Partner, Road Traffic Accident Technical Manager
Our client, Ms C was travelling in the car as a passenger, when the car she was travelling in was hit by an oncoming vehicle.
As a result of the road traffic accident, Ms C, who was pregnant at the time, was left with bruising, scarring, soft tissue injuries and back pain. Due to being 37 weeks pregnant, she suffered with a seatbelt injury to the abdomen, which caused vaginal bleeding due to a ruptured placenta.
Placental abruption is a very common injury in car accidents, as the sudden force and impact pushed the womb so rapidly, that is jerks inside the mother’s body. This force alone, is enough to rip the placenta away from the uterine wall, which could result in foetal loss. Rightly so, Ms C was not just injured, but in a state of shock.
Straight after the accident, Ms C had to undergo an emergency caesarean section, where the baby was then taken away for a long period of time. Because the baby was away for hours, Ms C was unable to bond with her new born straight away, which can also cause detrimental damage to the mother and child. According to the NHS, skin-to-skin with your newborn is an extremely important step for all mothers, which people look forward to in their birth story. The contact is to regulate your baby’s temperature, breathing and heart rate. It will also boost your milk supply, and secure your bond with your baby. The accident meant that Ms C was unable to do any of this as a new mother, and she missed out on an important landmark in any pregnancy.
Along with this trauma from the birth, Ms C was also unable to go back to her job as a carer, as her injuries prevented her from her manual tasks. Caring includes many labour-intensive duties, such as lifting residents, moving heavy objects, and helping others with their hygiene regime, which Ms C was unable to do.
Ms C contacted our expert Car Accident Solicitors for a free claims assessment, and we agreed she had a strong case for compensation. I took on her case on a No Win, No Fee basis, and immediately began investigating the circumstances behind the accident and the impact it had on Ms C’s life.
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The injuries sustained as a pedestrian are generally more serious as there is nothing the protect you from the impact. These can have massive implications on your life meaning you can’t work and have to get medical care and rehabilitation as part of the recovery.
As of 6 July 2022, speed limiters – or Intelligent Speed Assistance systems – have become mandatory in all new vehicles sold in the European Union. Despite Brexit, the legislation could be applied in the UK to try and reduce the number of road traffic collisions.
Our client, a man only in his 20s, was a front seat passenger in a car being driven by his colleague when the driver lost control. The car veered into the path of an oncoming vehicle on the opposite carriageway, and our client sustained a fracture to the right femur and a significant injury to his left leg in the car crash.
Birth Injury Help Center. (Publication date not specified). "Auto Accidents During Pregnancy - What You Need to Know." Available at: https://www.birthinjuryhelpcenter.org/birth-injuries/help-center/auto-accidents-pregnancy/
NHS. (Publication date not specified). "Benefits of Skin-to-Skin Contact with Your Newborn." Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/start-for-life/baby/baby-basics/caring-for-your-baby/skin-to-skin-contact-with-your-newborn/
Simpson Millar. (Publication date not specified). "Car Accident - Personal Injury Solicitors." Available at: https://www.simpsonmillar.co.uk/personal-injury-solicitors/road-traffic-accidents/car-accident/.
WebMD. (2022, November 11). "Emergency C-Section: Reasons, Risks, and Recovery." Available at: https://www.webmd.com/baby/emergency-c-section.
BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. (2019, December 30). "The association between caesarean section delivery and cognitive delay in early childhood." Available at: https://bmcpregnancychildbirth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12884-019-2687-7.
NHS. (Publication date not specified). "Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) - Overview." Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/talking-therapies-medicine-treatments/talking-therapies-and-counselling/cognitive-behavioural-therapy-cbt/overview/.
Susan specialises in managing road traffic accident cases, and mainly represents pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists in multi-track cases, as well as clients who have developed chronic pain syndrome and sustained organic injuries.
She also supports junior members of staff across the department.
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