Family Receiving Support From Irwin Mitchell Speaks For First Time About How Life Has Been Changed Forever

A father is urging motorists to kill their speed after his son suffered brain damage and lost a leg in a high speed crash.

Jason McGarvey suffered a serious brain injury, multiple leg fractures, a broken pelvis and lacerated liver in the crash which happened when a driver of a car he was a passenger in lost control and smashed into a tree. The 32-year-old had to have part of his left leg amputated at the scene.

Following the crash, which happened in Sydenham, south-east London, Jason’s family instructed expert serious injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to help secure funds for his rehabilitation and the round the clock care he requires.

His father Michael is now using Road Safety Week to warn others of the life-changing consequences speeding can have.

Speaking for the first time he said: “You never think that something like this will happen to your family, and then it does and it turns your life upside down.

“The injuries Jason suffered mean all our lives, but especially his, will never be the same again. By telling Jason’s story I just hope that drivers realise the terrible impact speeding and not keeping their eye on the road can have on people and their families. Motorists need to stick to the speed limit.”

Jason, lived at home in Penge with Michael and worked for his father’s road works company before the collision.

He spent more than three weeks in Kings College Hospital’s intensive care unit following the crash which happened on 10 November, 2012.

He then remained in hospital until the end of January 2013 before he was transferred to Blackheath Rehabilitation Centre. Jason left the centre just before Christmas that year.

He was then a resident at Acacia Care Centre for more than three years. During this time he underwent extensive rehabilitation to help talk and feed himself again.

Jason, who is supported by Michael and Irwin Mitchell’s Court of Protection Team, has recently moved into a specially adapted home to trial a period of independent living. It comes after the law firm secured interim payments to help fund a therapy and support team for him.

His sister Sinaid has also returned from living in Australia to spend more time with her brother who suffers cognitive, memory and behavioural problems.

Sinaid said:  “The most difficult part about Jason’s brain injury is accepting how it has changed his personality. He gets frustrated and finds it hard to accept that things he once found so natural are now a real challenge.

“It has been a real challenge for Jason to accept what happened that day and the daily frustrations of dealing with those changes.

“It’s not easy but as a family we are trying to remain positive and focus on the future.

“Jason’s move into a new home has provided him with a major boost. I’m hoping it will spur him on to regain a little bit more independence with his daily routine.”

Irwin Mitchell is supporting Brake’s Road Safety Week which runs from 20-26 November. This year the road safety charity is urging drivers to slow down to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on the roads.

Sarah Griggs is an expert serious injury lawyer at Irwin Mitchell’s London office.

Expert Opinion

Sadly Jason’s story and struggle to overcome his terrible injuries is one we often see first-hand.

“We fully support Brake’s Road Safety Week and join Jason in asking motorists to slow down and help reduce the number of serious accidents caused by motorists who think it is acceptable to break the law. The consequences of speeding can last a lifetime.

“Irwin Mitchell will continue to work with Jason and his family to make sure he gets the specialist help and support he needs to regain more of his independence.” Sarah Griggs - Partner

Read more about Irwin Mitchell's expertise in handling road traffic accident cases.