Sales manager compensated after crash

A man, whose career came to an end, because he was involved in a collision, has been awarded with a six figure sum in a compensation claim.

The 59-year-old sales who is from north London suffered serious personal injury to a number of areas across his boy, including his hip, knee, neck and shoulder and he was left physically unable to drive, when his vehicle was hit by a large lorry, while he was on the road.

The trauma of the incident has also left him nervous of travelling, something which was crucial to his job.

Wary of travelling by road

Describing the incident that took place, the man said: "I was driving my car behind two vehicles when I noticed they were slowing down because there was a pedestrian crossing ahead."

The man's job involved a large proportion of driving, which he is now wary of doing. The man went on to say: "I slowed right down, to around five miles per hour, when I felt a massive jolt in my back."

A 16-tonne lorry had collided with the back of the man's company car at approximately 35 mph.

Crash sent driver into vehicle

The sales manager recalled: "The force of the impact sent my car forward, and I smashed into the vehicle in front. As I came to a standstill with the other car in front of me, the lorry kept moving and struck me a second time, shunting my car forwards again."

He then added: I was in a lot of pain and straight away knew that something was badly wrong with my leg. I was in a state of shock, and couldn't believe what had just happened. It was so unexpected."

The crash took place on Greenford Road, Middlesex, in February 2008. The victim was taken to Ealing Hospital to receive emergency treatment, before being transferred to Clementine Churchill Hospital for further care.

Legal help to make a claim

Karen Beck, a personal injury lawyer, who specialises with road accidents cases, was working with a legal firm which represented the victim. She helped the man make a no win no fee legal case, which would compensate him for the injuries that he sustained.

Mrs Beck said: "He sustained a posterior wall fracture of the acetabulum - an injury to the hip joint - and also suffered damaged cruciate ligaments in his right knee, bruised ribs and whiplash to the neck and shoulders."

She also added: "The shock and injury also left him suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder."

Job lost due to road accident

Mrs Beck said the damage to her client's pelvis and hip joint is so severe that he required an early hip replacement operation.

She added: "The injuries he sustained mean that my client will never be able to return to his pre-accident employment as a sales manager, which involved large amounts of travelling. Not only has this incident cost him his job, but also any chance of being able to take a similar job in the future."

Mrs Beck brought a claim for compensation against the lorry driver's insurance company, and successfully negotiated a settlement of £200,000 on behalf of the victim.