Raising Awareness Of Road Safety After Sustaining Serious Injuries

A 21-year-old man who was seriously hurt in a road traffic accident has spoken out for the first time after the driver of the other vehicle was sentenced to eight months detention and disqualified from driving.

Tom Martin suffered a catalogue of injuries including elbow and pelvic fractures, as well as ligament and tendon damage, when a van collided with a car he was travelling in as a front-seat passenger while he was travelling home from work in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne.

The driver of the van, Daniel Tait, fled the scene but was later traced by police.

Tom was taken to the Royal Victoria Infirmary by ambulance where he remained for 12 days. 

Following the collision, Tom instructed expert serious injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate and help him access the specialist treatment and therapies he requires.

Tom, of Cowgate in Newcastle upon Tyne has now joined with his legal team in warning of the consequences of dangerous driving.

It comes after Mr Tait was sentenced in connection with the crash.

Expert Opinion

“This is an awful case where Tom has suffered a number of serious injuries as a result of someone else’s recklessness.

Tom has gone on to make great progress since the accident but still faces daily challenges.

It is important that we raise awareness on road safety and the consequences of not taking care on the roads.

We are continuing to support Tom in any way we can and are determined to help him access any ongoing care and therapies he needs.”
Adele Jepson - Solicitor

Tom was being driven home from his shift at work at around 10.15pm on 10 January when Mr Tait, who was travelling in the opposite direction, lost control of his van on the A167 at Cowgate.  He crossed over the central reservation and grass verge onto the wrong side of the dual carriageway and collided with the vehicle in which Tom was a passenger.

Tom spent almost two weeks in hospital and underwent surgery to his left elbow, including the re-attachment of a ligament, and subsequently had to use an elbow brace. He also sustained a fracture to his pelvis and needed to use a gutter frame and crutches to mobilise which then resulted in back pain. Tom was off work for over three months and received physiotherapy treatment which was arranged by his legal team.

Tom said: “The past few months have been horrible.  Before the accident, I was independent and spent a lot of my time doing what I enjoyed like going to the gym, walking my dog, spending time with my girlfriend and socialising.

“Following the crash however, I struggled a lot with pain, being confined to the house and feeling anxious.  I felt like a different person.

“While nothing will change what has happened, I hope that by speaking out it will make people more aware of how dangerous driving can affect others.  I wouldn’t want this to happen to anyone else.”

At a plea hearing at Newcastle Crown Court on 20 August, Mr Tait pleaded guilty to two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving as well as numerous other motoring offences.

Mr Tait was sentenced on 1 November at Newcastle Crown Court in relation to causing two counts of serious injury by dangerous driving, driving with no licence and no insurance, failing to stop and failing to provide a breath specimen. He was found to have been under the influence of alcohol at the time. Due to his age at the time of the offence, he received eight months detention and was disqualified from driving.

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