A cyclist who suffered life changing injuries in a hit and run collision has received a significant sum of compensation

A female cyclist who was seriously injured in a hit and run collision, aged 36, has received a significant compensation payment after she was knocked off her bike in the New Forest area.

Sarah enjoyed a fit and active lifestyle. She was an active cyclist who also enjoyed running, sea swimming, dancing, performing and visual arts, but her life was changed dramatically when she was injured in the road traffic collision. 

The driver of the car which hit her was later apprehended by the Police and found guilty of driving without due care and attention, failure to stop and failure to report an accident. The driver was sentenced to four months imprisonment and given a 12 month driving disqualification.

Sarah sustained multiple serious injuries in the collision, including a brain injury, spinal injury and a serious orthopaedic injury to her hip. After undergoing emergency surgery on her hip and spine, she remained in hospital for three and half weeks, of which just under a week was in intensive care in an induced coma. She was then discharged to her parents’ home as her own pre-accident rented accommodation was no longer accessible or suitable given her injuries.

Following discharge, Sarah had to undergo multiple surgeries, including a hip replacement followed by revision surgery just weeks later after she contracted a serious infection and now faces the prospect that additional surgery on her hip will likely be required in the future.

Sarah instructed Leigh Day to bring a claim against the driver and his insurer.

Leigh Day secured a number of interim payments for her so she could employ a case manager to help her engage in rehabilitation and purchase suitable accommodation so she could move back to her home town and return to work.

Following negotiations, settlement terms were agreed and Sarah was awarded a significant lump sum payment. The compensation will enable her to pay for continuing rehabilitation, future surgeries, therapies, aids and care which she will require to manage her ongoing symptoms.

Sarah said:

“The hit and run changed the course of my life. I have no memory of the collision and yet now I have responsibility for dealing with the consequences. I need to remain as fit and healthy as possible to be able to manage the way I now have to live my life as a result. Part of the final settlement allowed me to recover loss of earnings and work reduced hours to allow myself the best possible chance of taking care of myself. Leigh Day managed to secure decent interim payments to access care and therapies I needed, and most importantly secure a suitable home that could accommodate me. The settlement process was lengthy, and at times felt traumatic, just as my recovery has been traumatic due to all the medical complications that followed. Yet all the way through I felt I could fully trust that Sally, Beth and her team were always working for my highest good and with the highest integrity, despite feeling bombarded by the significant challenges of my recovery process”. 

Associate solicitor, Bethany Sanders, from law firm Leigh Day, who represented the cyclist in her civil claim, said:

“Our client was extremely fit and active and enjoyed cycling, running, swimming and taking part in extreme physical challenges.

“Sarah has had to endure a long, protracted recovery which has been physically and psychologically challenging. Whilst she has worked extremely hard on her rehabilitation and has been determined to return to her active lifestyle, there is no doubt this road traffic collision has been life changing.

“We are pleased to have been able to secure financial compensation to enable Sarah to continue her rehabilitation, purchase suitable accommodation and secure future care so she can live as full a life as possible.”