CD v GeoPost Holdings Ltd (2019)
Age at injury: 74
Age at trial: 76
Summary: The Claimant, a 76 year old woman received £50,000 for a head injury she sustained as a result of a road traffic accident. She suffered contusions/lacerations to the scalp, skull fracture, headaches, dizziness, cognitive problems and a complete loss of her sense of smell and most of her perception of taste.
Background
On 11/10/2017 C was crossing a junction which had an island in the middle. When she got to the island traffic in the lane was not moving. C alleged that D indicated to her that she could cross, so she moved in to the road to cross. D then began to move and hit C, knocking her to the ground.
C sustained injury and brought an action against D alleging that he was negligent in failing to stop when C was crossing the road and was clearly visible, not keeping an adequate lookout, failing to applying his brakes and driving in to C.
Injuries
Injuries: C sustained injury to the head.
C suffered contusions and laceration to the scalp. A CT scan confirmed a linear fracture to the back of the head, small degree of temporal lobe contusion, subarachnoid haemorrhage and small subdural haemorrhage.
C was kept in for observation in hospital overnight.
C experienced headaches, dizziness, disorientation and cognitive problems for a number of months. At the time of settlement she continued to experience occasional dizziness. She had an increased risk of seizures by a minimum of twice the background risk for 10 years.
C was unable to drive for 6 months.
C suffered a complete loss of her sense of smell and most of her perception of taste which was permanent.
Settlement
The case was settled on a global basis pre issue with no particular breakdown of damages. However, the following breakdown was estimated by the C's solicitors.
PSLA: £48,000
Past Care: £600
Miscellaneous: £100
Gardening: £1,300
Solicitor for the Claimant: Nimmisha Aslam, Russell-Cooke LLP
For the Defendant: Maria Stinglhammer, Aviva
