In February 2023, Karen Bannister, a Personal Injury Lawyer at NJS Law, successfully secured a £1.9 million settlement for a client who suffered a below-knee amputation following a serious motorcycle accident.
Karen specialises in complex and catastrophic personal injury claims. For this case, she instructed Chris Barnes KC and David McCormick, both of whom played a crucial role in achieving a highly positive outcome for the client.
In September 2020, Karen’s client, who has chosen to remain anonymous, was riding his motorcycle past a stationary bus. At the same time, the Defendant pulled out of a junction in a car. Unfortunately, the bus likely obstructed the Defendant’s view.
As a result, the motorcycle collided with the car, causing severe injuries to the rider’s leg. Although surgeons initially attempted to save the limb, the damage proved too extensive. After six months of treatment, doctors had no option but to perform a below-knee amputation.
The consequences of the accident extended far beyond physical injury. Unsurprisingly, the emotional and financial strain placed immense pressure on the client’s personal life.
As a result:
In addition, the Defendant strongly disputed both primary liability and contributory negligence, which significantly increased the complexity of the claim.
Despite the challenges, the NJS Law team took swift and strategic action. Karen, alongside Chris Barnes KC and David McCormick, met with the Defendant’s insurer to discuss rehabilitation and interim payments under the Rehabilitation Code 2015.
Initially, the insurer offered £1 million to settle the claim. However, after carefully reviewing the offer and taking instructions from the client, the legal team rejected it and continued negotiations.
Thanks to their extensive experience in quantifying catastrophic injury claims, counsel advised that the claim’s full value could reach £4.5 million if liability was established in full. This insight placed NJS Law in a strong negotiating position.
Following detailed discussions and several counter-offers, the parties ultimately agreed on a £1.9 million settlement.
The compensation will allow the client to:
Most importantly, the settlement provides long-term financial security and the opportunity to rebuild his life.
Commenting on the case, Karen Bannister said:
Amputation cases are often more straightforward when it comes to valuing compensation. The barristers I instructed had extensive experience in amputee claims and were able to assess the claim’s true value with confidence. This put us in a strong negotiating position. Everyone involved was delighted with the outcome, as the settlement will allow this young man to move forward positively.
Karen Bannister
At NJS Law, our Serious Injury Team has decades of combined experience representing clients in catastrophic injury and amputation claims. We understand how life-changing these injuries are, and we are committed to supporting you every step of the way.
Get in touch using the form below or via the following methods:
For fast, friendly affordable legal advice. Contact a member of our team today.
