Joe Revill was left severely brain injured after dangerous driver ploughed into his motorbike

A Formula 1 technician forced to give up his career after being hit by a car said he can finally move on after the driver’s insurers admitted liability for the life-changing crash.

Joe Revill, from Loughborough, was driving his Suzuki motorbike along B5324 in Osgathorpe on April 16 last year, with his girlfriend Kirsty Jarram as a pillion passenger when a car driving on the wrong side of the road crashed into them.

The 28-year-old was taken to Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham by Air Ambulance and diagnosed with a severe brain injury, fractures to his leg, wrists, collar bone, also damage to his left lung, a torn aorta and he contracted hospital acquired pneumonia during his admission.

Kirsty, who sustained a head injury, fractured pelvis, vertebra and leg and had to have pins and metal plates inserted in her back and leg, instructed specialist serious injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell, who took over Joe’s case from another law firm.

Irwin Mitchell pursued driver Philip Damiani’s insurers after he pleaded guilty at Leicester Magistrates court on September 25, 2015 to causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

But despite Damiani’s conviction, for which he was sentenced to two years imprisonment, reduced to four months on appeal, and a three-year driving ban, his insurers refused to admit liability on his behalf.

After more than 12 months in which the insurers argued that Joe was partly responsible for the collision, the company accepted full liability for the life-changing crash, meaning Irwin Mitchell can now start negotiating a settlement for Joe who needs specialist rehabilitation as he continues to work towards his recovery.

Joe still suffers from memory problems, and can have difficulty concentrating on certain tasks. He’s recently taken up go-karting in a bid to build some semblance of an active social life, but relies heavily upon Kirsty and other family members for their care and support.

He said: “This whole episode has been an enormous strain on Kirsty and I who have both spent the last year working hard on our recovery while trying to maintain life as a normal couple. The struggle to get the other driver’s insurers to accept liability on his behalf just added to our worry and distress as we have both been unable to work and have had to cope with the hardship that situation brings.

“To now know that Irwin Mitchell will be able to get a settlement which will pay for my ongoing rehabilitation is a huge weight off my mind and allows Kirsty and I to finally move on with our lives and put our full focus into recovery. To say that is a relief is an understatement.”

Joe, who worked for six years as a Formula 1 Technician, supported teams such as Red Bull, Mercedes, Force India and Marussia, before his injuries left him unable to return to the job he loved.

Expert Opinion

“This horrific accident left both Joe and Kirsty with significant injuries. Joe has been unable to return to his career. Mr Damiani was driving in a dangerous manner which caused the accident and it was only right his insurers accepted full liability so we could begin to secure a settlement which will fund Joe’s ongoing rehabilitation and any support he may need as he moves forward with his life.

“The admission of liability means Joe can now place his full focus on his rehabilitation rather than worry about the financial implications of being severely injured and out of work.” David Withers - Partner, ATE Product Manager and BTE Relationship Partner