The Impact

Following his discharge from hospital, Brad began his recovery with support from his wife, Georgia. “It was a huge strain on our lives. She had young children and a husband to care for. Georgia was a stay-at-home mum at the time, but with my recovery expected to take up to six months, she returned to work to support the family.”

Before the accident, Brad worked as an engineer. “There was no way I could return to that job in the short term due to the nature of the work, which requires intricate and dexterous skills.”

Fortunately, Brad’s employers were accommodating and supportive throughout his recovery, eventually facilitating his return to an office-based role once he was fit enough. Discussing the financial impact of the accident, Brad said: “It was significant. I used to work night shifts and earned more money, but after the accident, I was on a flat basic wage without the night shift uplift.”

Finding the Right Solicitor

Immediately after the accident, Brad’s friend recommended Michael W Halsall (now Express). “She said, ‘I know it’s not something you would have thought of already, but the sooner these things are started, the better… I work for a company that is one of the leaders in Road Traffic Accident claims.'”

Collette McCann took on his case. “Collette has been with me since day one, and many of her support team have been constants, which has been reassuring. Collette has always been contactable directly, as has her team. They have shown the utmost professionalism and made what has been a long and arduous case bearable and worthwhile. Collette has been very good at explaining things in layman’s terms. I like to understand things through analogies, and I found it easy to grasp the way she broke things down and explained them to me.”

The Case

Liability was relatively straightforward, but the main area of contention was the severity of Brad’s injuries. The defendant’s evidence suggested a much lesser injury, which would have reduced the level of compensation.

The defendant made an offer of £75,000 to settle the case, which we advised Brad to reject. We presented strong medical evidence supporting the severity of his injuries. The team also demonstrated the financial impact of not being able to work overtime or night shifts by comparing Brad’s situation with that of a colleague, revealing the long-term financial implications.

The Result

We recently settled the claim for over £150,000. Reflecting on the outcome, Brad said: “I was very pleased with the result, the final amount was more than I expected. Five years ago, or even three years ago, if someone had offered me what I actually received, I would have snatched their hand off.

“For the past five years, we have been financially constrained, but now that burden has been lifted. We are much more comfortable financially, which eases the strain on us as a couple and as a family.”

Collette added: “I was delighted for Brad and his family. He has experienced a real ordeal and has shown great patience and pragmatism throughout, which helped us secure such a significant result. The most interesting and noteworthy aspect of this case was the comparator evidence, which greatly influenced the final settlement amount. It’s a fantastic outcome for the team and, most importantly, for Brad, to whom I wish all the very best for the future.”