The Incident  

Our client was out on his motorbike, filtering between the offside and middle lanes of a three-lane road when the defendant attempted to change lanes, resulting in a collision. 

The client suffered extensive injuries including:  

  • Multiple fractures to the right tibia
  • General bruising and soft tissue injuries to his forearms & right hip
  • Fracture to the right ankle
  • Psychological symptoms including low mood  

Following the accident, the client required immediate surgery on his right leg, including an open reduction and internal fixation. 

The Impact of the Incident 

The client’s recovery was a slow process. Due to repeated infections of the bone, and failed union of the fractures of the right tibia, the client underwent several attempts at treating the infections, long periods of antibiotic treatments, and he needed a significant surgical procedure by way of a 7cm segmental resection of the right tibia.  

This left the client in a position where he was unable to weight bear for many months and had an external fixator frame applied to the right leg for a period of 18 months, as the removed sections of bone healed, and the tibia united over a long period of time. At the time the client’s case reached a conclusion, his recovery was continuing with ongoing physiotherapy and psychological support. 

At the time of the collision, the client was working as a delivery driver. As he was unable to weight bear, and for a lengthy period of time had an external fixator frame applied to his leg, the client was unable to return to his job following the accident.  The client intended to train to become an HGV driver, but his inability to weight bear or drive prevented him from pursuing this.  After many years, our client has been able to return to driving and is now considering his future employment opportunities.  

While the client has reached a stage of recovery where he’s able to weight bear, the opinion of orthopaedic experts is that he will suffer ongoing physical and functional difficulties due to the accident.  

The injuries have also had a profound effect on the client’s family life. The client has a sister with mental health difficulties, along with children who he has been unable to support and care for in the usual way, given the extent of injury and several years of treatment and recovery.  

The Case    

Serious Injury Solicitor Neil Downey handled the client’s case. Given the severity of his injuries and the repeated infection of the bone, the client will unfortunately remain at a risk of further infection, further fractures of his leg, and there is a lifelong risk of the amputation of his right leg.  

As this is a permanent and ongoing risk to the client, he sought to settle his case on a provisional damages’ basis, ensuring he could reopen the case should he undergo the amputation of his right leg at any time during the remainder of his life.  

Thanks to Neil’s expertise and dedication, we secured an immediate significant settlement of £319,072.38, for the client, and the right to reopen his case to seek further damages in the event he should suffer the future consequences of an amputation due to this collision.  

New Opportunities 

Following treatment and recovery which took place over the course of several years, the client was looking to become an HGV driver and he has been undertaking training to help rebuild his future.   

Reflecting on the case, Serious Injury Solicitor Neil Downey commented:  

“This was an incredibly serious accident in which our client was involved, caused by a motorist who failed to check it was safe to change lanes whilst driving along a 50mph dual carriageway. The consequences of the defendant’s negligence left our client with substantial lower limb trauma, which required treatment over the course of several years leaving our client in a position where he was no weight bearing and had an external fixator frame applied to his leg for week over a year.  

The consequences of the injuries, and the deep bone infection that sadly also developed have resulted in our client being at a continuing risk of further fractures of his leg, and as a worst-case scenario the risk of requiring the amputation of his right leg. Despite this, our client has remained positive for the future, looking to new training and employment opportunities as he continues his recovery.” 

Contact us today for support in rebuilding your life after a serious injury.