A terrible car accident left Sophie with a serious brain injury, as well as spinal fractures, hearing loss and issues with her eyesight. Our serious injury solicitors are helping Sophie access the specialist rehabilitation she needs to turn her despair into positivity.
Sophie’s always had a positive outlook on life and she gets a lot of joy from making other people smile. Before the accident, Sophie was very independent, she loved going out with her friends and seeing her family.
On the way back from an evening out, Sophie’s life changed forever. Sophie was the front seat passenger in a car that veered off the road into a tree. She suffered a severe brain injury that put her into a coma for two weeks in hospital.
After the initial shock of her daughter’s injury, Sophie’s mother contacted Irwin Mitchell to find out if we could help her. She instructed our expert serious injury solicitor Ruth Johnson to make a compensation claim on Sophie’s behalf.
Ruth and the team are helping to get Sophie funds to cover the costs of her rehabilitation therapies and adapted living while the claim progresses. Even after everything she’s been through, Sophie’s outlook has been the driving force behind her continued recovery and improved mind-set, despite the daily challenges.
The Car Accident That Changed Sophie’s Life
In July 2020, Sophie was being driven back from an evening out when the car veered off the road and crashed into a tree at speed. The force of the collision caused the car roof to fall in on Sophie. The paramedics had to act quickly to get her safely out of the passenger door.
In the ambulance, Sophie was already showing signs of a brain injury. After arriving at the hospital, Sophie was diagnosed with spinal fractures, skull fractures and a serious brain injury. She spent two weeks in a coma while the doctors tended to her physical injuries.
Sophie woke up from her coma with no memory of what had happened to her. It very quickly became clear to her that her injuries had affected her mental abilities and that she had a challenging recovery ahead of her.
Her injuries affected her hearing, vision, memory, and communication abilities. One of the biggest challenges for Sophie was the loss of hearing in her ear and how quickly she got tired after activities that used to be no problem at all.
Sophie recalls, “I'm deaf in one ear because of the accident. I had to learn how to sing again. And that took away my happiness, I was devastated. My whole world was shattered. It took time to understand.”
Once Sophie was discharged from hospital, her mum gave up work to help care for her at the family home. Despite her injuries, Sophie still has high hopes about living as independently as possible.
Helping Sophie Make The Best Recovery Possible
The early weeks and months after Sophie’s brain injury were very challenging and she felt very confused. She needed people around her who she could rely on and trust and Ruth, her solicitor, took time to make sure Sophie felt comfortable with her and the process.
Sophie remembers her initial meetings with Ruth fondly, “Ruth, my solicitor, has been lovely and she told me how she was going to help guide me through this”. Ruth walked Sophie through the support she’d likely need, advising her on the best way forward. She also helped Sophie get a case manager in place who could make recommendations for rehabilitation.
Ruth and our serious injury team are making sure funds are available for Sophie, so she can access all the rehabilitation she needs to make the best recovery possible. We’ve been helping Sophie fund her music therapy, neuropsychology, occupational therapy and a personal trainer to help her enjoy her hobbies again. This is all coordinated by her case manager.
“Ruth is absolutely lovely, and I make her laugh when we have our phone calls. It always cheers me up making her happy, I like her laugh, it makes me laugh. I'm not working currently, and I probably won't be for a while so the financial support has been crucial. My future is looking bright,” says Sophie.
How Sophie’s Brain Injury Is Affecting Her Life
While her case is ongoing, we continue to make sure Sophie can access all the support she needs to achieve her goals. She continues to be very keen to regain her independence and trial living independently on her own. This is the next goal the team are working towards.
Sophie talks about what it’s like having a brain injury, “I don't really know the difference as I still feel like me, but other people around me, my family, my friends, they see a bit of a difference in my temperament. I'm seeing things in a different light.”
Supporting Sophie As She Looks Toward A Bright Future
Sophie’s positive outlook has given her incredible strength throughout her rehabilitation so far, she says, “I don't want to lose my positivity. I don't think anyone else should lose that faith in themselves, it makes people strive to be better. And that's all I'm wanting is to be better. I may not be who I was before, but I’m trying to be better than I am”.
Sophie’s happy that she’s been able to learn to sing again with both a brain injury and loss of hearing in her left ear. The hardest part about her recovery was realising how much her brain injury had changed her. Unlike her physical injuries, Sophie’s brain injury was invisible to her and she had a hard time understanding the new difficulties she was having.
“I'm still trying to accept that I've got disability, but I do what I can and I let people know that I do have a head injury and that things might be a little bit difficult for me to cope with, and understand and when things can get too much,” she recalls, “I don't know where I'd be without the help that I'm getting and just thank you for everything.”
Sophie has an incredible relationship with Ruth and she’s trusted her completely to get her the support and compensation she needs.
Sophie says about her Irwin Mitchell legal team, “It's nice when you feel like falling, that they're there to pick you up and keep going. I know we're going to get through this together.”
If you or a loved one has been suffered a brain injury, our serious injury solicitors may be able to help. Speak to our friendly team today on 0370 1500 100 or get in touch online.
