Expert Serious Injury Lawyers Secure Settlement For Colchester Woman Making Amazing Progress After Brain Injury

A Colchester teacher who was lucky to escape a car crash alive is speaking out about the importance of road safety after serious injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell secured her a settlement so she can continue her recovery from a brain injury suffered in the crash.

Katie Holt was driving to work at Felsted Preparatory School in December 2014 when her car was struck from behind by a Colchester Skip Hire lorry. The impact of the collision forced Katie’s car under the lorry in front of her sandwiching her vehicle between the two HGVs.

Those at the scene who called the emergency services were initially unaware Katie’s car was between the two lorries as it was crushed into such a tight space.

The 39-year-old was cut from the wreckage of her vehicle at the scene of the accident on the A120, and airlifted to Royal London Hospital, where she was found to be suffering from deep lacerations to her face, damage to her optic nerve, skull fractures, a broken left arm and fractures to her back.

She also suffered a head injury, which left her suffering with problems with her vision, hearing loss and severe headaches. Katie also suffers memory and balance problems.

Katie instructed expert serious injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell’s London office to investigate the collision and they have now secured her a significant settlement from the insurers of Colchester Skip Hire after they admitted liability for the crash and Katie’s injuries.

During a criminal case, the driver of the skip hire truck, Kevin Mann, was handed a £350 fine, given six penalty points and ordered to pay a £550 costs and a £35 victim surcharge after admitting driving without due care and attention in July 2015.

Katie still has no recollection of the crash and after being discharged from hospital ten days after the incident she moved to stay with her parents so they could care for her while her husband, Rob, was at work.

Since the accident Katie has focused on her recovery and has now returned to work as a teacher.

Laura Murphy, an expert serious injury lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, who represented Katie, said:

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“Katie’s escape from this collision and her recovery has been nothing short of a miracle. I know she wants to thank the emergency services for their swift response to the accident and the speed at which they got her out of the vehicle and to hospital.

“This incident illustrates just how serious consequences can be when drivers do not take their safety, and their responsibility for the safety of others, seriously. The outcome of this incident could have clearly been much worse and the driver admitted to driving without due care and attention.

“We are glad to have been able to secure Katie a settlement from the insurers of the skip company that will enable her to continue the good work she has been doing since the accident and enable her to access the rehabilitation services she currently requires.

“We hope she will now be able to put this terrible ordeal behind her and begin to focus on what the future holds for her and her family.” Laura Murphy - Solicitor

Katie, who gave birth to her first child, Ella, in June, said: “I still have no recollection of the crash I was involved in and can only remember coming round in the hospital. After seeing the pictures of the accident I feel incredibly lucky to be here.

“However, it is difficult to put into words how much of an impact this incident has had on my life. Physically I now suffer with vision and hearing problems, as well as pain in my arms and legs.

“Thankfully, I have been able to make a good recovery and now that a settlement has been agreed I know I’ll be able to access the treatment that will see me improve even further. I can only hope what happened to me will illustrate to drivers, particularly those driving large vehicles, of the long-term consequences of even a slight lapse in concentration on the road.”

If you’ve been injured in a road traffic accident involving a car, our No Win No Fee solicitors could help you claim compensation. See our Car Accident Claims page for more information.