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Maureen’s pedestrian accident claim settled for £80,000

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Carrie's pedestrian accident claim settled for £96,000

Pedestrian accident claim case study

Maureen, a pensioner, was out shopping in Lisburn City Centre. She started to make her way towards the station to get the train home. Whilst she was walking on the pavement with her shopping bags, a car reversed from a parked position off the road in her direction. Anticipating that this car would hit her, she turned away from the vehicle but lost her balance and fell onto the road. The car completed its manoeuvre and left the scene. Aware or not, the driver left an elderly woman injured on the road.

Maureen required a hip replacement as a result of the accident

Another pedestrian saw what happened and stopped. Seeing that Maureen was in pain, he assisted her up and drove her to a nearby hospital. An x-ray indicated that Maureen’s hip had been fractured and she was transferred to the Royal Victoria Hospital where she underwent a full hip replacement. Given her age and her living alone, Maureen remained in hospital for around a month.

Unfortunately, neither Maureen nor the witness managed to record details of the car or its registration. However, the incident was reported to the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).

Pedestrian accident claims services by McCartan Turkington Breen Solicitors

Maureen, who was very independent for her age, decided to investigate whether she had any redress to claim compensation for her injuries. Once she was discharged from the hospital and returned to her home where she lived alone, she contacted us and received the benefit of a free initial consultation with Brian Turkington, a personal injury claims expert. Maureen felt that we would represent her well and we opened a file for her. We obtained all PSNI records of the incident and began to investigate.

Road traffic accidents involving untraced drivers

As the third-party driver and the car’s insurer were unknown, we made an application on behalf of Maureen to the Motor Insurers Bureau (MIB). This organisation has the facility to compensate victims of negligent uninsured and untraced drivers. The MIB is funded by an estimated £30 a year from every insured driver’s premium. It serves an important function and is essential for people like Maureen.

We organised multiple doctors’ appointments for the client so that her injuries relating to the incident could be properly assessed. These included exams with an orthopaedic surgeon, a consultant psychiatrist, a consultant specialising in old age psychiatry and a consultant plastic surgeon to comment on the scarring from her hip surgery. Once the medical evidence was complete, all reports were served on the MIB.

Brian Turkington settled his client’s case

From a liability perspective, we impressed upon the MIB from the outset that the reversing vehicle had failed to safely check for pedestrians whilst reversing. This was ultimately accepted by the MIB.  After a period of negotiation, a compensation figure was agreed in settlement of the case.

Damages for personal injury, pain and suffering were agreed in the sum of £80,000.

Involved in a pedestrian accident? We can help

If you have been injured following a pedestrian accident in the past 3 years, our team of personal injury solicitors can help. Learn more about our services at Pedestrian Accident Claims or Contact Us for a free initial consultation.

Pedestrians are the most vulnerable of all road users. You can reduce your chances of becoming involved in a road traffic accident whilst walking by adhering to The Highway Code for Northern Ireland’s rules for pedestrians.


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