A massive settlement has recently been paid out to a young boy who suffered life threatening spinal injuries after he was accidentally run over by his father. The boy, who was two-and-a-half years old at the time of the accident, was left requiring lifelong care and assistance from specialist carers. The settlement is believed to be the largest-ever payout for a spinal injury in the UK.
The tragic accident happened in 2002 as the young boy was caught under the wheels of his father’s car as it reversed into the driveway of a farm near Milton Keynes. After the accident the child was left with a fracture to his skull and damage to his spinal cord. His condition worsened when he later suffered a stroke. Doctors advised his parents that due to the seriousness of his injuries, he would be unable to lead an independent life.
The boy’s mother made a claim against the father’s insurance policy on behalf of her son. She claimed that the father had been negligent because he had not spotted his son when he was undertaking the reversing manoeuvre. Liability for the accident was admitted by the Co-Operative Insurance company, representing the father. An interim payment of £1.7million had been made during the trial. This was augmented by a further award of £2.5 million which the trial judge, Mrs Justice Smith, ordered to be paid out when the case was settled. In addition to the lump sums, for his ongoing care, it was decided that the child would receive £220,000 a year for the rest of his life.
Cases like these often make the headlines due to the large sums of money involved. But it is worth noting the devastating impact a spinal or brain injury can have on someone’s life. Even in the best case scenario, an accident victim may be left with learning difficulties and reduced movement, whilst in serious cases they may be rendered paralysed or with severely impaired communication, such as being unable to speak or move. As the judge at the trial said, “Whilst this order cannot possibly put him back to the circumstances in which he otherwise would have been, I hope it will play its part in enabling him to live to his full potential and assist the family in the difficult task of providing for his future.”
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