People frequently suffer injury principally as a result of their own carelessness. As a High Court case strikingly showed, however, that does not mean they cannot win compensation where the injury they suffered was partly because of the negligent action of someone else.

Sian Rees, a claims specialist in the Personal Injury department at Watson Ramsbottom looks at a case concerning a young man who was left paralysed from the chest down after his motorbike collided with a car that had turned across his path. He frankly admitted that he was travelling at a grossly excessive speed at the time. He had overtaken a bus at high velocity and eyewitnesses had commented on his appalling driving.

However, with the benefit of strong legal representation he succeeded in proving that the car’s driver was one-third responsible for the accident. A judge found that the motorcyclist was ‘there to be seen’ and that the driver had been negligent in failing to take a final look up the road before commencing his turn.

The amount of the motorcyclist’s damages award has yet to be assessed. However, given the extent of his pain and suffering, lost earnings and long-term care needs, it is likely to be a seven-figure sum, even after a two-thirds deduction.

“This case shows how dedicated and experienced legal representation can be vital,” says Sian Rees, a claims specialist in the Personal Injury department at Watson Ramsbottom “If you have suffered an accident which was not your fault, or for which you were only partly to blame, we can advise you on the possibility of claiming compensation.”

For expert legal support if you have an accident or injury and need to claim compensation, contact Sian Rees on 01254 70 11 11 or complete our online enquiry form.