80-Year-Old Fuad Ghalib Suffered Life-Changing Injuries When Struck By A Car In Moss Side

The family of an injured grandfather who was left with life-changing injuries after being struck by a hit-and-run driver have spoken out after the driver was found guilty at Manchester Crown Court.

Fuad Ghalib, 80, was hit by a Volkswagen Golf on Tommy Johnson Walk, Moss Side, on 1 October shortly after 6:15pm. Police had been in pursuit of the car shortly before it collided with Fuad, however when officers stopped to help him, the driver of the car, Khalya Mattis, drove off.

Today, Mattis, 22 of Lynton Avenue, Burnage, was found guilty of causing serious injury having previously pleaded not guilty. Mattis was also charged and found guilty of dangerous driving and perverting the course of justice.

Mattis was given a five and a half years custodial sentence.

After the accident, Fuad’s family instructed specialist serious injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate his accident and support the family through the legal process as he seeks access to specialist rehabilitation treatment.

Richard Biggs, the serious injury specialist at Irwin Mitchell’s Manchester office representing the family, said: 

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“Fuad’s injuries were traumatic and the pain of them has been felt by a lot of people as he was very well regarded.

“As this trial has shown, the consequences of dangerous driving can be devastating. We will continue to work with Fuad and his family to ensure he, and they, receive the support they need so Fuad can focus on his recovery.

“It is important to remember that August is National Road Victim Month, and a time to help raise awareness of road safety, and it’s importance. There is nothing more important than the safety of others when on the road.” Richard Biggs - Partner

In the aftermath of the accident, Fuad was taken by ambulance to Salford Royal Hospital where he was diagnosed with a bleed to the brain, fractures to the skull, swelling to the left eye and fractures to the neck.

Fuad’s daughter, Dr Yara Fuad Mohammed, 37 from Manchester, said: “We are relieved at the verdict. However, it is an important time to reflect at this incident and its impact on the people involved and the community.

“The accident has ripped our family at its’ core. My father was a gentle loving man, who always cared for his family and his friends. 

“The accident has left him dependent on others, his health has been impacted both physically and mentally and he struggles to remember the simplest things in life. It is upsetting and heart-breaking to see the toll this incident has had on him and no verdict will mend that. 

“Our family extends its gratitude to the police force, the ambulance and medical teams, who saved his life, and the special collision unit for their outstanding efforts in obtaining and examining hours of CCTV of evidence, which made this trial possible.

“Despite the pain of having to go to trial, unlike many families effected by dangerous driving and hit and run accidents, our family has had closure from understanding the events that took place on the 1st October which resulted in life-changing injuries to my father. 

“The pain of the verdict also extends beyond our family to Mr Mattis’s family. Our thoughts go to his mother and family, whose lives have been devastated through the effects of reckless driving.

“It has been an incredibly difficult time for us and now we can focus our efforts on my father’s recovery and rehabilitation.”

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