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No Concessions Made in Achieving £5 Million Road Crash Settlement

In striving to achieve the best possible financial outcome for their clients, personal injury lawyers have to know when to compromise and when to dig in their heels. In a case on point, a seven-figure settlement was negotiated for a gravely injured road accident victim.

The man, in his 60s, was driving on a motorway when a foreign-registered lorry collided with him. He lost control and crashed into a roadside barrier, suffering catastrophic spinal and brain injuries. Dependent on a wheelchair, he suffers incomplete tetraplegia and impairment of his cognitive skills.

In defending the claim, the lorry driver's insurers asserted, amongst other things, that the man was not wearing a seatbelt at the time. However, no ground was given to these assertions and, following negotiations, a £5 million lump-sum settlement of his claim was agreed on a 100 per cent liability basis.

In approving the settlement, the High Court praised the enormous support given to him by his partner and a cousin, who had instructed solicitors on his behalf. The Court agreed that each of them should receive £17,500 of the settlement sum as some reflection of all that they had done for him.

The contents of this article are intended for general information purposes only and shall not be deemed to be, or constitute legal advice. We cannot accept responsibility for any loss as a result of acts or omissions taken in respect of this article.