Our client, Mr W, was riding his motorcycle with his wife as a pillion passenger when a car pulled out of a slip road and hit them. Both he and his wife were thrown from the motorcycle. He suffered multiple, serious injuries. Tragically, his wife died at the scene.
Shoosmiths brought a motorcycle accident claim on behalf of Mr W and also for his wife's estate under the Law Reform Act and Fatal Accidents Act. The other side rejected any liability and also implied that our client somehow contributed to the accident.
We instructed counsel to attend the inquest into the death of Mrs W. However, the dispute on liability meant it was impossible for us to handle both Mr W's claim and the claim for the estate, which had to be given to another law firm.
We pursued Mr W's claim and after two years the insurers finally admitted full liability. Because that was now resolved, Mr W asked us to once again handle the claim for the estate.That was a touching affirmation of how much he clearly valued our service.
Shoosmiths secured damages of £154,000 for the estate. Meanwhile, an offer was made in Mr W's case which we felt insufficient since his health had deteriorated and there was a chance he would require a total knee replacement in future.
The matter was eventually settled after hard negotiation. Our client received damages of £187,500 for his injuries and financial losses in addition to the damages awarded for his deceased wife.
Disclaimer
This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. It is recommended that specific professional advice is sought before acting on any of the information given. © Shoosmiths LLP 2024
