Expert Injury Lawyers Secure Care And Rehabilitation For Rest Of His Life

By Dave Grimshaw

A former British soldier left severely brain damaged in a car accident in Germany has been awarded a £2m settlement which will guarantee him the care and rehabilitation he needs for the rest of his life.

Tom Burt, 25, from Bournemouth, was working in the armed forces in June 2006 at the Fallingbostel Army base in Germany when he suffered serious head injuries when the car he was a passenger in collided with a lorry on a German autobahn motorway.

At the time Tom was a trooper in the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment of the British Army but was discharged on medical grounds as a result of the accident.

Tom and his father Graham instructed specialist injury and international litigation lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to help provide for Tom’s future after his injuries left him with permanent brain damage meaning he will never be able to work again.

Experts at Irwin Mitchell, who help many victims of car accidents abroad, have now helped secure Tom a £2m settlement from the driver’s insurance company which will help cover the care, rehabilitation and therapy he will need for the rest of his life, as well as compensating him for his loss of earnings.                                                                                              

Phil Banks, a Partner at Irwin Mitchell’s travel team specialising in helping people seriously injured in accidents abroad is representing Tom and his father, he said: “This was a tragic accident in which Tom suffered serious injuries leaving him with ongoing problems with his memory and concentration and a range of other emotional difficulties.

“We have been working hard in pursuing a claim against a German insurer to secure this settlement which will enable Tom to live as independent a life as possible and will give the family the security of knowing that he will be able to cover the costs of the care and other treatment that he needs in future. The compensation will also provide relief for Tom’s family, particularly his father, who have been superb in caring for him.”

As well as suffering a severe brain injury, Tom also sustained multiple fractures to his skull and face. His behaviour and attitude have changed and his is now more prone to becoming frustrated and impatient. He has also been left unable to drive. He will need support in day to day living for the rest of his life and ongoing rehabilitation.                                                                        

Tom was in hospital in Germany for two weeks before being transferred to Selly Oak Hospital for a further two weeks. He was then treated at Poole Hospital for three months before being transferred to specialist armed forces rehabilitation centre Headley Court until 2007.
                                                                                                                
It is now hoped that the settlement that Tom will receive will enable him to lead a more structured and normal a life as possible given the injuries that he has received.

Tom’s father, Graham, a crane driver, said: “It’s been a very difficult seven years as Tom has had to come to terms with the fact that his brain will never function the same again. He is now really a child living in an adult’s body and he finds it very difficult to cope with this.

“Tom’s injuries have put a strain on his and our family’s lives and I am pleased that the settlement that he will receive will hopefully help him live as full a life as possible and give him more independence, as well as enabling him to have access to any ongoing treatment that he needs.”

Read more about Irwin Mitchell's expertise in accidents abroad.