Hodge Jones & Allen

Our client was involved in a road traffic accident. As she was crossing the road at a set of traffic lights, a car failed to stop at the lights and hit her, causing multiple injuries to her face, legs and body.

After discharge from hospital, she was unable to work for about a year. Her injuries were slow to heal and she had to have several operations. She ended up with some scarring to face and body and one leg shorter than the other. She also suffered a reactive depression as a result of the accident.

The driver of the car was convicted of failing to obey traffic signals. Liability was conceded with damages to be assessed. Medical reports and evidence were obtained from two orthopaedic consultants, a consultant psychiatrist and a Maxillo-facial surgeon.

As a result of the work carried out by Hodge Jones & Allen, our client was awarded damages of £90,000.

Points of interest

Damages in this kind of case are made up of many elements. Here they included: -

• General damages (pain, suffering, loss of amenity);
• Interest on general and special damages;
• Handicap on the labour market;
• Loss of earnings;
• Value of gratuitous care;
• Future cost of orthotics;
• Future psychological therapy;
• Future Maxillo-facial surgery;
• Miscellaneous items (travel expenses, telephone calls, medication, medical treatment to date, damage to clothing).

Hodge Jones & Allen

June 2002