Record £4.5 million for injured Man United trainee

A career ending tackle has resulted in nearly £4.5 million compensation for a former Manchester United trainee whose leg was broken during a football match against Middlesbrough FC. Ben Collett, now aged 23, was making his first appearance for the Manchester United reserves back in 2003 when his right leg was broken in two places in a tackle by a Middlesbrough player.

Ben had joined Manchester United’s youth team at the age of nine and was considered one of the team’s most promising youngsters. Despite lengthy rehabilitation and physiotherapy and attempts to restart his career abroad, Ben was forced into early retirement from what could have been a highly successful career. Since retiring from football Ben has concentrated on academic study and is due to start at Leeds University this year to read English.

Middlesbrough FC admitted liability for one of their players “negligent” tackling, and the High Court case was brought to determine the level of damages to be paid. Various figures from Manchester United, such as manager Alex Ferguson and team captain Gary Neville, told the hearing in Manchester that Ben Collett had an “outstanding chance” of joining the first team and becoming a household name.

The judge at the High Court, Mrs Justice Swift said that when future loss of pension and the interest from loss of past earnings had been added to the compensation award, the total could be as much as £4.5 million. The award set a new record for compensation paid out to professional sportsmen and sportswomen.

Not everyone is a professional footballer, and fortunately not every sporting injury has such a severe impact on someone’s career as in Mr Collett’s case. However, if you have been injured whilst participating in sport at a professional or amateur level, and the accident was somebody else’s fault, then you may be able to claim compensation.

Camps Solicitors can help the victims of non-fault sporting injuries to claim the compensation they deserve. Our personal injury solicitors will work to ensure your claim is based on the best possible independent medical evidence, and that you will be compensated for all the losses suffered as a result of your injury, including loss of future earnings where applicable.