Client's story: £1.25 million settlement helps rebuild young rider's future after life-changing e-bike collision

An open femoral fracture is a particularly serious injury because the broken bone is associated with an open wound, creating a risk of complications such as infection as well as requiring urgent specialist treatment. As the femur is the largest and strongest bone in the body, a serious fracture can also have a major impact on mobility and rehabilitation. 

Taken together, the traumatic brain injury, chest injuries and multiple fractures had a profound impact on our client's life and required significant treatment, rehabilitation and ongoing support. 

Building the case 

One of the most significant challenges was establishing responsibility for the collision. 

Because our client had no recollection of the accident following his brain injury, establishing exactly how the collision had occurred required a detailed investigation. We carefully analysed the available evidence and worked closely with specialist medical experts to build the strongest possible case and demonstrate the full impact of his injuries. 

The effects of our client's traumatic brain injury extended far beyond his initial hospital treatment. Although three independent experts concluded that he had the mental capacity to make his own decisions, the injury continued to affect his independence and many aspects of his everyday life. For example, his concentration levels were impacted which made routine tasks such as crossing the road significantly more difficult and increasing the support he required to stay safe. 

Understanding these ongoing effects was an important part of valuing the claim. Compensation needed to reflect not only the injuries our client had sustained, but also the lasting impact they would continue to have on his day-to-day life, independence and future needs. 

The outcome and how we supported our client 

We secured a settlement of £1.25 million on our client's behalf, providing long-term financial security following injuries that changed the course of his life at a very young age. 

The compensation was placed into a Personal Injury Trust, helping to protect the settlement whilst providing a structured way of managing it over the longer term. 

A Personal Injury Trust is a legal arrangement that allows compensation awarded following a personal injury to be held separately from a person's other finances. Depending on an individual's circumstances and provided the relevant rules are met, money held in the trust may not be taken into account when assessing entitlement to certain means-tested benefits. It also provides a structured way of protecting compensation for future needs. 

Our support extended well beyond securing compensation. Throughout the claim, we worked closely with our client, his mother, and his case manager. As our client was under 18 when the claim began, his mother acted as his litigation friend, meaning she conducted the legal proceedings on his behalf whilst he was still a child. 

We also supported our client with wider issues arising from his injuries, helping him understand the support available and maintain stability for himself and his family. 

Throughout the claim, we ensured our client and those closest to him remained fully informed, providing clear advice and guidance at every stage of the legal process. 

How we may be able to help others 

If you or someone you care about has suffered serious or life-changing injuries in a road traffic accident, you may still be able to make a claim. 

Call us today on  0808 149 9561 or request a callback  to find out how we may be able to help.