Expert Lawyers Secured Settlement For Cleveland Woman Injured Abroad

A radiographer from Cleveland  who was forced to take five months off work after suffering injuries in a car crash in Cyprus, has spoken of the importance of travel insurance after expert lawyers at Irwin Mitchell, secured her a five-figure compensation settlement.

Lynne Robinson, 55, was holidaying near Paphos in December 2011 and was returning to her hotel after spending the day at a horse riding club when the car she was travelling in was struck by another vehicle.

She suffered a fractured wrist and her arm was placed in plaster for four weeks during which time she was reliant on friends and family for care and assistance with her everyday living.

The injuries she suffered caused her difficulty with gripping and lifting, as well as pain in her fingers and shoulder. Lynne was unable to return to full time employment as a radiographer until nine months later and had considered retraining as a teacher as she was worried that the continued restriction of movement in her fingers would affect her ability to carry out her job. 

Lynne instructed expert international personal injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate the incident and they have now secured her a five-figure settlement to cover her pain and suffering, loss of earnings and the treatment she underwent to overcome her injuries.

Lynne is now speaking out to warn tourists of the need to take out appropriate travel insurance before travelling abroad so that they can get the medical treatment they need in the event of an accident.

Her  comments come after figures from the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) Road Safety Performance Index found Cyprus recording the largest percentage in fatal road crashes in the EU, with just over a quarter 26.7 per cent of fatal collision in the EU taking place in the country.

A total of 57 road deaths were recorded in Cyprus in 2015, surpassing the previous year by 12, which represented the first time an increase in recorded road deaths since 2001.

Raj Girn, an expert international personal injury lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, who represented Lynne, said: “We are regularly contacted by British tourists who have been injured abroad, with a significant number of these people being involved in accidents on the road.

“Many tourists assume that they will receive the equivalent of NHS treatment free when they are travelling abroad, especially in the EU and while some of their treatment may be covered by reciprocal agreements, this is not guaranteed and differs from country to country.

“It is essential when travelling to ensure that your travel insurance covers you in the event of an accident, and covers the country to which you are travelling and the activities you intend to enjoy. Many policies have exclusions in the small print.”

“We are glad to have negotiated a settlement for Lynne as the funds will cover the extensive physiotherapy Lynne underwent during her recovery as well as her loss of earnings during the time she was unable to work.

“Although Lynne has suffered injuries that significantly affected her employment and recreational activities, her injuries could have been far more serious and life changing on another occasion. Lynne’s case should act as a reminder for drivers, at home and abroad, of the need to remain vigilant on the roads and to ensure they take their safety and the safety of other road users seriously.”

Lynne said: “I never expected to be involved in a car crash during my visit to Cyprus and even after it happened I never thought my injuries would have such an impact on my life.

“Thankfully, I had health and travel insurance and was able to access medical treatment in Cyprus before flying home to the UK. I hope other people take note of this and make sure they are covered before they head off on holiday.

“The injuries that I suffered left me unable to work for a time and requiring extensive physiotherapy. The settlement I’ve now received has gone some way to helping me to bring this terrible experience to a close and I hope what I’ve been through will mean people make sure they have insurance in place before going abroad.”

If you or a loved on has been injured in a road traffic accident abroad, our personal injury lawyers could help you to claim compensation. Visit our Road Traffic Accident Abroad Claims page for more information.