Background: Our client was a passenger in a friend’s car, in the early hours of the morning. After an evening of drinking, the driver lost control on a country road in East Yorkshire, causing the car to veer off the road. Our client sustained serious injuries and required spinal surgery.

Incident: The driver, less seriously injured, pulled our client from the car. Our client was taken to the hospital by ambulance and underwent a corpectomy to stabilize her spine. She was given the option to either remain flat on her back for 12 weeks or proceed with surgery. She chose surgery and made a remarkable recovery despite the severity of her injuries.

Challenges: The case involved litigation risks due to contributory negligence, as our client knew the driver had been drinking and there were questions about seatbelt use. Expert medical evidence was obtained to support her claim.

Legal Proceedings: The Defendant insurers made an early settlement offer. After seeking Counsel’s opinion, a counteroffer was made, resulting in an increased offer that our client accepted to conclude the claim process.

Outcome: The case was successfully settled, providing our client with the compensation needed to move forward and draw a line under the whole matter.