Pedestrian hit by van secures £1m settlement

Moving forward after a pedestrian accident: Our client’s story

A woman who suffered a life-changing brain injury after being hit by a van has secured a £1million settlement to support her in rebuilding her life.

The pedestrian was walking to work one morning when she was hit by a vehicle which was pulling out of a junction. The 60-year-old woman, attempting to cross the road, moved in front of the van as it was waiting to pull out from a side street into queueing traffic on the main road.

She suffered a significant traumatic brain injury, along with serious orthopaedic injuries, and was in hospital for four months following life-saving surgery. She was then moved to a specialist neuro-rehabilitation inpatient unit for a further eight months, where she was supported in regaining independence.

The consequences of a traumatic injury following a pedestrian accident

Although the woman attempted to return to work in September 2021, more than two years after the collision in mid-2019, she was unable to fulfil her role as she used to and was forced to take retirement from a job she had always loved.

She continued to struggle with the ongoing effects of her brain injury, and turned to Slater and Gordon to help her access the support she needed. Helen Gierc, a specialist serious injury lawyer, acted for the client.

Although liability was denied by the driver and their insurer, claiming the woman was at fault for walking in front of the van, extensive investigations by Slater and Gordon - which included recovering CCTV from local shops – ensured that she was able to secure the funds to finance bespoke care and rehabilitation.

Securing crucial pedestrian accident compensation

A settlement of £1million was achieved by Helen and her team, working tirelessly on the client’s behalf to ensure her needs could be provided for. The client said she is “delighted” with the outcome.

“Slater and Gordon threw their considerable expertise behind my case and employed a private detective and legal and medical experts on my behalf. Although police said no CCTV of the incident could be found, the private detective made extensive enquiries and found some, which proved pivotal in the success of my case,” says the client.

“Helen was always tactful and sympathetic, whilst also being realistic about the state of my case. The settlement was far beyond anything I believed was possible. I can’t praise the service I received too highly and would recommend Slater and Gordon to anyone.”

Helen adds: “Our client was a hardworking woman with a good job, but her life changed in an instant through this devastating collision. From being independent, she suffered a brain injury so significant it has impacted on all aspects of the life she used to have.

“We knew how critical it was to her recovery to be able to access bespoke rehabilitation, so fought hard to ensure we could access the funds to make that possible. Neurorehabilitation has made a huge difference to the progress she has since been able to make, and while life will never be the same, she is able to live independently and to look to the future. Her settlement will ensure she is financially secure and her ongoing care needs are provided for.”

Do you need support after an accident on the road?

If you’ve been in a road traffic collision – whether you were a pedestrian, a cyclist, passenger or motorist – you need access to expert legal support from specialist solicitors you can trust.

Speak to our team today on 0330 041 5869 or contact us online to make an enquiry.