A teenager who was left paralysed after a car accident has been awarded a record amount in compensation.
Agnes Collier, now 17, was travelling in a car with her mother and brother when the accident happened in March 2009. A BMW pulled out of a side road and forced them into the path of an oncoming lorry, with which they collided.
Ms Collier suffered severe spinal injuries in the crash, which killed her mother and left her brother with a head injury, from which he has since recovered. As a result of Ms Collier’s injuries, she is unable to move her legs and has only a small amount of movement in her arms. Despite her injuries, she returned to school and has taken her AS-levels with the aid of a scribe.
The driver of the BMW pleaded guilty to causing death by driving without due care and attention and received a six-month suspended sentence. He was also banned from driving for 18 months and given 300 hours’ community service.
A claim for compensation was brought against the driver’s insurers. Ms Collier was awarded a compensation settlement worth £23 million, the largest ever award in this type of claim. It includes a lump sum of £7.25 million and annual payments of £270,000 for the rest of her life. As Ms Collier has a normal life expectancy, the value of the claim is particularly high.
Says <<CONTACT DETAILS>>, “Nothing can adequately compensate for the loss of one’s health and normal way of life. However, a financial settlement can help the victim of an accident and their family adjust to the changes in circumstances knowing that essential care needs can be met and paid for.”