J was with friends on the Laindon Industrial Estate after midnight on 21 December. They used to hang out there often and on this particular night a young lady, who was drunk, ventured onto the estate. There was a row and she drove off but she returned a short time later. She was speeding and driving erratically.
She drove into J, who was thrown into the air and landed awkwardly. He sustained a cruciate ligament injury which required surgery. He also suffered a back injury.
The driver failed to stop at the scene and drove off but she was ultimately arrested by the police.
She pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol, failing to stop and failing to report an accident. She was disqualified from driving for 18 months.
As J was a minor at the time his father instructed us to investigate a personal injury claim.
Richard Earle gathered information about the accident and obtained medical evidence from an orthopaedic surgeon.
A statement was obtained from J's former trainer. He felt that whilst J was talented he probably would not have made it into the professional ranks.
The Claimant accepted this and it was therefore decided to concentrate the claim in terms of potential future loss of earnings based on an electrician. This was difficult to quantify given it was likely to occur around the age of 50 and therefore a report was obtained from an employment consultant.
Damages in excess of six figures were recovered along with costs payable by the driver's insurers.
The claim was conducted on a no win no fee basis.