Our client, a student nurse, turned to Brian Barr Solicitors following a road traffic accident whilst she was pregnant. The accident left her with orthopaedic soft tissue injuries to her neck, which extended into her left shoulder, and aggravated her pre-existing low back pain. Additionally, she developed a specific situational phobia of being in a car, either as a driver or passenger, which had a significant impact on her personal and professional life.
Despite her commitment to recovery, her injuries affected her ability to carry out physically demanding tasks at home, such as cooking, cleaning, and vacuuming, and the pain and limitations led her to rely on her family for help with household responsibilities.
In addition to her physical injuries, our client’s psychological health suffered after the accident, leading to ongoing anxiety about being in a car. This phobia limited her independence and made it difficult to participate in daily activities that involved travel, further impacting her life. She underwent CBT and physiotherapy to manage her pain and trauma, but the experience left lasting psychological scars.
Given the extent of her injuries and the psychological impact of the accident, Counsel recommended a strategic approach to secure early offers from the Defendant, allowing her the option to settle without prolonged litigation. Brian Barr Solicitors achieved an initial offer of £20,000 from the Defendant, but we recognised that this amount did not fully reflect the impact of her injuries and limitations. Working closely with our client, we advised her on the options and risks associated with accepting or challenging the offer. By carefully negotiating and presenting evidence of her suffering and losses, the offer was eventually raised to over £50,000, reflecting a balance between maximising compensation and managing litigation risk. Our client, not wanting to risk prolonged litigation, chose to accept the offer – a substantial improvement from the initial offer. This amount provided compensation for her pain, suffering, and loss of independence, and it acknowledged the care and support her family provided.
