal process quickly and arrange a needs assessment for Billy to understand how his injuries affected his daily life. We secured early interim payments to fund his private rehabilitation, and Billy soon had a short- and long-term plan, supported by an occupational therapist, neuropsychologist, physiotherapist and a speech and language therapist.

At first, Billy engaged with his rehabilitation as a promise to his parents, but he just wanted to carry on with his life as normal. After a couple of months, a conversation with his case manager, Renee, helped him to push through his self-confessed stubbornness and avoidance.

He was able to have a very effective final year at university and he says, “My team were crucial to me getting the results. My degree is very telling of the work we did together.”

Unusually for someone with a brain injury, Billy also had a PTSD response caused by his clear memories of the accident. He recalls lots of meetings with his neuropsychologist where he said he was fine, saying, “It was easier working with my physical team. I recognised that I had ticks and stutters so I could see the need for it. It took me ages to accept the impact of PTSD on my mental state, and I thought I’d never open Pandora’s box.” Billy’s neuropsychologist was there for him when he had what he calls, “That moment of realisation,” and he still benefits from her support. 

Since his graduation, Billy has moved to work in Chicago. His rehabilitation team gave him the confidence to ask for the allowances he needed to succeed at interview and get started in the role. Ongoing support from his manager allows him to push himself and make the most of every opportunity.

Billy’s claim settled in 2024. We’ve continued to support Billy with his wider legal needs, and our Private Client Advisory team has advised him on his Will.

Tessa says, “When we settle a claim, we consider everything an injured person may need for the rest of their life. With his entire career and most of his life ahead of him, the compensation provides Billy with the financial security to shape his future around his individual needs. It has helped to restore his independence, support his wellbeing, and given him the long-term security he needs to continue pushing himself forward.”

“When I look at Billy now and compare him to the Billy at the start of the process, it’s clear to see how far he’s come. During the claim, his focus was almost entirely on his education or his job. Everything had to be structured and, even then, things were slipping through the net. Now, Billy has clearly learnt ways to manage his symptoms so he can have a better work life balance.”

Billy’s also back on his bike and cycles trail routes in Chicago with his dad when he can. He’s now training for the Chicago marathon and raising funds for the US brain injury recovery foundation. He says, “It’s a great feeling to be back running again and feeling fully myself.

Reflecting on his experience, Billy says, “Sometimes people read my rush to recovery as drive, but I think it was misguided. It is a journey. I rushed back to London a month after I left hospital as I didn’t want my parents to suffer any more. I wanted to put it all behind me quickly, but that’s not what’s required. I found it hard to accept that recovery needs time and support from lots of different people.”

“After the crash I was planning day-to-day and then month-to-month. I am now excited for my life to be less clear, less planned. I enjoy travel, I live abroad, and I hope that will continue.”

If you, or a loved one, has sustained a brain injury or been involved in a road traffic accident, our legal experts understand the depth of support you need. As the UK’s leading personal injury team*, we’ll help you access the best medical care, compensation and rehabilitation.

*Legal 500 & Chambers ranking