YKG, a lifelong Guernsey resident, sustained a below-knee amputation of the right leg in 2024 following a road traffic accident in the UK. Stewarts helped YKG secure an interim payment of £1.45m, allowing him to buy a home on the island suitable for his needs following his life-changing injury. YKG is represented by International Injury senior associate James Griffin and partner Scott Rigby, who summarise his case to date below.

Guernsey resident injured in England

In August 2024, YKG, who has worked as a painter and decorator for over 30 years, was on holiday in Cornwall. He was riding his motorcycle when a Land Rover Defender, driven by the defendant, emerged from a minor road on YKG’s right-hand side and knocked him down. He sustained life-changing injuries, including an amputation of his right leg below the knee. As the incident occurred in England, English law applies to YKG’s claim.

From the earliest stage and throughout the claim, Stewarts worked collaboratively with the defendant’s insurers and their legal representatives. This enabled YKG to secure early funding for case management and private therapy.

Crucial to YKG’s rehabilitation, funding was agreed with the defendant for a minimum 12-month rental property on the island. This allowed YKG to remain in the community while continuing his rehabilitation.

Before the accident, YKG lived in a century-old two-storey stone beachfront cottage on the western side of the island. One of his favourite hobbies was open water swimming. On an almost daily basis throughout the year, he would walk from his home to the sea for an early morning swim.

YKG’s rehabilitation has progressed, and he has returned to open water swimming with the use of a specialist water prosthetic, also funded by the defendant’s insurer.

Property in Guernsey

Advice from local architects was sought about the suitability of YKG’s existing property following his accident. They confirmed that adaptations to YKG’s existing property were impossible due to the age of the stone building and likely contested planning applications.

In late 2025, YKG found the ideal long-term property, available for £1.35m. The house is a single-storey property located on the western side of the island, close to the beach, and adaptable to his needs as an amputee.

YKG’s injury claim is ongoing and has not yet settled. However, with extensive experience representing injured claimants throughout the Channel Islands, Stewarts is aware that the property market in Guernsey is challenging. There is a distinct lack of suitable and available options on the island for an amputee. YKG’s strong preference was to remain in a similar location to his pre-accident home on the western side of the island, close to the beach.

Stewarts therefore engaged an accommodation expert to advise on the suitability of the property YKG found, any immediate and longer-term adaptations that would be required and whether there were any other suitable properties. Research was carried out on the historical property market to evidence the infrequency with which properties suitable for YKG arose (and, when they did, the high price tags that came with them). It was clear that there was no other suitable property on the market that met YKG’s criteria.

Accommodation claim settlement

Injured claimants, such as YKG, are entitled to compensation that puts them back in the position they would have been in had the accident never occurred.

Stewarts continued its collaborative work with the defendant and their insurers. Following negotiations with the defendant’s representatives, Stewarts secured an interim payment of £1.45m to allow YKG to purchase the property. This has been agreed and paid to YKG before his full claim has been resolved. The interim payment covers all property and legal fees for the purchase and the necessary adaptations to allow YKG to move into the property immediately upon completion.

The purchase of the property gives YKG certainty going forward. He now has a home suitable that meets his needs as an amputee and matches his pre-accident lifestyle.

Charlotte Reynolds and Peter Hale of 12 KBW are representing YKG as counsel in his claim.

James Griffin says:

“I am very pleased that YKG now has certainty for the future. The collaborative approach taken by both parties to settle the interim payment claim and allow YKG to purchase this property was admirable. Sustaining a life-changing injury can be devastating. I am pleased that this early agreement allows YKG to continue to live as he did before his accident.”

YKG says:

“Throughout the whole process, Scott, James, Charlotte and the legal team at Stewarts have been exceptional and I feel beyond grateful to have them representing me. They have been extremely professional and they genuinely care about my needs and my future. They have gone beyond to secure my forever home, I did not think it would be possible to tick every box in line with my lifestyle before the accident, and they have succeeded which fills me with confidence for my future. I’m sure that if I’d have used a different law firm the outcome wouldn’t have been the same.”