Man compensated after horrific accident
A man has been compensated with close to £1.5 million pounds after he was involved in a horrific road traffic accident.
The man, who is in his forties, sustained a number of personal injuries to his body as a result of the accident.
At the time of the accident, the man was riding his motorbike to work when a large vehicle drove into his path as it tried to enter a building site. The man was knocked by the side of the vehicle, which launched him onto the air. He then landed on the windscreen of another vehicle, after which he fell to the ground.
The man was then taken to hospital, where he underwent emergency treatment, and stayed in intensive care for a considerable amount of time. After being moved from the intensive care unit, the man remain in hospital for six weeks, recovering from his injuries,
Stephen Hill, a personal injury who specialises with serious injuries, represented the man. He said that his client was lucky to be alive after such a big accident.
Lucky to be alive after horrid accident
He also explained some of the injuries that the rider sustained as a result of the accident, saying that: “He suffered fractures to his back, broken ribs - which punctured both lungs, he smashed his shoulder and is unable to move his arm properly.”
"He fractured and dislocated his pelvis and was put in traction through his thigh. He suffered internal damage to his spleen, had cuts and bruises all over his body, and damaged the blood supply to his teeth. He also sustained a significant head injury, which when investigated further revealed a bleed on the brain."
Mr Hill also explained how the man felt after his stay at hospital and revealed that the man was affected psychologically as well as physically.
He said: "After he was released from hospital, he said that he began to feel like he was no longer the same person. He was losing his temper for no apparent reason, and struggling with his short-term memory. He suffered a loss of concentration, so much so that he could not even watch the television."
Mr Hill went on to say that: "He suffered headaches, and was in a lot of physical pain. He had hoped to return to work, if only on a part-time basis, but was in too much pain - particularly with his shoulder. He was suffering dizzy spells and has had to undergo numerous operations and sessions of physiotherapy since the incident."
Onus on companies
The man decided to take his case to court and persue a compensation claim for his injuries. Mr Hill, who represented the man, explained that proceedings were brought against two defendants, who were Balfour BeattyPower Networks Ltd, that company that employed the driver of the vehicle that caused the accident, and ABB Ltd who had overall control of the site and the safety of people in and around it.
Mr Hill said: "As liability was initially denied in full, the matter proceeded to a five-day hearing for a judge to decide on the issue. After the fourth day, ABB Ltd conceded liability, but Balfour Beatty Power Networks Ltd still refused to do so.
“The judge in the case ruled that the claimant had successfully proved his case against both defendants, and that they should each pay 50 per cent of the Claimant's damages, subject to a deduction of just 15 per cent for contributory negligence.”
The case was successful with his accident claim and the man was compensated with a sum of £1.35 million.
Mr Hill concluded by saying: "My client and his family have been through a terrible ordeal, and he will never recover from the injuries he suffered, but hopefully this settlement will help him adapt to the challenges he will face as he looks to move on with his life."
Updated on 9/14/2010