Road traffic accident

A Manchester art graduate, who has battled catastrophic injuries following a serious road traffic accident, has drawn inspiration from her life changing experiences to pursue her ambition to become a film-maker.

In December 2006, 23-year-old Louisa Mayman, was travelling from her home in Withington to spend Christmas with her family in Staffordshire. She had only just begun her journey when a Mini collided head on with the car in which she was travelling. 

The collision took place on the A556 near Knutsford in Cheshire. Louisa was a passenger in a car being driven by her friend. The driver of the Mini that struck them lost control of her vehicle when speeding and crossed to the wrong side of the carriageway, causing a head on collision. The Mini driver was convicted of driving without due care and attention.

Louisa was initially rushed to Wythenshawe Hospital where she was found to have sustained a head injury and multiple fractures to all four of her limbs.  She had to spend many weeks as an inpatient at hospitals in Manchester and Burton upon Trent, followed by many weeks of home based therapy and rehabilitation.

Louisa's injuries were so serious that she ended up missing a full year of her degree studies at Manchester Metropolitan University. However, such was Louisa's determination that she subsequently returned to her degree course and despite the extra difficulties posed by her injuries, through her own hard work, she successfully graduated in June 2009, obtaining an excellent first class degree in Interactive Arts. 

As part of her final year exhibition, Louisa took inspiration from her life changing experiences following the accident, to make a short film called "The Highest Low".  The film deals with the painful and difficult journey she has had to endure following her injuries and demonstrates how life is now much changed for her. 

Having successfully graduated Louisa is now looking to develop her career in the film industry.  Louisa commented, "The film industry is not an easy one to break into, but I believe I can produce work that people can relate to. Making "The Highest Low" was a therapeutic process for me and I’m glad people can identify with it".

Louisa’s compensation claim relating to her injuries is still ongoing.  Her solicitor, Stephen Nye, an RTA claims specialist, from law firm Irwin Mitchell, explained: "In cases such as Louisa's, it can take several years before medical experts can give a definite prognosis about the long term impact of her injuries on matters such as future employment prospects and care needs.  However, we have been able to secure interim payments for Louisa, which have been paid out by the other driver's  insurance company.

"Louisa is an undeniably talented artist and has achieved remarkable success given what she has been through.  Her film captures very well the problems she has faced and shows in a very personal way how bad driving by other road users can have devastating and life long consequences for innocent victims.  Louisa is planning to use part of her interim settlement to help fund her next film project, the results of which I look forward to viewing".