An unnamed teenager who was seriously injured when she was just three years old when her mother’s car was hit by a lorry, has won £1.2m in compensation.
The car that Miss S was a passenger in was pushed into the path of an oncoming vehicle in the road traffic accident, and then hit again by the lorry.
Miss S was unconscious when she was admitted to hospital, where she stayed for two weeks. She was left with severe brain injury and a mild visual and hearing impairment and still suffers with memory problems, fatigue and headaches. She also claims that she lacks concentration and so is unable to plan and organise. She will need care and supervision for the rest of her life and now has limited job prospects.
Miss S’s mother instructed injury solicitors to issue an accident claim against the lorry driver, but the firm was negligent, and the claim failed, being struck out of court. A successful claim was then issued against the negligent legal firm, which now means that the solicitors insurers are liable to pay the compensation which would have been awarded to Miss S had the initial claim not been struck out.
The family’s successful lawyer, Hannah Rutterford, said that she was ‘delighted’ that she had been able to help Miss S and that the case illustrated the importance of ensuring that you get the best possible legal advice.
