Specialist Serious Injury Lawyers At Irwin Mitchell Secure Funds For Man

A passenger seriously hurt in an aircraft crash has been awarded nearly £100,000 to help pay for his continued rehabilitation.

A High Court judge has ordered that Michael Foreman receive just short of £99,500 from the pilot following the crash which happened when a microlight aircraft plummeted nearly 200 feet to the ground when the engine cut out.

Michael, from Telford Shropshire, was a passenger in the aircraft. He suffered several spinal fractures, a fractured chest bone and a number of broken bones in his feet.  He had to pulled clear of the wreckage after a small fire broke out.

Following the crash the 55-year-old instructed expert specialist injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to help secure funds to help boost his recovery.

The case against pilot Graham Williams, 66, went ahead yesterday in his absence after the court heard he had started to transfer assets into his wife’s name and had failed to engage in the legal process after moving to Spain.

Angela Batchelor, specialist serious injury lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, representing Michael, said after the case: “Michael was fortunate to survive the crash in which he suffered a number of very serious injuries.

“The injuries Michael suffered in the collision have had a great impact on his day to day life. Although he is making good progress in his recovery Michael has a long way to go to try and overcome his injuries.

“We are pleased that the Court has recognised this and we hope that the funds awarded will provide Michael with renewed focus to continue his recovery.”

The crash happened at Michael Shifnal Airfield in Shropshire in July 2015. Mr Williams had jointly owned the aircraft for several years before taken sole ownership of the microlight around two weeks before the crash.

The 2006 built Rans microlight Michael was a passenger in had flown four successful circuits of the airfield before the crash, according to an Air Accident Investigation Branch report.

However, shortly after take-off on its fifth flight, the microlight suffered an “uncommanded loss of engine rpm” and “struck the ground in a steep nose-down attitude,” it added.

The report also found that Mr Williams had 282 hours’ flying experience. The pilot had carried out checks on the aircraft on the day and the microlight had had a 100 hour inspection 18 days earlier.

“There was no evidence of a pre-existing defect within the engine, its controls or fuel supply which would have prevented the engine from operating normally,” air crash investigators found.

Michael was forced to undergo surgery on his broken bones. He still suffers mobility problems and found it difficult to return to flying following the crash

He said: “Little did I know that what was meant to be a fun day ended in such terrible circumstances.

“I’m still living with the consequences of what happened that day; I have trouble sleeping and suffer from severe back pain. Even things that people take for granted such as putting on a pair of socks can be a struggle.

“I used to really enjoy walking before the crash but now I even struggle to walk short distances.

“I’m thankful that the court has settled this matter, allowing me to concentrate on making further progress to overcome my injuries.”

Read more about Irwin Mitchell's expertise in handling serious injury cases.