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Lawyers representing a champion sailor whose life was blighted forever by injuries suffered in a horrific road accident in which a close friend died have won her more than £460,000 in compensation.
The woman was in her final year at university and was preparing to compete in the British sailing championships when a car in which she was a passenger collided head on, at high speed, with another vehicle. Her friend, who was sitting beside her, died at the scene and others in the car were also badly injured.
Her own injuries included spinal fractures which required her to be immobilised for several days. She had to wear a plaster jacket for months and still endures disabling pain in her back and shoulder. She also suffered internal injuries and will always have to live with the mental scars of what happened. She has been unable to return to sailing competitively and her hopes of making a career in the RAF or Navy have been dashed.
The driver of the other car involved admitted liability for the accident but her insurers disputed the amount of the woman's award, which the High Court assessed at £464,665. That included £240,000 for her pain, suffering and loss of amenity, more than £90,000 in respect of lost earnings and £70,000 for physiotherapy treatment.