Lawyers Helping Man To Secure Rehabilitation Supporting Road Safety Week

Serious injury lawyers representing an electrical engineer who suffered serious injuries in a fatal road traffic collision nearly 18 months ago have joined forces with him to urge all motorists to embrace the theme of this year’s Road Safety Week and do what they can to keep each other safe.

David Kitchen, from Bishop Burton, has been unable to return to the job he loved and is continuing to receive medical treatment for the ankle and hand injuries he sustained in the collision involving his vehicle and a motorcycle on the A631 in Lincolnshire in June 2013.

Charity Brake’s Road Safety Week 2014 has this year adopted it’s the theme of ‘Look Out For Each Other’, and David has joined forces with his serious injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to call on all road users to ensure they do everything they can to share the roads and put each other’s welfare first.

The legal specialists, who helped David access a vital programme of rehabilitation after he was discharged from hospital, are continuing to work to help him gain vital financial support to fund his continued recovery after receiving an admission of liability from the insurer of the motorcyclist involved.

David Kitchen, 29, was sat in stationery traffic waiting to turn right off the A631 on June 30th 2013 when, after he safely pulled out, a motorcyclist travelling down the route overtook the queue and collided with his vehicle.

The motorcyclist sustained fatal injuries in the incident, with a subsequent inquest concluding with a verdict of accidental death. David was taken to Lincoln County Hospital following the crash and received treatment both there and subsequently at Derby Royal Infirmary for serious injuries to his right ankle and hand.

He recalls: “The whole incident was an absolute nightmare and the injuries I suffered are continuing to affect my day-to-day life – I even need further surgery in the next few months. Despite all of this, I really do feel lucky to be alive.”

Upon leaving hospital, Irwin Mitchell helped David to access a rehabilitation programme to support his recovery. The incident had a major impact on his home life, with his partner Gemma caring for him and their home being fitted with aids and adaptations to assist his recovery. Five months on from the crash, he returned work – although not in his previous role.

David added: “While returning to work was fantastic, the injuries I suffered mean I cannot do the job I used to love. I’m still in the process of retraining for a desk-based role – my life will never be the same again due to what have I been through.

“Ever since the crash, I’ve thought so much about road safety and how vital it is for all road users to do what they can to keep themselves and each other safe from harm – at the end of the day, behind every death and serious injury are loved ones left devastated by what has happened.

“I seriously hope, if any good can come from my story, it is that all road users make safety their top priority.”