Woman Reveals Determination To Overcome Multiple Injuries

A motorist seriously injured in a head-on crash caused by a driver has spoken for the first time about her determination to return to health.
 
Rachel Carter suffered multiple fractures, including to her spine and pelvis, when a car ploughed into her vehicle as she made her way home from work.

The 37-year-old lost consciousness. She came round as firefighters took an hour to cut her out of the wreckage.

Rachel, of Trebetherick, Cornwall, was airlifted to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth. She underwent several operations and three blood transfusions.

Following the crash Rachel, who has been forced to give up her job working in a friend’s restaurant instructed expert serious injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate and help her access the rehabilitation and therapies she requires.

Rachel has now joined her legal team in using Road Safety Week to warn of the impact of drivers not obeying the Highway Code.
 
It comes after the insurance company of the other driver admitted liability and agreed to calls from Rachel’s legal team to provide interim payments to fund her rehabilitation while the parties work towards a full settlement.

Expert Opinion

“Through our work we often see the terrible consequences that innocent road users and their families can be left to face through no fault of their own

“While many months may have passed since the collision, and while Rachel has made great progress in her recovery, the effect of what happened continues to have a major influence on Rachel’s life and the lives of her family.

“We are continuing to support Rachel to ensure she can make the best possible recovery. We fully support Road Safety Week and join Rachel in urging motorists to obey the Highway Code at all times to help reduce the number of people seriously injured or killed on the roads.” Georgina Moorhead - Associate Solicitor

Find out more about Irwin Mitchell's expertise in handling serious injury cases 

Rachel was driving home after finishing a shift at her friend’s restaurant in Wadebridge when the collision happened on the B3314 at about 11pm on 31 July, 2018.

She had just crossed Trewornan Bridge when a car travelling in the opposite direction attempted to overtake another vehicle. The car veered on to the wrong side of the road and into Rachel’s vehicle.

Rachel suffered multiple fractures including to her spine, pelvis and sternum. She also suffered seven broken ribs, a broken leg, a fractured elbow, a dislocated jaw and deep cuts to her knees and legs. The injury to her elbow included loss of bone and almost resulted in Rachel having to have her arm amputated.

She has undergone several operations on her elbow with more surgery planned in the New Year.

Through her extensive rehabilitation she can now walk short distances unaided. However, she has been unable to return to work as she cannot stand for long and cannot hold anything with her right arm.

“The last year or so and trying to come to terms with what happened and what seems endless hospital appointments has been incredibly difficult. Although I blacked out following the moment of impact, I have suffered with traumatic flashbacks and nightmares ever since.

“Before the crash I was so active, enjoying water sports such as scuba diving and windsurfing as well as running. I was also volunteering at the National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth and was involved in conservation. I’m really passionate about conservation and hoped that this would lead to a full-time career but I’ve now had to give this up.

“I now have difficulty concentrating and can be doing a simple task then suddenly forget what I’m doing.

“I try not to think about the crash and how it has affected me, but because I have a lot of down time now it’s sometimes difficult not to.

“The mental and physical effects of the crash are with me every single day. I want to try and look to the future. I set myself small goals as to what I want to achieve and am taking it one step at a time. The big one for me would be to return to water sports and running and work.

“I just hope people realise the damage they can cause in even a couple of seconds and take care on the roads.”

The driver of the car that crashed into Rachel was convicted of driving without due care and attention at Bodmin Magistrates’ Court earlier this year.

The driver’s insurance company has since admitted liability for the crash.

Road Safety Week runs from 18-24 November and is organised by Brake.