Romford Man Speaks Of How Injuries Continue To Affect His Life Four Years On As He Backs Awareness Campaign

A pedestrian ‘left for dead’ in a hit and run has spoken of how his injuries continue to affect his life nearly four years on.

Niraj Sudra suffered life-changing injuries, including a torn aorta, fractured skull, spinal fractures as well as multiple leg, pelvis and elbow breaks when a white BMW ploughed into him as he stood at a traffic island.

Following the collision which happened in Green Lane, Ilford, East London, Niraj instructed expert serious injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to help him receive the specialist care and therapies he needs to overcome his injuries.

Despite the BMW driver never being traced, Niraj’s legal team has reached an agreement with the Motor Insurers’ Bureau. The organisation, which compensates applicants following injury due to an untraced driver and fights to reduce uninsured drivers on the roads, will help fund Niraj’s rehabilitation.

Niraj, 37, of Romford, is using Action for Brain Injury Week to speak about how his physical and cognitive injuries continue to affect him and his determination to focus on his rehabilitation. This year’s campaign focus on how memory loss affects people after a brain injury

Expert Opinion

“The last few years have been incredibly difficult for Niraj and his family as they attempted to come to terms with how his life was turned upside down in an instant.

The long-term impact that Niraj’s injuries will have on him can’t be underestimated and he faces many challenges ahead.

We are pleased to have secured him funds to pay for his ongoing rehabilitation with the assistance of a case manager which will be key in Niraj being able to lead as an independent a life as possible.

We will continue to support Niraj through his recovery. If people do have information about the collision on 13 November 2016 in which he was injured we would urge them to come forward. Any detail could prove key in helping Niraj see the driver brought to justice.”
Natasha Fairs - Senior Associate Solicitor

Niraj had been out with his friends. They were returning home when he was struck by a white BMW while standing on a traffic island ready to cross Green Lane at about 1.10am on Sunday, 13 November, 2016.

The car momentarily stopped before speeding off towards Cobham Road.

Niraj, who was a self-employed web designer and had a successful venture selling media online and had also accepted an offer with a technology firm before the collision, was taken to the Royal London Hospital.

X-rays and scans showed he had suffered a fractured skull, spinal fractures, broken ribs, a broken right elbow, a double fractured pelvis, broken left femur, fibula, tibia and ankle as well as a torn aorta and collapsed lungs. 

Niraj was in an induced coma for 10 days and underwent surgery to fit a stent in his aortic tear and numerous surgeries to have his pelvis, leg and ankle pinned and plated. He spent more than a month in hospital.

Niraj is now living back with his mother who has been helping to care for him.

Niraj is still unable to walk long distances because of his injuries – his pins in his pelvis cause discomfort and restrict his movement. His left leg is now one centimetre longer than his right leg and he suffers sharp pain in his left ankle. Niraj has significant scarring on his body and face and suffers from constant back pain, is unable to straighten his right arm and cannot grip properly with his left or right hands due to nerve damage.

He continues to experience severe pain, depression and memory loss.

Niraj said: “I used to be very active and sociable. I would be out and about playing various sports, going to the gym, meeting friends and family and thoroughly enjoyed regular outdoor activities like camping, hiking and abseiling.

“However, all that changed on the night I was knocked down. For a long-time after the accident I struggled to even get out of bed because of the pain and the limited function. My journey from wheelchair to crutches and now to walking short distances has not been easy for me and my family. Whilst I have made some progress I’m still living in constant pain and don’t go out and enjoy the many activities I used to enjoy. I don’t want to be a burden on anyone. It makes me anxious.

“When I have bad days I can’t watch a film or read a book, I find it very difficult to concentrate. I will read a page and not recall what I have read and have to go back and re-read it.

“It’s difficult not to get frustrated and angry at how my life has changed. I wanted to get back to work so one of my friends offered me an administration job. However, I really struggled; I was constantly forgetting things and couldn’t do the role as someone else would have been able to. I didn’t want to take advantage of his good nature so I had to leave the position.

“Knowing that I’m now starting to make progress in my recovery has provided with a major boost. I would like to see the driver responsible caught and would ask anyone with information to come forward. However, my major focus is putting everything I have into my rehabilitation and getting back more of my life.

“It’s important that people realise that the brain injuries can affect people in different ways and it’s not just injuries on the outside that affect people.” 

Anyone with information about the collision should contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. 

Action for Brain Injury Weeks runs from 28 September to 4 October and is organised by the charity Headway. For more information visit www.headway.org.uk/news-and-campaigns/campaigns/memory-loss-a-campaign-to-remember/

Find out more about Irwin Mitchell's expertise in handling serious injury cases