Serious Injury Lawyers Secure Settlement To Ensure Car Crash Victim’s Independence

A young woman who suffered a serious brain injury in a car crash during her late teens is finally getting her life back on track thanks to a specialist programme of rehabilitation and support.

Jade Denton, from Gleadless in Sheffield, was a front seat passenger when the car she was travelling in lost control, spun and collided with an oncoming vehicle on Gleadless Road on 22 September 2011.

The passenger side where Jade was sitting took the brunt of the collision and she suffered a severe brain injury, fractures to her ribs, spine, collarbone, and pelvis as well as a ruptured spleen and broken teeth.

Jade underwent emergency surgery at the city’s Northern General Hospital followed by two-months of inpatient rehabilitation including speech and language therapy, physiotherapy and occupational therapy, before she was finally allowed home on 21 November 2011.

She instructed specialist serious injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to help secure support for her recovery and the firm has now secured Jade a seven-figure settlement from the drivers’ insurance company to pay for an expert rehabilitation and care package as well as her own home to help her live independently. 
 
Jade, who was a catering assistant at the time of the collision, has come a long way since the accident, which left her needing major emergency surgery to remove her spleen and repair damaged internal organs. She also had to be fed through a tube in her stomach because she couldn't swallow and spent time on the Neurosurgical department at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital and the Northern General Hospital having surgery on her broken pelvis. 
 
After two months in hospital Irwin Mitchell secured a substantial interim payment so that she could begin her rehabilitation programme which has made a massive difference to her life.

Stacy Clements, a specialist serious injury lawyer from Irwin Mitchell’s Sheffield office representing Jade, said: 

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The past three years have been incredibly challenging for Jade who had to come to terms with the terribly debilitating injuries she sustained in the crash.

“She often feels frustrated about the impact the crash has had on her life but the way she has tackled her recovery and rehabilitation has been really inspiring. It’s a credit to her strength and determination that she has fought back from such a terrible brain injury.

“Jade made incredible progress, including working on her independent living skills such as cooking, organising and budgeting. She returned to work part time, and has managed to sustain this as well as beginning to socialise with friends. She is lucky to have a very supportive family and we will also continue to assist Jade where we can in the future.

“At Irwin Mitchell, we organised a multi-disciplinary approach to her rehabilitation so that jade could get the benefit of specialist brain injury case management, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy and neuro-physiotherapy.

“We know from working with clients like Jade and their families whose lives have been affected by brain injury how important it is to have access to the best possible advice, care, rehabilitation and specialist support to help them overcome their injuries.” Stacy Clements - Associate Solicitor

Following the settlement Jade is now looking forward to being able to make choices over how she would like to lead her life and is looking to buy her first home. 

She said: “It’s been so difficult fighting back over the past few years and it is such a relief that the final settlement has now been agreed as it gives me peace of mind that my needs will be met for the rest of my life.

“The crash changed my life forever and it’s been a really frustrating process trying to get back on track.

“I still have problems with my memory and speech but the rehabilitation programme has been fantastic and I’ve made great progress. I’ve been going to the gym and working with specialist therapists to help re-learn how to do everyday tasks that other people might take for granted such as cooking and managing my life.

“I’ve also had occupational therapy with the aim of getting back to working, which was very important to me.

“I hope my experience shows other people who are either going through something similar themselves, or who has a friend or relative who has suffered a brain injury, that there’s light at the end of the tunnel.”

Jade is speaking out as part of Road Safety Week which runs from 17 to 23 November and is coordinated by charity Brake. She has also recorded a special video of her experiences which is available here.

If you or a loved one has suffered a serious head or brain injury as the result of an accident, our specialist serious injury solicitors could help you claim compensation. See our Brain & Head Injury Compensation Claims page for more information.