£9 Million Award for Woman Hit by Car
After years of litigation, a young woman who suffered life-changing injuries when she was hit by a car as a child has been awarded a compensation settlement worth more than £9 million.
Leigh Ann Blinkhorn, now 23, was seven years old when the accident happened in 1996. She was crossing a busy road to visit a family friend when she was hit by a car. She suffered a brain injury, and now has serious behavioural problems and requires around-the-clock care.
A claim for damages was brought against the driver of the car. The case was initially thrown out in 1999, but an appeal the following year found the driver’s insurers fully liable for the accident. The amount of the settlement was only recently determined in the High Court, however, due to changes in Ms Blinkhorn’s prognosis and the fact that she has spent periods of time in residential care.
The settlement, which is one of the highest ever in a road traffic accident case, consists of a lump sum of £2,875,000 and index-linked payments of £191,758 each year. As well as compensating her for her injuries, the settlement ensures that Ms Blinkhorn will be able to live at home and will be provided with the care she needs.