Specialist Serious Injury Lawyer Secure 11-Year-Old Boy Interim Settlement To Cover Rehabilitation Costs

An eleven-year-old boy that had to be placed in an induced coma after a drunk-driver fleeing the scene of a hit and run collision crashed into the boy’s grandmother’s car, has now received a welcome late Christmas present after lawyers secured an interim payment as part of his rehabilitation package.

Jack Marshall, who lives in Sheffield, suffered a broken pelvis, three broken bones in his leg, several fractured ribs and broke both arms as a result of the crash, which occurred when Scott Ford hit the car being driven by Jack’s grandmother, Susan Sykes, 61, as she was turning onto the drive of Jack’s home. The injuries were so severe that Jack was placed in an induced coma at Sheffield Children’s Hospital.

Mr Ford pleaded guilty last month to causing serious injury by dangerous driving and driving while under the influence of alcohol. Further to this, he has also pleaded guilty to careless driving and failing to stop and report an accident in relation to the collision prior to him crashing into Susan’s car.

The payment secured by expert serious injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell will go towards helping Jack and his mother, Rebecca, as Jack continues his rehabilitation. 

Sadly Jack lost his father, Simon, to cancer in January 2014. Shortly after Simon’s death, the care agency business ran by Rebecca folded, leading to her, Jack and Jack’s older sister Bethany, 16, being evicted from their family home. The family had only moved into their council accommodation three weeks prior to the accident. 

Christopher Kardahji, the serious injury legal specialist at Irwin Mitchell representing Jack and his family, said: 

Expert Opinion

“This is a tragic case and highlights to drivers the real consequences of accidents on the roads as a result of drink-driving.

“An eleven-year-old boy has suffered devastating injuries, which will take many more months to fully recover from, because someone did not believe the laws applied to them and got behind the wheel while under the influence of alcohol.

“We will continue to work towards a full rehabilitation settlement package for Jack to ensure he has access to the specialist treatment, care and assistance he needs to make a full recovery. We hope this interim payment can provide just some small glimmer of hope at the end of a dark year for the family.” Christopher Kardahji - Team Leader & Senior Associate

Although Jack suffered his horrific injuries on the 26th June and is still in a wheelchair as his recovery continues, he still made it to his first day of secondary school, at Yewlands Academy, less than two-and-a-half months after the crash.

Rebecca, 36, said: “I am in awe of the strength Jack has shown since his accident. He was so determined not to miss his first day at secondary school, and I am so proud that he managed to attend.

“We know there is still a long way to go on his road to recovery, but we are grateful to our legal team for helping secure this part of Jack’s rehabilitation package, as it will enable us to ensure Jack can receive the proper care and assistance he needs to get better.”

Mr Ford is due to be sentenced on 17th January, 2017, the third anniversary of Simon’s death, at Sheffield Crown Court.

Our specialist road traffic accident lawyers have experience helping a wide number of people who have suffered injuries following a car accident. Visit our Car Accident Claims page for more information.