Specialist Serious Injury Lawyers Secure Five-Figure Settlement

A man who was left with a traumatic brain injury following a vicious assault in Sheffield has spoken of his relief at receiving a five-figure settlement from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA).

Simon Frost, 38, from Swallownest, in Sheffield, got off a bus in Sheffield on 19 July 2013 where he was planning to meet friends for a birthday celebration. He witnessed two people violently attacking a young man.

Simon tried to help him but was violently assaulted, left unconscious on Pond Street and suffered from a traumatic brain injury. He was punched causing him to fall to the ground and then he was repeatedly kicked by his attackers.

The warehouse worker suffered a huge bleed and bruising on his brain and a skull fracture. Since the accident, Simon suffers from problems with attention, memory and his temper which has led to the breakdown of his relationship with his girlfriend and ruined friendships.

Simon instructed specialist serious injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate his case. They made an application to the CICA. The CICA initially awarded Simon the sum of £1,800 but his legal team appealed the decision which resulted in Simon being awarded a significant five-figure sum. 

Expert Opinion

“This was a mindless act of violence which left Simon with life-changing injuries. We are pleased to have secured a settlement for Simon from the CICA which operates a very limited scheme to enable innocent victims of violent crime to recover compensation.

“Brain injuries can have such a devastating effect on both individuals and their families. The most serious injuries can cause long term disability leaving those injured needing 24 hour care and rehabilitation for life.

“The settlement will enable Simon to access private specialist therapy in the future such as neuropsychology and occupational therapy. Simon is looking forward to the future and trying to put this horrendous ordeal behind him.”
David Withers - Partner, ATE Product Manager and BTE Relationship Partner

After Simon was assaulted, he was rushed to the Northern General Hospital, a major trauma centre in Sheffield. In hospital, he had a CT scan of his brain. He was carefully monitored before being referred to the Head Injury Clinic for outpatient rehabilitation which is ongoing. He initially required a significant amount of support.

Police officers, who were in duty in plain clothes the night when Simon was assaulted, saw the attack. They arrested the two men and they were convicted of assault causing actual bodily harm. They were sentenced to three and four years in prison respectively.

Simon said: “When I got off the bus, I saw the young man being attacked and felt I had to do something to help him – I wouldn’t have been able to cope with the guilt if I had just walked away. I am pleased I was able to help him – he even came to visit me in hospital and he made a full recovery from the attack.

“I am relieved that the legal case has finished and I can now start to put the whole thing behind me and getting on with my life. I want to thank the emergency services, the hospital staff and Irwin Mitchell for their huge support during what was the most difficult time of my life. Without their support, I would not have made the progress that I have. In particular, I want to thank Dr Rajiv Singh, Consultant in Rehabilitative Medicine at the Northern General Hospital. He has been and continues to be a tremendous support for me.

“I do feel nervous and a bit on edge when I go out now – I am learning to cope with this and also the impact of my injuries. After the accident, I had about eight weeks off work and felt very isolated from my friends. I also stopped playing and watching football which I really enjoyed with my friends. I tend to keep myself to myself now. I hope to return to college as I really want to start a new career.”

If you or a loved one has suffered as a result of a violent assault,  our criminal injury claims team could help you  to secure compensation. Visit our Assault Compensation page for more information.