Richard Earle
negotiated a £200,000 settlement for his client, Laura, who was
knocked from her motorbike by another
vehicle.
Laura was driving home from work on her honda
hornet motorbike in October 2006.
As she approached a zebra crossing she noticed a pedestrian was
waiting to cross. She stopped to let the lady cross but was hit by
an Opel Astra which had been travelling behind her and failed to
stop.
Laura was thrown in the air and landed heavily
on her back, banging her head.
Laura was taken by ambulance to St Thomas'
Hospital for examination. She was told that she had broken any
bones but that she was going to be admitted overnight for
observation. Laura did not wish to remain in hospital and she
discharged herself.
She stayed off work the next day. She had
severe pain in the left side of her face and her neck was tight and
uncomfortable. The pain in the middle of her back was also
severe.
The next day she returned to work, taking a
taxi in order to get there. Laura continued to be in considerable
pain which she found disorientating. She was unable to concentrate
on her work and she suffered considerable fatigue. She found the
journey to and from work uncomfortable.
Laura subsequently suffered a severe back
spasm. She consulted her GP who reassured her that in view of the
hospital’s investigations and the way in which she was examining
her she could not have sustained any fractures. Laura remained in
quite considerable pain and discomfort for which her GP prescribed
painkillers and muscle relaxants.
Laura embarked on a course of physiotherapy
but the symptoms continued to trouble her and in November 2006 she
was referred to a Consultant Rheumatologist.
At that time Laura was complaining of
discomfort in her thoracic spine, variable left sided facial
tingling and “heaviness” in her arms and hands. She had isotope
bone and MRI scans and continued to undergo
physiotherapy. Although her symptoms fluctuated in their
severity, she remained in pain.
Laura was a salaried partner at a London law
firm who headed up the firm’s (relatively new) property finance
department. She worked long hours (50 hrs per week being typical).
A significant part of her role involved generating new business and
ensuring that existing clients were maintained. This meant wining
and dining clients, much of which took place outside of normal
office hours.
It was a role which required a good deal of
energy and commitment and prior to the accident Laura was extremely fit.
Laura's employers were initially sympathetic
but this appeared to wane in the light of the duration of symptoms
combined with the economic downturn in the property market and she
was made redundant.
It became a material issue in the claim to
what extent the Laura's redundancy arose from the downturn and/or
her inability to perform to the required standard due to ongoing
symptoms.
Laura’s evidence and that of her work
colleagues was that she would have ridden out the downturn but this
was disputed.
Laura instructed Richard Earle to pursue a personal injury claim. After length investigations
and negotiations, Richard obtained an offer of £200,000 which Laura
was happy to accept.
For further information or if you have a
road traffic accident claim, contact Richard Earle on
020 7861 4041 or email richard.earle@ffw.com
You can discuss your
road traffic accident claim with any member of
our personal injury team on freephone 0800 358
3848, email personalinjury@ffw.com or
complete our short enquiry
form.