£25,0000 awarded to driver following a serious road traffic accident
A driver from Watford whose injuries from a road traffic collision impacted his career progression at a warehouse, has had his case settled for £25,000.
The 40-year-old, who wishes to be known as Z.D, had been stationary in the central reservation of a dual carriageway waiting to turn right, when a car shot out of an adjacent petrol station and ploughed into his vehicle.
Suffering from shock and unaware of the severity of his injuries, Z.D walked home after his vehicle was recovered, but soon began to experience cramps on the right side of his body.
He was signed off from work for two weeks by his doctor but, on returning to his role as a packing and finishing assistant at a warehouse, he struggled to carry out his daily duties that included heavy lifting.
Having only been in his job for three months, Z.D was approaching the end of his probation period and was on course for a promotion to become a warehouse supervisor. However, when his injuries began hindering the quality of his work, Z.D was refused a permanent contract with the company.
He was also forced to give up his role as a freelance kickboxing instructor and personal trainer.
As such, Z.D suffered major financial loss and turned to credit cards and loans to help him stay up to date with his bills and living costs.
His mental health was also severely affected as he spiralled into depression.
Z.D said: “Straight after the accident, I didn’t realise I was hurt so I walked home – I was in shock and was angry at what at just had happened. It was only as I was on my way home that I started experiencing bad pain all the way down my right side.
“As soon as I was authorised to go back to work, I did so but my injuries majorly affected how much I could do and, despite being promised a promotion and a permanent role, I lost my job.
“It was an extremely tough time as I had to rely on borrowing money to stay afloat and my mental health suffered badly.”
Z.D added: “From the beginning, Hampson Hughes was incredibly helpful and supportive, explaining everything to me very clearly. The team were very professional, often bearing the brunt of my frustration at the overall situation, but they remained calm and supportive, promising to achieve a positive outcome for me.”
Z.D suffered physical injuries, including whiplash, muscular damage to the right side of his body and a shoulder injury, for 18 months following the incident and was later diagnosed with a specific phobia disorder. He underwent physiotherapy and cognitive behavioural therapy to aid his recovery.
His claim was settled in August 2020 for £25,000.
Niamh Wilson, Head of Civil Litigation at Hampson Hughes Solicitors: “The impact of this client’s accident went far beyond the scope of physical injuries – not only was his career hindered, but he also suffered major mental health issues as a result.
“This is often the case for victims of road traffic accidents as the effects of a serious incident such as this can last far longer than the physical injuries. It’s therefore important to seek legal advice from day one so that we can support you along the way and arrange private treatment that deals with both the physical and emotional impact of your accident.”
Have you been involved in a road traffic accident?
If you’ve been injured on the road due to an accident that wasn’t your fault, then you could be entitled to claim road traffic accident compensation. Whether you’ve suffered a minor injury or something more serious, our Road Traffic Accident solicitors can help you to claim the compensation that you deserve.
