Pedestrian knocked down by taxi driver receives £1.75 million in damages

We recently settled the case of MD for £1.75 million.

Prior to the accident, MD had lived a very active lifestyle, spending 17 years of his working life as a miner. MD became a C4 incomplete tetraplegic when in 2008 he was knocked down by a taxi driver whilst he was walking across a road. As a result of his spinal cord injury MD will remain wheelchair dependent for the rest of his life.

Although liability was never admitted, the Defendant's insurer made an initial offer of £750,000 in settlement of the claim 6 months after the accident. On the advice of his legal team, MD did not accept this offer. By this stage in the litigation, the instruction of liability and quantum experts was well underway and the legal team were able to take a fully informed view that £750,000 was a significant undervaluation of MD's claim.

Stewarts Law was able to negotiate weekly physiotherapy for MD, even though liability remained an issue until settlement had been achieved. The legal team also obtained funding from the Defendants to cover taxi travel for the client to each physiotherapy appointment.

The £1.75 million compensation settlement will enable MD to cover the costs of his life long care and equipment needs as a result of the accident. It will also allow MD to purchase and adapt a suitable house for him, his wife, and their only son.

Ben Townsend, Partner at Stewarts Law, represented MD throughout and commented that "This has been a challenging case, but I am pleased that we have been able to secure a settlement for the client which will allow him to move into suitable accommodation, buy equipment and secure the extra support that he wishes to have."