Motorcyclist Achieves £1,250,000 Settlement Following a Brachial Plexus Injury
Scott Rigby, Senior Associate in Stewarts Law's Personal Injury department, has successfully negotiated a compensation settlement of £1.25m on behalf of his client, Mr Benjamin Jones, who sustained a brachial plexus injury while riding his motorcycle in November 2010.
It is believed that this settlement is one of the largest ever achieved for a brachial plexus injury.
Mr Jones sustained his injuries when the Defendant car driver attempted a u-turn in front of his motorcycle, leaving him with no time or space to avoid a collision. As a result of this accident, Mr Jones has lost the use of his left arm and shoulder, although he has retained some functional use of his left hand.
Initially, Mr Jones instructed local solicitors to handle his claim. However, after a year he was unsatisfied with the progress that had been made. He had not received any interim payments and no rehabilitation plan for him had been established. Mr Jones therefore decided to instruct Stewarts Law to handle his claim, on the basis of the firm's reputation as the leading Claimant Personal Injury firm and the previous results it has achieved for its clients who have also suffered brachial plexus injuries.
Scott Rigby immediately contacted the Defendant's insurers and obtained interim payments to fund Mr Jones's rehabilitation plan, the purchase an adapted car and to enable Mr Jones to go on a much needed holiday. Experts in accident reconstruction, care and case management and occupational therapy were also instructed to assist with the valuation of Mr Jones's claim, which meant that Mr Jones was able to confidently reject an early part 36 offer of £1m to settle his claim.
Seven months after instructing Stewarts Law, Mr Jones's claim was concluded. At the same time, Scott Rigby was also able to negotiate a settlement of Mr Jones's legal costs, which means that Mr Jones can now put this matter behind him and get his life back on track.
Before his accident, Mr Jones led an active life, enjoying sports, outdoor pursuits, socialising with his friends and taking regular holidays. He also greatly enjoyed his job as a lorry driver and hoped to progress to become a Class 1 driver. The injuries he has suffered, as a result of his accident, mean he will no longer be able to pursue many of his pre-accident interests and he will be prevented from returning to his occupation.
Speaking about the settlement, Scott Rigby stated:
"It is important that people who suffer a brachial plexus injury receive first-rate treatment and rehabilitation, as quickly as possible, if they are to achieve the best possible recovery. These are very serious injuries, requiring highly specialist treatment and care. Through our experience with handling catastrophic injuries in general, and specifically with brachial plexus injuries, we understand the importance of this at Stewarts Law. We have the knowledge and resources to be able to put together a team to achieve the best possible results in terms of the client's recovery, from their injuries, and also to achieve the best possible outcome in relation to their claim. Ben's injuries have had a devastating effect upon his life. However, this settlement means that he can look forward to the rest of his life with optimism. He will be able to purchase an adapted home and disability aids and equipment, which will enable him to resume some of his pre-accident hobbies and interests and he will also be able to pay for the care and assistance he will need, with daily living activities, as he gets older".