High five figure Settlement for Complex RTA Involving Concussion, Psychological Trauma, head injury and  Severe Psoriasis

Miss NL instructed Ralph Clark at Major Trauma Lawyers following a severe multi-vehicle collision that resulted in a complex matrix of physical, neurological, and psychological injuries.

NL was involved in a serious road traffic accident when her stationary vehicle was struck from behind and shunted into other vehicles. She sustained physical injuries, a head injury with concussion, and significant psychological trauma, together with an exacerbation of a pre-existing skin condition.

At the time of the accident, Natalie was a single parent of a young child, working part-time in an administrative role within the NHS. The accident had a lasting impact on her physical health, mental wellbeing, and ability to function independently and return to work.

Medical Experts Instructed

The Claimant was assessed by the following specialists:

• Mr M J Farhan, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon
• Dr Louis A. Loizou, Consultant Neurologist
• Dr Emma Henderson, Chartered & Clinical Psychologist
• Dr Hazel Reynders, Consultant Clinical Neuropsychologist and former Head of Neuropsychology, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS FT
• Professor Alan J Knox, Consultant Respiratory Physician and Emeritus Professor of Respiratory Medicine
• Professor Andrew L Wright, Consultant Dermatologist

Injuries and Conditions Identified

As a result of the accident, NL suffered the following injuries and conditions:

Physical / Orthopaedic Injuries

• Whiplash-type soft tissue injury to the cervical and thoracic spine
• Persistent neck, upper back and inter-scapular pain
• Blunt chest wall trauma with ongoing musculoskeletal chest pain
• Soft tissue injuries and bruising to the legs
• Functional limitation affecting daily activities and hobbies

Head Injury

• Concussion with prolonged post-traumatic amnesia and confusion
• Early symptoms consistent with post-concussion syndrome
• Ongoing headaches (including migraine-type symptoms)
• No structural brain injury on MRI, but significant functional consequences identified

Psychological and Neuropsychological Injury

• Severe anxiety and post-traumatic stress symptoms, particularly travel-related anxiety
• Hypervigilance, sleep disturbance, low mood and emotional dysregulation
• Clinically significant memory and concentration impairments
• Chronic Adjustment Disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood
• Exacerbation of pre-existing anxiety and neurodevelopmental vulnerability, which had previously been well managed

Respiratory / Chest Symptoms

• Persistent musculoskeletal chest pain following seatbelt trauma
• Ongoing symptoms affecting exertion and daily activities, with risk of long-term persistence

Dermatological Injury

• Severe flare-up of longstanding psoriasis, triggered by the accident-related stress
• Widespread skin involvement affecting confidence, clothing choices, social life and activities
• Need for specialist dermatological treatment, including ultraviolet light therapy

Impact

As a combined result of these injuries:

• NL was unable to return to her NHS role 
• She required significant assistance from her mother with childcare and daily living
• She suffered a prolonged loss of independence, confidence and quality of life
• She continues to require specialist psychological and rehabilitative support, including 20 sessions of CBT

Gathering the Evidence

Ralph Clark coordinated a comprehensive multi-disciplinary team of experts to fully value the complex claim.  

Negotiations

The Defendant admitted liability, and their representatives subsequently put forward numerous low offers which NL was advised not to accept. Once the Court proceedings had been issued, the Defendant made a good high five figure offer, which NL accepted.  

Ralph Clark discussed the implications of this offer with the Consultant Neuropsychologist, Dr Reynders. It was noted that the litigation process itself was causing NL extreme stress and anxiety, to the point where she became overwhelmed and failed performance validity tests during her cognitive assessments. To prevent further deterioration of her mental health and to allow her to focus entirely on her treatment and recovery, it was agreed that accepting the offer was the most pragmatic and sensible course of action. 

Legal Significance

This case illustrates how a road traffic accident can lead to complex, overlapping injuries which may not be apparent from early imaging alone. Through a careful, multidisciplinary approach, full expert evidence was obtained to ensure the true extent and impact of the injuries were properly identified and pursued.

NL commented on the conclusion of the case, by way of Google review:

“ASD (with Major Trauma Lawyers) were brilliant from start to finish—professional, informative, and very supportive. I usually find this kind of process overwhelming, but Ralph and the team made everything easy to understand and helped me get the best possible outcome from my claim. Highly recommend.”

Contact Us To Get Maximum Compensation

If you have suffered Major Trauma in an accident, please contact Ralph Clark solicitor 0114 2678780 [email protected]