Case Study: £12 Million Settlement for a Man Left With a Severe Brain Injury

Ben Posford

A serious brain injury changes everything, and not only for the person who is hurt. It reshapes the lives of partners, parents and children who become carers overnight. When someone else’s negligence on the road causes that injury, the compensation has to fund a lifetime of care, lost earnings and adapted living.

Our catastrophic injury team recently secured £12 million for a client who was left with a severe brain injury after he was run over by a driver in Essex. The settlement was reached in September 2024.

This case study explains what happened, how the claim was built, and what a result like this means for a family rebuilding their life around round-the-clock care.

What happened

Our client was a Polish national who had lived and worked in the UK for ten years. He had built a settled life here before a single road collision changed it permanently.

He was run over by a driver in Essex and suffered devastating injuries. From that moment, he needed constant medical and personal support, and he will need it for the rest of his life.

The injuries our client suffered

The collision caused a severe hypoxic brain injury. This is brain damage caused by the brain being starved of oxygen, and it often leads to widespread, permanent disability.

Our client was left with cortical blindness, which is loss of sight caused by damage to the brain rather than to the eyes themselves. He also has an ongoing disorder of consciousness, meaning his awareness of himself and his surroundings is severely reduced.

On top of this, he lost the use of his limbs and developed double incontinence. He is now blind and reliant on a wheelchair, and he needs adapted accommodation and nursing care for the rest of his life.

How we supported our client

A claim of this severity is about far more than a number. It is about making sure the money is there to pay for the right home adaptations, care team and equipment for decades to come.

We worked closely with the family throughout. Magda Knez, a dual-qualified Polish and English lawyer in our team, was able to communicate with our client’s family in their first language. For families dealing with the shock of a catastrophic injury, being understood without a language barrier matters enormously.

The claim had to account for the full cost of nursing care, suitable single-level accommodation, therapies, equipment and the income our client can no longer earn.

The settlement

The claim settled in September 2024 for £12 million. A settlement at this level reflects the lifelong nature of the injuries and the scale of care our client will need every day.

Compensation in catastrophic cases like this is not a windfall. It is carefully calculated to cover a lifetime of care, accommodation, lost earnings and the specialist support that allows someone with the most serious injuries to live with dignity.

This claim was led by Ben Posford, head of our catastrophic injury team, who specialises in brain and spinal cord injury claims.

What this case shows

Severe brain injury claims are among the most complex in personal injury law. The value depends on detailed expert evidence about care needs, life expectancy and the cost of suitable accommodation, so two cases are rarely the same.

If a loved one has suffered a brain injury that was not their fault, the most useful first step is to speak to a serious injury solicitor who handles claims of this size. Early advice helps secure rehabilitation and interim financial support long before a case concludes.

How we can help

Our personal injury lawyers handle the most serious, high-value brain injury claims, including cases involving lifelong care and complex disability. We act on a no win, no fee basis, so there is no financial risk in finding out whether you have a claim.

We also have solicitors who speak a range of languages, including Polish, Romanian, Bulgarian, Hungarian, Slovak and Spanish, so clients and their families can deal with us in the language they are most comfortable using.

Call us on 020 7485 8811 or fill in the contact form below.