Motorway Coach Crash Victim Wins £2 Million in Damages
A fruit picker who suffered life-changing injuries in a fatal road accident – in which an unroadworthy coach broke down on a foggy motorway and was shunted from behind by a passing lorry – has won £2 million in compensation from motor insurers.
The man, aged in his 30s, was one of 34 passengers on the coach, the driver of which had been drinking. The accident happened after the vehicle broke down for the third time on a section of the motorway which had no hard shoulder. The driver of the lorry and one of the coach passengers died in the collision and the coach driver was subsequently jailed for six years after he admitted two counts of causing death by dangerous driving.
The man suffered permanently disabling injuries and was rendered incapable of managing his own affairs. Lawyers acting on his behalf sued the coach driver’s insurers before negotiating the settlement of his case. He plans to return to his native India where it is hoped that the payout will enable him to live as normal a life as possible.
The High Court approved the settlement as being in the man’s best interests.