Megan Green Was Injured On The A61 At Robin Hood Village, Wakefield
A woman who suffered serious injuries when she was hit by a car on the A61 near Wakefield has spoken to out to raise awareness of the importance of drivers looking out for other road users and remaining focused while behind the wheel.Megan Green was struck by a car as she crossed the A61 at Robin Hood Village, near Wakefield, in December 2006. Last year, the road was named by the Road Safety Foundation as the most high-risk road in Yorkshire and the Humber.
The organisation found there had been an average of 24 incidents a year on the 10.3km stretch between junction 44 of the M1 and Wakefield from 2010 to 2012. More than half (57 per cent) involved cyclists or pedestrians.
Now Megan and her specialist serious injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell who are helping her to access expert rehabilitation and care are urging road users to take more care on the roads to prevent further incidents.
Megan, who was 15 at the time of the accident, suffered a serious brain injury, including bleeding on the brain, which required emergency surgery to remove a portion of her skull to relieve the pressure and further neurosurgery following the accident. She also suffered a collapsed lung and a number of soft tissue injuries.
She spent seven months at the Leeds General Infirmary (LGI) recovering from her injuries. But after months of rehabilitation and support Megan was able to return to school and then moved on to college, however she still needs assistance from her mother with some day-to-day tasks.
The driver of the vehicle involved was hampered by low winter sun, which is a particular issue during the winter months, and his insurers admitted partial liability for the accident.
Megan has undergone a long recovery process and through the help, support and rehabilitation arranged by Irwin Mitchell, she has managed to get her life back on track and amaze doctors with her recovery. She is also under the care of the Court of Protection team at Irwin Mitchell.
Megan, now 23, said: “Since the accident in 2006 I have been determined to get my life back on track and have worked hard with the help of specialist rehabilitation services to recover. It has been a real struggle, but I feel that I can now start to put the accident behind me and get on with my life.
“I hope that now the A61 has been named as the most high-risk road in the region, motorists will take extra care while travelling it, particularly when weather conditions make it hard to see hazards such as pedestrians.
“Unfortunately, I can’t turn the clock back and change what happened, but hopefully by speaking about my experiences drivers who use the stretch of road will ensure they remain vigilant while behind the wheel, particularly in the winter, when the low sun can reduce visibility and put vulnerable road users at greater risk.”
If you or a loved one has been injured in road traffic accident as a pedestrian, our pedestrian accident lawyers could help you claim compensation. Visit our Road Traffic Accident Compensation page for more information.