Client’s Story: £830,000 Settlement for Pedestrian Struck by Vehicle on Pavement

The impact on Mrs A

Before the accident, Mrs A lived an active and independent life. She was in good health, walked her dog every day, and felt confident and in control of her routine. But after the incident, everything changed. She suffered a traumatic brain injury, and from that point onwards, even simple things felt harder. Her energy disappeared, and life no longer felt familiar.

Some of the changes she experienced included:

• Constant tiredness and lack of drive - things she used to enjoy now felt exhausting. Just getting through the day took a lot more effort.
• Feeling anxious and on edge - she became hyper-aware of her surroundings, even in places she’d always felt safe. It made it difficult to relax.
• Struggling to focus - even holding a conversation or doing a basic task could feel overwhelming, especially if there were distractions.
• Poor sleep - she often woke in the night and felt drained during the day, which made everything feel harder and affected her mood.
• Short-term memory problems - she forgot things she’d just done or said, lost items around the house, and needed help keeping track of everyday tasks.
• Speech and communication issues - she sometimes lost her train of thought, found it hard to express herself clearly, or felt like her words didn’t come out quite right. That knocked her confidence and made social situations more difficult.

Although doctors confirmed that she was still able to make her own decisions, meaning that she has not lost her capacity, it was clear that she needed a lot more support than she ever had before. The way her life had changed, and how sharply it contrasted with how things used to be, left her feeling isolated and unsure of what the future would hold.

A detailed neuropsychological assessment confirmed she had a moderate to severe brain injury. That diagnosis made it easier to understand what she was going through and helped us make sure she had access to the right support, such as tailored therapy and rehabilitation.

Legal and practical challenges

Following the accident, Mrs A moved to Spain with her partner to continue her recovery. This presented a number of legal and practical difficulties. Our Road Traffic Accidents team had to facilitate experts to travel abroad to assess Mrs A in person and provide the necessary evidence for the court. Mrs A’s experts specialised in neurology (the medical study of the brain and nervous system), neuropsychology (understanding how brain injuries affect thinking and behaviour), and neuropsychiatry (focusing on emotional and psychological consequences of brain injury).

As part of this process, our legal team also had to investigate and confirm whether Mrs A had the mental capacity to be involved in her claim and to manage her financial affairs in the future. Although she was able to make decisions independently, the effects of the brain injury meant that she needed professional help with rehabilitation and support.

We arranged for interim payments to be made during the legal process. An interim payment is a portion of compensation paid early, before a final settlement is reached. These funds helped Mrs A to access:

• A professional case manager
• Occupational therapy
• Neurophysiotherapy
• Speech and language therapy
• Neuropsychology sessions

All of this support was coordinated from the UK but provided to Mrs A in Spain with regular contact through video calls and remote assessments.

Reaching a settlement and how the compensation will help

Mrs A’s legal case lasted around three and a half years. It was important not to rush the process, as we needed time to properly understand the long-term effects of her injuries and gather expert evidence on her needs. Although the case had formally gone to court, it was settled before reaching trial through careful negotiation between the legal teams.

She was awarded £830,000 in compensation. This wasn’t just based on the physical injuries she suffered, but also took into account the emotional impact, the changes to her everyday life, and the support she would continue to need in the future.

The compensation provides Mrs A with peace of mind that she will have the care and help she needs going forward. Whilst no amount of money can ever undo what happened, the settlement recognises just how much she has been through and gives her the financial security to focus on rebuilding her life.

Simpson Millar’s role

At Simpson Millar, we understand that traumatic brain injuries can have complex and long-lasting effects on every aspect of a person’s life. From the very beginning, we prioritised Mrs A’s health, independence, and dignity, working around the unique challenges that came with supporting her abroad.

We arranged for experts to travel as required, coordinated a full package of rehabilitation support to Mrs A who was in another country, and kept in regular contact with Mrs A and her partner throughout. We also ensured that all legal, medical, and financial aspects of the case were explained in plain English and handled with care.

We are proud to have helped Mrs A secure a result that reflects the seriousness of what she experienced and gives her the support she needs to move forward.

How our Road Traffic Accident team can help others

Our specialist Road Traffic Accident Solicitors are highly experienced in serious and complex claims, including those involving brain injury, psychological trauma, and vulnerable or overseas clients.

We know that taking legal action after a traumatic event can feel overwhelming, which is why we take a calm, supportive, and straightforward approach. We explain everything in an easy to understand way, and make sure you are fully informed about your options every step of the way.

If you or a loved one has suffered serious injury in a road traffic incident, we are here to help. We offer a free initial consultation so you can find out where you stand and how we may be able to support you.

Call us today on 0808 239 5461, or request a callback, and we’ll talk with you about how we may be able to support you.