Woman Suffered Head Injury After Being Knocked Down By Motorbike

A woman who was hit by a motorbike as she was crossing the road and suffered serious injuries has spoken out for the first time after expert lawyers secured her access to vital funds so she can continue her rehabilitation.

Julia Brown, from Whitstable, in Kent, was crossing the road at Knights Hill near to West Norwood Station when a motorbike which was overtaking a bus hit her and she fell to the ground on 26 June 2013.

She was rushed to King’s College Hospital in London where she was diagnosed with a fractured skull and stayed in hospital for nearly a week to ensure her condition was stable. Due to her head injury she suffers from tinnitus and vertigo. She underwent a course of vestibular physiotherapy but has relapses of vertigo. She also lost a third of her hearing in her right ear. She tried a hearing aid but this was not successful. Julia has also completely lost her sense of smell.

After the accident, Julia instructed specialist serious injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate what happened and has now received a £50,000 settlement from the driver’s insurer for the pain and suffering caused by her injuries and also her loss of earnings.

Expert Opinion

“Julia suffered a serious head injury as a result of the accident which has left her with permanent injuries significantly affecting her life. Her hearing and sense of smell have been severely damaged and this is not something she is able to recover from.

“We are pleased we have secured Julia a settlement to help go towards her continuing treatment and to help her progress throughout her recovery.

“The accident highlights the importance of all drivers taking responsibility for their actions on the roads to ensure the most vulnerable road users are protected from the risk of injuries.”
Laura Murphy - Solicitor

Julia, 57, said: “Due to the extent of my injuries the accident itself is a bit blurry – I remember lying on the floor after the motorbike hit me and then being taken to the hospital by paramedics in an ambulance.

“I have really struggled to come to terms with the extent of the permanent damage sustained from the accident. I suffer from terrible vertigo, which affects my balance and the constant ringing in my ears from the tinnitus is difficult to come to terms with. I also have completely lost my sense of smell – I used to love going out and trying new restaurants, but this is just not something I enjoy anymore.

“However, I do feel incredibly lucky that I am here today and have made good progress on the road to recovery. I am relieved that the legal case has now finished and would like to thank my legal team at Irwin Mitchell for helping and supporting me through this process. Hopefully now I can begin to put this terrible incident behind me and move on with my life.”

If you have been involved in a road traffic accident as a pedestrian, our specialist road traffic accident solicitors could help you to claim compensation. See our Pedestrian Accident Compensation page for more information.